Austin Courses - top 5 publics & top 5 privates

[Schley]

Was going to post in the Austin thread but it is too massive didn't want this lost. Simple exercise exclude costs , no sponsors to allow you membership, etc. and list what are the top 5 public courses and top 5 private courses IN YOUR OPINION in Austin. You can put a brief comment on each if you would like and please don't just look at a list from top 100 golf courses website or whatever. This is your opinion and it can be different or as quirky as you would like.

 

BTW will probably be buying a property here in the next couple years and maybe living in the area in 5 years so looking forward to opinions.

 

Top 5 publics

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

 

Top 5 privates

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

[toothysaw2]

Public:

 

1. Falconhead

2. Avery Ranch

3. Morris Williams

4. Star Ranch

5. Shadow glen

 

I’d put wolfdancer at 4 if you cast a net that wide.

 

Private:

 

Limiting this to places I’ve at least seen in person.

 

1. Austin Country Club

2. UT Golf Club

3. Twin Creeks

4. BC Foothills

[Luke.Sutton]

I’ve played every public and private here in the past 2 years... here is my take.

 

 

Public:

 

1. A. Barton Creek Fazio Foothills

B. BC Fazio Canyons

C. BC Palmer Lakeside

D. BC Crenshaw

Big time golf resort. Fazio, everything in front of you. Nice look at Hill Country style courses. Must stay in hotel to play but is considered public by golf digest (America’s 100 greatest public).

2. Wolfdancer - secluded resort across varied terrain

3. Valler Creek - far out but cool public track

4. Avery Ranch - best housing development course

5. Riverside G.C. - must overlook condition and butchered first couple of holes the university has built buildings on. Original ACC

 

Private

 

1. Austin Golf Club - secluded natural cattle ranch. Best “golf club”

2. Spanish Oaks - nice layout, Discovery 5 pound round. Great amenities

3. Austin Country Club- Pete Dye 80s, one of the first hill country style and penal. Cool water holes, rest is meh. Old money club

4. UT - cool layout, hill country canyons but fair

5. Lakecliff CC (ACC owned) - cool Palmer by the lake.

 

Honorable Mention Private’s...

 

Boot Ranch - Fredricksburg, High end very nice

Escondido - best at LBJ. Another 5 pound round

 

[TravelingGolfSticks]

I've played every public and private here in the past 2 years... here is my take.

 

 

Public:

 

1. A. Barton Creek Fazio Foothills

B. BC Fazio Canyons

C. BC Palmer Lakeside

D. BC Crenshaw

Big time golf resort. Fazio, everything in front of you. Nice look at Hill Country style courses. Must stay in hotel to play but is considered public by golf digest (America's 100 greatest public).

2. Wolfdancer - secluded resort across varied terrain

3. Valler Creek - far out but cool public track

4. Avery Ranch - best housing development course

5. Riverside G.C. - must overlook condition and butchered first couple of holes the university has built buildings on. Original ACC

 

Private

 

1. Austin Golf Club - secluded natural cattle ranch. Best "golf club"

2. Spanish Oaks - nice layout, Discovery 5 pound round. Great amenities

3. Austin Country Club- Pete Dye 80s, one of the first hill country style and penal. Cool water holes, rest is meh. Old money club

4. UT - cool layout, hill country canyons but fair

5. Lakecliff CC (ACC owned) - cool Palmer by the lake.

 

Honorable Mention Private's...

 

Boot Ranch - Fredricksburg, High end very nice

Escondido - best at LBJ. Another 5 pound round

 

Need any playing partners lol!

[Roadking2003]

I've played every public and private here in the past 2 years... here is my take.

 

 

Public:

 

1. A. Barton Creek Fazio Foothills

B. BC Fazio Canyons

C. BC Palmer Lakeside

D. BC Crenshaw

Big time golf resort. Fazio, everything in front of you. Nice look at Hill Country style courses. Must stay in hotel to play but is considered public by golf digest (America's 100 greatest public).

2. Wolfdancer - secluded resort across varied terrain

3. Valler Creek - far out but cool public track

4. Avery Ranch - best housing development course

5. Riverside G.C. - must overlook condition and butchered first couple of holes the university has built buildings on. Original ACC

 

Private

 

1. Austin Golf Club - secluded natural cattle ranch. Best "golf club"

2. Spanish Oaks - nice layout, Discovery 5 pound round. Great amenities

3. Austin Country Club- Pete Dye 80s, one of the first hill country style and penal. Cool water holes, rest is meh. Old money club

4. UT - cool layout, hill country canyons but fair

5. Lakecliff CC (ACC owned) - cool Palmer by the lake.

 

Honorable Mention Private's...

