Top 100 golf courses in Texas for 2026.
Michael Hogue / The Dallas Morning News
The Dallas Morning News course rankings are a team effort. The 77 panel members were given a ballot of 300 courses and asked to rate them on a 10-point scale. Panel members are golf professionals, golf course architects, superintendents, people involved in the golf course industry and amateurs. Many of the amateurs compete in statewide and national events, and others have GHIN indexes north of 10.
Not even the most avid golfer has played all 300 courses, and the first marching order all panel members are given is to vote only for the courses they have played, preferably within the last five years. We also give each of the panel members a list of criteria to consider when rating. These criteria are similar to what national golf publications use.
Article continues below this ad
The votes are tabulated, and a process known as winsorization is used to account for outliers – high and low – to smooth the data. Because not every course is rated by every panel member, we determined that a course must receive votes from at least 13% of the panel members (10 this year) to be eligible for Top 100 consideration and for the top-50 public course list and the two lists of public courses broken down by price points.
Top 100 courses Nos. 1-50
(x-original design; y-redesign/renovation; NR-not ranked)
2026
rank
Course
Location
Type
Designer(s)
Year
open
2025
rank
1.
Whispering Pines Golf Club
Trinity
Private
Chet Williams/Nicklaus Design
1999
2
2.
The Covey at Big Easy Ranch
Columbus
Private
Chet Williams
2023
1
3.
Dallas National Golf Club
Dallas
Private
Tom Fazio
2002
4
4.
Brook Hollow Golf Club
Dallas
Private
x-A.W. Tillinghast, y-Keith Foster
1920
3
5.
Darmor Club
Columbus
Private
Hal Sutton
2024
5
6.
Colonial Country Club
Fort Worth
Private
Perry Maxwell, Ralph Plummer, John Bredemus
1936
6
7.
Bluejack National Golf Club
Montgomery
Private
Tiger Woods
2016
10
8.
Boot Ranch
Fredericksburg
Private
Hal Sutton
2006
8
9.
Shady Oaks Country Club
Fort Worth
Private
x-Robert Trent Jones Sr.; y-Geoff Ogilvy
1958
9
10.
The Clubs of Cordillera Ranch
Boerne
Private
Jack Nicklaus
2007
19
11.
Preston Trail Golf Club
Dallas
Private
Byron Nelson, Ralph Plummer
1965
7
12.
Vaquero Club
Westlake
Private
x-Tom Fazio; y-Andrew Green
2001
11
13.
Driftwood Golf and Ranch Club
Driftwood
Private
Tom Fazio
2022
12
14.
Spanish Oaks Golf Club
Bee Cave
Private
Bobby Weed
2006
16
15.
Black Jack’s Crossing
Lajitas
Resort
Lanny Wadkins
2011
21
16.
Escondido Golf and Lake Club
Horseshoe Bay
Private
Tom Fazio
2006
15
17.
Champions Golf Club, Cypress Creek
Houston
Private
Ralph Plummer
1959
13
18.
Summit Rock Golf Club
Horseshoe Bay
Private
Jack Nicklaus
2012
20
19.
Carlton Woods, Nicklaus Course
The Woodlands
Private
Jack Nicklaus
2001
27
20.
Lakeside Country Club
Houston
Private
x-Ralph Plummer; y-Ron Pritchard;
Jeff Blume; Jay Blasi
1951
70
21.
Carlton Woods, Fazio Course
The Woodlands
Private
Tom Fazio
2005
25
22.
River Oaks Country Club
Houston
Private
x-Donald Ross; y-Rees Jones, Tom Fazio
1923
14
23.
Northwood Club
Dallas
Private
x-William Diddel; y-Tripp Davis
1946
22
24.
The Clubs at Houston Oaks
Hockley
Private
Chet Williams
2017
17
25.
Austin Country Club
Austin
Private
Pete Dye
1984
23
26.
Royal Oaks Country Club
Dallas
Private
x-Billy Martindale, Don January; y-Jay Morrish;
Weibring-Wolford; Chet Williams
1969
29
27.
Oak Hills Country Club
San Antonio
Private
x-A.W. Tillinghast; y-Tripp Davis
1922
18
28.
Lochinvar Golf Club
Houston
Private
Jack Nicklaus
1980
24
29.
Trinity Forest Golf Club
Dallas
Private
Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw
2017
26
30.
