Corn Fed Course Crawl #1: Van Berg Golf Course (Columbus, Nebraska)
- CornFedMike
- Jan 14
- 6 min read
If I’m going to play, document, and create video content for every golf course in Nebraska, the very first stop on this ambitious journey had to be the course that holds a special place in my heart. You might say it is the course that ignited my passion for the game of golf.
Van Berg Golf Course in Columbus, NE was the very first golf course I ever stepped foot on, and it was where I first learned to swing a club and embrace the sport that has since become a significant part of my life. Despite being born and raised in this town, I came to the realization that it had been a staggering probably 30 years since I last played a round there. This sparked a wave of nostalgia and excitement as I planned my return. Thus, in September 2025, I made my way back to Van Berg, accompanied by my brother-in-law and my youngest daughter, who was tasked with filming our experience. This trip marked the official kickoff of the Corn Fed Course Crawl, an initiative where I aim to play/document/and produce a video for every golf course across the beautiful state of Nebraska.
Van Berg isn’t a destination course. It isn’t trying to be. But for me, it’s one of those places that instantly rewires your brain back to childhood. I also discovered there’s way more history behind this “little nine-hole” than I ever appreciated when I was a kid.
Van Berg Golf Course - Quick Facts
Course: Van Berg Golf Course (Columbus, Nebraska)
Holes: 9
Par: 36
Yardage: 2742 yards from the "tips" (5484 for 18 holes)
Vibe: approachable, fast, and fun, but the greens are tiny
Best for: beginners, juniors, “super seniors,” and anyone wanting a quick round
Bonus: there’s also FootGolf here (yes, really)
A Golf Origin Story
Before Quail Run opened in 1991, Van Berg was essentially the only course I was familiar with. I was 16 when Quail Run opened (and I worked there throughout high school), but from around 10–11ish until 16, Van Berg was my go-to place.
My dad would take me and my brother there… my cousin from Denver would join us during summer visits… and we’d do what kids do: hit plenty of bad shots, lose numerous balls, and feel like we were engaged in something very serious and important.
Returning as an adult felt like stepping into an old memory, except now I can actually get the ball airborne on purpose (sometimes).
The Van Berg Name
I’ve always known there was a horse racing connection here, a feeling that seemed to linger in the air, almost like a whisper from the past. The entrance sign literally features a horse, so it’s not exactly subtle, it boldly announces its presence. Even as a kid, I remember thinking, “Okay… why the horse?”
What I didn’t fully understand back then is how deep that local connection runs. Van Berg dates back to 1928, and the Van Berg name is tied into Columbus history in a real way, including the horse-racing side of town’s identity. Columbus is one of the Nebraska communities tied to live racing, and Van Berg’s name (and that horse on the sign) is a little reminder that this course is more than “the nine-hole in the park.”
It’s one of those places where the history has been staring you in the face the whole time. You just don’t appreciate it until you come back as an adult.
Hole # 1: Childhood Intimidation
Van Berg begins with a scene etched in my memory: Hole #1 is a par 3 over water. It's essentially the only hole where water significantly impacts play.
As a child, it was daunting. We could barely clear it with drivers. Today, it's much less intimidating... but the feeling lingers when you stand on that tee for the first time in years.
Additionally, the "water" has evolved. It used to feel more like a pond. Now, it's more marsh-like. It could be because we were playing the course in the fall, and the water had been drained, but it seemed far less intimidating that it did in my youth... for many reasons.
The Course Today
Van Berg isn’t long and it isn’t brutal, but it also isn’t a total pushover. The challenge primarily arises from the fact that the greens are small. This characteristic demands a high level of precision from golfers, as even a well-executed approach shot can lead to disappointment if it strays just a few feet off target. You can hit a “pretty decent” approach and still find yourself chipping because you missed by five feet.
This scenario serves as a compelling reminder that scoring isn’t merely about yardage; rather, it emphasizes the importance of accuracy and the finesse of the short game. The tightness of the greens means that players must not only focus on their long game but also hone their skills around the greens, where every stroke counts significantly. The ability to read the greens and execute delicate chips and putts becomes paramount, illustrating that golf is as much a mental game as it is a physical one.
And for a nine-hole course that lives in the shadow of an 18-hole “big brother,” it was in pretty good shape when we played. The fairways were well-maintained, and the greens rolled true, allowing for an enjoyable and rewarding golfing experience. It offers a perfect venue for both seasoned players looking to sharpen their skills and newcomers eager to learn the game in a less intimidating environment.
The Clubhouse
The clubhouse itself hasn’t changed much from what I remember (especially from the outside). It’s still very much “municipal nine-hole clubhouse energy.”
But Van Berg has been working toward a more modern/community-learning feel. By the time I played in September 2025, that transition was clearly underway. It sounds like the course got a very public “next chapter” moment shortly after, with the city celebrating updates in October 2025 (including golf simulators).
I basically played it in that “right before the ribbon-cutting” window.
My Round
We played 18 holes. My youngest daughter filmed the first nine shot-by-shot… and then got understandably tired/bored and didn’t want to film the second nine.
Which is unfortunate because I shot:
43 on the first nine (the filmed nine)
41 on the second nine (the un-filmed nine… naturally)
Golf content creation is pain.
As for the “highlights”… we'll call them that...
I had a little streak of pars on holes 5 through 7.
I also had at least one classic “how did I just do that?” moment (yes, including a drive that went about 20 yards).
I successfully made it over the "water" on Hole # 1. Twelve year old me is very impressed!
Ominous Sign
There’s a sign on Hole # 2 now that I’m positive wasn’t there when I was a kid. It is a warning golfers they’re responsible for damage to homes along the hole.
It also includes one of the funniest typos I’ve ever seen on a golf course sign:
“You may only enter upon said property upon the express pension on the homeowner”
Even funnier is that they actually think they could hold you legally responsible for errant tee shot damage.
The YouTube Video
I made a YouTube video showing the round shot-by-shot, filmed by my youngest daughter.
The twist: I built it to look like the original NES Golf game, except where the little NES golfer would be, it’s replaced by my actual video. I also styled each Van Berg hole to match that NES vibe. Seems only fitting that since the late 1980s were when this course was my stomping grounds.
Watch the video here:
Final thoughts
Van Berg isn’t going to be the highlight of someone’s Nebraska golf trip. But if you are in town to play Quail Run(which is a fantastic course btw), you definitely should make a visit to Van Berg while you are there.
It's a solid, well-used nine-hole course with real local history behind it. And It’s a time machine for me personally. It’s where my golf story started, long before I cared about handicaps, equipment or swing thoughts.
Cornfed Course Crawl Course # 1: Complete!
On to Course # 2, just 213 more course to go!
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