The Best Golf Courses in Texas

For a state of its stature and population, Texas often underperforms when it comes to top-quality courses.

Only a few of its courses are ranked among the top 100 when compared to other states like New York, California, Florida, North Carolina, and New Jersey.  

But what it lacks in greatness, it makes up in quality and depth, especially with the top 40 golf courses. On top of this, there are quite a number of tour-level courses under development, and others are undergoing repair.

Notable examples are The Covey at Big Easy Ranch, which opened towards the end of 2023, and the East and West Field Ranch courses at PGA Frisco, which opened earlier in that year. 

With that said, here are the best golf courses in Texas in 2024. We will highlight key aspects of each course, including the location, length, par level, architects, and major championships hosted at the course. 

List of the Best Golf Courses in Texas

1. Whispering Pines Golf Club – Best Overall
2. Dallas National Golf Club – 1st Runners Up
3. Bluejack National – 2nd Runners Up
4. Preston Trail Golf Club
5. Colonial Country Club
6. Brook Hollow Golf Club
7. Trinity Forest Golf Club
8. Spanish Oaks Golf Club
9. Austin Golf Club
10. The Clubs of Cordillera Ranch
11. The Club at Carlton Woods Nicklaus Course
12. Austin Country Club
13. Escondido Golf & Lake Club
14. Maridoe Golf Club
15. Shady Oaks
16. Driftwood Golf Club
17. The Club at Carlton Woods Fazio Course
18. Boot Ranch
19. Miramont Country Club
20. Vaquero Club
21. Champions Golf Club Jackrabbit Course
22. Summit Rock at Horseshoe Bay Resort
23. TPC San Antonio Oaks Course
24. Omni Barton Creek Resort Fazio Canyons
25. Oak Hills Country Club
26. The Clubs at Houston Oaks
27. Shadow Hawk Golf Club
28. Championships Golf Club Cypress Creek
29. River Oaks Country Club
30. Ram Rock at Horseshoe Bay Resort
31. Omni Barton Creek Resort Fazio Foothills
32. Briggs Ranch
33. Lochinvar Golf Club
34. Golf Club of Houston: Tournament Course
35. Lakewood Country Club
36. Royal Oaks Country Club
37. TPC Craig Ranch
38. Royal Oaks
39. The Traditions Club at Texas A&M
40. The Tribute Golf Links

Detailed Review of The Best Golf Courses in Texas

1. Whispering Pines Golf Club

After buying Whispering Pines Golf Club in the early 1990s, Corby Robertson engaged Texas-based architect Chet Williams to help him redesign the course through bunkering and green tours.

William understood the task and refined the rough-hewn routing through the romp across the landscape.

That is why Whispering Pines continues to rank among the best golf courses in Texas and even countrywide. 

2. Dallas National Golf Club

This golf course occupies the best terrain in the Dallas Metroplex, dotted with cedars and rugged hills.

But this did not prevent Tom Fazio from shifting some earth when developing Dallas National.  

3. Bluejack National

Many believe that Bluejack National is among the best golf courses in Texas simply because of its close resemblance to Augusta National, especially when you compare the par-3 12th.

Pro players like Tiger Woods once mentioned that they were blown away by the golf course when they visited it for the first time. 

4. Preston Trail Golf Club

Preston Trail Golf Club is ranked as one of the best golf courses in Texas.

This exclusive private golf course is hailed for hosting the Byron Nelson Golf Classic from 1968 to 1982, thanks to its terrific views and challenging play for golfers. 

5. Colonial Country Club

The Colonial Country course is the work of Perry Maxwell and John Bredemus, but some believe that it was Maxwell’s routings that were used in the design of the course.

And just before it hosted the 1941 US Open, Maxwell toughened the course, which was also restored in 2023 to its original Maxwell design. 

6. Brook Hollow Golf Club

Previous renovations and time tend to constrict golf courses. This is the case at Brook Hollow Golf Course.

The club engaged Keith Foster to restore Brook’s worn-out features.

Thankfully, Foster achieves excellent results by bringing back their squared-off edges and accentuating the pedestal-like greens. 

