Forest Creek Golf Club - Austin.Boulevards.com Editor's Pick
99 Twin Ridge Pkwy., Round Rock TX 78664; Tel. 512.388.2874
Located 30 minutes from Austin, Forest Creek has been named "Best central Texas daily fee golf course" by Golf Digest. The Dick Phelps design features sprawling fairway bunkers, abundant fairways and tight greens. Once again, based on tee placement the course can be friendly to both the amateur and experienced golfer. A popular Austin area golf course, Forest Creek can be a slow round at times. Green fees are in the $47-$60 range.
Lions Municipal Golf Course
2901 Enfield Rd., Austin TX 78703; Tel. 512.477.6963
One of the oldest golf courses in the Austin area, the Lions Municipal was in fact designed by the Lions Club back in 1934. Despite the course's mere 6,001 total yards, this Austin golf course plays much tougher than it sounds with plenty of sand, water and postage stamp greens. Green fees are next to nothing for residents of Austin, slightly more for non-residents (around $20).
Barton Creek Resort and Country Club
8212 Barton Club Dr., Austin TX 78735; Tel. 512.301.7096
This massive golf facility features four 18-hole courses: The Canyons (par-72, 7,161 yards), The Crenshaw-Coore (par 71, 6,678 yards), the Fazio (par 72, 6,678 yards) and the Palmer-Lakeside (par71, 6,956 yards). There just isn't enough to say about these four courses designed respectively by Tom Fazio, Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore, Fazio and Arnold Palmer with Ed Sealy. This is golf at its best, the oldest course having opened in 1986, the newest, 2001. Everything from the service by the staff to the condition of the greens receives top marks in several golf publications. The best Texas has to offer, but you pay for what you get: $135 will get you onto Crenshaw's immaculate golf course.
Blackhawk Golf Club
2714 Kelly Ln., Pflugerville TX 78660; Tel. 512.251.9000
Opened in 1990, this Austin golf course is a popular central Texas golf destination. A traditional links style course measuring around 7,200 yards, Blackhawk is challenging enough to host several annual Texas professional events. Blackhawk is just 15 miles from downtown Austin. Green fees are in the $37-$48 range, considered a bargain for the play this Austin golf course offers.
Circle C Ranch Golf Club
7401 Highway 45, Austin TX 78739; Tel. 512.288.4297
This par-72 6,859 yard golf course was designed by Jay Morrish and opened in 1992. This Austin golf course offers country club-like settings, surrounded by new homes and the Central Texas landscape. A novice golfer has a chance to score at Circle C, but the advanced golfer won't find it to easy from the back tees. Green fees are in the $36-$51 range.
Jimmy Clay/ Roy Kizer Golf Courses
5400 Jimmy Clay Dr., Austin TX 78744; Tel. 512.444.0999
These two municipal gems are the pride of Austin's golf community. Considered to be two of the finest municipal golf courses in the American South. The Jimmy Clay course measures 6,857 yards, features massive adjacent practice facilities and costs between $14-$18 to play. The Roy Kizer course is the more recent design, measuring 6,749 yards. Considered the tougher of the two, the Kizer course is a links style track featuring ornate bird life, as a bird sanctuary resides on the grounds. The Kizer course is slightly steeper at $18-$28.
