10 Best Golf Courses in Houston

I’ve researched over 150 golf courses in the Houston area to list only the best golf courses in Houston, Texas, along with their key features, pricing, player ratings, and more.

I’ve compiled a list of Houston’s best public & private golf courses. I divided the list into two categories to help you decide on your golfing retreat to Houston, Texas.

Keep reading to find out more about the best golf courses in Houston.

Overview of Golf in Houston, Texas

Houston is one of the largest cities in America and has one of the most diverse populations. Because of its mild weather throughout the year, Houston is a hot destination for golfers. Texas is home to 900 golf courses.

Out of those, Houston contains more than 150 of those courses.

Houston golf courses come in all shapes and sizes. Most of the courses found in the Houston metro area are private courses, while others are public and semi-private courses. Houston is also home to the NCAA 1st division golf team Houston Cougars from the University of Houston; the city is a popular hotspot for golfers.

Besides a few courses in the Houston area, golf is generally cheaper here than in other states and accessible to people from all walks of life.

List of Courses in Houston, Texas

I have compiled our list of the city’s best public & private golf courses.

Note: Our rating system is an accumulation of our and other people’s experience on the course. Categories considered are Fun, Shape, and Overall.

Private Courses

• Lochinvar Golf Club
• River Oaks Country Club
• Pine Forest Country Club | White/Green
• Houston Country Club
• Braeburn Country Club

Public Courses

• Wildcat Golf Club | Highlands
• BlackHorse Golf Club
• El Dorado at Quail Valley Golf Club
• Houston National Golf Club
• Bay Forest Golf Club
• Greatwood Golf Club
• Memorial Park Golf Club

Eager to find out more? Swipe down.

10 Best Golf Courses in Houston, Texas

Here’s the list of ten top golf courses in Houston. This list includes private and public courses as well.

1. Lochinvar Golf Course — Best Overall Golf Course

• Site link
• Location: Houston, TX
• Par: 72
• Green fees: $125 on weekdays. $150 on weekends.
• Length: 7,023 yards off the Tips and 6,051 yards off the Front.
• Signature Hole: The ninth hole is a 547-yard par-5. Pine trees line both sides of the fairway. A long bunker at about 250 yards on the left separates the fairway from the water hazard. Jeff Bar has mentioned this hole in his book “1001 Golf Holes You Must Play Before You Die”

PLAYER RATING
Overall Rating: 99.4	Fun Rating: 99.3	Shape Rating: 99.6

On the top of my list of best golf courses, Houston is Lochinvar golf course. It’s a terrific course with pristine conditions for the best golf in Houston.

It offers a challenge for players of all categories and a few links-style features with grass bunkers and numerous undulations. Well-groomed fairways and greens keep Lochinvar difficult but friendly.

Jack Nicklaus designed the course in the late 1970s. The course is a classic and has an all-males policy.

2. River Oaks Country Club Golf Course — Best Country Club

• Site link
• Location: Houston, TX
• Par: 72
• Green fees: $100 on weekdays. $125 on weekends.
• Length: 6,927 yards off the Tips and 5,662 yards off the Front. Three more tee boxes between these distances.
• Signature Hole: The 16th hole is a 158-yards par-3. You get scenic waterfall views on the right side with a couple of bunkers on the left. Not a very intimidating hole, but it requires some planning.

PLAYER RATING
Overall Rating: 97.2	Fun Rating: 97.2	Shape Rating: 97.2

One of the country’s most exclusive golf courses designed by the great Donald Ross. This was one of the first golf courses designed in the Houston area. Donald Ross had to work on an upscale land covered with pine and oak trees.

The greens are small and firm, and in addition to pine and oak, the fairways are lined up with magnolias, azaleas, and dogwood. These conditions make the course require imperative accuracy.

3. Pine Forest Country Club Golf Course 

• Site link
• Location: Houston, TX
• Par: 72
• Green fees: $35 to $65 on weekdays. $45 to $85 on weekends.
• Length: 6,970 yards off the Tips and 4,923 yards off the Front. Six more tee boxes between these distances
• Signature Hole: The 15th hole is a 435-yards par-4. One of the most challenging holes on the course. It’s a dogleg left around the pine trees, and a water hazard lies in front of the green.

PLAYER RATING
Overall Rating: 96.1	Fun Rating: 96.9	Shape Rating: 95.3

This private golf course offers three sets of 18 holes. The white/green course, not by a considerable margin, has little better playing conditions than the other two. Three Amigos tournament hosted by Fred Couples, Blaine McCallister, and CBS broadcaster Jim Nantz takes place on this course.

The course plays long and difficult. Water comes into play on all but six holes. Sharp doglegs and penalizing hazard placements make for some daunting shots on this course.

