Buckley Creek Golf Course

Buckley Creek Golf Course is a 9-hole sand greens layout within the Buckley Creek Recreation Area near Gladstone in Jefferson County. Managed by the Little Blue Natural Resources District, the course occupies a section of public recreation land that also includes picnicking and hiking areas. Sand greens – a traditional feature of rural Great Plains golf – require players to smooth the putting surface with a drag before each putt.

The course is among the most informal in Nebraska, with no tee times, no driving range, and minimal amenities. Its appeal lies in the stripped-down, old-school golf experience and the extremely low cost of play. Buckley Creek is a throwback to the kind of community course that once dotted small towns across the western plains.