Nebraska Dunes is the second act of Awarii Dunes, the Jim Engh design south of Kearney that closed in October 2025 and reopened June 5, 2026, under new ownership after a full revitalization. “Awarii” means windblown in the Pawnee language, and the name fits: the course is laid over the gentle rolls of the southern Sandhills with natural blowout bunkers, native prairie grasses, and Engh’s famously fun greens — multiple tiers, mounds, and three natural bowl-shaped greens.
Engh built it using the natural terrain rather than reshaping it, so it plays like a softer Irish links dropped into the heartland. All 18 holes are distinct, the wind is a constant companion, and the bentgrass fairways are a rarity this far west. Regulars say the scenery alone is worth the trip.
It’s public, minutes south of Kearney, and Kearney’s other courses get overplayed — this is the release valve and, right now, the freshest round in the Tri-Cities.