Top 5 Course Played In Texas

[Pete Balzer]

My Top 5

Preston Trails
Starr Hollow
Pine Dunes
Escondido
Spanish Oaks

[Sam Morrow]

Wolf Point
Whispering Pines
Austin Golf Club
Carlton Woods-Fazio
Old American

Lots of tough choices but I will go with these 5. The top 3 are locked in but I could easily interchange a dozen or so courses in 4 and 5 spot.

[Jason Topp]

I have a weird and small sample of Texas courses and nearly all of them I have only played once, but sitting here now, I would say:

1.  Texarkana Golf Ranch (I think it was on the Texas side)
2.  Dallas National
3.  The Bandit
4.  Fazio Canyons - Barton Creek (if that is the one away from the hotel)
5.  Pecan Valley (it was shortly after it hosted a USGA event so it probably was at its peak)

The Texarkana course was in really rough shape so who knows how valid my ranking is but I thought it was a very cool layout on ideal rolling land (albeit seemingly pure clay).

[Steve Lang]

   Jason, Cherish your memories of Pecan Valley.. di you know its NLE?

You need to get around TX a little more...

[Gene Greco]

    Have only played a small sample of courses in Texas back in the 80s:

1. Pecan Valley
2. Midland Country Club
3. Lubbock Country Club
4. Odessa Country Club
5. Reese Airforce Base

[Lou_Duran]

For those who are interested in that sort of thing, The Dallas Morning News has its list of the best Texas courses coming out tomorrow (5/11).  It is my understanding that there will be a feature article on Jordan Spieth.  Bill Nichols, the paper's golf writer, has been following Jordan for some time and I am sure there will be some interesting insights into the young pro's very special make-up.

[Rich Goodale]

Looking through my files I was surprised to find that Texas was one of the 6 states in which I have played 5 or more courses (the others are CA, MA, FL, CT and SC).  I was further surprised that TX was tied for 2nd (with FL and SC) in my top 5 of all these states.  Maybe it just shows how pitiful my choice of golf courses has been over my lifetime, but maybe it also shows how good Texas golf might be.  My list:

Brook Hollow
Dallas National
Memorial
Champions (Cypress)
Tour 18 (only time I have have played Amen Corner.....)

[Bill_McBride]

Jason, did you like the Redan at the Bandit?

There's a hole there with zero Redan features named "Redan" on the card.

My favorites:

Wolf Point
Champions Cypress Creek
Barton Creek Crenshaw
Austin Golf Club
Dallas Athletic Club

[mike_beene]

Bill,Blue or Gold at DAC?

[Bill_McBride]

Bill,Blue or Gold at DAC?

Don't remember, 20 yrs ago, but there was a tough par 4 to a water protected green. 

[mike_beene]

Sounds like Blue.I prefer Blue but a lot of people like Gold better.

[Sam Morrow]

Sounds like Blue.I prefer Blue but a lot of people like Gold better.

Blue is very, very good. For many I think they consider it to be the wrong side of Dallas though.

[MWagner]

Escondido Golf Club
Colonial CC
Champions Golf Club-Cypress
Boot Ranch
Rawls Course at Texas Tech

Honorable mention
Newport Dunes
Ridglea CC-Mens Course
TPC San Antonio Oaks

[Bill_McBride]

I enjoyed Champions very much, mostly for the company -- Sam Morrow, my son David, and my last round ever with John "Tiger" Bernhardt.  I honestly wasn't that impressed with the course itself, a lot of repetition and big, flattish greens without a lot of contour. 

[Sam Morrow]

I enjoyed Champions very much, mostly for the company -- Sam Morrow, my son David, and my last round ever with John "Tiger" Bernhardt.  I honestly wasn't that impressed with the course itself, a lot of repetition and big, flattish greens without a lot of contour. 

That was a great day, Tiger kept driving it past me and giving me so much shit about it.

[Paul Jones]

1. Wolf Point
2. Whispering Pines
3. Brook Hollow
4. Oak Hills
5. Austin Golf Club
5. Champions (Cypress)

I think Wolf Point is the far leader with Whispering Pines stand alone second.  You can switch up Brook Hollow, Oak Hills, Champions and Austin GC - they are all really good courses that I would love to be a member of...

[Paul Jones]

A few more notes...

I forgot Oak Hills - and I just played it - it will be in my Top 5.

Fantastic Munis:

• Memorial Park - Houston
• Brackenridge Park - San Antonio

Barton Creek - Not a muni, but a real nice high end resort with 3 good golf courses (never played the Palmer)

I found the following to be very high end and similar:

• Escondido
• Carlton Woods
• Dallas National
• Briggs Ranch
• Cordillera Ranch
• Vaquero
• TPC Craig Ranch

Old School feel:

• Colonial CC -  little underwhelming
• Dallas Athletic Club - cant remember which course I played, but enjoyed it
• Austin CC - great club
• Riverhill CC - great greens and history

The following courses are on my short list to play:

• Preston Trails
• Boot Ranch
• Spanish Oaks
• River Oaks

[Paul Jones]

I enjoyed Champions very much, mostly for the company -- Sam Morrow, my son David, and my last round ever with John "Tiger" Bernhardt.  I honestly wasn't that impressed with the course itself, a lot of repetition and big, flattish greens without a lot of contour. 

