Big sprawl, deeper than you'd guess. · Vol. 01

The Ultimate
Texas Golf Trip.

Texas has more golf than people give it credit for. Dallas National, Trinity Forest, and Maridoe make a Dallas swing; Houston has the Memorial Park public TPC layout and the country-club catalog. South Texas has the Whispering Pines / Bluejack National private side.

Above · Dallas National Golf Club

IDallas Metro Bench IIHill Country Loop IIIHouston Route

Route I of III · DFW Metroplex

The Dallas Metro Bench

Dallas National · Trinity Forest · Maridoe

Duration3 days

Total drive35 mi

Tariff$$$

Approx. $2,600 / person, 3 days. All three are private; sponsored play required. Stay Uptown.

Day
1
Dallas National Golf Club
Day 1 · Dallas National
Fly into DFW. Stay in Uptown. The escarpment routing south of downtown is the heart-stopper.
- Dallas National Golf Club
  Dallas National, Tom Fazio 2002. Slope 142, course rating 76.1.
Day
2
Trinity Forest Golf Club
Day 2 · Trinity Forest
Coore & Crenshaw modern minimalism, 20 minutes from downtown. Walkable, treeless prairie.
- Trinity Forest Golf Club
  Trinity Forest, Coore & Crenshaw 2016. Built on a former landfill.
Day
3
Maridoe Golf Club
Day 3 · Maridoe
Hidden private gem in Carrollton. 8,000-yard layout, brutal slope, top-50 in the state.
- Maridoe Golf Club
  Maridoe Golf Club, Steve Smyers 2018, the Texas brawl.

Route II of III · Texas Hill Country

The Hill Country Loop

Austin Golf Club + Spanish Oaks

Duration3 days

Total drive110 mi

Tariff$$$

Approx. $2,500 / person, 3 days. Austin GC and Spanish Oaks are sponsored-play only. Fall and early spring peak season.

Day
1
Day 1 · Austin
Fly into AUS. Stay downtown or at Lake Travis. Crenshaw's home course, with Bill Coore co-credit.
- Stephen F Austin Golf Club
  Austin Golf Club, Coore & Crenshaw 1998. Course rating 75.5 / slope 142.
Day
2
Spanish Oaks Golf Club
Day 2 · Spanish Oaks
Hour west of Austin in Bee Cave. Bobby Weed 2006, walking-only members club.
- Spanish Oaks Golf Club
  Spanish Oaks, Bobby Weed 2006.
Day
3
Austin Golf Club
Day 3 · San Antonio
Hour south to San Antonio. TPC San Antonio (Norman/Crenshaw) or Briggs Ranch (Tom Fazio) close the trip.
- Austin Golf Club
  TPC San Antonio. Public-resort closer.

Route III of III · Greater Houston

The Houston Route

Memorial Park + Whispering Pines + Bluejack

Duration3 days

Total drive145 mi

Tariff$$$

Approx. $2,400 / person, 3 days. Memorial Park is public (~$200), Whispering Pines + Bluejack are sponsored-play.

Day
1
Memorial Park Golf Course
Day 1 · Memorial Park
Fly into IAH. Stay in River Oaks or downtown. Memorial Park hosts the Houston Open every spring.
- Memorial Park Golf Course
  Memorial Park Golf Course, Tom Doak + Brooks Koepka redesign 2020. Public, ~$200 a round.
Day
2
Whispering Pines Golf Club
Day 2 · Whispering Pines
Drive 75 minutes north to Trinity. Walkable Chet Williams 2000 layout, ranked top-100 in America.
- Whispering Pines Golf Club
  Whispering Pines Golf Club, Chet Williams 2000. Course rating 75.6.
Day
3
Bluejack National Golf Club
Day 3 · Bluejack National
Forty-five minutes east to Montgomery. Tiger Woods's first design (2016), walking-only.
- Bluejack National Golf Club
  Bluejack National. The Tiger design north of Houston.