Willow Brook Country Club
Tyler
Private
x-Ralph Plummer; y-Joe Finger;
Mark Hayes; Tripp Davis
1922
44
31.
Highland Pines Golf Club
Porter
Public
Dave Relford/ Tour 18 Design Group
2023
31
32.
Maridoe Golf Club
Carrollton
Private
Steve Smyers
2017
61
33.
TPC San Antonio AT&T Oaks
San Antonio
Resort
Greg Norman
2010
30
34.
Deerwood Club
Kingwood
Private
Joe Finger, Ken Dye, Byron Nelson
1982
57
35.
Fields Ranch West at PGA Frisco
Frisco
Resort
Beau Welling
2023
37
36.
Champions Golf Club, Jackrabbit Course
Houston
Private
x-George Fazio; y-Tom Fazio
1957
36
37.
Ridgewood Country Club
Waco
Private
x-Ralph Plummer; y-Colligan Golf
Design; Tripp Davis
1947
53
38.
Briggs Ranch Golf Club
San Antonio
Private
Tom Fazio
2002
32
39.
BraeBurn Country Club
Houston
Private
x-John Bredemus; y-Carlton Gipson
1926
47
40.
Rawls Course
Lubbock
Public
Tom Doak
2003
40
41.
Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco
Frisco
Resort
Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner
2023
34
42.
Miramont Country Club
Bryan
Private
Robert Trent Jones II
2004
33
43.
University of Texas Golf Club
Austin
Private
Roy Bechtol, Randy Russell
2003
35
44.
Houston Country Club
Houston
Private
x-Robert Trent Jones Sr.; y-Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw
1955
49
45.
Austin Golf Club
Spicewood
Private
Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw
2001
28
46.
Grand Pines Golf Club at Bentwater
Lake Conroe
Private
Jeffrey Blume
2005
41
47.
Dallas Athletic Club, Blue Course
Dallas
Private
x-Ralph Plummer; y-Jack Nicklaus
1954
63
48.
Dallas Athletic Club, Gold Course
Dallas
Private
x-Ralph Plummer; y-Jack Nicklaus
1961
58
49.
Lakewood Country Club
Dallas
Private
x-Tom Bendelow; y-Coore-Crenshaw;
Andrew Green
1912
38
50.
Pine Dunes Resort
Frankston
Resort
Jay Morrish
2001
54
Article continues below this ad
Make Dallas News a preferred source so your search results prioritize writing by actual people, not AI.
Add Preferred Source
No longer ranked: 48. San Antonio CC; 78. Lakes at Castle Hills; 80. High Meadow Ranch GC, Magnolia; 83. Stonebriar Resort, Fazio Course, Frisco; 85. Ridgelea CC, Family Course (North), Fort Worth; 92. Hyatt Hill Country Resort; San Antonio; 93. Lantana GC; 94. Golfcrest CC, Pearland; 95. Stonebriar CC, Frisco; 96. Lubbock CC; 97. Tierra Verde GC, Arlington
Course rating criteria
Versatility: Does the course create a good mix for the high and low handicappers? Are better players challenged, while the high handicappers are able to enjoy play through the use of shorter teeing areas, alternate routes, location of hazards and accessible pins?
Article continues below this ad
Shotmaking: Does it test accuracy, finesse, length and putting without putting too much emphasis on any of these skills?
Design: Is there a good balance? Differing lengths? Doglegs right and left? Placement of hazards? Contours and shapes of greens?
Afterthoughts: How much do you remember about the course? Do one or two holes stand out as great or bad?
Beauty: Do the scenic values add to the pleasure of a round? Trees, shrubs, hills, mounds, flowers, etc.?
Article continues below this ad
Maintenance: How would you rate the course conditions, factoring in all aspects – tees, greens, fairways, bunkers? Spring, summer, fall or winter when viewed?
Enjoyment: How do you feel about being at the course? What about the amenities? From arrival to departure, was it a good, bad or indifferent golf experience?
More Texas Golf content
Article continues below this ad
Article continues below this ad
2026 Texas Golf panelists
William Aycock, Conroe amateur
Mike Bailey, Golf writer, Houston amateur
Robert Banta, Frisco Amateur
Article continues below this ad
Walt Barnes, Addison amateur
Kemberly Barrett, Waco amateur
Curt Breaux, Montgomery amateur
John Brechin, Allen amateur
Article continues below this ad
Bruce Burger, Superintendent, The Quarry Golf Club
Mark Button, Director of business development, Texas Golf Association.