Bill,

I loved the Par 3s at Champions (Cypress).  I probably like the course more than most, but it was not until I played it a 2nd and 3rd time.  That is another thing I like about Champions - they have a great membership.

When I talked to Nuzzo about playing Wolf Point, he told me I could invite 2 people to join me.  I invited Tiger, but he could not make.  He was pretty weak and had plans to go to NY.  He later told me that he wish he could have made the trip with me.

[Bill_McBride]

I enjoyed Champions very much, mostly for the company -- Sam Morrow, my son David, and my last round ever with John "Tiger" Bernhardt.  I honestly wasn't that impressed with the course itself, a lot of repetition and big, flattish greens without a lot of contour. 

Bill,

I loved the Par 3s at Champions (Cypress).  I probably like the course more than most, but it was not until I played it a 2nd and 3rd time.  That is another thing I like about Champions - they have a great membership.

When I talked to Nuzzo about playing Wolf Point, he told me I could invite 2 people to join me.  I invited Tiger, but he could not make.  He was pretty weak and had plans to go to NY.  He later told me that he wish he could have made the trip with me.

Maybe it's because I had a lot on my mind, but I honestly have a very poor recollection of the holes, which to me re silts in a lower personal ranking.  The courses I love, I remember every hole quite clearly. 

[Sam Morrow]

I enjoyed Champions very much, mostly for the company -- Sam Morrow, my son David, and my last round ever with John "Tiger" Bernhardt.  I honestly wasn't that impressed with the course itself, a lot of repetition and big, flattish greens without a lot of contour. 

Bill,

I loved the Par 3s at Champions (Cypress).  I probably like the course more than most, but it was not until I played it a 2nd and 3rd time.  That is another thing I like about Champions - they have a great membership.

When I talked to Nuzzo about playing Wolf Point, he told me I could invite 2 people to join me.  I invited Tiger, but he could not make.  He was pretty weak and had plans to go to NY.  He later told me that he wish he could have made the trip with me.

Maybe it's because I had a lot on my mind, but I honestly have a very poor recollection of the holes, which to me re silts in a lower personal ranking.  The courses I love, I remember every hole quite clearly. 

On every tee you made a comment about another long par 4.

[Paul Jones]

For those who are interested in that sort of thing, The Dallas Morning News has its list of the best Texas courses coming out tomorrow (5/11).  It is my understanding that there will be a feature article on Jordan Spieth.  Bill Nichols, the paper's golf writer, has been following Jordan for some time and I am sure there will be some interesting insights into the young pro's very special make-up.

Lou,

I found the link - http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/databases/20140510-top-100-courses-in-the-lone-star-state-and-top-50-you-can-play.ece

I really enjoy this list each year.

Paul

[Bill_McBride]

I enjoyed Champions very much, mostly for the company -- Sam Morrow, my son David, and my last round ever with John "Tiger" Bernhardt.  I honestly wasn't that impressed with the course itself, a lot of repetition and big, flattish greens without a lot of contour. 

Bill,

I loved the Par 3s at Champions (Cypress).  I probably like the course more than most, but it was not until I played it a 2nd and 3rd time.  That is another thing I like about Champions - they have a great membership.

When I talked to Nuzzo about playing Wolf Point, he told me I could invite 2 people to join me.  I invited Tiger, but he could not make.  He was pretty weak and had plans to go to NY.  He later told me that he wish he could have made the trip with me.

Maybe it's because I had a lot on my mind, but I honestly have a very poor recollection of the holes, which to me re silts in a lower personal ranking.  The courses I love, I remember every hole quite clearly. 

On every tee you made a comment about another long par 4.

When a solid tee ball goes 210 Max, every par 4 is a long one.   

[Jeff Spittel]

1. Colonial
2. Spanish Oaks
3. Whispering Pines
4. Champions (Cypress)
5. BraeBurn

[Jim Franklin]

1. Whispering Pines
2. Colonial CC
3. Dallas National
4. Brook Hollow
5. Barton Creek (C&C)

Wolf Point is at the top of my "To Play" list. One day....

And Brookhaven holds a special place for me too as it was the first time I broke 70.

[Bill_McBride]

1. Whispering Pines
2. Colonial CC
3. Dallas National
4. Brook Hollow
5. Barton Creek (C&C)

Wolf Point is at the top of my "To Play" list. One day....

And Brookhaven holds a special place for me too as it was the first time I broke 70.

Jim, I think you and I are the only two who prefer the Crenshaw Cliffside course at Barton Creek to that manufactured piece of crap, Fazio Foothills.  Fazio Canyons is okay but I prefer Crenshaw's course with all its front to back sloping greens, maybe eight.  Very natural layout.