Texas is home to more than 800 golf courses spread across a landscape that ranges from Gulf Coast flatlands to Hill Country rolling terrain to West Texas desert. The sheer variety of settings, combined with year-round playable weather in most of the state, makes Texas one of the best destinations for public golf in America. Whether you are a local looking for hidden gems or planning a golf trip to the Lone Star State, this guide covers the public courses that consistently deliver exceptional experiences.
We focused on courses that are genuinely accessible to the public — true public and municipal courses, along with resort courses that welcome outside play. If you are planning a broader golf trip, our guides to Arizona’s best public courses and planning a Myrtle Beach golf trip offer more destination options.
The Texas Golf Landscape
Texas golf divides roughly into four regions, each with a distinct character. The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is home to some of the state’s most acclaimed public courses, with gently rolling terrain and well-maintained Bermuda grass fairways. The San Antonio and Hill Country region offers dramatic elevation changes, limestone outcroppings, and scenic canyon golf. Houston and the Gulf Coast provide lush, subtropical courses that are green year-round. And West Texas, anchored by courses near the Davis Mountains, offers spare desert golf with wide-open vistas.
Peak golf season in Texas runs from October through May, when temperatures are moderate across most of the state. Summer golf is possible everywhere but can be brutally hot in South and West Texas, where temperatures regularly exceed 100°F from June through August. Tee times are often deeply discounted in summer as a result.
Top Public Golf Courses in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area
The Tribute at The Colony
Located on the shores of Lake Lewisville just north of Dallas, The Tribute is a Tripp Davis design that pays homage to the great links courses of the British Isles. Each hole is inspired by a famous hole from courses like St. Andrews, Royal Troon, and Carnoustie, adapted to the Texas landscape. The result is a windswept, treeless layout with deep pot bunkers, double greens, and firm, fast playing surfaces that reward ground game creativity. The course is consistently ranked among the top public courses in Texas by Golf Digest and offers excellent value for the quality of the experience.
Cowboys Golf Club, Grapevine
The only NFL-themed golf course in the world, Cowboys Golf Club is a luxurious public-access resort course that plays through rolling terrain dotted with native oaks and limestone. The Jeff Brauer design features wide fairways that encourage aggressive play off the tee, with scoring challenges concentrated around well-defended green complexes. The practice facility is enormous, the clubhouse is filled with Dallas Cowboys memorabilia, and the conditioning is consistently at private-club level. Green fees are on the higher end for Texas public golf, but the experience justifies the price.
Texas Star Golf Course, Euless
Texas Star is a municipal course that consistently punches above its weight. Designed by Keith Foster and built on a reclaimed landfill, the course features surprising elevation changes for a mid-cities location and has hosted numerous state and regional amateur events. The layout rewards accuracy over distance, with tight landing areas on several holes and well-bunkered greens. At municipal rates, it represents some of the best value in DFW public golf.
Best Public Courses in the Hill Country and San Antonio
TPC San Antonio — Oaks Course
The Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio is a Greg Norman and Sergio Garcia collaboration that winds through a mature live oak forest with views of the Texas Hill Country. While the AT&T Oaks Course is the more famous of the two TPC San Antonio layouts, the Oaks Course offers a more strategic, less punishing experience for mid-handicap players. Fairways are generous, but placement matters — the large, undulating greens demand precise approach shots. Resort guests at the JW Marriott get priority tee times, but public access is available daily.
Vaaler Creek Golf Club, Blanco
Tucked into the Hill Country between Austin and Fredericksburg, Vaaler Creek is a Jeff Brauer design that uses the natural limestone terrain to dramatic effect. Several holes play through or alongside rocky creek beds, and the back nine features significant elevation changes with panoramic Hill Country views. The course has a small-town feel with no housing development, cart-path-only walking options, and some of the fastest greens in the region. It is a true hidden gem that most out-of-state visitors miss entirely.
Houston and Gulf Coast Standouts
Memorial Park Golf Course, Houston
Following a major Tom Doak renovation completed in 2019, Memorial Park has become one of the finest municipal golf courses in the United States. The course now hosts the Houston Open on the PGA Tour, yet remains open to the public at municipal rates for Houston residents. The redesign widened fairways, added strategic bunkering, and rebuilt greens with modern contours that create multiple pin positions ranging from accessible to brutally difficult. The urban setting — surrounded by Houston’s Memorial Park — means the course is always busy, so book tee times well in advance.
Moody Gardens Golf Course, Galveston
If you want a coastal golf experience in Texas, Moody Gardens delivers. The Jacobsen Hardy design features saltwater marsh views on several holes, consistent Gulf breezes that add a links-like element, and a relaxed island atmosphere that is distinctly different from the manicured inland courses. The course is well-conditioned for a coastal layout and offers resort-style amenities including a full-length practice facility and quality food and beverage. Combine it with a stay at the Moody Gardens Hotel for a full Galveston golf weekend.
West Texas and the Panhandle
Rawls Course at Texas Tech, Lubbock
The Rawls Course is a Tom Doak design built on the flat West Texas plains that deliberately channels the spirit of classic links golf. With almost no trees, constant wind, firm turf, and massive greens with subtle contours, Rawls demands an entirely different skill set than typical American parkland courses. The course regularly appears in top-100 public course lists and is widely considered one of the best collegiate courses in the country. Green fees are remarkably affordable, making it a must-play if you are anywhere near Lubbock.
Tips for Playing Golf in Texas
Texas golf comes with a few unique considerations. Hydration is critical — even in spring and fall, the sun is intense and dehydration sneaks up quickly. Carry more water than you think you need and reapply sunscreen at the turn. If you are not accustomed to Bermuda grass, expect a different experience from Northern bent grass courses — the grain affects putting significantly, and tight lies around the greens reward bump-and-run shots over high-lofted pitches.
Wind is a constant companion on Texas courses, particularly in West Texas, the Panhandle, and coastal areas. Learning to flight the ball low and control trajectory will save several strokes per round. Before your trip, work on your mental game and consider developing a solid golf-specific fitness routine to handle the physical demands of 36-hole days in warm weather.
Planning Your Texas Golf Trip
For a three-to-five-day golf trip, pick one region and play it thoroughly rather than trying to cover the entire state. A Dallas-Fort Worth trip gives you access to The Tribute, Cowboys Golf Club, Texas Star, and several other quality public courses within a 30-minute drive. A Hill Country trip based in San Antonio or Austin lets you play TPC San Antonio, Vaaler Creek, and several other scenic courses while enjoying the region’s renowned food and wine scene.
Book tee times at least two weeks in advance for the top-rated courses, especially during peak season from October through April. Many Texas courses offer twilight rates beginning at 2:00 or 3:00 PM — and with long Texas daylight hours, you can easily complete 18 holes in the afternoon at a significant discount.
Texas public golf offers exceptional quality at prices that would be unthinkable in many parts of the country. From PGA Tour-quality municipal courses to hidden Hill Country gems to wind-blasted links designs on the plains, the state has a course for every taste and budget. If you are looking for even more course recommendations, check out our guides to Arizona’s best public courses and the top course management strategies to help you score better wherever you play.