Tony Campagna, Golf course sands and materials consultant
Miles Carlson, Former Superintendent at the Woodlands CC
Article continues below this ad
Greg Clark, Frisco amateur
Beth Cleckler, Austin amateur
John Cochran, Texas Golf Association director of competitions for South Texas
Brent Cooper, Dallas amateur
Article continues below this ad
Robert Couture, Dallas amateur
Thomas Devanna, Head pro at White Bluff Resort, Lake Whitney
Cameron Doan, Director of golf, Preston Trail Golf Club, Dallas
Conrad Doss, The Woodlands amateur
Article continues below this ad
Camm Dougherty, Corpus Christi amateur
Evan Dunkerson, Director of golf, Midland Country Club
Lou Duran, Frisco amateur
Bob Elliott, PGA life member, Dallas
Article continues below this ad
Gilbert Freeman, Pro emeritus Lakewood CC, Dallas
Don Gafner, Dallas Golf Co. CEO, Sunnyvale amateur
Edward Gatlin, PGA life member, Athens; director of AMWA
Bill Hanley, USGA/Texas Golf Association committee member
Article continues below this ad
Mark Harrison, Northern Texas PGA CEO
Malcolm Holland, Past president of Texas Golf Association, Dallas amateur
Mark Kazlowski, Texas Golf editor emeritus, Cedar Hill amateur
Robbie Kearney, PGA vice president of golf operations, Crescent Hotels and Resorts
Article continues below this ad
Trey Kemp, Dallas-based golf course architect
Randy King, Horseshoe Bay amateur
Tim King, Head professional, Brook Hollow Golf Club
Keith Kirkendall, Houston amateur
Article continues below this ad
Lawson Klotz, Irving amateur
Nancy Kromar, Austin amateur
Kellen Kubasak, Chief development officer for Golf San Antonio
Phyllis Kwedar, Fort Worth amateur
Article continues below this ad
Ricky Lyons, General manager, Covey at Big Easy Ranch
Cathy Marino, Jesuit golf coach, LPGA professional
Timm Matthews, PGA Tour podcast host, Dallas amateur
James McAfee, Golf writer, Plano amateur
Article continues below this ad
Mike McCabe, GM Golf Clubs at the Tribute
Sam Morrow, Houston amateur
Robert Neal, Mansfield amateur
Terry Olson, Vice president of sales and marketing, Lajitas Golf Resort
Article continues below this ad
Britt Patton, PGA life member from Colleyville
Casey Paulson, President of sales and operations, Driftwood Golf Club
Kevin Porter, Texas Golf Association director of competitions for North Texas
George Priolo, GM, PGA professional, Comanche Trail Golf Complex, Amarillo
Article continues below this ad
Jim Quinn, Arlington amateur
Jerry Ransom, Greenville amateur
Paul Richards, Austin amateur
Article continues below this ad
Robert Rodriguez, San Antonio amateur
Casey Russell, director of golf, Big Easy Ranch
Linda Sackett, Boerne amateur
Lee Sandlin, Former Texas Golf Association president, Dallas amateur
Article continues below this ad
Jonathan Shipley, Former Texas Golf Association president, Katy amateur
Marty Slade Perlman, Dallas amateur
Jeff Smelser, Superintendent, Galveston Country Club
Shane Smith, The Woodlands amateur
Article continues below this ad
Randy Smith, PGA Professional Emeritus, Royal Oaks CC, Dallas.
Mark Steinbauer, PGA of America education faculty
Art Stricklin, Golf writer, Plano amateur
Eldon Tarver, Austin amateur
Article continues below this ad
Steve Termeer, GM/chief operating officer, University of Texas Golf Club, Austin
Tammy Trichell, Helotes amateur
Mark Tylenda, Lewisville amateur
Casey Wade, head professional, Sterling CC at Houston National
Article continues below this ad
Pat Wheeler, golf writer, Dallas amateur
Nanette Wheelis, Waco amateur
By signing up, you agree to our Terms Of Use and acknowledge that your information will be used as described in our Privacy Policy.
Jim Whitten, Fort Worth amateur
Article continues below this ad
Greg Wille, Belton amateur
Chris Winn, Houston amateur