The top 25 economy golf courses in Texas that cost $59 and under (2022) – Alamo City Golf Trail
Our panel members list their favorite courses for a cheaper round.
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Hole 12 marker at Texarkana Golf Ranch.(Tom Fox / The Dallas Morning News)
By Mark Kazlowski and Scott Bell of the Dallas Morning News
12:47 PM on May 7, 2022 CDT
Fee is the cost of a greens fee and cart plus tax for a prime Saturday tee time. Fees are from March 2022. Actual rates may vary. To be eligible, a course must have been rated by five panel members.
2022 rank
Course
Location
Phone
Designer
Year
open
Fee
2021
rank
1
Texarkana Golf Ranch
Texarkana
903-334-7401
Jim Fazio Jr.
2002
$42
1
2
Gus Wortham Park Golf Course
Houston
713-928-4260
Baxter Span
1908
$55
4
3
Stevens Park Golf Course
Dallas
214-640-7506
x-Jack Burke Sr.;
y-Colligan Golf Design
1950
$58
8
4
Delaware Springs
Golf Course
Burnet
512-756-8471
Dave Axland, Dan Proctor
1999
$53
6
5
Legacy Hills
Georgetown
512-948-7560
Billy Casper, Greg Nash
1996
$56
NR
6
Squaw Creek Golf Club
Willow Park
817-441-8185
x-Ralph Plummer
y-Colligan Golf Design
1971
$58
3
7
Willow Springs Golf Course
San Antonio
210-226-6721
Emil Loefler, John Bredemus
1923
$50
13
8
Cedar Creek Golf Course
San Antonio
210-695-5050
Baxter Spann, Ken Dye, Joe Finger
1989
$54
11
9
Split Rail Links and Golf Club
Aledo
817-441-4653
Phil Lumsden
2002
$59
22
10
Courses at Watters Creek, Traditions
Allen
214-509-4653
x-Bruce Devlin/Robert von Hagge, y-Weibring Wolfard Design
1991
$59
NR
11
Jimmy Clay Golf Course
Austin
512-444-0999
Joe Finger
1974
$54
20
12
Morris Williams Golf Course
Austin
512-974-8333
Leon Howard
1964
$42
18
13
Bearkat Course
Huntsville
936-438-8588
Tripp Davis
2003
$37
10
14
Cleburne Golf Links
Cleburne
817-641-4501
Colligan Golf Design
2009
$46
15
15
Cedar Crest Golf Course
Dallas
214-670-7615
x-A.W. Tillinghast,
y-Weibring-Wolfard
1918
$47
23
16
Sherrill Park Municipal No. 1
Richardson
972-234-1416
x- Leon Howard, Buster Creagh;
y-Weibring-Wolfard
1973
$57
12
17
Cypresswood Golf Club,
Cypress Course
Spring
281-821-6300
Keith Foster
1997
$55
NR
18
Pecan Valley Golf Course,
River Course
Fort Worth
817-392-6490
Ralph Plummer
1963
$33
NR
19
Mesquite Golf Course
Mesquite
972-270-7457
x-Leon Howard;
y-Jeffrey D. Brauer
1965
$50
NR
20
Hidden Creek Golf Course
Burleson
817-447-4444
x-Steve Plummer;
y-Colligan Golf Design
1997
$48
24
21
Colovista Golf Club
Bastrop
512-629-4585
Les Appelt
1997
$53
21
22
Lions Municipal Golf Course
Austin
512-477-6963
A.W. Tillinghast
1924
$54
19
23
Rayburn Country Resort
Brookeland
409-698-1014
x-Jay Riviere, Robert von Hagge; y-Randolph P. Russell/Bill Hanna
1968
$59
NR
24
Gaines County Golf Course
Seminole
432-758-3808
Jim Terry
1958
$40
NR
25
Woodbridge Golf Club
Wylie
972-429-5100
Lee Singletary
1999
$59
NR
x-original design; y-redesign. NR-not ranked; *Ranked in a different price category in 2021. No longer ranked: 6. Ross Rogers Golf Complex, Wildhorse Course, Amarillo; 7. Brackenridge Park GC, San Antonio; 10. Butterfield Trail GC, El Paso; 11. Panorama GC, Conroe; 15. Rayburn Country Resort, Brookeland; 19. Houston National GC; 21. Olympia Hills GC, Universal City; 22. Golf Club of Texas-Concan; 23. Courses at Watters Creek, Traditions, Allen; 24. Grapevine Municipal; 25. ShadowGlen GC, Manor.
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?