7. Trinity Forest Golf Club

This 165-acre golf course features some of the most interesting designs in modern golf architecture.

That is why it earned the rights to host the 2019 and 2020 AT&T Byron Nelson. 

8. Spanish Oaks Golf Club

Spanish Oaks is one of the premier golf clubs in Austin for the gated community there. The 18-hole golf course stands out because of its highly acclaimed, environmentally conscious design. 

9. Austin Golf Club

Inaugurated in the early 2000s, Austin Golf Club has been gaining popularity day by day, partly due to its location on typical Texas Hill Country terrain.

The course features native grass and cacti, scrubland, and live oaks, with its clubhouse being the highest point on the property. 

10. The Clubs of Cordillera Ranch

This golf course is tucked away in the marvelous Texas Hill Country bordering the Guadalupe River.

The Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course is challenging yet rejuvenating, with great views of cascading waterfalls and the Guadalupe River Valley.

11. The Club at Carlton Woods Nicklaus Course

The Nicklaus Course at the Carton Woods weaves through mature trees that meander through water features.

Overall, the course is long and challenging, where tree-lined fairways wind around an area dotted with several lakes and ponds. 

12. Austin Country Club

Austin has a long history dating back to 1899. The club is linked to legendary teacher Harvey Penick, who has been associated with the club for over 80 years.

He rose from the position of shop assistant to become the club’s head professional at just 18 years old.

Over the years he has been associated with the club, Penick has mentored many of the best players, including Ben Crenshaw, Kathy Whitworth, and Mickey Wright. 

13. Escondido Golf & Lake Club

This golf course is situated on the southern shores of Lake Lyndon B. Johnson in Horseshoe Bay.

Another interesting thing about the course is that it is a masterpiece of Tom Fazio and is designed to be championship-level. 

14. Maridoe Golf Club

Architect Steve Smyers is credited with transforming the old Columbian Club into the more inspiring Maridoe Golf Club.

The course consistently ranks among the best golf courses in Texas. 

15. Shady Oaks

Shady Oaks is best known as Ben Hogan’s home club, especially after his retirement.

The initial design of the course was state-of-the-art, featuring long, narrow fairways and heavy engineering.

That mode prevailed until 2020, when the club engaged new architects to remodel the course. 

16. Driftwood Golf Club

Driftwood is another well-designed golf course in the dry Hill County south of Austin. The design of the course is a collaboration between Tom Fazio and Discovery Land Company.

Interestingly, the golf course is located within a community of luxury homes and large properties, but the design feels spacious. Greens and fairways are large and accommodating. 

17. The Club at Carlton Woods Fazio Course

Everything in this course is uncompromised.

Whether it is the property within the course or the attention to detail paid to the fairways and greens, you will have an exceptional experience playing in the Club at Carlton Woods Fazio Course.

18. Boot Ranch

The Boot Ranch golf course is situated within one of the finest private communities in Texas. It also boasts one of the largest greens in Texas at one acre.

With an 18-hole circuit in a relaxed environment, the golf course is fit and challenging for both adult and young golfers alike. 

19. Miramont Country Club

Miramont Country Club is a beautifully designed course with family-friendly neighborhoods that spread over 1,000 acres of green, gentle rolling landscape.

The golf course is challenging to play and offers terrific views. We also rated it as one of the best golf courses in Texas because of its well-groomed fairways and greens. 

20. Vaquero Club

This exclusive private golf course is located within a large gated community to the north-west of Dalas. The par-71 course offers challenging playing terrain but a stunning landscape. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Final Thoughts

We hope our list of the best golf courses in Texas has inspired you to go out and tee it up anytime you are in Texas.

The best time of the year to lay is during the fall. The weather is pleasant during this time, and the fairways and greens are lush.

And if you don’t have time to sample all of the above golf courses, you can go with Whispering Pines Golf Club, Dallas National Golf Club, and Bluejack National because they are the best in most aspects.

The good thing is that you don’t have deep pockets or belong to a country club to be able to enjoy high-quality golf in Texas. 

Also Read:

• 25 Best Public Golf Courses in Connecticut That You Can Play in 2024
• The Best Golf Courses In Pennsylvania
• Best Golf Courses in Southern California