There are numerous golf courses in Texas. Some are clear-cut, while others are anything but. Some are open to the public, while others are so private that it’s unclear how to join the club. Then there’s the sweet spot where accessibility and immaculate courses meet.
Even though Texas is known as the Lone Star State, several courses stand out among the vast state’s incredibly diverse terrain. Prepare to be impressed by these stunning, green golf courses in Texas that you can pay to play, whether you are refining your putt, hammering drives, or simply in it for the golf cart.
Black Jack’s Crossing (Lajitas)
Lanny Wadkins designed this spectacular Rio Grande River course, which has been the ideal West Texas tee time to obtain since its opening in 2012. Take in the beauty of West Texas as you perform in front of a breathtaking stage with Big Bend National Park as a background. While you are welcome to drive across Texas to get there, you will quickly discover that the preferred mode of transportation for regulars to this original oasis is by private plane.
Bluejack National (Montgomery)
Bluejack National, clearly inspired by Augusta, is the type of golf course you could play every day and leave with a smile. Bluejack is a delight from the first tee to the last, with no rough, wide fairways, beautiful bunkers, few water hazards, and immaculate conditioning. Bluejack is the envy of Texas, with tons of playability and top-tier amenities.
Boot Ranch (Fredericksburg)
This course is pure enjoyment! The fun factor of a golf course is underappreciated, even though it can be the factor that draws players back more than any other. The risk/reward opportunities, elevation changes, and expansive views combine to form a winning formula. First-rate facilities, impeccable course conditioning, and a separate par-three course produce the knockout punch that elevates Boot Ranch to the top tier of Texas courses.
Buffalo Creek Club (Rockwall)
This golf course, which is only a half-hour drive from Dallas, is rated as one of the best in Texas. Buffalo Creek Club was designed to take advantage of the natural rolling terrain to create an entertaining, scenic, and challenging golf course.
This course also includes plenty of practice opportunities to help you improve your overall game and driving skills. This is a no for golfers seeking to go beyond for some quality fun, with a par-71, 7018 yardland course.
Butterfield Trail Golf Club (El Paso)
Butterfield Trail Golf Club, located in El Paso, is an 18-hole, 100-acre par-62 course that is challenging and unique. Aside from having reasonable fees, this particular course is highly scenic and entertaining, with amazing facilities. In addition, the near-perfect conditions from the green to the tee box will entice you to return.
Cowboy Golf Club (Grapevine)
Cowboy Golf Club in Grapevine offers a variety of exciting surprises and challenges. There is no other golf course like it, and nothing shouts America more than this one-of-a-kind golf course, which is recognized as the first and only NFL-themed golf course.
As a result, this course ranks high on our list of the best golf courses in Texas. If you’re in the area, it’s a must-see for its uniqueness and the incredible and unrivaled golfing experience. Since its inauguration in 2001, it has also been regarded as one of Texas’ finest golf courses. We don’t know what to say if you’re not convinced.
Dallas National Golf Club (Dallas)
Dallas National is rightfully regarded as one of Texas and Dallas’ top golf courses, and Tom Fazio delivered again at a big-budget club. The lack of housing, variety of design, impeccable conditions, and breathtaking views combine to create an elite Lone Star state experience that rivals Spanish Oaks and is second only to Whispering Pines. The fast greens, exceptional conditioning, and challenging routing make Dallas National a natural fit for professional golfers like Hunter Mahan.
Fazio Canyons (Austin)
Following a $150 million reservation of the resort, this lovely course is in fantastic shape, with approximately $6 million of that devoted to getting the courses in peak playing condition. Tom Fazio showed off his architectural talent to ensure that the elevation changes made golfers take a moment to appreciate Austin’s aesthetics.
Fazio Foothills (Austin)
Creeks, cliffs, and wildlife! This Tom Fazio-designed course has five separate sets of tee boxes so that everyone can succeed. Practice your swing before number 18, as all resort patrons at the pavilion and pools will be watching you sink that putt. This course’s 2018 renovation included a gorgeous new pro shop, which implores gear hoarders to pick up a new visor or two.
