I had the chance to play Dallas National today on my last weekend in Texas. What an incredible golf course! I think that this course debunks most of what people on this site think of Fazio's stuff. Firrt of all, the topography is unlike anything in Northern Texas, with views of the old Texas Staduim, downtown Dallas and also Grand Prairie. Most golf courses in the metroplex are dominated by flattish terrain. That alone, makes DN a special place and makes you feel like you're in the mountains of NC.
The playing surfaces are dominated by zoysia grass-Cavalier zoysia on the fairways, Diamond zoysia on the tees and Palisade Zoysia roughs. The greens are a combination of Crenshaw and L-93 bentgrass and they are pure. Brannon Goodrich, Golf Course Superintendent, and his staff do a tremendous job keeping DN in some of the finest playing conditions I've ever seen. The zoysia played firm and fast, which are 2 characteristics not usually associated with zoysia. The greens were pure and had just the right speed.
Let me first start with the greens. Several people I've spoken to felt the greens were over the top, full of countours and buried elephants. I think there are 18 very unique, and challenging greens there, a set of greens that require accurate approach shots and roller coasters putts and/or chips for missing the proper part of the green. I think the shortcut around the greens REALLY makes you put a premium an ANY approach shot.
The par 3's are as good as any set in Texas, the distances and directions are all different. #3 is slightly uphill, usually downwind hole with some rock outcroppings. #5, at 225 yrds is not just a tough hole, but also a hole to pull the camera out on. #15 reminds me a bit of #5 at Pebble Beach, with its reverse redan style green and small bunkers inserted into the right side of the green.
#10 is as good of a tee shot that can be found in Texas, if not anywhere in the country. 25+ miles views and a tee shot that drops 75 feet or more. #2 is a hard dogleg right that offeres a chance to get home in 2 if you have the guts to carry the bunker. All the par 5s offer a reward for the risk of trying to carry a bunker and getting into the speed slot.
I think that #15 is the best par 4 on the course, with #9 a close 2nd.The fairway looks incredibly wide, until you get to the landing area. Fazio placed several small bunkers about 100 yds short of the green as it rises up hill about 30 feet. The green is slightly a tabletop green with a huge fall off area on the left side.
Fazio also does a tremendous job in making the uphill holes not too taxing on the golfer. He could have easily designed several of the holes so uphill that many of the features would be blind to the golfer.
The scale of DN is hard to describe other than HUGE-165 feet of elevations change, big, bold bunkering, big fairways, big greens with bold contours...DN is a BIG TIME golf course, a complete opposite of Colonial, Shady Oaks, Brook Hollow, etc....DN has earned its rankings and they are VERY well deserved. The vision of the club is all about continuing to improve the course and the future of the club is in good hands. There are a group of managers in place that have NOTHING but the best intrests of DN in their hearts.
I think DN easily holds its own with the likes of Kinloch, The Honors and The Ocean Course with, IMO, a much better mix of holes than Maidtone, Harbor Town and Garden City. If you get a chance to play here, drop everything as this course will be the highlight to many players golf season.
Tony Nysse
Asst. Supt.
Colonial CC
Ft. Worth, TX