In addition to its leading role in higher education, Sam Houston State University in Huntsville is actively involved in promoting the game of golf in Texas as well. Along with being home to the only PGA Golf Management Program in the state, Sam Houston can also boast of having one of the best and most accessible college golf courses.
In 2020, the university purchased the Raven Nest Golf Club from the city of Huntsville and renamed it The Bearkat Course, after the school’s mascot. Located southwest of the main campus along Interstate 45, Bearkat opened for play in 2003 and was designed by renowned architect Tripp Davis. Sitting on more than 165 acres, the par-71 course trundles across the rolling terrain and weaves around grassy meadows, stands of ancient hardwoods and towering pines, and several lakes and ponds.
Even though it is owned and operated by SHSU, the course is open to the public and consistently receives high marks for its quality and affordability. A large part of Bearkat’s appeal is the imaginative design from Davis that features a wonderful variety of holes moving in each direction and a mix of wide-open tee shots and others that are quite narrow. Approach play is an important strategic element at Bearkat, as green complexes are guarded by deep bunkers and closely mown runoff areas, which make getting up and down a formidable challenge following a wayward shot.
With four sets of tee markers, ranging in length from 6,943 yards to 5,416 yards, The Bearkat Course at SHSU provides an enjoyable experience for players of all ages and abilities.
Other amenities include an expansive practice facility with a driving range, short game area and putting green, fully equipped pro shop, the welcoming 19th Hole Lounge, and indoor and outdoor spaces for hosting events.
The Bearkat Course is a hub of activity, to be sure. Along with a steady stream of daily players, it also serves as the home base for the PGA Golf Management Program, the SHSU men’s and women’s golf teams, as well as the Huntsville and New Waverly High School boys and girls golf teams.
Additionally, Bearkat is one of the area’s most highly desirable tournament venues and has been the site of numerous professional and amateur events through the years, including the TGA’s 2024 South Regional Four-Ball, won by Robert Gwin and Clay Fullick. And in just a few weeks, some of the best juniors in the state will be traveling to Huntsville with Bearkat set to welcome the Legends Junior Tour’s 2025 Texas Junior Golf Alliance Invitational from October 25-26. The 36-hole stroke play championship will feature an 84-player starting field competing in three divisions: Boys 15-18, Girls 12-18, and Boys 14 & Under.
The pressure will be on at the Texas Junior Golf Alliance Invitational, as it will be one of the last chances players have to earn points towards the Player of the Year Standings and to secure a spot on their respective Jackie Burke Cup teams.
For more information about The Bearkat Course at SHSU, click here. For more information about the 2025 LJT Texas Junior Golf Alliance Invitational, click here.
