Grandpa’s Woods History
Before there were fairways, there were campfires. Before there were greens, there was sand. Before there was a golf course, there was a creek, a silo full of ice, and a patch of Nebraska woods that would eventually become Grandpa’s Woods.
Since 1956, golf has been a little quieter out here.
Grandpa’s Woods was originally developed by Boyd and Rex Clemens, whose vision helped transform the wooded countryside near Murdock into a golf course unlike anything else in the area.
Rather than force the land to change, the course was built around the natural terrain — weaving holes through the trees, hills, and landscape that already existed here. That philosophy still defines the course today. Simple. Natural. Honest golf.
The Silo
The landmark that became the logo.
The old silo standing near the course has become one of the most recognizable symbols of Grandpa’s Woods. It appears in the logo beside the large walnut tree and serves as a reminder of the property’s history long before golf arrived.
Years ago, the silo wasn’t used for grain — it was used to store ice.
During the winter months, the nearby Weeping Water Creek would freeze over. Large blocks of ice were cut from the creek, hauled by horse to the silo, then packed in hay to preserve them for months. The structure essentially served as an old-fashioned refrigerator for the surrounding community.
Today, the silo remains a quiet reminder of the hardworking, resourceful spirit that shaped this place.
Before the Golf Course
Campfires, canoes and adventure.
Before Grandpa’s Woods became a golf course, parts of the property served as a Boy Scout camp complete with campgrounds, trails, and canoes along the creek.
The wooded landscape made it a natural place for exploration and outdoor recreation long before the first tee box was built.
As the area evolved over the years, many of the trees cleared from the property were repurposed to help build homes and structures throughout the Elmwood and Murdock communities — meaning pieces of Grandpas Woods still live throughout the surrounding towns today.
ELMWOOD • MURDOCK
Two Towns. One Golf Course.
One of the things that makes Grandpa’s Woods unique is that it doesn't belong to just one town. While the mailing address is in Murdock, the clubhouse sits in Elmwood. In fact, the course itself stretches across multiple communities. Holes 1 through 6 are played in Elmwood, Holes 7 through 9 are in Murdock, and the green on Hole 7 even crosses into Wabash.
It's not every day you can play golf in three Nebraska towns without ever getting back in your car.
The Sand Green Days
Golf looked a little different back then.
In the early days of the course, Grandpas Woods originally featured sand greens — something many younger golfers today have never experienced.
Before modern turf maintenance became common, sand greens were a practical and affordable solution for rural golf courses. Players would smooth the surface after putting, and maintaining the greens required patience, effort, and constant upkeep.
Those early years helped shape the hardworking, no-frills character the course still carries today.
Golf here has never been about perfection.
It’s always been about the experience.
Grandpa’s Woods Today
Carrying the tradition forward.
In 2019, Jake Reinders—a third-generation member of the founding Clemens family—took over operations of Grandpa’s Woods and has continued investing in the course while preserving the character and atmosphere that make it special.
Recent improvements include:
Completely rebuilding and relocating the #2 green
Adding a new putting green
Moving the #1 tee box back to create a longer opening hole
Continued course improvements and ongoing maintenance throughout the property
The goal has never been to turn Grandpa’s Woods into something it isn’t.
The goal is to make it the best version of what it has always been:
A peaceful, welcoming place where people can enjoy the game, spend time outdoors, and slow down for a few hours.
