Texas is one of America’s premier golf destinations — a state with year-round playable weather, a diverse landscape ranging from Gulf Coast links to Hill Country parkland, and a passionate golfing culture that supports everything from world-class resort courses to accessible public tracks. Whether you’re planning a golf trip to Texas or simply want to know the best courses in your region, this guide covers the top options across the state.
Golf in Texas: What Makes It Special
Texas boasts over 900 golf courses — more than almost any other US state. The mild winters make year-round golf practical, and the sheer size of the state means you can find dramatically different golf environments within a day’s drive. The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex alone has dozens of excellent courses, while the Hill Country around Austin and San Antonio offers some of the most scenic golf in the country, and the Gulf Coast provides classic links-style exposure.
Texas has also hosted some of golf’s biggest events — the Masters has never visited (it doesn’t move), but Texas has hosted PGA Tour events at Colonial, the Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio, the Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch, and various LPGA Tour events. These courses are often open to public play.
Top Golf Courses in Texas
Barton Creek Resort & Spa — Austin
Barton Creek is arguably the crown jewel of Austin golf and one of the finest resort golf destinations in the entire state. The property features four courses, with the Fazio Canyons course (designed by Tom Fazio) being the most celebrated — a dramatic layout carved through the Texas Hill Country with sweeping canyon views, challenging elevation changes, and immaculately maintained conditions. The Coore & Crenshaw course is another highlight, with a more natural, strategic design that rewards precision over power. Staying at the resort gives access to all four courses; day fees are available but can be high-season pricey.
TPC San Antonio (AT&T Oaks Course) — San Antonio
Home to the PGA Tour’s Valero Texas Open, TPC San Antonio’s AT&T Oaks course is a Pete Dye design that tests every aspect of your game. At over 7,400 yards from the tips, it demands length and accuracy through its tree-lined fairways and strategically placed water hazards. The course is open to public play, and playing a PGA Tour venue at a reasonable resort rate is one of Texas golf’s great value propositions. The Stadium Course is the sister layout and also well worth playing. If you’re working on your swing before a round here, our guide to increasing driver distance is worth a read — you’ll need it.
Colonial Country Club — Fort Worth
Colonial is one of the most storied private clubs in American golf, home to the Charles Schwab Challenge (formerly the Byron Nelson Classic at Fort Worth). The course is known for its narrow, tree-lined fairways and the iconic “Horrible Horseshoe” — the 3rd, 4th, and 5th holes that form one of golf’s most demanding sequences. While Colonial is private, its history and design make it worth mentioning as a benchmark of Texas golf excellence. Check for charity tournament access or if you’re fortunate enough to have a member connection.
Whispering Pines Golf Club — Trinity
One of the best-kept secrets in Texas golf, Whispering Pines is a private club that consistently ranks among the top 50 courses in the United States. The Tom Fazio design winds through towering pine trees in the Sam Houston National Forest east of Houston. It’s a world-class layout by any measure, but access requires a member invite. If you have the opportunity, do not miss it.
Cowboys Golf Club — Grapevine (Dallas-Fort Worth)
For Dallas Cowboys football fans and golf enthusiasts alike, Cowboys Golf Club is a unique experience. The course is styled after the NFL franchise, with 18 holes named after Cowboys greats, memorabilia throughout the clubhouse, and a distinctive (if not understated) aesthetic. Beyond the novelty, the course itself is a solid D.A. Weibring design with bentgrass greens, Bermuda fairways, and memorable holes. It’s fully public and one of the most distinctive golf experiences in the DFW area.
La Cantera Resort & Spa — San Antonio
La Cantera offers two courses — the Palmer Course (designed by Arnold Palmer) and the Resort Course — set in the Texas Hill Country with dramatic elevation changes and panoramic views of San Antonio. The Palmer Course is the more celebrated of the two, with a spectacular first tee set atop a rocky hillside. La Cantera is a full resort experience with outstanding conditions and a strong service reputation, making it a natural choice for a golf trip to San Antonio alongside TPC San Antonio.
Wolfdancer Golf Club — Lost Pines (Austin Area)
Situated within the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort, Wolfdancer is a Tom Kite design set along the Colorado River. It’s one of the most scenic courses in central Texas, with the lostpines forest providing a distinctive setting unlike any other course in the state. The mix of wooded holes and river-adjacent fairways makes for a round that feels genuinely removed from urban Texas. Stay at the resort for the full experience.
Falconhead Golf Club — Austin
For the best value public golf in Austin, Falconhead consistently ranks among the top municipal and semi-private options. Designed by Clifton, Ezell & Clifton, it offers an engaging layout with Hill Country terrain, reasonable green fees, and conditions that rival many resort courses at a fraction of the price. If you’re based in Austin and want quality golf without resort pricing, Falconhead is the answer.
Best Public Golf Courses in Texas by Region
Houston Area: Augusta Pines Golf Club, Tour 18 Houston (famous replicas of tour holes), and Wildcat Golf Club are all well-regarded public options.
Dallas-Fort Worth: TPC Craig Ranch (home of the Byron Nelson), Stonebridge Ranch Country Club (semi-private), and Waterchase Golf Club offer excellent public access in the metroplex.
San Antonio: Beyond TPC San Antonio and La Cantera, Riverside Golf Course is a classic public course with a long history in the city.
Austin: Besides Falconhead, The University of Texas Golf Club, Roy Kizer Golf Course, and Hancock Golf Course all provide quality public golf at accessible prices.
Planning a Texas Golf Trip
The best time to visit Texas for golf is October through April, when temperatures are comfortable and humidity is manageable. The summer months (June–August) bring intense heat — rounds starting before 8am or after 5pm are common practice for locals from June onward.
For a concentrated Hill Country golf trip, base yourself in San Antonio or Austin and day-trip to courses within 90 minutes. A 4-day itinerary might include TPC San Antonio, La Cantera, Barton Creek (one of the four courses), and Wolfdancer — an exceptional introduction to the best Texas golf has to offer.
Before any round on an unfamiliar course, doing some game prep pays dividends. Our guide to golf course management strategy covers how to think through an unfamiliar layout and avoid the costly mistakes that come from playing an unknown course without a plan. And our pre-shot routine guide will help you stay consistent even when nerves kick in on a new course.
Texas rewards golf travel. With its combination of world-class resort courses, excellent public access, year-round weather, and distinctive regional character, it’s one of the great golf states in America — and one that deserves far more attention than it typically gets on national “best golf destination” lists.