THE PANEL
David Altemus, general manager/ COO, Royal Oaks CC, Houston
William Aycock, The Woodlands amateur
Mike Bailey, Houston-based golf writer
Robert Banta, Frisco amateur
Walt Barnes, Addison amateur
Brent Blackburn, head professional Corpus Christi CC
Curt Breaux, Montgomery amateur
John Brechin, Dallas amateur
Bruce Burger, superintendent The Quarry Golf Club
Ben Burns, head professional Crown Colony CC, Lufkin
Mark Button, senior director of communications Texas Golf Association
Tony Campagna, golf course sands and materials consultant
Miles Carlson, golf course superintendent at Grand Pines GC in Montgomery Tx
Greg Clark, Frisco amateur
Beth Cleckler, Austin amateur
John Cochran, Texas Golf Association director of competitions for South Texas, Kingwood amateur
Kyle Coody, Plano amateur
Brent Cooper, Dallas amateur
Jacque Cooper, Rowlett amateur
Daniel Coughlan, director of golf Bent Tree CC
Robert Couture, Dallas amateur
Barry Denton, PGA professional, Cordillera Ranch, Boerne
Thomas Devanna, assistant professional Tangle Ridge GC, Grand Prairie
Cameron Doan, head professional Preston Trail Golf Club, Dallas
Conrad Doss, The Woodlands amateur
Camm Dougherty, Corpus Christi amateur
Lou Duran, Frisco amateur
Bob Elliott, PGA Life Member, Dallas
Zane Ellis, King-Collins Golf Design associate, League City amateur
Gilbert Freeman, PGA professional emeritus Lakewood CC, Dallas
Edward Gatlin, PGA life member, Athens
Kenneth Gorzycki, director of agronomy Horseshoe Bay Resort
Bill Hanley, past president of Texas Golf Association, Fort Worth amateur
Todd Harbour, Royal Oaks CC GM/COO, Dallas
Mark Harrison, executive director/CEO of the NTPGA
Malcolm Holland, past president of Texas Golf Association, Dallas amateur
Danny Jones, head professional, Walden on Lake Conroe
Mark Kazlowski, Texas Golf editor, Cedar Hill amateur
Robbie Kearney, GM Cimarron Hills Golf and CC
Trey Kemp, golf course architect, Dallas amateur
Keith Kirkendall, The Woodlands amateur
Ryan Kossick, assistant executive director/COO of the NTPGA
Nancy Kromar, Austin amateur
Kellen Kubasak, COO of Golf San Antonio, San Antonio amateur
Phyllis Kwedar, Fort Worth amateur
Ricky Lyons, general manager Westwood Golf Club, Houston
Cathy Marino, Jesuit golf coach, LPGA professional
James McAfee, Former NTPGA executive director, golf writer, Planoamateur
Mike McCabe, general manager Golf Clubs at the Tribute
Sam Morrow, Houston amateur
Terry Olson, Director of Sales and Marketing, Lajitas Golf Resort
Casey Paulson, President of Sales and Operations, Driftwood Golf Club
Mike Peterson, PGA Tour rules official, Garland amateur
Kevin Porter, Dallas amateur, Texas Golf Association director of competitions for North Texas
George Priolo, GM of golf operations, Ross Rogers and Comanche Trail Golf Complexes, Amarillo
Jim Quinn, Golf manufactures rep, board member of The First Tee of Fort Worth, Arlington amateur
Jerry Ransom, Greenville amateur
Jan Rapp, Dallas amateur
Paul Richards, Austin amateur
Corey Roberson, director of golf Cordillera Ranch, Boerne
Robert Rodriguez, San Antonio amateur
Chris Rowe, head professional Whispering Pines, Trinity
Linda Sackett, San Antonio amateur
Lee Sandlin, Dallas amateur
Carey Schulten, past president of the Texas Golf Association, Dallas amateur
Zach Sewill, president BestGrips.com, Conroe amateur
Wesley Shaw, Dallas amateur
Marty Slade Perlman, Dallas amateur
Randy Smith, PGA professional emeritus, Royal Oaks CC, Dallas
Shane Smith, Conroe amateur
Mark Steinbauer, vice president of Spirit Golf Association
Tom Strueber, PGA professional emeritus Maridoe Golf Club, Carrollton
Eldon Tarver, Austin amateur
Steve Termeer, GM/COO University of Texas Golf Club, Austin
Matt Trevino, director of golf, Riverhill CC, Kerrville
Tammy Trichell, San Antonio amateur
Mark Tylenda, Lewisville amateur
Casey Wade, head professional High Meadow Ranch GC, Magnolia
Pat Wheeler, Host of Texas Links on the Air, Dallas amateur
Nannette Wheelis, Waco amateur
Jim Whitten, Arlington amateur
Greg Wille, Belton amateur
Chris Winn, Houston amateur