Austin, Texas Golf Courses
The Prime Reason Golf. com Rated
Austin #1 GOLF CITY IN AMERICA

Sunrise tee time on Austin, Texas golf courses…
lone golfer at Barton Creek Resort & Spa.

No city in America can claim the wide variety and quality selection of world class courses that Austin can. I give you a review of Austin's resort, municipal and public golf courses.

Twenty-five reviews in all. Complete with course description, helpful hints and tips with all the essential information included like fees, tee times, reservations, directions and more. However, I do not review the membership only, private country clubs. A list is provided for your convenience later on this page. Address, phone number and web address.

I've played on Austin, Texas golf courses for the last 15 years. I grew up on the courses reviewed. If I'm relying on information outside my personal experience, I'll tell you so.

For the serious, avid golfer, I recommend a full blown ten day Austin golf vacation. Golf Austin on a different course each day.

From our old time municipal courses like the Lions Municipal course built in 1928 to Hancock Golf Course, the oldest of all Texas golf courses, built in 1899.

If you want challenges and variety we have that, too. Ram Rock at Horseshoe Bay Resort is considered the toughest and most challenging.

Scenery? Got that in abundance. All Austin, Texas golf courses have their scenic qualities. Some more so than others. Scenery is a matter of taste. I've got a terrible hook that makes tree lined fairways not very scenic to me. I prefer the links style courses like Teravista. Large, wide open fairways with 360° views.

Austin's moderate climate makes golf a year round pursuit. A word to the wise -- when you golf Austin in July and August avoid the mid day sun. Austin heat can be dangerous. I've seen many a visitor suffer from heat exhaustion, dehydration, severe sun burn and even heat stroke.

I only reserve early morning and twilight tee times in July and August. I recommend you do the same. Stay safe, linger in the shade and drink plenty of fluids.

Most of our municipal and public golf courses are uncrowded. Wait time can be a problem at our popular golf resorts but not nearly as severe as courses in larger cities like Phoenix or LA.

Austin, Texas golf courses are laid back. We don't hurry the game here. Course etiquette is even observed by beginners. REALLY, I'm not joking!

Word of warning -- demonstrative antics like throwing clubs, loud cussing, whaling, crying and the gnashing of teeth will get you laughed right off most Austin, Texas golf courses. It's a game of golf. Not life and death like a Longhorn football game, where public displays of emotion are accepted, expected and completely justified.

Municipal Austin, Texas Golf Courses

LIONS MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE – Muny is small, elegant and lovely. Not too difficult. Conveniently located to downtown. Complete review.

JIMMY CLAY GOLF COURSE – Jimmy Clay and old Roy Kizer course combined to offer best 36 hole course in Texas. Complete review.

ROY KIZER GOLF COURSE – See above.

HANCOCK GOLF COURSE – Built in 1899, tame, showing age. Biggest challenges created by lack of attention. Fuzzy greens, bare spots and tall grass. Complete review.

MORRIS WILLIAMS GOLF COURSE – Mo Willy makes you use every club in your bag. Devious course. Diabolical design. High scores and great fun. Complete review.

Daily Fee Public
Austin, Texas Golf Courses

AVERY RANCH GOLF CLUB – Avid Golfer magazine rates Avery the #1 Course In Austin. Challenging. Twenty minutes northwest of downtown. Some say it's the best of all Texas golf courses, if not the best in the country. Complete review.

FALCONHEAD GOLF CLUB – 18 holes of classic Hill Country scenery. Greens that expose my husbands woefully inept short game. Notable of Austin, Texas golf courses for uphill and downhill play, great variety. Complete review.

FOREST CREEK GOLF CLUB – Tough, not recommended for beginners. Tee shot and approach more important than short game. North of Austin in Round Rock. Complete review.

TERAVISTA GOLF CLUB – Located north of Austin in Round Rock. One of my personal favorites. Links. Wide open and adventuresome on even a mildly breezy day. Complete review.

