The 12 Most Beautiful Golf Courses in Texas

Golfing guru Lanny Wadkins designed this spectacular course along the Rio Grande and since its opening in 2012, it has been the ultimate West Texas tee time to obtain. Take in all that West Texas’s beauty as you play in front of a stunning stage with Big Bend National Park as a backdrop. And while you certainly are welcome to take the trek across Texas to get there, you’ll quickly learn that the favorite means of transportation to this original oasis for regulars is by private plane.

Deep in the heart of East Texas, avid golfers flock to this Jay & Carter Morrish masterpiece from all over the state. Even the pickiest of players find themselves at a loss for words at this diamond in the rough Frankston facility that thankfully is open for public play. Perhaps it is because the course never seems crowded or because the conditions are so pure with lush fairways and greens that roll true. Or maybe, as one of our favorite golfing buddies explains it, the course represents the sports as it should be, not flashy, unassuming, just pure unadulterated golf.

Coming off of an extensive $150 million reservation of the resort, this pretty course is in fantastic shape after about $6 million of that was dedicated to getting the golf courses in prime playing conditions. Tom Fazio flexed his architectural muscles making sure that the elevation changes caused golfers to pause and appreciate Austin’s aesthetics.

Cliffs, creeks, and critters! Oh my! With five different sets of tee boxes, this Tom Fazio designed course has room for everyone to succeed. Make sure to get on your golfing groove before number 18 as all resort guests at the pools and pavilion will be on hand to watch you sink that putt. The 2018 renovation landed this course a gorgeous new pro shop which tempts gear hoarders to grab a new visor or two.

Lovers of that lush green grass will never tire of this bucolic beauty buried in the heart of the South Plains. Tom Doak did the darn thing when commissioned by Texas Tech University to create a course on what was once a flat cotton field. If you’ve spent any amount of time in Lubbock, you immediately recognize the true treasure that awaits Red Raiders ready for a round. Find us a better college course in Texas that the public can play...We’ll wait.

When you are dreaming up the perfect golf getaway, do not forget to look in your own backyard. Located less than 20 minutes from downtown Dallas, this Jay Morrish course (available to guests of the resort) is full of surprises. For example, did you know that it is a certified Audubon cooperative sanctuary in addition to an Environmental Leader in Golf award winner? Relive the good ole’ days when the AT&T Byron Nelson Championship was played here and afterwards enjoy a juicy steak at the property’s Law Restaurant. You’ll soon forget that you’re mere minutes from the hustle and bustle of home.

Good ole’ Arnie lends his last name to this truly terrific course that is known for its stunning tour of true Texas terrain. There are also waterfalls galore for those that fancy a course that is, shall we say, hydrated. Pro tip—the perfect conclusion to a day on this course is a restorative sports massage at the hotel’s Loma de Vida spa which may or may not be the best spa in all of Texas.

Looking for respite deep in the heart of the Texas Hill Country? Look no farther than The Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Spa & Resort where golfers can get lost in nature for 18 holes and then return to their family at the on lounging by the pool. Designed by Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest and Associates, Texas trees are on parade with Pecan, Oak, and Cedar Elms leading heavy hitters through the course that concludes on the banks of the lower Colorado River.

Home of the PGA Tour’s Valero Texas Open, this Greg Norman novelty is known for its narrow, tree-lined fairways. The cozy corridors are, as you might have guessed, oak trees and a few wider routes are available for those that need to great creative en route to the cup. Access to the course is available through stay and play packages at the JW Marriot San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa.

This Rees Jones and David Toms one-two punch is awaiting you in the burbs of Houston. This course, which was home to the Houston open from 2007 to 2019, is an ideal place to cut your teeth teeing off with friends that need a sweet public course to play. A solid round can be won or lost on 18 with water on the left and sand to the right. Will you leave a champ or a chump? Only time will tell.

The Astros Golf Foundation funded a $34 million renovation of this municipal course in 2019. Who did they tap for this course’s golf glow up? None other than Tom Doak who is one of the most well-known architects in the industry. Golfers now enjoy new grass, fewer bunkers and new cart paths. Our advice: Play now before this course hosts the Houston Open in November 2021.