Escondido Golf and Lake Club (Horseshoe Bay)
Located in the Hill Country, just 50 miles northwest of Austin, Escondido is a private, upper-end facility with a Tom Fazio layout and a southwest Spanish theme. The layout’s conditioning is exceptional throughout, with the Champion Tiff greens featuring sub-air systems maintaining an ideal setting for the putting surfaces to flourish. The bunkers are immaculately kept, and the zoysia fairways allow the ball to sit up nicely.
Mature oak trees frame the course, and the gently rolling terrain offers a fun variety of shots to perform throughout the round. The final four holes are the course’s climax, with attractive water features and risk/reward opportunities as golfers are put to the ultimate test.
Lakecliff Golf Club (Spicewood)
Lakecliff Golf Club, located in the Hill Country near Highland Lakes, is known for its scenic waterfalls, breathtaking views, and exceptional conditions. This par-71, 6754-yard course provides a lot of fun and challenges for the average golfer interested in an excellent time.
Furthermore, what used to be a private golf course has been converted into a semi-private course, allowing the public to enjoy the sheer beauty of this single course. Lakecliff Golf Club is a truly unforgettable experience.
Lochinvar Golf Club (Houston)
Lochinvar is a male-only, exclusive private golf club located west of Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Lochinvar is similar to what you see on TV at Augusta National: towering pines, vibrant flowers, stunning water features, and immaculate conditioning.
The only significant difference between Augusta and Lochinvar is the latter’s lack of elevation changes and rolling terrain; anyone who has visited Houston knows how flat it is. Overall, Lochinvar is a lovely club with a caddy program that values the game’s origins.
Max A. Mandel Municipal Golf Course (Laredo)
Max A. Mandel Municipal Golf Course, located just north of Laredo, opened to the public in 2012 and has since been recognized as among the best Texan public golf courses. The Rio Grande River view showcased throughout the course distinguishes this golf course and adds a nice calming vibe to the overall experience.
Aside from that, the course’s complex layout and a few semi-blind tee shots present their challenges. The Max A. Mandel Municipal Golf Course offers the most enjoyable and memorable round of golf.
Memorial Park Golf Course (Houston)
In 2019, the Astros Golf Foundation contributed $34 million to the revamp of this municipal course. Who was chosen to light up this golf course? Of course, Tom Doak who’s among the most famous architects. Golfers now have fewer bunkers to contend with and new grass and cart paths.
Miramont Country Club (Bryan)
Miramont is an outstanding Robert Trent Jones Jr. design situated in the center of Aggie country, just outside of Bryan, Texas. Miramont has one of the most luxurious clubhouses globally, a palatial 93,000 sq ft brick beauty with stunning course views and nearby areas from the spacious balcony.
The terrain includes rolling grassland meadows and towering oak trees to complement the collection of bunkers and undulated greens. The course provides plenty of risk/reward opportunities for the golfer to employ throughout the round, with multiple fairways and challenging water hazards.
Old American Golf Course at the Tribute (The Colony)
This picturesque course, designed by PGA 12-time winner and Tripp Davis on the banks of Lake Lewisville, is inspired by Scottish links and provides golfers with native grassy areas and unforgiving bunkers that keep those who enjoy a challenge coming back for more. You’ll have to fight tooth and nail to get a tee time here, but the public can play if the schedule is flexible.
Palmer Course (San Antonio)
This truly fantastic course, known for its gorgeous tour of true Texas terrain, is named after Arnie. There are also numerous waterfalls for those who prefer a more hydrated course.
Pro tip: The ideal way to end a day on this course is a rejuvenating sports massage at the Loma de Vida spa, which might or might not be the best spa in Texas.
