[Cliff Walston]

Looking to play in Dallas in a few weeks, weather permitting, with my father-in-law.  However, I don't know much about the public golf scene in Dallas.  I have played the Tribute once and thought it was a lot of fun, for what it is.  I have also played Tennison Park and enjoyed it.  What says the treehouse about the better public options in Dallas?

[K. Krahenbuhl]

Old American should be your #1 option IMO.

[Cliff Walston]

Thanks Kyle.  That is what I was looking for.

[Bill_McBride]

How about Jeff Brauer's Cowboys course?   Is that public?

I have enjoyed the courses at DFW, Bear Creek, for many years.  Good stuff and handy flying in or out.  

[Sam Morrow]

Play Old American then play it again.

[Pete_Pittock]

From the top ten in your city (both public and private)

Reply #161 from Doug Bolls

So, I'll play a little here.  A couple of years ago Golf Digest published a list of the "Top 20 Cities for Golf" - if you don't remember the article, you may be surprised at the #1 city.  Contrary to popular opinion, it wasn't Philly or Pinehurst or Chicago or somewhere in Florida - it was Dallas-Fort Worth.  There are not a lot of Great Courses in the DFW area (no Pine Valleys or Marions or Cypress Points), but I would suggest that there are quite a few Very Good Golf Courses here.  I play 2-3 times a week and don't play the same course twice in 2 months.  My latest handicap is made up of 20 different courses.
Here goes with the DFW courses I think you would enjoy:

Cowboys Golf Club:  A Jeff Brauer design that took full advantage of the landscape.  I especially like the way he routed the course to maximize the hills.  A solid test of your game.  And, talk about VALUE, the greens fee includes all the food and beverages you can consume.  Come out for breakfast, play the course with a stop at the halfway house for lunch, and come into the clubhouse for dinner - all included.

The Tribute:  Tripp Davis put together a very good representation of the most famous holes in Scotland/Ireland.  The postage stamp plays so close to the lake, you would thing you were in Troon.

Tennison Highlands:  A sister course to Tennison Park Glen where Lee Travino used to hang out.  DA Weibring redid it a few years ago - lots of elevation changes and wooded.  Part of Dallas City Munis.

Texas Star:  A very good Keith Foster design.  

Sky Creek Ranch:  A RTJ design - I would put the first 5-6 holes on this course up against almost anything you could bring.  A group of holes that demand accuracy off the tee and 2nd shots into precise landing areas. Not a cheap hole out here.

Sherrill Park #1 & 2:  Two of my favorite golf courses (D.A. Weibring) - water in play on quite a few holes.  Both of these courses take accurate shots off the tee to score well.  

Old American:  Justin Leonard and Tripp Davis put together this tribute to the "old masters".  I have enjoyed my rounds there, but maybe I'm too ignorant in architectural subtleties to fully appreciate what's going on there.  

Tierra Verde:  I played there today - it's a course with challenging holes from 1-18.  My playing partners had some trouble hitting in the fairway - lost a few balls and a few strokes.  Well in the top 10 of DFW public courses.

Golf Club of Dallas:  This is the last course Perry Maxwell designed.  I'm not sure how much of it is actual Maxwell, but the back nine has some very interesting holey that I hope are Maxwells.  OK landing areas, small greens.  A player friendly trip to the past.

Canyon West:  This is a family designed/owned course about 50 miles west of DFW.  Very interesting holes and routing - no out and back here.  I enjoy the ABSOLUTE QUIET out here on this course.  

In addition to the above courses, Jeff Brauer has contributed significantly to our golfing experience here in the DFW area.  I have enjoyed playing the following courses he designed and I think you would enjoy them too:
Indian Creek - Creek
Cross Timbers (I hate #10!!, but I love # 17)
Trails of Frisco
Ridgeview Ranch
Westridge
Tangle Ridge - should have been in my top 10





 

 
  
 

[Bart Bradley]

How about Jeff Brauer's Cowboys course?   Is that public?

I have enjoyed the courses at DFW, Bear Creek, for many years.  Good stuff and handy flying in or out.  

I like Cowboys but Bear Creek was not good....ugh.   

Listen to Pete.  I have played half of his list and agree with his suggestions.

Bart

[Sam Morrow]

Cliff,

What part of town are you gonna be in?

[Pete Balzer]

Cedar Crest

[Sam Morrow]

Cedar Crest

Cedar Crest has some good holes and a neat piece of property but I think don't like the redo.

[Cliff Walston]

Thanks Pete.  That is a great rundown.  I am going to be in town but don't mind a drive out of town to get a little time out of the house if you know what I mean.  So I am not so much concerned with what is close as opposed to playing what is best.  

[Pete_Pittock]

How about Jeff Brauer's Cowboys course?   Is that public?

I have enjoyed the courses at DFW, Bear Creek, for many years.  Good stuff and handy flying in or out.  

