DFW area private courses

[Simp]

Hey guys, hope everyone had a good Christmas and a safe New Years. The family will be moving to the Keller/SouthLake area in the Spring/Summer and i'm going to need a place to play. I've been a public course player forever and I'd like to entertain the thought of joining a private course when we move.

 

I'm a range rat as well so a nice practice facility is almost a must. Having said that, I can't spend the money that I would have to spend here in New Jersey to get what I want. I can't drop 10 grand on an innitiation fee. So, what course(s) would you guys recommend? Many thanks! Sonny

[mam8734]

In the Southlake/Keller area, you are really limited in the choices in those areas of town. Timarron CC and Trophy Club CC are likely your only private club choices. Timarron is probably in the 10k-15k range initiation and Trophy Club is likely in the 5k range (they have 36 holes). You might want to consider a membership at Sky Creek Ranch in Keller. It is an upscale daily fee course which is tough and always in pretty good shape. One of the few courses that has bentgrass greens in the area.

[Harry Longshanks]

If you want to ease into private club membership, Texas Star in Euless offers a "[url="http://www.texasstargolf.com/membership.shtm"]Gold Star" annual membership[/url] for around $3,500/year (billed in monthly installments I believe), which is all-inclusive for unlimited golf (weekdays and weekends) with cart, and driving range/putting green/chipping green usage. Gold members can also make tee time reservations a few days before the general public. Additional family members can be added at a reduced cost.

The course is well-designed and well-kept. The only knock I've ever had against Texas Star is that they sometimes hold too many tournaments in the spring and fall, which can occasionally be frustrating when trying to make a tee time. But it's still a helluva deal.

[OK_Golf]

If you're looking for "exclusivity" and that 3-hour round you can have a private club with little play, then Sky Creek or Texas Star options aren't for you ... but if you're looking for a good gofl course to play with good practice facilities, Sky Creek Ranch is a great option.

Also, from what I remember, Trophy Club "ain't exactly the nicest" club on earth. Sky Creek is as good or better from a conditioning stand point and is a better design in my opinion. This all based on the situation about 3 years ago, so it could have changed.

[Simp]

Thanks guys for the replies.

OK_Golf, in your post, you mention "Sky Creek" and "Sky Creek Ranch". Are they the same?

[OK_Golf]

Simp, I'm refering to the same place wihen I say "Sky Creek" or "Sky Creek Ranch". Best of luck finding a spot to play. You know its about the exact opposite of a country club, but Grapevine Municipal Golf course is the absolute best value in the metroplex. Try some time no matter where you end playing regularly.

Btw, which direction will you be heading out of the Keller/Southlake area most often (ie for work or other activties)? Towards Dallas or Towards Ft Worth? if you're heading thru Irving towards Dallas you've got several options that direction including TPC at the Four Seasons (maybe out of the price range you mentioned) as well as Las Colinas Country Club (not sure the price point on this, but its lower than TPC) and Hackberry Creek (believe this is a lower price point than Las Colinas, but I'm not sure).

[Simp]

Thanks for clearing that up. I believe that the job will be a little north of Fort Worth. It won't be too far from the Keller/Southlake area I don't think. 15 minutes away maybe?

[andyville99]

I moved to the Keller/Southlake area late last summer from Dublin OH where I was a member at Muirfield Village CC. Since I moved, I've been playing various public courses in the area including:

Texas Star - great track from the tips, has always been in good condition
Waterchase - equally good track - great greens - I play here the most
Sky Creek Ranch - nice facility, pretty good track - even though I live in the development, wouldn't want to play it all the time
Tierra Verde - nice expansive track, very peaceful, if that makes sense
Fossil Creek - mediocre track - took 5:45, will never go back
Indian Creek - played the Lakes course, didn't care for it at all. I hear the Creek course is very good.

So, I'm considering various private club options in the Ft. Worth/west Dallas area and would appreciate any experiences or input any of you might have. FWIW, I'm a 4 hdcp...

Clubs I've looked at online or have spoken with (haven't played any of them yet)...

Timarron - I consistently hear it's overcrowded and difficult to get a tee time on weekends - showstopper for me
Trophy Club - I've heard some positives, but also lots of negatives
Diamond Oaks - similarly, have heard some positives and negatives - I've heard they have a great gangsome on the weekend comprised of good players
Great Southwest - don't know much about it
Ridgelea CC - ditto
Dallas Athletic Club - ditto
Shady Oaks - ditto
Shady Valley - ditto
Hackberry Creek - ditto
Walnut Creek - ditto

So, if anybody can share some actual experiences regarding these, it would be much appreciated!
Thanks,
Andy

[Hoot151]

Shady Oaks and Ridglea both require sponsors to recommend you, and from what I've heard you better have some blue blood for Shady Oaks.

[golfernut78]

for what it is worth, trophy club and timarron are clubcorp clubs, not member owned clubs. timarron can get pretty busy. i've played with numerous members of timarron on public courses because they couldn't get a tee time.

depending how are you want to go and where you settle, lantana is on the otherside of lake grapevine and is an excellent course and recently went private.

[andyville99]

Haven't heard of Lantana - is that in the area north of Cowboys?

