Texas is undergoing a boom in new golf course construction that follows a pandemic-era surge in golf popularity and participation rates across all demographics. It is among the leading states in the nation for new developments and is continuing to bolster its position as one of the best places in the world for top-level golf.
From the Panhandle Plains to the Piney Woods; from the Hill Country to the Gulf Coast; from the suburbs to the countryside, developers and entrepreneurs are actively building golf courses at a pace not seen in a very long time. What’s equally impressive is that a distinguished group of the foremost modern-day architects are leading this transformational change in the Texas golf landscape, including Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, Tom Doak, Tom Fazio, Gil Hanse, David McLay Kidd, Beau Welling, and Tiger Woods.
Interest in the Texas happenings among golf enthusiasts everywhere is reaching a fever pitch with a trio of highly anticipated projects opening this fall – Loraloma Club, Freestone Lake & Golf Club, and Travis Club.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. There is still more new construction in progress, with another wave of premier developments projected to open in the not-too-distant future, including Bluejack Ranch, Luling Sport Club, Maverick Golf & Ranch Club, and Wild Spring Dunes.
This surge in activity effectively kicked into high gear three years ago when a spate of new courses opened across the state. From 2022 to 2024, Texas saw an incredible array of clubs come online, with notable examples being Driftwood Golf & Ranch Club, Fields Ranch East and West, Red Feather Golf & Social Club, Childress Hall, and the award-winning Big Easy Ranch and Darmor Club.
There are several reasons for the rapid growth. One is that there is ample land available for development near major population centers and another is that builders have the resources, ambition, and vision to create something special.
But perhaps even more importantly, though, there also seems to be a new level of recognition of just how robust and diverse the Texas golf market truly is.
In the latest Texas Golf Economic Impact Report released earlier this year, the study showed that the Texas golf industry is fueling major economic growth with $14.2 billion in total economic output, supporting more than 107,000 jobs, and labor income of nearly $4.8 billion for the state. Additionally, the state boasts 1.89 million individual on-course golfers, which is 6.29% of the Texas population, ranking second nationally for on-course and total golf participation. The study also showed that the state added 241,000 new golfers in 2023, a 4.5% growth rate versus prior year, surpassing the 3.1% national average.
The scale of development underway is ushering in a new era of excellence, adding to the state’s rich legacy and will provide countless new opportunities to experience the vast and creative golf canvas that embodies Texas. Over the next few pages, we shine a spotlight on the courses that will soon be making their debut, as well as those that have recently opened.
