The hardest golf courses in Lincoln, Nebraska
The hardest 18-hole golf courses within about 25 miles of Lincoln, Nebraska, ranked by USGA slope rating from each course's longest men's tees, with course rating as the tiebreaker. 9 courses have complete, verified tee data.
Also covers Eagle.
Firethorn Golf Club
Lincoln, NE, USASlope rating 152, 75.1 course rating, Throns tees, 7,025 yds
PrivatePete Dye
- 4.5Conditions
- 4.3Layout
- 4.0Scenery
- 4.4Facilities
- Challenging
- Driving range
- Fast greens
The Country Club of Lincoln
Lincoln, NE, USASlope rating 136, 72.0 course rating, Black tees, 6,507 yds
PrivateGregor MacMillan & William H. Tucker
- 3.5Conditions
- 3.3Layout
- 3.0Scenery
- 3.3Facilities
- Driving range
- Restaurant
- Bar
Woodland Hills Golf Course
Eagle, NE, USASlope rating 132, 73.3 course rating, Black tees, 6,670 yds
PublicJeff Brauer
- 4.0Conditions
- 4.0Layout
- 3.5Value
- 4.0Scenery
- 4.1Facilities
The Highlands Golf Club of Lincoln
Lincoln, NE, USASlope rating 128, 74.1 course rating, Champion tees, 7,021 yds
PublicJeff Brauer
- 4.0Conditions
- 3.7Layout
- 3.0Value
- 2.5Scenery
- 2.9Facilities
- Driving range
- Parkland
- Putting area
Iron Horse Golf Club
Ashland, NE, USASlope rating 128, 71.4 course rating, Stallion tees, 6,500 yds
PublicGene Bates
- 4.0Conditions
- 3.5Layout
- 3.3Value
- 2.7Scenery
- 2.3Facilities
- Driving range
- Mat range
- Hidden gem
Holmes Park Golf Course
Lincoln, NE, USA
Slope rating 122, 72.1 course rating, Black tees, 6,791 yds
Ashland Country Club
Ashland, NE, USA
Slope rating 121, 70.3 course rating, Blue tees, 6,242 yds
Mahoney Golf Course
Lincoln, NE, USA
Slope rating 113, 69.9 course rating, Black tees, 6,459 yds
Pioneers Golf Course
Lincoln, NE, USA
Slope rating 110, 70.0 course rating, Back tees, 6,493 yds
How we rank
This ranking uses published scorecard data from each course’s longest men’s tees, the same tee set for every course. Only 18-hole courses with a yardage for every hole, a total that matches the hole-by-hole sum, and a par between 54 and 80 are included, and the tees must carry a single slope rating (55–155) and course rating. Courses whose scorecard duplicates another course’s are left out until the data is fixed. Courses are ordered by slope rating, then course rating, then Course Vaults score. Only open courses with a published Course Vaults score (at least 5 explicit ratings) are eligible, and a page is published only when at least 5 courses qualify. City pages include courses within about 25 miles of Lincoln, so nearby suburbs can appear. Rankings refresh about hourly.
FAQ
Firethorn Golf Club is #1 on Course Vaults in and around Lincoln, Nebraska at Slope 152 (75.1 course rating · Throns tees · 7,025 yds). 9 courses qualify for this list.
This ranking uses published scorecard data from each course’s longest men’s tees, the same tee set for every course. Only 18-hole courses with a yardage for every hole, a total that matches the hole-by-hole sum, and a par between 54 and 80 are included, and the tees must carry a single slope rating (55–155) and course rating. Courses whose scorecard duplicates another course’s are left out until the data is fixed. Courses are ordered by slope rating, then course rating, then Course Vaults score. Only open courses with a published Course Vaults score (at least 5 explicit ratings) are eligible, and a page is published only when at least 5 courses qualify. City pages include courses within about 25 miles of Lincoln, so nearby suburbs can appear. Rankings refresh about hourly.
Slope rating is the USGA measure of how much harder a course plays for a bogey golfer than for a scratch golfer, from 55 to 155 (113 is average). Course rating is the expected score for a scratch golfer from the same tees.
Yes. It includes qualifying courses within about 25 miles of Lincoln, not only courses whose address is in the city.
This page was last generated Nov 12, 2026, 4:16 AM EST. Scores and eligibility are recomputed about every hour.
