Great course for a quick workout with all clubs. I often go for an extended lunch and get at least 7 (if not all 9)holes in 1.5 hours. Easier to get on than its bigger cousin, Willow Lakes. No tee time required. Great beginner course!

Because of Willow Lakes' tournament schedule, it is often crowded during peak hours. It's no tee time policy can make for long waits to start and make the turn for more than 9. Course maintenance takes second place to Willow Lakes for personnel and materials, though a new sprinkler system has helped. Drainage during heavy rains is a problem. Many beginners and youth can slow play.

Warrior Nine is a nine hole, par 35, course on Offutt AFB proper. A friend described the course greens as "postage stamps". I had not really thought of it before, but that is an accurate description. Warrior Nine has narrow fairways and small greens. Off fairway shots are usually no problem though due to very limited undergrowth. The trees used to define fairways are usually spaced so that getting back onto your fairway is not difficult. No 4 is a difficult par 4 that could easily be an easy par 5. It is up hill all the way with an even more elevated green. To make matters worse, the natural roll of the fairway is to the right into the treeline and on the left is the base perimeter fence marking out of bounds. A drive into the rough on the left side is considered good, unless of course you hit the trap put there just to discourage such a strategy. The No 2 par three carries entirely over water, the only water on the course.

Customer Service

Very friendly staff.

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Minimal but adequate snack bar facilities limited to hot dogs, candy bars, sodas, and beer.

Challenges for the accomplished golfer, yet fair play for the beginner.

It is often difficult to get a tee time due to a heavy tournemnt schedule.

Willow Lakes is a Robert Trent Jones Sr. design. It is a semi-private military course run by Offutt AFB. The course is located off base, making it easily accessible by the public. Though recent weather has taken it’s toll on the willow half of it’s name sake, the lakes portion is very healthy. Water is abundant and always exactly where you don’t need it. The Jones adage of "a hard par and an easy bogey" are very much alive here. This is also a course best enjoyed while walking. It’s length is not that great and the distance from green to teebox is minimal.
The No 1 handicap hole, #6, used to be an easy par for me because I had no distance off the tee. That kept water on the left and a huge bunker on the right out of play for me. An easy 160-170 yd shot onto the green’s apron set me up for an easy chip and one putt. Added distance gained from lessons and new clubs put me in the same trouble as my former opponents. I learned quickly the benefit of course management. Willow Lakes demands this on almost every hole. Even seemingly straight wide open "go for it" fairways bring hidden dangers for an errant second shot.
Recent changes in funds allocation have been a boon for the course. The course took a real beating during the 1993 floods and subsequent years of neglect. New management, along with increased funding, has brought the course back to near perfect conditions, weather permitting. Drainage during periods of prolonged rains is a problem.

Customer Service

Tournament play makes the course had to play during the week and often on weekends. This detracts from an otherwise 4 star facility.

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New deli restaurant has excellent variety and quality.