On the open range in Nebraska

Our navigation system's idea of the best route to Bayside Golf

So as I mentioned in my last post...we drove for along way through northeast Colorado without finding a public bathroom. So we started really relying on the navigation system in our car to get us to our night's lodging as quickly as possible. To find a bathroom.

Let's just say we learned a thing or two about our navigation system. Like that it doesn't differentiate between  road surfaces. Here is a picture of the road it took us on to get to Bayside Golf Club near Brule, Nebraska.

My salvation along the way: the first public bathroom
we'd seen in 2 or 3 hours

So we were starving by the time we found our lodging. They suggested we head into Ogallala to the Open Range Grill. Well we may have missed the Testy Festy in Montana, but here in Nebraska one can also experience "cowboy caviar." So we did. And I had sweet potato fries and the Gomorrah burger -- a sinful combination of grilled jalapenos, mushrooms, cheddar and bacon on a burger from a locally raised cow. Worth. Every. Sinful. Calorie.

"Cowboy caviar" from the Open Range Grill

We spent three nights and two days at the Bayside Golf Club. I'm not sure what words to use about the whole experience. Perfect. And quirky. And funny. Perfect. And the weather cooperated so well. High 70s to low 80s during the day; high 30s in the morning.

The course is beautiful. It lies at the edge of the Nebraska sandhills along Lake McConaughy, the largest lake in Nebraska and the largest reservoir in the four state region. The land was open range cattle grazing before the owners developed it into a destination golf course. When you look at the scenery, you can still imagine what natural prairie must have been like. I'm sure it was full of bison back in the day. I can picture My Antonia here as well.

At this time of year, reds and golds are the most common colors anywhere that isn't green groomed grass. And this course is target golf. Patches of green in a sea of golds and reds. With lots of bunkers. Natural bunkers, given the sand hills it is built upon. Let's just say you can lose a ball or two. And then find another fifteen. If you are brave enough to venture into the wild.

The club was developed by and still is owned and operated by a local family. They treated us royally. The club closes on October 15th so everything is winding down. The restaurant had already closed, but they spontaneously decided to open it again on Monday night, due to the Cenex Harvet States business meeting taking place. So we got to enjoy the fun as well. 

Jan with Bob and Tony

Enter Bob. And his brother Tony. Bob and Tony are from a small farming town in northeastern Colorado, though Bob is now a software developer in Denver. They were here with two friends having a boys golf retreat. And one of their friends happened to get a hole-in-one. The whole group was amazed by this. And so they wanted to share the fun. Bob bought shots of Jameson for everyone in the bar. And sat at the bar with us to eat the rib-eye steak we all got for dinner. (Cleaning out the fridge.)

Monday night football, celebrating a hole-in-one, great steaks and a family atmosphere -- which included everyone in the place. You can't make this stuff up. It was a crazy night after 36 holes of golf, and I fell asleep by 8:30pm.

Road to the beach at Bayside Golf Club

A step at the beach

Did I mention that we paid $50 each to play all the golf we wanted (36 holes) on the first day. And on the the second day, they charged us the local rate --  $35 to play all the golf we wanted. (Another 36 holes. What? 5 or 10 years ago we would have played at least 54 each day!) As the nights were getting colder, they didn't want to rent us an unheated cabin. So instead, they let us stay in a two bedroom townhouse for the same price. With a great view of the lake and the golf course. We even got to do laundry again! We love this place!!!

Best moment: Sitting out in the yard on Sunday night looking at the stars. The sky is pitch black here. You can see so much. Clean crisp air and a shooting star to boot. Wonderful. 

Wistful moment: Planning our next steps. It's Tuesday. We'll be home at the end of the week. Can't believe this trip is nearing the end. But there is more of Nebraska to explore in the meantime! Onward ho!