The Dallas Morning News course rankings are a team effort. The 81 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.
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 to be eligible for Top 100 consideration. The standards are slightly lower for the top-50 public courses and the three lists of public courses broken down by price points.
— To see Nos. 51-100, click here
Sports Roundup
— The Covey at Big Easy Ranch tops The Dallas Morning News’ Texas Golf course rankings
— Whispering Pines returning to pristine form a year after major flooding wrecked course
Top 50 courses
(x-original design; y-redesign/renovation; NR-not ranked)
2025 rankCourseLocationTypeDesigner(s)Year open2024 rank1The Covey at Big Easy RanchColumbusPrivateChet Williams2023102Whispering Pines Golf ClubTrinityPrivateChet Williams/Nicklaus Design199913Brook Hollow Golf ClubDallasPrivatex-A.W. Tillinghast, y-Keith Foster192034Dallas National Golf ClubDallasPrivateTom Fazio200225Darmor ClubColumbusPrivateHal Sutton2024NR6Colonial Country ClubFort WorthPrivatePerry Maxwell, Ralph Plummer, John Bredemus1936157Preston Trail Golf ClubDallasPrivateByron Nelson, Ralph Plummer196548Boot RanchFredericksburgPrivateHal Sutton200659Shady Oaks Country ClubFort WorthPrivatex-Robert Trent Jones Sr.; y-Geoff Ogilvy19581610Bluejack National Golf ClubMontgomeryPrivateTiger Woods2016711Vaquero ClubWestlakePrivatex-Tom Fazio; y-Andrew Green20012012Driftwood Golf and Ranch ClubDriftwoodPrivateTom Fazio20222613Champions Golf Club, Cypress CreekHoustonPrivateRalph Plummer19591414River Oaks Country ClubHoustonPrivatex-Donald Ross; y-Rees Jones, Tom Fazio19231115Escondido Golf and Lake ClubHorseshoe BayPrivateTom Fazio2006916Spanish Oaks Golf ClubBee CavePrivateBobby Weed20061817The Clubs at Houston OaksHockleyPrivateChet Williams 2017618Oak Hills Country ClubSan AntonioPrivatex-A.W. Tillinghast; y-Tripp Davis19221719The Clubs of Cordillera RanchBoernePrivateJack Nicklaus2007820Summit Rock Golf ClubHorseshoe BayPrivateJack Nicklaus20121221Black Jack’s CrossingLajitasResortLanny Wadkins20111322Northwood ClubDallasPrivatex-William Diddel; y-Tripp Davis19462523Austin Country ClubAustinPrivatePete Dye19842324Lochinvar Golf ClubHoustonPrivateJack Nicklaus19803025Carlton Woods, Fazio CourseThe WoodlandsPrivateTom Fazio20052226Trinity Forest Golf ClubDallasPrivateBill Coore, Ben Crenshaw20173827Carlton Woods, Nicklaus CourseThe WoodlandsPrivateJack Nicklaus20012128Austin Golf ClubSpicewoodPrivateBill Coore, Ben Crenshaw20012429Royal Oaks Country ClubDallasPrivatex-Billy Martindale, Don January; y-Jay Morrish; Weibring-Wolford; Chet Williams19692930TPC San Antonio AT&T OaksSan AntonioResortGreg Norman20103331Highland Pines Golf ClubPorterPublicDave Relford/ Tour 18 Design Group20231932Briggs Ranch Golf ClubSan AntonioPrivateTom Fazio20022833Miramont Country ClubBryanPrivateRobert Trent Jones II20043634Fields Ranch East at PGA FriscoFriscoResortGil Hanse, Jim Wagner20232735University of Texas Golf ClubAustinPrivateRoy Bechtol, Randy Russell20034136Champions Golf Club, Jackrabbit CourseHoustonPrivatex-George Fazio; y-Tom Fazio19574637Fields Ranch West at PGA FriscoFriscoResortBeau Welling20233138Lakewood Country ClubDallasPrivatex-Tom Bendelow; y-Coore-Crenshaw; Andrew Green19123539The Woodlands CC Tournament CourseThe WoodlandsPrivateRobert von Hagge, Bruce Devlin19783740Rawls CourseLubbockPublicTom Doak20033941Grand Pines Golf Club at BentwaterLake ConroePrivateJeffrey Blume20054542Shadow Hawk Golf ClubRichmondPrivateRees Jones19994043Rock Creek ResortGordonvillePrivateChet Williams20097744Willow Brook Country ClubTylerPrivatex-Ralph Plummer; y-Joe Finger; Mark Hayes; Tripp Davis19223245Midland Country ClubMidlandPrivatex-Ralph Plummer; y-Weibring-Wolfard Golf Design19516046Corpus Christi Country ClubCorpus ChristiPrivatex-Robert Trent Jones; y-Chet Williams19655247BraeBurn Country ClubHoustonPrivatex-John Bredemus; y-Carlton Gipson19264248San Antonio Country ClubSan AntonioPrivatex-Alex Findley; y-A.W. Tillinghast, Joe Finger; Jay Morrish; Brian Silva19074949Houston Country ClubHoustonPrivatex-Robert Trent Jones Sr.; y-Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw19556250Westwood Golf ClubHoustonPrivatex-John Bredemus; y-Ralph Plummer; Keith Foster192869
No longer ranked: 73. Riverbend Country Club, Sugar Land; 81. Tempest Golf Club, Gladewater; 82. The Golf Club at Star Ranch, Hutto; 86. Cimarron Hills Golf & Country Club, Georgetown; 87. Texas Rangers Golf Club, Arlington; 90. Resort Course at La Cantera, San Antonio; 92. Las Colinas Country Club; 93. Walden on Lake Conroe, Montgomery; 95. Horseshoe Bay, Slick Rock, Horseshoe Bay; 98. Kingwood Country Club, Forest Course, Humble
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?