4. Houston Country Club Golf Course — Best Recreational Golf Course

• Site link
• Location: Houston, TX
• Par: 72
• Green fees: $88 on weekdays. $113 on weekends.
• Length: 6,996 yards off the Tips and 5,991 yards off the Front. Four more tee boxes between these distances
• Signature Hole: The eighth hole is a 511-yards par-4. This hole doglegs left more than ninety degrees around the Buffalo Bayou. You would want to cut the corner as much as you can.

PLAYER RATING
Overall Rating: 95.3	Fun Rating: 96.5	Shape Rating: 94.0

The Houston Country Club’s history is deeply enrooted with how golf started in the Houston area. This brings some more attention to the golf course.

The opening holes are the best, with two long and challenging par-4s. The design features a lot of trees, open fairways, prominent bunkering, and elevated greens making this course a fun outing for you and your buddies and must visit if you’re ever in the Houston area.

5. Braeburn Country Club Golf Course

• Site link
• Location: Houston, TX
• Par: 72
• Green fees: $60 on weekdays. $85 on weekends.
• Length: 6,837 yards off the Tips and 5,402 yards off the Front. Six more tee boxes between these distances
• Signature Hole: The sixth hole is a picturesque par 4 of 355 yards. The hole demands precision skills as water runs down the entire right side of the fairway and in front of the green.

PLAYER RATING
Overall Rating: 94.5	Fun Rating: 94.6	Shape Rating: 94.4

One of the most elite clubs in the Houston metropolitan area, the Braeburn Country Club is also the fourth oldest golf club in the area. It has been widely renowned as a shot-makers course because of the predominance of trees.

The course plays hard for golfers of all categories. Water comes into play on almost all the holes. The divine conditions and well-sought-out layout will not let you leave this course.

6. Memorial Park Golf Club — Best Public Golf Course

• Site link
• Location: Houston, TX
• Par: 72
• Green fees: Up to $150 for non-residents. $50 for residents
• Length: 7,292 yards off the Tips and 4,826 yards off the Front. Seven more tee boxes between these distances
• Signature Hole: The signature hole is the 15th, par-3, 180 yards long. This scenic hole plays over a rock-framed pond.

PLAYER RATING
Overall Rating: 92.3	Fun Rating: 94.9	Shape Rating: 89.6

Memorial Park is the home of the Houston Open and has plenty of challenges. The first hole plays into the galleria skyline, starting your round with scenic views. This course dates back to the 1920s when John Bredemus utilized work crews from the Civilian Conservation Corps to build what was one of the nation’s best courses.

Pine and Oak trees line the generous fairways. The course does not have many water hazards, and generally, playing conditions are easy for players of all categories.

7. BlackHorse Golf Club — Best For Beginners

• Site link
• Location: Cypress, TX
• Par: 72
• Green fees: $49 to $140 (depending on your tee time)
• Length: 7,301 yards off the Tips and 5,640 yards off the Front. Three more tee boxes between these distances
• Signature Hole: The eighteenth hole on this course is the signature hole. It’s a par-5, 546 yards. Water covers the right side of the fairway and the entire green.

PLAYER RATING
Overall Rating: 90.9	Fun Rating: 92.6	Shape Rating: 89.2

Home to the north and south course, Peter Jacobsen and Jim Hardy designed this 36-hole facility, one of the best in Houston.

The north course is the easiest out of the two. The course is situated amidst the upscale residential society, maximizing the natural setting and offering lakes, creeks, and plenty of trees.

Read more: Best Golf Courses in Dallas

8. Wildcat Golf Club | Highlands

• Site link
• Location: Houston, TX
• Par: 72
• Green fees: $31 to $74 (depending on your tee time)
• Length: 6,954 yards off the Tips and 5,005 yards off the Front. Three more tee boxes between these distances
• Signature Hole: The seventh hole on this course is a signature par-4 of 421 yards. The green on the approach shot sits 55 feet from the bottom of the fairway.

PLAYER RATING
Overall Rating: 90.4	Fun Rating: 92.4	Shape Rating: 88.5

Wildcat golf club is home to two courses – Highlands and Lakes course.

The highlands course is probably the more stimulating of both courses. It offers you great city views, natural wetlands and grasses, and some very intriguing flat sand bunkers.

It’s a links-style course with significant elevation changes and some blind shots, reeling you in for a fun round of golf.

9. El Dorado at Quail Valley Golf Club — Best Club House

• Site link
• Location: Missouri City, TX
• Par: 71
• Green fees: $49 to $80 (depending on your tee time)
• Length: 6,931 yards off the Tips and 5,100 yards off the Front. Three more tee boxes between these distances
• Signature Hole: Tenth hole is a short par-5 (516 from the tips); this hole can tempt even the shortest of hitters but beware, the lake in front of the green can eat your ambitions real quick.

