Golf offers a great overall package, which is why so many people choose it. They can take pleasure in the sport itself, but the environment has the potential to make it much more. Golfers frequently go on vacation with their families, travel with their friends, or spend time away from work with coworkers or business partners. Texas is renowned for its excellent golf courses, offering some of the most challenging and enjoyable courses in the United States.
Read on to learn more about the top golf courses in Texas.
Whispering Pines Golf Course
Whispering Pines is a posh 18-hole golf course located in the picturesque Pennsylvanian hills. It was originally designed by golf course architect Chet Williams when he was with the Nicklaus Design Group. Since it first opened, Whispering Pines has consistently been ranked as the top course in the Dallas metro area by the local press. It is quickly gaining a reputation for turning amateur golfers into professionals as the host of the Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship. More than 300 amateur golfers have participated in the tournament over the course of its brief existence, and 54 of them have gone on to play professionally for the PGA, LPGA, and Men’s and Ladies European Tours.
Dallas National Golf Course
The 18-hole Dallas National Golf Course, located close to Dallas, offers a combination of modern design, breathtaking views, and an exciting game for every type of golf player. The distinctiveness and pursuit of excellence at Dallas National set it apart from other upscale clubs. There are no distractions such as busy roadways or residential developments in this golf-only environment. The short game practice area has six bent grass greens that are secluded in a grove of tall trees, and the practice range is 130 yards wide with tees on both ends and eight bunkered target greens. Its design, which was a joint effort between Tom Fazio, Beau Welling, and Dennis Wise, was completed in 2002. In 2027, the still-under-construction PGA Frisco facility at the golf course will host the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Championship, bringing a major championship tournament back to the Dallas area.
Bluejack National Golf Course
Bluejack National Golf Course is a world-class golf course located in Montgomery, Texas. Built on 830 acres of rolling hills, Bluejack National Golf Course was designed to provide a challenging yet enjoyable experience for golfers of all skill levels. It offers 18 holes of championship golf, complete with two driving ranges and practice putting greens, as well as a clubhouse and pro shop. This impressive course was designed by the renowned Tiger Woods Design firm and is the only Tiger Woods-designed golf course in the United States. It also received the Sports Illustrated/Golf Magazine award for “Best New Private Course of 2016.” In association with Camp Sweeney, a charity that develops a family atmosphere through summer camps to support kids with Type I Diabetes, they hosted the first-ever Bluejack Sweeney Invitational on December 13, 2022.
Colonial Country Club Course
The Colonial Country Club Golf Course, one of the most prestigious and venerable courses in the nation, was built in 1936 and designed by Perry Maxwell of Oklahoma and John Bredemus of Texas. It is also renowned for its challenging design and layout, with wide open fairways and strategically placed bunkers. Located in Fort Worth, Texas, the Colonial Country Club Course is a championship golf course that offers golfers an unforgettable experience. The course has hosted and continues to host some of the most renowned professional golf tournaments, such as the Colonial National Invitational (1946-present), the Crowne Plaza Invitational, the 1941 U.S. Open, the 1975 Tournament Players Championship, and the 1991 U.S. Women’s Open.
Preston Trails Golf Course
Located in Preston, Minnesota, Preston Trails Golf Course is a well-known golf course. The course was originally designed by Ralph Plummer and Byron Nelson in 1962, and it was the site of the Byron Nelson Golf Classic from 1968 to 1982. During that time, it was widely regarded as one of the best courses played on the PGA Tour every year. Today, Preston Trails Golf Course is still highly regarded as one of the most challenging and exciting courses in the country. With its picturesque landscape, diverse selection of holes, and history associated with it, Preston Trails Golf Course is sure to bring a unique golf experience to any golfer who plays there.
Trinity Forest Golf Course
Since opening in 2016, Trinity Forest Golf Course, which was designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, has grown to be one of the most well-known courses in the country. The Trinity Forest Golf Course is unique in that it was designed to pay homage to the past while also utilizing modern golf course design and landscaping techniques. Its immaculate Bermuda grass fairways, challenging sand traps, and multiple tee boxes on each hole guarantee an exhilarating round of golf for players of any skill level. Each year, Trinity Forest hosts a prestigious professional and amateur competition, as well as an NCAA invitational tournament. Not only that, but it also hosted the first PGA TOUR event held in Dallas in several decades.
Spanish Oaks Golf Course, Bee Cave
Spanish Oaks Golf Course is an 18-hole championship golf course located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. Designed by Bobby Weed, a former Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Tour architect, it was regarded as Texas’ most environmentally friendly golf course due to its beautiful landscapes, stunning views, and the excellent quality of its design. Between 2020 and 2022, it hosted several tournaments, including the Senior Men’s Club Championship, the Men’s Club Championship, and the Women’s Club Championship. As it expertly captures the lush beauty of Texas Hill Country, this top-notch course is adored by both the Austin golfing community and tourists. Along with the championship course, Spanish Oaks Golf Course is home to a 9-hole par-3 layout for recreational golfers, as well as a state-of-the-art short game area and practice facility.
Austin Golf Course, Spicewood
Nestled in the rolling hills of Austin, this course was designed by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore and debuted in 2001. Laid out on typical Texas Hill Country terrain, the course is characterized by live oaks, cacti, native grasses, and scrubland, with its clubhouse sited at the highest point on the property. With an 18-hole, par-71 layout that features multiple tee boxes to ensure enjoyable play for golfers of all levels, Austin Golf Course has hosted many regional and local events such as the World Golf Championship Match Play in 2016, the NCAA Women’s Golf Championships in 2019, and the Senior PGA Tour in 2021. Its challenging design has earned the course a well-deserved reputation for being one of the best public courses in the nation, and its stunning scenery and enjoyable atmosphere make it a favorite among players of all ages.
Cypress Creek Course
Cypress Creek Course, located at Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas, is considered one of the premiere tournament sites in America. It offers an 18-hole, par-72 course with four sets of tees and is known for its expansive fairways, which are lined with thick groves of trees. Ralph Plummer, a fellow Houstonian, was hired by the club’s founders, Jackie Burke Jr. and Jimmy Demaret to design the course, which debuted in 1951. Champions has a well-deserved reputation for hosting high-profile events over the years, including the 1967 Ryder Cup, 1969 U.S. Open, 1993 U.S. Amateur, 1998, 2017 Women’s Mid-Amateur, 1990, 1997, 1999, 2001, and 2003 The TOUR Championship, and the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open.
Escondido G. & Lake Club, Horseshoe Bay
The Escondido Golf & Lake Club, which is located on the southern shores of Lake Lyndon B. Johnson in the heart of Texas Hill Country, was designed by Tom Fazio and opened in 2006. The gentle rolling terrain and mature oak trees that line the course offer a fun variety of shots to play throughout the round. The course’s climax is reached in the final four holes, where visually appealing water features and risk/reward opportunities are present as golfers are put to the test one last time.
Over the years, numerous golf tournaments have been held there. However, none have been more noteworthy than the Women’s Open that took place at Escondido in 2021. This tournament was significant not only because it marked the first time that the Women’s Open had been held in Texas but also because it showcased the top female golfers from around the world competing on one of the most challenging courses in golf. Not only that, this event was an important milestone in the evolution of women’s golf, as it represented a chance for female golfers to demonstrate their skills on a course designed by one of the best golf course designers in the world.