Palmilla Beach Golf Club (Port Aransas)
Palmilla Beach Golf Club, located near Port Aransas, is known for its beaches, fishing, amazing restaurants, birdwatching, and exciting nightlife, and you can now include golf on the list. This 9-hole golf course was built and sculpted into the dunes on the Gulf of Mexico. As a result, its superb layout is without a doubt one of Texas’ best link-style courses, and they’re well-deserving of all the accolades and awards over the years.
Pine Dunes (Frankston)
This Jay & Carter Morrish work of art draws golfers from all over the state to its location deep in the center of East Texas. Even the most discerning players are speechless at this diamond in the rough Frankston facility, thankfully open to the public.
Perhaps the course is never crowded or because the conditions are good, with true-rolling greens and lush fairways. Perhaps the course reflects the sport as it should be: unassuming, unflashy, and pure golf.
Shadow Hawk Golf Club (Richmond)
Shadow Hawk is one of the two Rees Jones designs at the southwest Houston complex. The private club is surrounded by pecan trees and has an oxbow lake in the center of the property, which was designed. Because the terrain is flat in the Houston area, the greens were raised to add definition and character to the course.
Shadow Hawk has no tricks or gimmicks because the course is laid out clearly in front of the golfer, which many tournament and low handicap players appreciate and prefer. Yardages are measured to the green’s front instead of the center, which is more prevalent in Europe than in America because of the popular ground game on the other end of the pond.
Caddies are available for patrons who want to incorporate some local expertise into their shots and learn how to navigate the course’s nuances. Overall, Shadow Hawk is an excellent course with excellent conditioning that has been thoughtfully designed with tournament golf in mind.
Spanish Oaks Golf Club (Bee Cave)
Everyone enjoys it when a course exceeds expectations and when their caddie provides information that makes them appreciate the golf course. Bobby Weed did an excellent job of creating a moderately long course that’s challenging but fair for a wide range of skill levels.
The explosion in real estate development has taken away some of the views that the course once had. Still, the topography and overall setting lend themselves to one of the best golfing experiences in Texas. From a design perspective, Whispering Pines is the superior routing in the state, competing with Dallas National for the second-best golf experience in Texas.
Sugar Tree Golf (Lipan)
Sugar Tree Golf is a 6810-yard, 18-hole course built in 1988 and offers some of the best challenges distributed throughout the course. Furthermore, this course takes patience, and you should give it your all to do well.
Given that this is among the most challenging courses in the area, it’s no surprise that most people come here to put their skills to work. People may find it infuriatingly fun to play with a slope of 125 to 137 while finding a way to make the course a little easier.
Summit Rock Golf Club (Horseshoe Bay)
Summit Rock exceeds expectations. The variety of hole shapes, lengths, and challenges is excellent, and the overall natural feel of the course is impressive. Summit Rock offers a little bit of everything, from holes that require more meticulous planning to holes you can let loose with the driver, and it all adds up to one of the best courses in Texas.
The Club At Carlton Woods (The Woodlands)
Carlton Woods is a gated community on Houston’s north side, home to two of the city’s finest golf courses, one designed by renowned golf architect Tom Fazio and mythical player Jack Nicklaus. There are few more successful modern-day golf course designers than these two titans, whose work on the property is outstanding. The Nicklaus Course was the first to open on the property, and it has its clubhouse separate from the Fazio course.
The parkland Nicklaus course winds through mature trees and alongside several water features. The Nicklaus course is distinguished by difficult par fours and water that plays a part in half of the holes. The Fazio course has undulating terrain (unusual in Houston) and many hole shapes, lengths, and strategies.
The Rawls Course at Texas (Lubbock)
The Rawls Course at Texas, which opened in 2003, was designed by Tom Doak and is located in Lubbock. The course was designed for Texas Tech University, and the construction cost $8 million.
This golf course is extremely well-designed, with heavily contoured fairways, valleys, berms, and raised green complexes. Furthermore, this course offers a set of challenges for golfers to put their skills into practice and is among the best golfing experiences everyone can enjoy.