BLUEBONNET HILL GOLF COURSE – Links style, low difficulty. Good beginner course. Some staff issues. Complete review.

BLACKHAWK GOLF CLUB – Much maligned and criticized but challenging course. If you can overlook some minor maintenance issues, golf here is a gas. Links. Complete review.

RIVERSIDE GOLF COURSE – You can see legendary Harvey Penick's former home from the 5th tee. Recently upgraded and improved. Low difficulty if not for 100+ year old oak trees. Close to downtown. Complete review.

SHADOWGLEN GOLF CLUB – Little known gem of all Austin, Texas golf courses. Leisurely, scenic, challenging and uncrowded. Homey. Complete review.

GREY ROCK GOLF CLUB – Best Places to Play, Golf Digest. Best of Public Golf, Best Overall-Top 5, Avid Golfer. I love this course. Find out why! Complete review.

Austin Golf Resorts

BARTON CREEK RESORT & SPA – Must be a member or guest of the resort to play. The resorts courses include;

Crenshaw Golf Course – My personal favorite of the Barton Creek courses. Nature and the hill country rule this course. It's a stunner. Complete review.

Fazio Foothills Golf Course – Barton Creek's signature course. Most popular of the Barton Creek courses. Better have accurate power game and not mind waits to play here. Absolutely beautiful. Complete review.

Fazio Canyons Golf Course – Located two miles from the resort. Less dramatic than the Foothills multi-elevated course, but less hectic and more secluded. Complete review.

Palmer Lakeside Golf Course – WOW! Power hitters paradise. Arnie's sense of humor is displayed through out the course design. Located 25 miles from Barton Creek Resort overlooking beautiful Lake Travis. Complete review.

HYATT LOST PINES RESORT (near Bastrop) – Located about 20 miles east of Austin in Cedar Creek just before you get to Bastrop. Enjoy the amazing Wolfdancer Golf Club. A destination;

Wolfdancer Golf Club – #6 Top Texas Golf Course, Golfweek. #4 Top Golf Course in Texas, Dallas Morning News. Best Central Texas Golf Experience, Avid Golfer. It's all true. Complete review.

HORSESHOE BAY RESORT (Marble Falls) – Located 47 miles northwest of Austin in Marble Falls. You must be member or guest to play at one of the three courses or the unique 18 hole par 72 putting course;

Apple Rock – Beautiful shoreline, 57 sand traps demand accuracy, muscle drives a must. High rocky terrain. Complete review.

Slick Rock – 71 sand traps, 12 water hazards, “hard par easy bogey” course. Check out the 14th hole -- “Million Dollar Hole.” Complete review.

Ram Rock – Most difficult course I've ever played. It's known as the Challenger, Humbler or as a friend of mine dubbed it, God's Revenge. Complete review.

Whitewater Putting Course – I've never seen anything like this. Imagine God's personal miniature golf course and you get the idea. Really, really fun and unique. Complete review.

Best Kept Secret
Austin, Texas Golf Courses

LAKECLIFF COUNTRY CLUB – Stay and play. You stay in a well appointed two bedroom cottage or villa on the course;

Lakecliff Golf Course – A good experience in the country. Lakecliff was designed by Arnold Palmer. He refers to Lakecliff as his Star of Texas. Uncrowded, challenging. Expensive and worth it. Complete review.

HARVEY PENICK GOLF CAMPUS – PGA Tour Designed public golf course. Nine holes, three hole short course, driving range plus putting and chipping greens. Three years old, drop dead smart design and playability. Highly recommended for Mom, Pop and kids, family golf outing. An Austin golf treasure. Complete review.

Barb's TOP 5 Personal Favorite
Austin, Texas Golf Courses

As a former event planner, I found golf the best way to build rapport with a client. I use to tee up where my client did and compete. They loved it. It gave them confidence in me to handle their important events.

I feel fortunate because I would not have had the time or funds to golf so many courses had it not been for business and the generosity of my clients picking up the tab. Thanks guys.

