From urban courses in San Antonio and Houston to far-flung gems in Big Bend and beyond, here are the top Texas courses for every golf fanatic.
Lajitas Golf Resort, Terlingua
Terlingua is a quiet town on the outskirts of Big Bend. But that’s precisely why Lajitas Golf Resort has thrived as a premier getaway for serious golfers: West Texas views and zero distractions.
Regularly ranked as a top course in Texas by industry pros, Black Jack’s Crossing at Lajitas Golf Resort is unlike any other golfing experience in the state.
Featuring memorable views of the Rio Grande and Big Bend National Park, the course is stunning in its juxtapositions: lush greens and fairways expand within the Chihuahuan Desert. Find solitude and relaxation at this world-class, championship course on the edge of the state.
Play a round of golf here and you’ll see why Texas has some of the most beautiful, challenging, and unique golf courses in the world.
Pine Dunes Resort Golf Course, Frankston
See why this off-the-beaten-path course is the jewel of the Piney Woods. Driving near Lake Palestine, you might not know you’re at one of the most heralded courses in Texas.
Stay and play or drop in on the course with a number of memorable holes, including a pair of par fives. Hole 11 features a swath of sand across the fairway, and the 18th features a dramatic dogleg at a water feature toward the green.
Thousands of golfers each year make the hike to Pine Dunes Resort for the sterling reputation of the course, which features lush, slightly rolling greens, tight fairways, consistent bunkers, and a fun, but challenging, overall experience.
Whispering Pines Golf Club, Trinity
Located on Lake Livingston, Whispering Pines Golf Club feels like a golf outing and an outdoor adventure packed into one experience.
With lake and forest views on every hole, golfers will be challenged by the rolling, rippled terrain. And that’s before the final six-hole stretch, which finds golfers navigating alligator-filled Caney Creek, which leads into Lake Livingston.
And, for those in a time crunch, check out the Needler, Whispering Pines’ nine-hole course. Even though it’s smaller, it is just as mighty as the adjacent 18-hole course.
Texarkana Golf Ranch, Texarkana
Nestled on the banks of Bringle Lake in the northeast corner of the state, Texarkana Golf Ranch is one of the best value plays in Texas.
The course is known for its breathtaking views and dramatic elevation changes, for a fun and challenging 18 holes. Golfers can enjoy a slower pace of play at Texarkana Golf Ranch, which features stunning lakes and undulating fairways at municipal prices.
Layout is king at Texarkana Golf Ranch, with 50-foot elevation changes and impressive lake views at the back nine. A challenging course with multiple tight fairways, the course is perfect for the experienced golfer looking for a truly inspired layout in a gorgeous setting.
Hyatt Lost Pines, Cedar Creek
Located on the Colorado River just 25 miles from downtown Austin, Hyatt Lost Pines features an 18-hole masterpiece. Featuring pine thickets, rolling greens, and other fantastic views, this esteemed course is touted as one of the best in the state.
But that’s not nearly the only reason to make the trek out to the resort. Bringing the family? Relax at the waterpark, featuring a lazy river between rounds. Need a break, reboot, or refresh? The accompanying spa has a full menu of massages and skincare treatments, plus a full nail salon and hair studio. Fully relax and immerse yourself in the resort’s eucalyptus steam rooms and heat-therapy whirlpools.
La Cantera Resort & Spa, San Antonio
Featuring four 18-hole golf courses, La Cantera Resort & Spa is perfect for anyone looking to treat themselves.
The awe-inspiring views of this acclaimed course showcase the grandeur of the Texas Hill Country. Serving as the foundation of the encompassing luxury resort and once home to the PGA and Texas Open, this par 72 entertains players of any level. Arriving at the 7th tee, you are graced with a view of the fairway from the top of an 80ft drop off. Streams stretch throughout the course and groves of live oaks offer shade as you play your way past natural water features and limestone outcroppings. stretch throughout the course. Experiencing just the course or the resort as a whole, it’s a gem of the Alamo City.
Brackenridge Park Golf Course, San Antonio
The oldest municipal golf course in Texas is just a short drive from the Alamo in San Antonio. Brackenridge Park Golf Course is a challenging yet approachable 18-hole course in the heart of the city.
Chock full of history, with a slew of legendary golfers having walked the gorgeously manicured greens and fairways enroute to Texas Open titles. Fans of the history of the game will delight in touches like the still-standing Borglum Studio with views of the 17th hole.
But history aside, the golfing experience is unparalleled in the Alamo City. The front nine is blessed with many shade trees, making precise drives a necessity. Brackenridge Park is a good mixture of moderate challenges and enjoyable holes. Come see why, in 2021, Golf Magazine named “Old Brack” one of the best municipal golf courses in the United States.
Gus Wortham Park Golf Course, Houston
America’s fourth largest city is no stranger to vaunted private clubs, resorts, and other majestic urban golf courses. But it also has one of the best public courses in the state: Gus Wortham Park Golf Course.
The city’s oldest 18-hole course almost became a botanical garden in 2014. That is, until the city’s golf fanatics saved it.
Nearly 10 years later, Gus Wortham is a sight to behold for muni players, with enchanting greens and fairways, challenging approaches, and a revamped clubhouse.
Omni PGA Frisco Resort, Frisco
One of the newest courses in Texas, this top tier golf location is also steps away from the headquarters of the PGA of America. The Omni PGA Frisco Resort features two 18-hole championship golf courses, a 10-hole par 3 short course (lighted so you can play into the evening) as well as a vast, two-acre putting green, and open Topracer bays. Both of the 18-hole courses, Fields Ranch East and Fields Ranch West, are designed to reflect the local topography, including bunkers that blend in with the naturally occurring prairie grasses. The West course leans more into the rolling hills of the area, with over 75 feet of elevation change. Both courses wind around Panther Creek.
There’s plenty to do here for those in your life who aren’t all about golf—the resort has 13 dining options including grilles, bars, and more. Don’t miss their full-service salon, spa, and four pools. The resort has a PGA Shop, of course, but they also have shops with toys for the kids and boutiques with the latest fashions.
