Texas Tees
Everything’s bigger in the Lone Star State — but hopefully not your
golf score
Texas has plenty of holes that don’t spout oil — they are much smaller and are topped by golf flags rather than derricks. Getting to the bottom of the cup remains the golfer’s eternal challenge, but finding a course in the Lone Star State is no problem. The real challenge is squeezing this vast state into a fairway of choices.
Where the Pros Play
Redstone Golf Club’s Tournament Course (above) offers this perk: no housing development in sight, and therefore no fear of putting an errant drive in somebody’s pool. Another plus: it is the venue for the Shell Houston Open on the PGA Tour. Located in Humble, just 15 miles from downtown Houston, Redstone’s Tournament Course was designed by noted architect Rees Jones, with help from PGA Tour player David Toms. Redstone also features a member course. redstonegolfclub.com
While You’re in Town
There’s more than one public gem in the Houston area. Blackhorse Golf Club made Travel & Leisure Golf’s list of the top 10 courses for under $100. Jim Hardy and Peter Jacobsen designed this 36-hole club, and with its setting in a naturally wooded backdrop in Cypress, it’s hard to believe you’re only about 30 minutes from downtown Houston. blackhorsegolfclub.com
Buddy Time
A foursome of fellows looking for a golf getaway could hardly find a better quartet of courses than the group at Barton Creek Resort & Spa. Located in Austin, Barton Creek offers courses designed by the game’s best — two by Tom Fazio (including the resort’s signature Fazio Foothills course) and one each by Arnold Palmer and Austin native Ben Crenshaw. Complete with a golf school and spa, Barton Creek caters to all skill levels — from students to those just wanting a quick tip. bartoncreek.com
The Tour Experience
How would you like to play a course that’s in the same condition as those on the PGA Tour? One that offers the same amenities, the same experience, the same feel. That’s what Falconhead Golf Club strives to do. A PGA Tour Signature Series Course about 30 minutes from Austin, near Bee Cave, Falconhead is designed to offer the daily-fee player a reasonable rate with an upscale look. falconheadaustin.com
Remember the Alamo
If you’re looking for another tour experience, tee up at the Resort Course at La Cantera Golf Club, home of the Valero Texas Open. Six of the holes offer beautiful views of San Antonio and Texas Hill Country, while the Palmer Course at La Cantera features a variety of terrain, including waterfalls and lakes. Located just 20 minutes from the San Antonio airport, this Westin Resort also features a golf academy. lacanteragolfclub.com
Family Fare
San Antonio offers up another fine resort whose name is nearly as long as the courses. The Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Spa provides 27 holes designed by Arthur Hills. About 20 miles from the airport, the resort is close to SeaWorld and boasts a four-acre water park that’s great for the kids. hillcountry.hyatt.com
A Jewel on the South Plains
Carved out of a cotton farm in the West Texas Panhandle, the Rawls Course at Texas Tech University is a surprisingly unpredictable layout, crafted to emulate the eroded features and canyons of the region. Located in Lubbock, the complex was designed by Tom Doak and built in 2002. It features a 55-acre, three-sided driving range. texastechgolf.ttu.edu
Links of the Rich and Famous
Tour 18 in Humble, outside Houston, is based on an interesting idea: offer golfers the opportunity to play famous holes from courses around the world, all in one place. Among the replica holes are noted layouts from Doral, Oak Tree, Merion, Shinnecock, Oakmont, Colonial, and TPC-Sawgrass, and a version of Augusta National’s “Amen Corner.” Another Tour 18, similarly themed, is located near Dallas. tour18golf.com
Lord Byron’s Place
If you want another opportunity to tackle a place the pros play, you can’t go wrong at the TPC-Las Colinas. The Irving course, about 15 minutes from the Dallas/Fort Worth airport, is part of the Four Seasons Resort and home to the annual Byron Nelson Championship, which is named for the legendary player who once won 11 straight tournaments. Across the street from the Four Seasons is the Cottonwood Valley course, which also hosts a round of the tournament. fourseasons.com/dallas
— Bob Harig
Getting There: All the destinations covered in “The Front Nine” can be reached by flying Continental Airlines. To book your vacation, visit Continental Airlines Vacations at covacations.com.