You'll notice I only list one resort course (Wolfdancer) in my Top 5 Favorites. The reason for that is you have to stay at the resorts overnight or buy an expensive membership to play their courses.

Barton Creek, Horseshoe Bay, Lost Pines golf courses and facilities rate with the best in the nation. That said, I rarely play these courses and that's why more aren't listed in my top course picks.

I like a links style course because it's better for my game. I put a lot of emphasis on what kind of player the course draws. Convenience in location and access. Stupid difficulty amuses me while green roll, slope and undulations hypnotizes me. Interesting variety is a must. Traffic noise and looking into someones picture window on the ninth hole bother me.

My picks for best course are based on the most fun, hassle free, best bang for the buck strategy. Some courses make me feel warm and fuzzy, others leave me wondering.

Here's my five personal favorite Austin, Texas golf courses.

1. Grey Rock
2. Teravista
3. ShadowGlen
4. Falconhead
5. Wolfdancer

Related Austin Golf Information

Ben White Golf Center :: (512) 462-2104
714 Ben White Blvd., Austin, TX 78704

Golfsmith :: (512) 821-4050
11000 N. IH-35, Austin, TX 78753

Hank Haney Golf Ranch :: (512) 345-2013
10515 N. MoPac Expressway, Austin, TX 78759

Mr. Tee :: (512) 335-4444
13910 RR 620 N., Austin, TX 78717

Mulligan's Golf :: (512) 282-1120
11003 Manchaca Rd., Austin, TX 78748

Oak Hill Driving Range :: (512) 892-5634
5243 W. Hwy. 290, Austin, TX 78735

Twin Creeks Range :: (512) 282-5725
662 FM 1626, Austin, TX 78748

Woodland Greens :: (512) 219-7017
11210 FM 620 N., Austin, TX 78726

Private & Country Club Courses
Members Only

Austin Country Club :: (512) 328-0090; www.austincountryclub.com
4408 Long Champ Drive, Austin, TX 78746

Spicewood Country Club :: (512) 258-6763; www.balconescountryclub.com
8600 Balcones Club Dr., Austin, TX 78750

Balcones Country Club :: (512) 258-1621; www.balconescountryclub.com
8600 Balcones Club Dr., Austin, TX 78750

Great Hills Golf Club :: (512) 345-6940; www.greathillscc.com
5914 Lost Horizon Dr., Austin, TX 78759

Hills of Lakeway Golf Course :: (512) 261-7200; www.thehillscc.com
26 Club Estates Parkway , Austin, TX 78738

Lost Creek Country Club :: (512) 892-1205; www.lostcreekclub.com
2612 Lost Creek Blvd., Austin, TX 78746

Onion Creek Country Club :: (512) 282-2150; www.onioncreekclub.com
2510 Onion Creek Pkwy., Austin, TX 78747

River Place Country Club :: (512) 346-1114; www.riverplaceclub.com
4207 River Place Blvd., Austin, Texas 78730

Cimarron Hills Golf Club :: (512) 763-1800; www.cimarronhills.com
103 Cimarron Hills Trail West, Georgetown, TX 78628

MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSES :: Jimmy Clay :: Hancock :: Roy Kizer :: Lions :: Morris Williams

DAILY FEE / PUBLIC GOLF COURSES :: Avery Ranch :: Blackhawk :: Bluebonnet Hill :: Falconhead :: Forest Creek :: Grey Rock :: Harvey Penick :: Riverside :: ShadowGlen :: Teravista

GOLF RESORTS :: Barton Creek Crenshaw :: Barton Creek Fazio Canyons :: Barton Creek Fazio Foothills :: Barton Creek Palmer Cliffside :: Horseshoe Bay Apple Rock :: Horseshoe Bay Ram Rock :: Horseshoe Bay Slick Rock :: Horseshoe Bay Whitewater Putting Course :: Hyatt Lost Pines Wolfdancer :: Lakecliff Country Club

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