Forgive us, it had been way to long since we had been to Meadowlark Hills in Kearney. But, on Friday, Ella and I had the pleasure of being part of the PGA Reach Nebraska Impact Event. Is there a better way to spend the day than playing a fantastic golf course you forgot about AND learning how the Nebraska PGA is impacting so many across the state? Nope. More on that later.

You guys, Meadowlark Hills deserves your attention. Why? It’s everything a municipal course should be. Kudos to general manager David James (and assistant Jay Cottam) and his great staff as well as course superintendent Robert Butler (and assistant Kevin Mansfield) for a golf course that presents itself very, very well.

Why else? Awesome, awesome practice facilities. A great driving range, wonderful putting green with enough short grass around it to work on shorter chip shots and a pair of other short game greens with bunkers. You just don’t see the kind of stuff at many muni’s, even though most have the room for them.

Need more? Yes, you do. How about a fee that never, NEVER reaches $50 in a cart. A twilight fee (after 3:00) of $32 (pump this in our veins). And a family membership for unlimited golf for $1,125 in 2024. I don’t even know what to say.

Meadowlark opened in 1993 and was designed by David Gill and Steven Halburg. The Illinois based group had a hand in a few Nebraska courses, most notably Lochland in Hastings and the revitalization of Fremont Golf Club in 1960, as well as a few others I have a hunch on but would want to confirm with those clubs first.

The site is not perfect. Holes 2-4 are on the old City of Kearney landfill and many know the problems that settling can cause a green keeper to keep the land “where it is supposed to be.” That said, the fourth green is wicked awesome with its high left side, maybe the most intriguing on the course.

Gill and Halburg had to “create” those three holes as well as the 13th and 14th on another flat site to the west of the driving range. But the rest of the golf course is on wonderfully rolling terrain with woods and elevation change to challenge the golfer.

The most difficult hole on the course is the long par-4 10th, which just as well be a par-5 at 487 yards from the back markers and 457 from one box up. Dead into a 20-30 mph wind and, well, you get it. On a normal summer day, the 498-yard 12th (which goes downwind), is likely easier. Eh, who cares about par anyway.

As for fun? Count 6-9 on our list. The 8th and 11th are wonderfully demanding driving holes. The par-5 12th with a scenic green presents a great chance for ANYONE to make a birdie and great closing stretch from 15 forward (we love a pitch shot par-3). We could type way more about Meadowlark, but we’d rather you experience it for yourself.

If its been awhile since you have seen Meadowlark Hills, it’s probably time to go back. And, if you haven’t seen it ever. Well, you know what to do.

A Lasting Impact

We drove to Kearney at the invitation of Larry Keiter to be part of the Kearney Impact event that benefits PGA Reach and also raises funds for the Tasha Keiter Memorial Scholarship. Larry’s late niece was a Kearney High standout golfer and was playing at Hastings College at the time of her passing in an auto accident in 2012.

Each year, the Keiter family awards scholarships to Nebraska female golfers (one high school and one college recipient) who hope to help grow the game.

Celebrating its 10th year in 2023, PGA Reach impacts many in Nebraska with more than just the Keiter Scholarship. They also work with veterans in the PGA Hope Program to teach the game of golf, and have developed a Clubs FORE Youth program which has given over 155 new sets of clubs and push carts to Nebraska high school girls programs since 2021.

On Friday we got to see nearly every facet of PGA Reach in action. The Burwell High School girls team was presented with their clubs as well as seeing the positive effects of the PGA Hope program in action as well.

A truly memorable day.

State Match Play: Seeing Red

The boys are golfing their ball at Country Club of Lincoln so far at the 2024 Nebraska State Match Play. I mean, these scores? C’mon.

Lincoln Southeast senior and Creighton signee Gavin Gerch (Wes Bernt’s class has some PLAYERS) leads the scores that have been as hot as the temperatures with a two-day, 11-under par 133 to earn the top-seed in match play. Over two rounds, Gerch recorded 11 birdies, two bogies and an ACE on the par-3, 5th hole in the opening round.

Nebraska graduate and 2022 runner-up (he had a spectacular caddie) Reed Malleck is the second-seed after rounds of 67-68 for 9-under par. The round of the qualifying went to Omaha Maverick golfer Luke Strako on Tuesday as he fired a 64 to garner the fourth-seed.

The field was set after an 8-for-6 playoff took just over an hour (you can watch it all here) with players that finished on even-par 144. Match play begins this morning with the round of 32 and 16 today, followed by quarterfinals and semifinals on Thursday with Friday’s’ championship match being a 36-hole final.

THE BRACKET

Before You Go: What We Are Watching

HAYWARD MAGIC: We are completely in love with the US Olympic Trials (you should be too) especially seeing Anna Hall win the heptathlon and the amazing 1,500 meter men’s run on Tuesday night. More track (maybe even in this little newsletter) starts on Thursday.

STANLEY CUP: I couldn’t even tell you how hockey works if I am being honest. But after the trials on Tuesday, there was still about three minutes of the NHL Finals on so I clicked over. The post game and the reverence for the Cup and the love the Panther team had for each other was out of this world. The SVP interview with Paul Maurice is must watch. Start your day this way.