The Inside Swing

Best Golf Courses in Austin, Texas

Austin's golf scene is as dynamic and distinctive as the city itself. Nestled in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, the Live Music Capital of the World offers a surprising depth of quality golf — from Pete Dye's clifftop masterpiece at Austin Country Club to rugged resort courses carved through ancient oaks and limestone.

Our Methodology: Courses are ranked by an expert panel evaluating design quality, conditioning, challenge, aesthetics, and overall experience. Both private and public courses are considered on merit.
1

Austin, Texas · Pete Dye (1984) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,171 yards

Perched along the bluffs of Lake Austin, Austin Country Club is a Pete Dye masterpiece that has hosted the Dell Technologies Match Play. The course features dramatic elevation changes, strategic bunkering, and stunning Hill Country views that make every round memorable.

Host of Dell Technologies Match PlayDramatic Lake Austin viewsPete Dye design with strategic risk-reward holes
Green Fee: Members Only Rating: 4.8/5
2

Austin, Texas · Tom Fazio (1986) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 6,956 yards

The flagship course at Omni Barton Creek Resort, the Fazio Foothills layout winds through rugged Texas Hill Country terrain with dramatic elevation changes, natural limestone outcroppings, and lush fairways carved through ancient oaks.

Premier Hill Country resort courseDramatic 100-foot elevation changesPart of 4-course resort collection
Green Fee: $150–$250 Rating: 4.6/5
3

Austin, Texas · Arthur Hills & Mike Dasher (2007) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,205 yards

Located at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort, Wolfdancer delivers a uniquely Austin golf experience through Lost Pines forest, open meadows, and along the banks of the Colorado River. Wildlife sightings are common on this environmentally sensitive layout.

Colorado River frontageLost Pines forest settingAudubon-certified sanctuary
Green Fee: $100–$180 Rating: 4.5/5
4

Austin, Texas · PB Dye (2003) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,202 yards

One of Austin's best public options, Falconhead offers a surprisingly challenging PB Dye design in the Lake Travis corridor. The course features bold bunkering, creative green complexes, and excellent conditioning that rivals many private clubs.

Top public course in AustinPB Dye design pedigreeExcellent value in Lake Travis area
Green Fee: $55–$95 Rating: 4.3/5
5

Austin, Texas · Andy Raugust (2002) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,121 yards

A popular north Austin layout, Avery Ranch delivers solid public golf with well-maintained bermuda fairways, challenging water features, and panoramic views of the Texas Hill Country from several elevated tee boxes.

Convenient north Austin locationPanoramic Hill Country viewsWell-maintained public course
Green Fee: $45–$85 Rating: 4.2/5
6

Hutto, Texas · Jay Morrish & Roy Bechtol (2001) · 18 holes · Par 71 · 7,017 yards

Carved through rolling Hill Country terrain northeast of Austin, Star Ranch is a championship par-71 layout stretching to 7,017 yards from the tips. The Morrish-Bechtol design weaves through natural creek corridors and mature oak canopies, rewarding precise shot-making over power.

Jay Morrish & Roy Bechtol championship designRolling Hill Country terrain with creek corridorsAmong Austin's top-ranked public daily-fee layouts
Green Fee: $75–$120 Rating: 4.1/5
7

Austin, Texas · Jay Morrish (1992) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 6,909 yards

Situated just south of downtown Austin on 160 acres of rolling Hill Country, Grey Rock is a Jay Morrish design that plays through stately live oaks and dramatic elevation shifts. The semi-private layout pairs public access with private-club conditions.

Jay Morrish design on 160 oak-studded acres near downtownRecent comprehensive greens and tee-box renovationSemi-private access with resort-quality conditioning
Green Fee: $80–$105 Rating: 4.2/5
8

Austin, Texas · Jimmy Demaret (1974) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 6,710 yards

Founded in 1974 and designed by two-time Masters champion Jimmy Demaret, Onion Creek Club is the only golf course Demaret ever designed — a singular piece of Texas golf history. Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore sensitively added nine holes in 1996, and the club hosted the Legends of Golf senior major for many years.

Only golf course ever designed by Jimmy DemaretBen Crenshaw & Bill Coore added nine holes in 1996Historic host of the Legends of Golf senior major
Green Fee: Members Only Rating: 4.4/5
9

Leander, Texas · Jack Miller (1990) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 6,654 yards

Perched on cedar- and oak-covered ridges in Leander, Crystal Falls is routinely cited as one of the most scenic public courses in Central Texas. Jack Miller's 1990 design threads through dramatic limestone bluffs and seasonal waterfalls, offering panoramic Hill Country views on nearly every hole.

Dramatic limestone bluffs and namesake seasonal waterfallsPanoramic Hill Country views from nearly every holeAccessible municipal pricing with above-average conditioning
Green Fee: $55–$85 Rating: 4/5

Public Courses in Austin

Looking for courses you can play without a membership? See our complete guide to public courses in Austin .

Overview

Austin may be best known for its music scene, tech industry, and creative culture, but the city has quietly built one of Texas's most interesting golf portfolios. The dramatic Hill Country terrain provides natural elevation changes and scenic beauty that flat-land Texas courses can only dream of. Whether you're a visitor catching a round between sessions at SXSW or ACL, or a local seeking your next regular game, Austin delivers quality golf in a setting unlike anywhere else in the Lone Star State.

Best Time to Play

October through May offers the most comfortable golf weather in Austin. Summers can be brutally hot with temperatures regularly exceeding 100°F, so early morning tee times are essential June through September. Spring wildflower season (March–April) is particularly spectacular on Hill Country courses.

Travel Tips & Getting There

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is conveniently located 15 minutes southeast of downtown. Most golf courses are spread across the Hill Country west of the city. Stay downtown for nightlife and food, or book at Barton Creek or Omni Lakeway for a golf-focused trip. Don't miss Austin's legendary barbecue scene — Franklin BBQ, la Barbecue, and Micklethwait are world-class.

Nearest Airport: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best public golf course in Austin?
Falconhead Golf Club is widely regarded as Austin's best public course, offering a challenging PB Dye design with excellent conditioning at a reasonable price point. Avery Ranch and Grey Rock are also strong public options.
What is the best time of year to play golf in Austin?
October through May is ideal, with moderate temperatures and low humidity. Spring (March–April) is especially beautiful with Hill Country wildflowers in bloom. Avoid summer afternoons when temperatures regularly exceed 100°F.
Are there good resort golf options in Austin?
Yes — Omni Barton Creek Resort offers four courses including the acclaimed Fazio Foothills, and the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines features the Wolfdancer Golf Club along the Colorado River.
How does Austin golf compare to other Texas cities?
Austin's Hill Country setting gives it more dramatic terrain than Houston or Dallas, though those cities have more total course options. Austin golf tends to feel more scenic and secluded, while Dallas and Houston excel in championship-caliber private clubs.

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