The fifth stop on the 2020 Early Break Golf Tour is Highlands Golf Course in Lincoln. It’s one of the five courses considered part of the public Lincoln City Golf courses, and always brings a different feel than any of the other courses in town. Located in northwest Lincoln, Highlands is a links-style course, unlike the other public courses in town which have tree-lined fairways on what for a long time turned into the traditional type of course.

Highlands has challenging and rewarding holes all the way through. Hole 1 is a beautiful par 5 with a slight dogleg left with bunkers in the landing area on both sides of the fairway. Hole 2 is another dogleg left, with bunkers again on both sides of the fairway in landing areas. If you’re a big hitter, you can carry the left bunker and have a small wedge into the green, a par 4. Hole 3 is one of the most difficult holes in town. There’s no water or hazards—it’s just a long par 4, playing about 430 from the tips, and uphill. Again, a bunker left in the landing area, and another bunker on the front right part of the green. Take a par here and celebrate it as a birdie if you get one.

Hole 5 is a good risk-reward hole. It’s a shorter par 4, but you can try to get the corner and get close to the green, but if you don’t cut the corner (dogleg left hole), you’ll end up likely losing your ball in the tall grass. A safe play puts an iron or hybrid to the right in the fairway. Hole 6 is another dogleg left par 5 with long grass on the left side for the entire duration of the hole. Bunkers are in play near the green, and the green is tricky with two tiers.

Hole 7 is a short par 4 that long hitters can drive, as it’s around 320 yards from the tips. There is a greenside bunker on the left, and also a bunker short of the green if someone doesn’t catch their drive clean. Hole 9 is a scary par 4, where daring hitters will hit their teeshot directly over the lake, but require a 230 carry to do so. If you’re not as confident, play your teeshot right, and the approach shot goes uphill with a bunker protecting the front right.

Hole 10 is a good-looking par 4 that goes into a valley and then back up. A bunker once again is in the landing area on both sides of the fairway, and also on the right side of the green. Out of bounds right on tee shot and long grass left. Hole 11 is a par 5 that has the entire right side protected by trees. It’s one of the few holes that trees are relevant on the course. Keep your drive left and you’ll have a chance at getting on the green in 2 or close…but if you’re right, it’s a world of hurt.

Hole 12 is a short par 3 over a pond, playing about 165 yards from the tips. This green has three different tiers and is hard to make putts on. Hole 14 is one of the toughest par 3s in the city, measuring 230 yards from the tips. No bunker on this hole, but very difficult green to hit. Hole 16 is another tough par 4, going back uphill and playing 450 yards from the tips. Even if you hit a good drive here, you’ll have a long iron at the least for a second shot, with a green that is protected on the left by a huge bunker. Hole 17 is a nice dogleg right par 5, and hole 18 is a par 4 going back to the clubhouse that has a pond on the right side for your teeshot, and a huge tree on the left side of the fairway that presents problems if your drive goes that direction. Another very difficult two-tiered green awaits you on the finishing hole.

Highlands is a wonderful course that is difficult, and is extremely difficult if there’s any wind at all. With hardly any tree protection, this course can add 5+ shots to your score in windy conditions. Make your way to northwest Lincoln today to play one of the city’s top courses!

 

Course Info:

Head Pro:  Denis Vontz

Phone #:  402-441-6081

Website:    www.