This rustic beauty tucked away in the heart of the South Plains will never bore lovers of that lush green grass. When Texas Tech University asked Tom Doak to create a golf course on what used to be a flat cotton field, he did it. If you’ve spent any time in Lubbock, you’ll recognize the true jewel that awaits Red Raiders, who are ready for a round.
Timberlinks Golf Club (Denton)
This course has a relaxed 9-hole layout that is both enjoyable and challenging. This excellent course will test your club selection, course management, and shot-making abilities.
Furthermore, each hole is unique, which adds to the fun, and the conditions are outstanding while still maintaining reasonable rates. It’s no surprise that many consider it among the best 9-hole courses in Texas. The natural rolling terrain is used to great effect to create a course worth seeing.
Tournament Course, Golf Club of Houston (Humble)
This David Toms and Rees Jones one-two punch awaits you in Houston’s outskirts. This course, which hosted the Houston Open from 2007 to 2019, is an excellent place to start teeing off with friends looking for a fun public course to play.
With sand to the right and water to the left, a solid round can be lost or won on 18. Will you depart as a champion or a chump? Time will only tell.
TPC Four Seasons (Las Colinas)
When planning the ideal golf getaway, don’t forget to consider your backyard. This Jay Morrish course (available to resort guests) is located just under 20 minutes from downtown Dallas and is full of surprises. Did you know, for example, that it’s an Environmental Leader in Golf award winner and a certified Audubon cooperative sanctuary?
Relive the glory days of the AT&T Byron Nelson Championship and then enjoy a juicy steak at the estate’s Law Restaurant. You’ll quickly forget you’re only minutes away from the chaos of home.
TPC San Antonio Oaks Course (San Antonio)
This Greg Norman creation is known for its tree-lined, narrow fairways and is home to the PGA Tour’s Valero Texas Open. As you might expect, the homey corridors are oak trees, and there are a few wider routes available for those who need to be creative en route to the cup. Stay and play deals at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa provide access to the course.
Whispering Pines Golf Club (Trinity)
Whispering Pines Golf Club is the second-best in Texas. Chet Williams, a Nicklaus protégé, collaborated with owner Corby Roberston Jr. to create a standout design in Texas. The secluded course’s closing stretch features Lake Livingston and Caney Creek, but the green complexes span 18 holes that elevate it to star status.
Wildcat Golf Club (Houston)
Wildcat Golf Club, located near Houston, offers two excellent 18-hole layouts, excellent service, and stunning greeneries. Wildcat Gold Club is not only the preferred golf course of Houston’s pro sports teams, but it is also among Texas Outside’s favorite courses.
One of the many reasons you should take this course is the breathtaking view of Houston’s city skyline. Every one of the 18-hole courses has the characteristics that make it distinct and enjoyable. This course is unquestionably worthwhile.
Wolfdancer Golf Club (Lost Pines)
Are you looking for peace deep in the Texas Hill Country? Look no further than The Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Spa & Resort, where golfers can get lost in nature for 18 holes before rejoining their families poolside. Texas trees are on display in this course designed by Steve Forrest and Associates/Arthur Hills, with Oak, Pecan, and Cedar Elms directing heavy hitters through the golf course that concludes on the lower Colorado Riverbanks.
Wolf Point (Port Lavaca)
“The Saint Andrews of Texas,” built as a rich rancher’s private playground, is among the world’s most exclusive courses, with only about 600 people playing it. The course appears simple and flat, but architect Mike Nuzzo’s superb cloverleaf design keeps the wind at bay and brings Keller Creek into play on eight holes.
Wolf Point does not have tee markers, ball washers, or yardages, but it does have a private airstrip and camels. Their dwarf Bermuda greens are among the best in Texas.
Even though Texas has hundreds of golf courses due to its large population and land area, the state has shown incredible potential in providing great golf courses for golf enthusiasts. Finally, no matter where you are in Texas, there will always be more than enough golf course options in your region and beyond. Also, trying out new golf courses and experiencing different scenery and challenges is always a good idea, which is the charm of this sport.
