Best Private Golf Courses in Texas

Dallas, Texas · Tom Fazio (2002) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,335 yards

Widely regarded as the finest golf course in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, Dallas National is a Tom Fazio design that sprawls across rolling terrain south of the city. The course features immaculate conditioning, bold shaping, and a series of dramatic par-3s.

Austin, Texas · Pete Dye (1984) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,171 yards

Perched along the bluffs of Lake Austin, Austin Country Club is a Pete Dye masterpiece that has hosted the Dell Technologies Match Play. The course features dramatic elevation changes, strategic bunkering, and stunning Hill Country views that make every round memorable.

Dallas, Texas · Steve Smyers (2019) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,569 yards

One of the most talked-about new courses in America, Maridoe is a brutally challenging Steve Smyers design built for serious golfers. The course features vast bunker complexes, bold green contours, and a no-tee-time walk-only philosophy.

Houston, Texas · Tiger Woods (TGR Design) (2016) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,345 yards

Tiger Woods' first U.S. course design, Bluejack National is a family-oriented club with a world-class golf course routed through towering East Texas pines. The design emphasizes playability, fun, and a 10-hole short course called "The Playgrounds."

Trinity, Texas · Chet Williams (Nicklaus Design) (2000) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,480 yards

Carved from 660 acres of East Texas pine forest, Whispering Pines is regularly ranked the number-one course in Texas. The 7,480-yard layout features zoysia fairways and Bermuda greens with tournament-caliber conditioning, bounded by creeks and lakes that force dramatic carries.

Dallas, Texas · Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (2016) · 18 holes · Par 71 · 7,432 yards

Built on a former landfill, Trinity Forest is a bold Coore & Crenshaw design that brought links-style golf to North Texas. The treeless, windswept layout rewards creativity and shotmaking, and previously hosted the AT&T Byron Nelson.

Houston, Texas · Rees Jones (2005) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,200 yards

Set on a sprawling ranch property northwest of Houston, Houston Oaks is a Rees Jones design that offers an exclusive, rustic golf experience. The course winds through native oaks and open meadows with first-class conditioning.

Houston, Texas · Ralph Plummer (1959) · 18 holes · Par 71 · 7,018 yards

Co-founded by Masters champions Jackie Burke Jr. and Jimmy Demaret, Champions Golf Club is one of America's most historically significant private clubs. The Cypress Creek course hosted the 1967 Ryder Cup, 1969 U.S. Open, and the 2020 U.S. Women's Open.

Fredericksburg, Texas · Hal Sutton (2002) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,179 yards

A Hal Sutton design in the heart of Texas Hill Country near Fredericksburg, Boot Ranch is an exclusive residential golf community with sweeping views of the Pedernales Valley. The challenging layout winds through native grasslands, live oaks, and natural limestone outcroppings.

Dallas, Texas · Ralph Plummer & Byron Nelson (1962) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,091 yards

Founded in 1962 and designed by Ralph Plummer with Byron Nelson, Preston Trail Golf Club is one of the most storied and exclusive private clubs in the Southwest. The course served as home of the Byron Nelson Golf Classic from 1968 to 1982. Tripp Davis completed a celebrated renovation in 2018.

Houston, Texas · Tom Fazio (2001) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,296 yards

The crown jewel of The Woodlands, Carlton Woods' Fazio Course is routinely ranked among the best private clubs in Texas. The layout carves through dense East Texas pines with bold shaping and pristine conditioning.

Dallas, Texas · A.W. Tillinghast (1920) · 18 holes · Par 71 · 7,011 yards

One of the crown jewels of Golden Age American golf architecture, Brook Hollow was designed by A.W. Tillinghast in 1920. Bold flashed bunkers, undulating greens, and natural terrain movement create thrilling risk-reward decisions on every hole. A Coore & Crenshaw renovation restored the course's classic character.

Houston, Texas · Donald Ross (1922) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 6,600 yards

Designed by the legendary Donald Ross in 1922, River Oaks Country Club is one of the oldest and most prestigious private clubs in Texas. Ross's trademark crowned greens and subtle bunkering demand precise short-game touch. Subsequent renovations by Joe Finger, Rees Jones, and Tom Fazio have maintained strategic integrity.

San Antonio, Texas · A.W. Tillinghast (1907) · 18 holes · Par 71 · 6,848 yards

The oldest private club in San Antonio, SACC features a classic A.W. Tillinghast design that has been meticulously maintained for over a century. The parkland layout along the banks of the San Antonio River features Tillinghast's trademark bunkering and challenging par 3s.

Austin, Texas · Jimmy Demaret (1974) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 6,710 yards

Founded in 1974 and designed by two-time Masters champion Jimmy Demaret, Onion Creek Club is the only golf course Demaret ever designed — a singular piece of Texas golf history. Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore sensitively added nine holes in 1996, and the club hosted the Legends of Golf senior major for many years.

Houston, Texas · John Bredemus (1926) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 6,808 yards

Founded in 1926 with ties to golf royalty — Jackie Burke Sr. was a founder and Jimmy Demaret served as head professional. Golden Age architect John Bredemus designed the original layout, and Tripp Davis completed a nationally recognized renovation in 2022.