Thanks for your input re: Timarron - that echoes what I've heard pretty frequently. It's a shame because I understand it's a nice facility and it's only 6 minutes from my house on the Keller/Southlake border, but that's a showstopper for me.

[golfernut78]

[quote name='andyville99' timestamp='1331678155' post='4501715']
Haven't heard of Lantana - is that in the area north of Cowboys?

Thanks for your input re: Timarron - that echoes what I've heard pretty frequently. It's a shame because I understand it's a nice facility and it's only 6 minutes from my house on the Keller/Southlake border, but that's a showstopper for me.
[/quote]

in the area north as in next city over, yes, but if you are refering to the golf course directly north of cowboys, that is grapevine municipal.

don't get me wrong, timarron is very nice, and i am hoping to finally get on the golf course there soon, but yeah, the recurring theme out there is it is crowded on the weekends.

[Hutch306]

Read this article. It's got everything you want, including pricing comparisons.

[url="http://www.myavidgolfer.com/articles/?view=department&department_id=1&issue_id=229"]http://www.myavidgolfer.com/articles/?view=department&department_id=1&issue_id=229[/url]

[andyville99]

Thanks! great info. I've seen that mag in print around at various clubs but hadn't seen it online. Best news is I've actually met one of the cart girls featured - she was worthy!

[Hutch306]

Not a problem. Keep us posted with which course you decide to go with, and then remember to follow up with it after you've had time to decide if it was a good decision or not.

[blev2]

I have played most courses mentioned in this thread so here is my opinion.

West Side Fort Worth:
Colonial- Great, but gets a lot of play
Ridglea- Best value in Fort Worth. Two 18's. One is a family course, and one is a mens only (must be 18+ and a male to play). Both always amazing. Bent greens.
Shady Oaks- If you can find a way it is easily the best course around. Very little play, and very challenging. Really an amazing track.

North Fort Worth:
Sky Ranch- Great course, but wasn't overly impressed with the greens. Seemed a little tired.
Fossil Creek- Another great course, but it gets a lot of play.

Far North Fort Worth:
Lantana- I caddied for a friend at stage one of Q school the past couple years, and I really enjoyed this course. Has a ton of character, and doesn't seem to get a ton of play.
Trophy Club- Wasn't overly impressed. You can do a lot better for the money.

It really just depends on what you are looking to spend. You are looking at 50k+ just to join Colonial, Shady Oaks, Valero, and other top end CC's. There are a ton of great courses for a lot of bang for your buck.

If you are ever looking for a fun track in great shape that won't break the bank let me know and I will take you out to Hawks Creek in Fort Worth. I just joined out there and it is a blast. Some of the best bermuda greens around.

Hope that helps.

[Conman48]

[quote name='OK_Golf' timestamp='1294237783' post='2876252']
Simp, I'm refering to the same place wihen I say "Sky Creek" or "Sky Creek Ranch". Best of luck finding a spot to play. You know its about the exact opposite of a country club, but Grapevine Municipal Golf course is the absolute best value in the metroplex. Try some time no matter where you end playing regularly.


Btw, which direction will you be heading out of the Keller/Southlake area most often (ie for work or other activties)? Towards Dallas or Towards Ft Worth? if you're heading thru Irving towards Dallas you've got several options that direction including TPC at the Four Seasons (maybe out of the price range you mentioned) as well as Las Colinas Country Club (not sure the price point on this, but its lower than TPC) and Hackberry Creek (believe this is a lower price point than Las Colinas, but I'm not sure).
[/quote]


I'm at tpc and it's pricey 55 grand start up but after thT it's not bad. The amenities with the resort are fantastic and you can have great teaching pros (go with Abe Hernandez) for cheap and with two courses one being a members only there's never a wait on tee times and plus as a member we have a PGA tournament. Also if your looking for affordable I'd say hands down the best choice is stonebridge. I'm also there and the dye course maybe one of the best courses in the state. I believe it's like 5 grand to start up and also with 2 courses you can't go wrong. But in southlake is timarron which is a pretty fun layout I just don't know the price range for you.

Good luck! Take a look at stonebridge for sure!

[tligg]

For a daily fee course, Bridlewood in Flower Mound is a good deal on the cost. $4,500 Annual Pass gets you as much as you want. The course just recently converted from Bent to Tiff Eagle Bermuda which makes it play a lot different. The Dominion Group bought them just as the greens changed, they also own Lantanna, so they improvements will keep coming. The practice facility is really nice, 5000 sf putting green, 3 short game areas and a huge range. The thing I find most attractive for Bridlewood is there competitive men's league, it just kicked off 3/1 and currently has about 90 guys, 100% handicapped (GHIN) , full board so play is as fair as it gets. We do weekly rounds from Monday thru Sunday, so find another partner and pick a day and play, skins pot too, 36 weeks is how long our season last. We also hold a tournament each month and a match play elemination event that starts in May. I've been doing it for 4 years now and can tell you it is a blast and totally changes the way you play, as no foot wedges allowed. You'll find guys from +3-4 all the way up to the 20's. The only bad thing is the new greens, as the are new it's going to take some time for them to come in, but the 90 of us all have the same problem...... Not sure if it's what you are looking for and not that far from Southlake, funny thing is we pull from all over, everyone says it the league that makes it like no other unless your private. Did want to mention, no cash though, all payouts for pro shop credit.