
Awarii Dunes Course
Awarii Dunes Golf Club





About this course
Awarii Dunes occupies a distinctive stretch of sand hills terrain in south-central Nebraska, roughly twenty miles west of Hastings. Designed by Jim Engh and opened in 2004, the course takes its name from the Pawnee word for "wandering" or "roaming," a reference both to the nomadic peoples who once inhabited the region and to the routing itself, which moves across natural dune formations characteristic of Nebraska's sandy prairie landscape. Engh, known for dramatic and sculptural design work at courses like Redlands Mesa and Black Rock, applied a somewhat more restrained approach here while still incorporating his signature bold bunkering and strategic variety. The layout plays across rolling terrain with significant elevation changes for the region, utilizing native grasses and exposed sand faces that echo the visual character of the Nebraska Sandhills farther north. The property features a mix of open, windswept holes and more sheltered corridors where dunes frame play. Engh's routing takes advantage of natural contours, and several holes present pronounced risk-reward decisions with forced carries and angled approaches. The course operates as a public facility, serving both local golfers and travelers exploring Nebraska's golf offerings. Awarii Dunes represents an example of modern public golf design in the Great Plains, where natural sand-based sites allow for firm, fast playing conditions and a links-influenced aesthetic uncommon in much of the American Midwest.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.
Best in World
Best in USA
Best in NE
Quick facts
- Location
- Axtell, NE, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 2011
- Holes
- 18
- Designer
- Jim Engh
- Par
- 72
- Length
- 6,914 yards
- Difficulty
- 72.2/126
- Course Vaults score
- 6.0
Getting there
The journey to Awarii Dunes Golf Club unfolds across the high plains of northwestern Nebraska, most readily accessed via Lincoln Airport (LNK), roughly two hours southeast, or the smaller regional hub at North Platte Regional Airport (LBF), approximately ninety minutes to the south. From either gateway, the drive carries you westward through the rolling Sandhills, a landscape of native grasses and gentle dunes that grows progressively more remote and serene as you approach Axtell. The final stretch narrows into quiet county roads that wind through ranch country, where the horizon stretches unbroken and the only sound is often the wind across open grassland, before arriving at the club's gates - a fitting prelude to one of America's most isolated and architecturally ambitious inland links courses.

FAQ
Common questions about Awarii Dunes
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Awarii Dunes has a Course Vaults score of 6.0 out of 10 based on 22 logged golfers.
Awarii Dunes was designed by Jim Engh.
Yes. Awarii Dunes is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Awarii Dunes is 72.
Awarii Dunes plays 6,914 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Awarii Dunes is 126.



