South Texas enjoys good weather most of the year, and golf is popular among both visitors and residents. Excellent courses abound, and playing them is very affordable.
Brownsville has one of the valley’s richest collections of courses, including some that can be played for less than $20. River Bend Country Club is a nationally top-rated local course, with a location right on the border. It is named for the deep bend in the river that it surrounds, and players enjoy scenic views on both U.S. and Mexico landscapes as they make their rounds. The club’s highlight is what is probably the longest water hazard in Texas, the Rio Grande River, which flows along holes 5 through 13 on one side of the fairway.
Nearby, South Padre Island Golf Club is another of the region’s top courses and home of the Texas Senior Open. Located on the Intracoastal Waterway in Laguna Vista only a couple of miles from the beach, it has a 6,931-yard, links-style layout. Golfers talk about the course’s challenging par-3 12th hole, which is surrounded by natural wetlands and marsh grass.
Corpus Christi has added another course to its lineup with the recent opening of Newport Dunes Golf Club, designed by Arnold Palmer. The 18-hole course is located on historic Mustang Island. As a links-style course, it is the only oceanside golf course along the Gulf of Mexico. Steady gulf breezes, strategically arranged fairways and coastal native grasses combine to make for scenic and challenging play.
Tierra Santa Golf Club is another must-play for serious golfers. It is situated near Harlingen and offers a traditional layout with lots of variety. Palm trees, waterfalls, lakes and 68 bunkers are among the features of the course, with water coming into play on 13 holes.
Also near Harlingen is another challenging course at Treasure Hills Country Club. Designed by Robert Trent Jones, it is a scenic course on rolling terrain that features 6,960 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par 72.
Palm View Golf Course in McAllen is an 18-hole public course owned by the city. It features wide fairways of Bermuda grass, panoramic views of the area and 14 manmade lakes.
For More Info
Newport Dunes Golf Club 361.749.4653 www.newsportdunesgolf.com
Palm View Golf Course 956.688.3444 www.mcallen.net/golf
River Bend Country Club 956.548.0192 www.thegolfcourses.net
South Padre Island Golf Club 866.943.3622 www.spigolf.com
Tierra Santa Golf Club 956.973.1811 www.tierrasanta.com/golf
Treasure Hills Country Club 210.428.0351 www.treasurehillsgc.com
