Disclaimer: We know the newsletter is a day late this week. But, we wanted to wait for the Nebraska Amateur cut line and for you to read with the British Open for a bit. Also, if you miss high school sports — they are coming soon.

In our previous newsletter this summer when we went to Columbus to tour Elks Country Club, we noted that it might be prudent to analyze the revival of Nebraska golf in the 1960s.

Off memory, many towns outside of Lincoln and Omaha had just 9-hole courses in the 1950s. The Omaha World-Herald’s Stu Pospisil gives a good run of these courses in his wonderful book — Nebraska Golf: Out of the Shadows.

To wit, his chapter entitled “Beyond the Big Cities” attempts to document these towns and their golf in the late 1950s. Beatrice had a fine 18-hole routing designed by Tom Bendelow, but after that you won’t find much. It would appear you could only add Kearney (Country Club), North Platte (now River’s Edge), Scotts Bluff (Country Club; since moved) and Alliance (the to-be SkyView Municipal) as 18-hole tracts outside of Lincoln and Omaha in 1960.

Then, came the golf.

When the Nebraska Golf Association was formed in 1966, golf was booming in our state. One of those early leaders was Lochland Country Club in Hastings. Taking their lead was the aforementioned Columbus Elks, with Norfolk Country Club (expanding from 12 to 18 holes) and Fremont and Riverside in Grand Island (expanding from 9 to 18 holes) all in the space between 1960 and 1967.

This growth is seen in the playing sites for the Nebraska Amateur — being hosted this week at Fremont Golf Club for the fifth time. The championship was in Lincoln and Omaha exclusively until 1950, save one championship in Beatrice.

In the 1960s, the championship spread like wild fire across the state. Beatrice in 1961 and 1964, Skyview in 1963, Norfolk in 1969 and — in just it’s second summer — Lochland in 1966 when Bob Astleford won his seventh of eight Amateur titles.

Lochland — if you really dig — has a fantastic history.

In the late 1950s, J.M McDonald Jr. purchased an option on the Hohlen Farm north of Hastings. McDonald’s father grew up in Missouri and moved to Kemmerer, Wyoming in 1905 to help James Cash Penney operate his first store. By 1914, Penney had opened multiple stores across the United States and had promoted McDonald to New York City headquarters. He was named a vice president in 1921 before retiring in 1929.

What the heck does this have to do with Lochland?

Well, in retirement McDonald maintained a consulting business for department stores. In 1934 he bought out a partner in the Brown-Ekberg store in Holdrege and moved to Nebraska. In 1936, the company moved their headquarters to Hastings and in 1948, McDonald, Jr. was named president.

With $500,000 of his own money, McDonald hired Illinois architect David Gill to route Lochland. He also added Red Cloud native and Nebraska golf hall-of-fame member Harry Obitz to his consulting staff to get Lochland off the ground.

By 1960, he had 250 charter members (Hastings only had two nine-hole offerings at the time). The clubhouse was finished by the end of 1961 and nine holes in 1962 with the second nine opening in 1966 just before that Nebraska Amateur won by Astleford.

McDonald had hope to build the “finest private country club” between Omaha and Denver. A friend had suggested the name Lochland for the two lakes on the property as well as a nod to McDonald’s Scottish history. By 1967, he had sold the club back to its members for just $150,000.

Over 60 years later, Lochland continues to thrive.

In two visits this golf season, the golf course has presented itself fabulously under superintendent Ryan Reifert. He oversees a golf course that has worked meticulously over the past ten years to “stay current” under a plan that began to be developed in 2002 by Lincoln-based architect Grant Wencel.

Gill presented a routing the flows every which way, only playing in the same direction on back-to-back holes at the 2nd and 3rd. (Some may argue 5-7 as well, but the doglegs at 5 and 7 change my mind.).

The golf course crescendos on the back nine, specifically the last six holes around the clubhouse. The 13th is a backbreaking par-4. The up-and-down 16th might be our favorite hole on the golf course and the mighty finish at 17 and 18 is one the player won’t soon forget.

But, what else do you get when you visit Lochland?

A thriving junior golf program spearheaded by head professional Ky Molholm; a membership that is constantly investing in great facilities (the pool that serves their families a highlight) and a club that is open and gives back. They share the annual Hastings Open with Southern Hills and allow public play as well ($60 with Nebraska Golf Passport).

And, since that first Nebraska Amateur in 1966? The club has hosted five more and they continue to host many championships and qualifiers for the Nebraska Golf Association and Nebraska Section PGA, including the US Senior Amateur qualifier later this month.

Like most clubs that support golf in Nebraska, Lochland grows the game the right way. And, just like J.M. McDonald, Jr. would have wanted, the golf course has stayed true to it’s roots in being a perfect place for members and their families to make memories and enjoy the game.

The Amateur By The Tracks

One of David Gill’s other Nebraska creations is on full display this week at the 116th Nebraska Amateur at Fremont Golf Club. The golf, so far, has been fantastic and just why we love the game. And, for the first time ever, this week’s winner gets an automatic qualification to the next months US Amateur in Minneapolis.

Omaha Westside senior-to-be Trevor Gutschewski leads by two shots at the halfway mark on 8-under (134) after an opening 65 that was followed by a Wednesday 69 on the par-71 layout. He leads York native and recent Nebraska graduate Reed Malleck by two shots.

Four players are three back at 5-under, including Trevor’s older brother Luke who plays at Iowa State. Both of them have qualified for August’s Pinnacle Bank Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour. Luke through the Arbor Links qualifier and Trevor last weekend via the Indian Creek Amateur.

Omaha’s Jon Oswalt has the round of tournament so far, sprinting into the top-10 with a second round 64 after opening with a 75 on Tuesday.

Why do we love golf? 60 players made the cut, including the kids. Two former NFL standouts — Jay Moore and Danny Woodhead. A handful of senior golfers, led by Fremont member and multi-time state champion John Sajevic. The greatest game.

LIVE SCORING

HUMBLE MIDWESTERNER: Another who made the cut was Fremont’s Johnny Spellerberg at 1-over (143). One of the good guys in Nebraska amateur golf, he was recently profiled by Global Golf Post.Must read.

BEFORE YOU GO: Looking for a polo that’s not your normal, off the shelf brand. The awesome dudes at Fig Tree Golf are a Christian clothing company with great fabrics. Every polo features a Bible verse on the inner sleeve. If you decide like one, enter HARVESTSPORTS at checkout gets you 15% off.