The Club at Carlton Woods - Fazio Course

The Club at Carlton Woods opened its Jack Nicklaus Signature Course in 2001 as the centerpiece of a luxury residential community in The Woodlands, north of Houston. Five years later, in 2006, the Tom Fazio Championship Course debuted, giving the club two nationally ranked layouts. The Fazio Course was built through dense East Texas pine forest on gently rolling terrain, a rarity in the Houston area.

Tom Fazio crafted a design that emphasizes bold shaping and strategic variety. The 7,296-yard layout features dramatic mounding, well-placed water hazards, and challenging green complexes guarded by creeks, streams, and ponds. Water comes into play on more than half the holes, demanding careful course management.

Carlton Woods has hosted the LPGA's Chevron Championship, bringing the world's top women's players to The Woodlands. The Fazio Course is consistently ranked among the best private clubs in Texas and has earned recognition on multiple national course ranking lists.

The Fazio Course at Carlton Woods is a pristine parkland layout carved through towering East Texas pines. At 7,296 yards from the tips, it presents a serious test with water hazards on more than half the holes. The rolling terrain provides unusual elevation changes for the Houston area, and Fazio's bold shaping creates visually dramatic holes throughout.

Conditioning is immaculate year-round, befitting one of the top private clubs in Texas. The fairways are generous enough to allow aggressive play off the tee, but the green complexes demand precision.

Water is the primary defense on the Fazio Course. Identify which holes allow you to challenge hazards and which demand conservative play. The par 5s offer birdie opportunities for those who manage risk wisely.

The greens feature subtle Fazio contours that can be deceiving. Pay attention to the slope from back to front and avoid being above the hole whenever possible. The pine-sheltered holes can play differently than expected as trees block wind.