PLAYER RATING
Overall Rating: 87.7	Fun Rating: 91.0	Shape Rating: 84.5

This golf course is situated on the fringe of Houston city and is one of the best public golf courses in Houston. The landscape naturally offers great contours for a golf course.

New management bought out the course in 2000 to shut it down, but the city of Missouri stepped in and saved it. The El Dorado reopened in 2008 after its renovation by Jeff Blume.

The course has undulating greens, strategically situated bunkers, and some nicely designed high-risk reward par-5s. The BluBonnet Grill restaurant in the clubhouse is a popular dinner location in the area.

10. Houston National Golf Club

• Site link
• Location: Houston, TX
• Par: 72
• Green fees: $44 to $64 (depending on your tee time)
• Length: 7,337 yards off the Tips and 5,254 yards off the Front. Three more tee boxes between these distances
• Signature Hole: The signature hole is the twelfth hole, a long straight par-5 of 596 yards. Water covers the green on the right side.

PLAYER RATING
Overall Rating: 83.8	Fun Rating: 89.9	Shape Rating: 78.5

The Houston national golf club is one of the more unique golf clubs in layout. It’s a links-style course with hardly any trees, a surprising feature in Houston since it is filled with trees.

The course plays long and has plenty of well-placed pot bunkers. Fairways and greens comprise a lot of undulation. The firm plays hard, so the ball rolls forever. The course plays tough generally, and the holes in the wind can be tricky.

Other Notable Courses

With Houston being a hotspot for golfers and having over 130 golf courses it is hard to put them all in one list. The following are some of the courses which deserve an honorable mention:

Bay Forest Golf Club — Best Budget Golf Course

• Site link
• Location: La Porte, TX
• Par: 72
• Green fees: $29 to $37 (depending on your tee time)
• Length: 6,768 yards off the Tips and 5,132 yards off the Front. Three more tee boxes between these distances
• Signature Hole: The 11th hole is the signature hole on this course. It’s a dogleg, right, bending around a pond. Bunkers protect the green from everywhere. The play is to stay short of the hole.

PLAYER RATING
Overall Rating: 88.2	Fun Rating: 89.6	Shape Rating: 86.9

This course is one of the top municipal courses in Texas. Chemical plants, refinery towers, and wood-lined waterways of La Porte surround this golf course.

The front nine plays significantly narrowly before water comes into play on the back nice. This course offers a formidable challenge to even skilled golfers.

Greatwood Golf Club

• Site link
• Location: Sugar Land, TX
• Par: 72
• Green fees: $44 to $63 (depending on your tee time)
• Length: 6,836 yards off the Tips and 5,220 yards off the Front. Two more tee boxes between these distances
• Signature Hole: Hole no. 5 is a signature par-4 stretching to 434 yards. Fairway is loaded with bunkers, and water defends the green on the approach shot to the green.

PLAYER RATING
Overall Rating: 79.0	Fun Rating: 84.2	Shape Rating: 73.8

One of the finest and most challenging golf courses in the Houston Metropolitan area. Greatwood is known for its impressive white sand bunkers and long par-3s.

The course has narrow fairways, and houses and water hazards come into play on many holes. Forced carries dominate this golf course, especially on the 18th, where the green is on an island, and this green also features a 100-year-old pelican tree.

FAQs

What Is the Most Expensive Public Golf Course in Houston?

The most expensive public golf course in Houston is the tournament course at the Golf Club of Houston, located at Wilson Rd, Humble, TX. In peak seasons, green fee rates climb up to $159 to $225, plus forecaddie tips. In the summer, green fee rates are around $120.

How Much Does Houston Country Club Cost?

Standard green fees at Houston Country Club cost $88 to $113. However, the club requires membership to get unlimited playing privileges. The membership costs $500 initiation fees, $130 monthly fees, and a $1482 Annual fee (pre-pay).

Where Does the PGA Tour Play in Houston, Texas?

PGA Tour comes to play the Houston Open at the Memorial Park Golf Club in Houston, Texas. The PGA tour has been coming to Houston for the Houston Open since the 1940s.

How Many Golf Courses Are in Houston?

Houston is home to 150 golf courses, with around 80 in the Houston Metropolitan area. The state of Texas has nearly 900 golf courses and ranks third in the most number of golf courses in a state.

Read more: Which US State Has The Most Golf Courses?

Final Thoughts

Houston area golf courses offer perfect weather and various options to choose from when it comes to playing golf. Even though golf came to Texas later than other states, Houstonians still take golf very seriously.

One of the best things I’ve understood from my travels to Houston is that you will find golf courses of all levels and conditions, and you will find them fairly busy, even on the weekdays.

But golf in Houston is still not that expensive. Even the most costly courses do not compete with the great courses of other states, and Houston public golf courses are very budget-friendly for anyone.

Houston is a great destination for Golf on a budget, and it provides excellent food and recreational activities for your friends and families to make your trip to Houston worthwhile.