Awarii Dunes Golf Course

Built in a pocket of dunes just east of the main sandhills region and right off Interstate 80, Awarii Dunes is what Jim Engh believes “could be one of my best.” Like most of the courses in the sandhills, very little dirt was moved to create the golf course that, according to Engh, was inspired by the great links of Ireland. The standout feature of this course is the wildly undulating greens that Engh has grown famous for building on his courses. Some of the boldest and most extreme greens you will ever putt across can be found here, which is a great reason to stop for a round if you are ever driving by on Interstate 80. 

The avant-garde style is what makes Awarii unique in this region. Engh’s design pushes the boundaries of what is typically accepted in the golf architecture world with its prudent quirkiness. Multiple tiers, punchbowls, and enormous mounds are found throughout the course’s greens. The front nine occupies the best land on the course and has a similar scale of dunes as Wild Horse. The back nine is slightly flatter and less dramatic, but still sports a handful of stunners, including the terrific stretch of Nos. 10-12 and the mind-boggling 17th with its X-Games style halfpipe green. The course struggles in its remote market with harsh weather conditions, but it’s still worth paying a visit to help keep it alive. 

Take Note…

Craneview. Prior to Engh’s 18-hole course was the nine-hole Craneview Golf Course that sat on the same land as Awarii’s front nine. The routing of this new nine is roughly the same, but now much more coherent and refined. 

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