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.?
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 DMN golf rankings
— Ranking the top 100 golf courses in Texas: Nos. 1-50 (2025)
— Ranking the top 100 golf courses in Texas: Nos. 51-100 (2025)
— The Covey at Big Easy Ranch tops The Dallas Morning News’ Texas Golf course rankings
— Whispering Pines returning to pristine form a year after major flooding wrecked course
Panelists
William Aycock, The Woodlands amateur
Mike Bailey, Golf writer, Houston amateur
Robert Banta, Frisco amateur
Kemberly Barrett, Waco amateur
Curt Breaux, Montgomery amateur
John Brechin, Dallas amateur
Walt Barnes, Dallas amateur
Brent Blackburn, Head professional, Corpus Christi Country Club
Bruce J. Burger, Director of agronomy, The Quarry Golf Club
Ben Burns, Pro emeritus, Crown Colony Country Club
Mark Button, Texas Golf Association Director of Business Development, Houston amateur
Tony Campagna, golf course materials consultant, Rockwall amateur
Miles Carlson, Superintendent, Woodlands Country Club
Greg Clark, Frisco amateur
Beth Cleckler, retired Morris Williams Golf Course manager, Austin amateur
John Cochran IV, Texas Golf Association director of competitions for South Texas
Brent Cooper, Dallas Amateur
Daniel Coughlan, Director of golf, Bent Tree Country Club
Rob Couture, Dallas amateur
Cameron Doan, Director of golf, Preston Trail Golf Club
Thomas Devanna, Head professional, Tangle Ridge Golf Club
Conrad Doss, The Woodlands amateur
Camm Dougherty, Corpus Christi amateur
Evan Dunkerson, Director of golf, Midland Country Club
Lou Duran, Frisco amateur
Bob Elliott, PGA Professional Life Member
Gilbert Freeman, Pro emeritus, Lakewood Country Club
Don Gafner, Dallas Golf Co. CEO, Sunnyvale amateur
Ed Gatlin, Life PGA member, Athens
Bill Hanley, USGA/TGA volunteer/rules
Mark Harrison, Northern Texas PGA CEO
Malcolm Holland, Dallas amateur
Mark Kazlowski, Cedar Hill amateur
Robbie Kearney, PGA vice president of golf operations, Crescent Hotels and Resorts
Trey Kemp, Golf course architect, Dallas
Randy King, Horseshoe Bay amateur
Timothy King, Head professional, Brook Hollow Golf Club
Keith Kirkendall, The Woodlands amateur
Lawson Klotz, Irving amateur
Nancy Kromar, Austin Amateur
Kellen Kubasak, Chief Operating Officer, First Tee San Antonio
Phyllis Kwedar, Kathy Whitworth Foundation board member, Fort Worth amateur
Ricky Lyons, General manager, Big Easy Ranch
James McAfee, Golf writer, Plano amateur
Mike McCabe, General manager, Golf Clubs at The Tribute
Cathy Marino, Jesuit golf coach, LPGA Professional
Timm Matthews, Radio/podcast host, Dallas amateur
Sam Morrow, Houston amateur
Bob Neal, Mansfield amateur
Terry Olson, Vice president Sales & Marketing, Lajitas Golf Resort
Casey Paulson, Project president, Driftwood Golf & Ranch Club
Marty Slade Perlman, Dallas amateur
Mike Peterson, PGA Tour rules official based in Dallas
Kevin Porter, Texas Golf Association director of competitions for North Texas
George Priolo, GM of golf operations/head professional, Comanche Trace Golf Complex, Amarillo
Jim Quinn, Manufactures Rep, Arlington senior amateur
Jerry Ransom, Greenville amateur
Jan Rapp, Dallas amateur
Paul Richards, Austin amateur
Corey Roberson, Director of golf, Cordillera Ranch
Robert Rodriguez, San Antonio amateur
Chris Rowe, Director of golf, Whispering Pines Golf Club
Casey Russell, Director of golf, The Covey at Big Easy Ranch
Linda Sackett, Boerne amateur
Lee Sandlin, Texas Golf Association president, Dallas amateur
Zach Sewill, Golf equipment company owner, Conroe amateur
Jonathan Shipley, Texas Golf Association past president, Katy amateur
Jeff Smelser, Superintendent, Galveston Country Club
Randy Smith, Pro emeritus, director of instruction, Royal Oaks CC, Dallas
Shane Smith, Conroe amateur
Mark Steinbauer, PGA education faculty
Art Stricklin, Golf writer, Plano amateur
Eldon Tarver, Austin amateur
Steve Termeer, General manager/COO, University of Texas Golf Club
Mark Tylenda, Lewisville amateur
Casey Wade, Head professional, Sterling Country Club, Houston
Pat Wheeler, Golf writer, Dallas amateur
Nannette Wheelis, Waco amateur
Jim Whitten, Dallas amateur
Greg Wille, Belton amateur
Chris Winn, Cypress amateur
Ranking the top 100 golf courses in Texas: Nos. 51-100 (2025)Whispering Pines returning to pristine form a year after major flooding wrecked course
Find more golf coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