 

Boot Ranch - Fredricksburg, High end very nice

Escondido - best at LBJ. Another 5 pound round

 

I agree with most of your post except Austin Golf Club. It just has no appeal for me.

[jkfriesen]

Public:

1. Barton Creek courses

2. Wolfdancer

Long drop after this.

3. Falconhead

Another drop

4 and 5 Avery Ranch, Star Ranch

[Roadking2003]

Here are my notes on the top privates.

 

A lot will be driven by where you live and work and what drives your interest in membership (golf, family stuff, etc). But ignoring that, my rankings are;

 

1. Barton Creek CC (four good courses)

2. Spanish Oaks CC

3. Austin CC

4. The Hills of Lakeway CC

5. The University of Texas Club

 

After that, there is a huge drop off.

[jjthomp2]

Does Austin GC allow unaccompanied play?

[Luke.Sutton]

Does Austin GC allow unaccompanied play?

 

No, they had Sergio play with a member until he joined.

[callawayjay]

River place is incredible private club

[ATXHorn]

Top 5 publics - Pretending all are in top maintenance shape, lots of issues with greens at certain times of year.

 

1. Barton Creek

 

2. Wolfdancer - Nice layout, not a house.

 

3. Plum Creek - Greens are usually the best in area for a public.

 

4. Star Ranch

 

5. Muni - For the city walk and burger.

 

 

 

Top 5 privates

 

1. AGC - Great place for a fade, no crowds. Great practice area.

 

2. Spanish - Would have #1 if not for clubhouse, you have to walk through dinning to 1st tee. Great place for a draw, best service and surprisingly easy walk.

 

3. ACC - Fun course. People & politics everywhere.

 

4. Escondido - Only downside is location (LBJ) and their decision to house a Pelz golf school.

 

5. To me the rest of privates in ATX are not worth a rank. Lots of generic meh that is feasting on influx of $ the last 10 years.

[jjthomp2]

sorry for my confusion but i've never heard the reference "5 pound round" what does that even mean?

[Luke.Sutton]

> @jjthomp2 said:

> sorry for my confusion but i've never heard the reference "5 pound round" what does that even mean?

 

Discovery Property courses have “comfort stations” every 3-4 holes stocked with BBQ, fresh fruit, full kitchens, full bars, every snack you could imagine all for free/included with your round. It’s commonly referred to as the 5 pound round because you are guaranteed to gain 5 pounds playing one of these courses.

[RJ_MJ_JJ]

> @"Luke.Sutton" said:

> jjthomp2 wrote:

>

>

>

> Does Austin GC allow unaccompanied play?

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> No, they had Sergio play with a member until he joined.

 

That's because Sergio is Sergio. Everyone loves to give that guy a hard time...haha.

[ATXHorn]

> @"Luke.Sutton" said:

> > @jjthomp2 said:

> > sorry for my confusion but i've never heard the reference "5 pound round" what does that even mean?

>

> Discovery Property courses have “comfort stations” every 3-4 holes stocked with BBQ, fresh fruit, full kitchens, full bars, every snack you could imagine all for free/included with your round. It’s commonly referred to as the 5 pound round because you are guaranteed to gain 5 pounds playing one of these courses.

 

Except its far removed from Discovery's service & comfort. No full kitchens, no BBQ or jerkey, no fruit or bar at Spanish since Discovery left. They just have a bunch of generic snacks you would not want your kids eating. On the weekends they staff the "halfway" shed but your host will pay out the nose for it. Summit Rock has the best comfort stations in the area, Escondido is likely 2nd but neither is near Discovery level which is properly outlined above.

Director of Golf at Spanish is top notch, his team is the best in area at servicing its golfers.

[EricWGolf]

> @"Luke.Sutton" said:

> 5. Lakecliff CC (ACC owned) - cool Palmer by the lake.

 

Not that it matters to anyone reading this but, for the sake of accuracy . . . ACC does not own Lakecliff. They are currently managing it with an option to buy and the management contract includes the right for their members to play Lakecliff.

 

 

[ATXHorn]

Yeah, ACC tried to bully Kent around and he did not cave.

[EricWGolf]

> @ATXHorn said:

> Yeah, ACC tried to bully Kent around and he did not cave.

 

Uhhhh, no.