Best Golf Courses in Dallas-Fort Worth

The younger generation might laugh at me, but I’ll admit I’m a huge fan of George Strait.  I know women swoon over the guy, but I can’t help but love him too.  Well, more like his music.  It just so happened that when I opened an email the other day from one of our readers requesting a course guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind was playing on my Pandora.

Talk about fate.

That was it.  I had to get to work.  So, I recalled some of my own experiences of playing golf in DFW and reached out to you guys for input. 

It didn’t take long for me to garner a wealth of information.

So, before I get too big for my britches writing this intro and waxing poetic about George Strait, let’s get going.

Waterchase Golf Club has been voted Fort Worth’s “Top Public Golf Course Destination”. 

This is a modern layout with large features.  Expansive lakes come into play on most holes.  The greens are big and undulating.  Subtle mounding throughout makes for some interesting lies and strategy. 

The variety of holes here is remarkable as well.  Some are tree lined and others allow you to choose from two fairways off the tee.  It might take playing this course more than once to figure out the optimal strategy for your game.

With that all being said, Waterchase is consistently in great condition and more than worth the price.

 

Only four miles from downtown Fort Worth, you’ll find Hawks Creek Golf Club. 

This track has two distinct nines.  The outward half asks you to play strategically from the tee and is shorter in length.  On your way back to the barn, length is just important as accuracy.

Throughout the course, hazards, well placed bunkers, and tree lined fairways are the norm. 

When you’re finished playing, swing by the Grill for scrumptious food and a host of cold beverage choices.

 

 

I had the pleasure of playing Bridlewood Golf Club not all that long ago.  I arrived more than an hour before my tee time and was hungry, so I decided to grab lunch on property from Barbos Pizza.  Man alive, it was some of the best pie I’ve ever had.  And the slices weren’t exactly small.

As far as the golf course goes, I was equally impressed.  Designed by D.A. Weibring, Bridlewood meanders through hardwood forests and rolling hills.

Always well kept, this track demands strategy while offering chances for risk and reward all at once.

A most delightful round of golf awaits here.

 

   

What players seem to like most about Tangle Ridge is that it’s a different golf course every time you play.  The wind can come from any direction.  Varying tee boxes and plenty of tricky hole locations can completely change how a hole plays from one day to the next.

Regardless of the conditions, you’ll be asked to hit a number of different shots with every club in your bag here. 

Known for its excellent condition and friendly service, you just might want to play Tangle Ridge more than once.

There are 27 holes of memorable golf at Prairie Lakes.  Coupled with the largest practice area in Texas, no golfer will get bored at this facility.

This is modern target golf with a touch of old school design.  The features are big and large hazards come into play frequently.  The fairways are narrow however, and demand accuracy more than length.

On my last visit, I had a couple of hours to kill and came here to practice.  I can tell you firsthand that the conditions of the facility are to die for.  Eight target greens make it easy to work on any shot you can imagine.  I’ll be back.

Opened in 1983, Thorntree Golf Club was designed by Richard Mai.  For years, this course was the qualifying site for the Texas State Open. 

Rated as one of the most challenging courses in the DFW area, you’d best have your A-game if you want to score well here. 

Having played this course, its classic design reminds me of Colonial, just down the road.  The fairways are narrow and guarded by ancient oak trees.  The greens are small and stature and can be difficult to hit.

The layout is straightforward and doesn’t leave you guessing.  It just demands that you execute quality shots.

One of my favorites.

 

It seems fitting that the only NFL team with a golf course dedicated solely to them is the Cowboys.

If America’s Team is a favorite of yours, you have to make it here for a round.

Designed by Jeff Brauer, the course occupies 159 acres of wooded forests. 

While it’s certainly a good test from all the way back, the forward tees are more than playable for most folks. 

When you come here to play, make time to explore everything “Cowboys” this venue has to offer.  It’s a sight to behold.

As its name would suggest, Southern Oaks is set amongst a mature oak forest. 

Trees and creeks come into play on the majority of holes so careful navigation is key. 

The mixture of holes keeps the round interesting too.  Both long and short, they allow lots of chances to play aggressively at times, while asking for the percentage play at others.

If you’re a tennis player also, you just might want to spend a few days here.  Both facilities are top-notch.

Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., Sky Creek Ranch is one of the most revered public facilities in the DFW area.

Carved from gorgeous land on top of the highest point in Tarrant County, the views are spectacular. 

Don’t get lost in your surroundings though.  The course is equally impressive and asks you to pay attention. 

This is a ball striker’s layout as trouble looms on nearly every hole.  The fairways are narrow and the greens well protected. 

Once you’re on the dance floor however, you can get it going with the flatstick.  They’re some of the purest greens I’ve ever played.

 

If adventure is something you like in a round of golf, you’ve come to the right place at Coyote Ridge. 

This course offers two nines that are distinctly different.  One the front side, you’ll be reminded of playing a links course as the wind blows, and the terrain is open and rolling.  On the way in, the design changes to one that’s much tighter and well-protected.  Doglegs, subtle moguls, and countless trees frame holes in a way that changes your mindset from the front.

For a memorable experience you get anywhere else, check out Coyote Ridge.

Conclusion

I’ve still got George Strait stuck in my head as I wrap up this course guide.  His lyrics make me want to get back to Texas as soon as I can.  Chances are that will be to the DFW area for some golf with friends.  After all, there’s no shortage of excellent courses to choose from.

There’s also plenty of tracks that belong on this that I haven’t mentioned.  What are some of your favorites?  We’d love to hear from you in the comments.