I like Cowboys but Bear Creek was not good....ugh.  

Listen to Pete.  I have played half of his list and agree with his suggestions.

Bart

Bart, That was not my list. It was posted by Doug Bolls on the top 10 in your city thread and I neglected to attribute properly
Cliff, I modified my message to with the original poster's name,

I have never played golf in Texas.

[mike_beene]

I would look into the Golf Club of Dallas which is the old Oak ?Cliff club and was mentioned in the list above. It is available to outside play.It is Bermuda greens and I don't know what happens to them in the winter but they are usually pretty good.I have heard that the Stephens Park redo is fun.A short course on a small property.Never played Old American but hear nice things.It is a long way out from the city center.

[Bart Bradley]

How about Jeff Brauer's Cowboys course?   Is that public?

I have enjoyed the courses at DFW, Bear Creek, for many years.  Good stuff and handy flying in or out.  

I like Cowboys but Bear Creek was not good....ugh.  

Listen to Pete.  I have played half of his list and agree with his suggestions.

Bart

Bart, That was not my list. It was posted by Doug Bolls on the top 10 in your city thread and I neglected to attribute properly
Cliff, I modified my message to with the original poster's name,

I have never played golf in Texas.

Ok, listen to Doug 

[Edward Moody]

Been several years but when I used to come up and see friends we would play Tenison Highlands. We started playing it post re-do and I really enjoyed it. The course had an old school feel to it. I like the tee shots, the bunkers, and the greens.   Lots of elevation too.

[Doug Bolls]

I'm just happy a topic came along where I feel somewhat qualified to comment! 

[Bill_McBride]

How about Jeff Brauer's Cowboys course?   Is that public?

I have enjoyed the courses at DFW, Bear Creek, for many years.  Good stuff and handy flying in or out.  

I like Cowboys but Bear Creek was not good....ugh.   

Listen to Pete.  I have played half of his list and agree with his suggestions.

Bart

Bart, the original 18 at Bear Creek was pretty good when it opened in the late '70's when I lived in Dallas for a few years.  When they built a second 18 and broke up the original, the quality did drop, perhaps to the "ugh" level. 

[Chris Mavros]

I was in Dallas a few weeks ago and had time for a round.  I decided on Old American and was very glad I played it.  I really liked the design.  I did a review of the course as well:http://bestphillygolf.blogspot.com/2013/11/old-american.html

[Jeff_Brauer]

http://www.myavidgolfer.com/issues/2013/1311agdfw/cover-story-the-best-of-public-golf-2013.aspx

As it happens, Avid Golfer has its best of public lists out this month.  You can make your own choice.  Mirroring much of this discussion, Cowboys is the overall best in public, Old American, Tribute, Texas Star, Bridlewood, Sky Creek Ranch and Tour 18 are the next five.  Other than Bridlewood, which is okay, but in housing, I recommend the top six to anyone in this group.

The next on the list is Heritage Ranch Golf and Country Club (Art Hills) The Golf Club at Fossil Creek (Palmer) Coyote Ridge Golf Club (Williams, Gill) and The Golf Club at McKinney.(amateur architect from Arkansas)

If you are far north, Heritage is pretty good, and in Ft Worth, Fossil okay.  None of the others on the list would make the cut for an architecture buff. (For Coyote Ridge, they noted improved conditions, for example) If you are south of Dallas, I recommend my own Tangleridge, which sits 19th on the list, but should be higher, IMHO. Great land and good course.

[Jay Flemma]

Cowboys and then one of the vest sleeoers in the statw-Turtle Hill!

Many like Pine Dunes too..

[Steve Lang]

  Jay, check your map scale… its abut 100 miles from Dallas to Pine Dunes, near Frankston…  great course though..

[Jay Flemma]

I know how far it is...and in a ginormous state like Texas 100 miles is a skip and a jump.  And Texans really like that place.  It was totally worth recommending...if not for this trip, then for another.  Personally, I prefer Cowboys, but it's a fun day.  But Turtle Hill was cool...and only 20 bucks!

[Jeff_Brauer]

Jay and I played at PD a few years back, after the traditional NYE hockey game at American Airlines Center the night before.  It can be done, but its a day trip.

[Jay Flemma]

It was New Years Day in fact!  We watched the Stars smear the NJ Devils like red floppy grapes, then played Pine Dunes with the Bowling for Soup boys!  Golden Days!

Hey Jeff!  Oh say does that ***STAR!!!!!*** spangled baaaaanneeeeer yeeeeeet waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaave!!!

[Jason Topp]

How bad is Bear Creek?  I have a four hour window on what is forecasted to be a nice day and doubt I would have time to play anywhere else and do not really want to spring for a round at a more upscale place when I will need to rent clubs.

 Is it better than eating peanuts and reading emails at the DFW Hilton?

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