This past May, Golfweek ranked the top-50 municipal golf courses in this great land.
You had the usual suspects that rightfully deserve to be on this list – Houston’s Memorial Park, Bethpage Black in New York, Torrey Pines in San Diego and Harding Park in San Francisco. You also had some newbies that more than likely will grace this list for some time – Chambers Bay in Washington state and Butterfield Trail in El Paso.
Going through this list, you begin to wonder if there will be a Metroplex municipal on it. Our fair burg has some amazing city-owned golf courses, so one or two should make the top-50. And then you hit No. 50 – Brackenridge Park in San Antonio, which had an amazing renovation recently done and actually deserves a better ranking than 50th – and you realize that this list is a complete farce.
Why? Because where in the heck is Texas Star on this list? You mean there are 50 city-owned golf courses better than Euless’ crown jewel? I call B.S. on that one.
But hey, if magazines that rank the top munis in the country want to exclude Texas Star, that’s just fine for us Metroplex golfers. That gives us more opportunities to enjoy this wonderful Keith Foster design instead of outsiders. In our 2009 Best of Public Rankings, we ranked Texas Star as the top municipal golf course in the Metroplex and the third best overall golf club, just behind Cowboys and The Tribute.
“I’m confident that many strong supporters of golf in this area would consider us a great destination,” said Dan Walden, head golf professional at Texas Star Golf Course.
Walden, who arrived at Texas Star this past November after a stint at the Four Seasons Resort and Club, Las Colinas, knew about Texas Star’s reputation. The course’s exceptional bentgrass greens, its one-of-a-kind layout and top-notch service.
“The Four Seasons has many high profile guests and members that love to play golf,” Walden said. “We knew that we could send them to Texas Star and they would be treated the same way as the Four Seasons would treat them. Texas Star was the one course that we could count on to be in great shape with terrific service.”
Texas Star, which opened for play in 1997, is like that one girl in every clique that everyone likes and no one has a bad thing to say about. Back in 1994, the City of Euless decided to build a sports complex and conference center that would rival any in the state. And the jewel of this sports complex would be the golf course.
Foster was a hot name in golf course architecture back then, thanks mostly to his unique and phenomenal design in San Antonio, The Quarry. The city set aside 275 acres around warehouses, truck docks and a landfill for the golf course. Not exactly the best location, but the land was, and is, truly amazing.
Foster worked his magic and created a golf course that flowed naturally with the rolling terrain. Thirteen years later, the course has aged beautifully. There’s not one hole that seems out of place. Each hole offers a thrilling moment that’s different from the previous hole. “From what I’ve seen from his designs he tries to keep the integrity of the landscape while providing a unique playing experience,” Walden said.
Foster’s MO is to also make sure the course doesn’t disturb the environment for the animals that originally had dibs on this land or are just visiting. When you tee it up here, don’t be surprised if you see some furry creatures moseying around. On a recent visit, raccoons stopped by to see the action at the sixth hole. Unfortunately, they saw nothing but bogeys.
The par-71 Texas Star tips out at just under 7,000 yards. But the striking elevation changes and the meandering Hurricane Creek, which cuts through the property several times, adds some toughness to the course. But what really gives Texas Star some bite are the environmentally sensitive areas that are sprinkled throughout the golf course. Some sit just off the fairways; others hug close to the green. Like water hazards, these areas are red-staked (they also have a green top) and carry a one-stroke penalty if your ball enters that area. And don’t even think about playing out of there.
Those who are used to playing at other munis will be in for quite a shock when they roll their first putts on Texas Star’s greens. For one, they are putting on smooth bentgrass, not bumpy Bermuda. Texas Star was the first course in the state to install G2 bentgrass greens. It’s been a chore keeping these greens immaculate, and the city had to install fans around the putting surfaces in order to maintain them. But that eyesore can be overlooked when you realize how wonderfully the putts roll.
“We’ve always prided ourselves with our bentgrass greens,” Walden said. “For those in this area who are familiar with Texas Star they know our superintendent, Scott Boven, does a terrific job maintaining them.”
The exciting part of each hole doesn’t just happen on the greens; there’s exhilaration off the tee, from the fairways and rough, and even around the greens. That’s just the type of golf course Texas Star is – a thrill a minute. Again, why isn’t this course among the top 50 municipals in the nation?
Because it’s a par-71, Texas Star only has three par 5s. The lone par-5 on the front nine, No. 7, stretches to just 516 yards, but its tight landing areas and undulating fairway will have you praying for a tee shot down the middle and on a flat lie. Trees and brush line the right side, with a bunker and those environmentally sensitive areas parked on the left. Clear that bunker and for most it’s all systems go to attack the green. Again, it all hinges on the lie because you could be faced with a downhill or sidehill lie. From the fairway, the hole slides to the right, with the green tucked behind a grove of trees. Walden considers the seventh, nicknamed “Tombstone”, a birdie hole, but reiterates that “it does require a precise tee shot to either go at the green or to have an easy lay-up on your second shot.”
The 10th hole is an exceptional three-shot par-5 that climbs up to the middle of the fairway before tumbling down to the green. A smattering of bunkers and trees dot the left side, but the most important shot on this hole is the lay-up. You want to make sure you leave yourself at a full swing short iron/wedge yardage. A creek that starts on the left and cuts in front of this small green is very intimidating. Far too many players have chunked their way to a high number because of it.
The final par-5 at Texas Star is the finishing hole, a 535-yarder that features that menacing creek darting down the left side and cutting across at the 100-yard mark before exiting stage right. As long as your tee shot dodges the creek and the fairway bunker on the right, you can go for this green in two. Just be sure to favor the left side since there’s more room for error. Should you have to lay up on the second shot, there’s the creek and another bunker in the middle of the fairway. Two bunkers guard the left side of this green, but are pretty escapable. This hole is pure greatness because of the many playing options it provides.
In terms of the par 3s, Foster offered a short and long hole on each side. The short hole on the front nine, the third, is striking. Nicknamed “High Mesa”, the third measures 147 yards, but plays a tad longer because of the elevated green. A bunker stands guard in front of this narrow green, while two more lurk in back. The long par-3 on the front nine is the eighth, a 217-yarder that features a bunker and those environmentally sensitive areas on the right. Favor the left side of this large green if possible.
The longest par-3 at Texas Star is the 14th, a 245-yard brute that actually plays longer because the hole climbs up to the green. Two bunkers front right are very popular hangouts; the challenge here, though, is to get it somewhat close to the hole with your long iron or fairway metal tee shot.
Nicknamed “The Presidio”, the 16th is very demanding because a water hazard butts up next to the green on the right. Bail out left and a difficult bunker awaits. The most important tip on this hole: pick the right club. The green here is the deepest on the course; mis-club and expect a three-putt or worse.
The group of holes that stand out the most at Texas Star are the par 4s. Simply put, they are fabulous. Foster created a solid mix of risk/reward gems, 400+-yard beasts, holes that take driver out of your hands, etc.
The 425-yard starting hole introduces you to the course’s natural setting. The second hole is one of those where you have two options off the tee – either bomb it as far as you can or bunt a long iron/fairway metal tee shot for a short iron shot on the approach. Either way, you’ll have to deal with the heavily sloped and elevated green.
It’s imperative to find the fairway on hole Nos. 4-6, a stretch of par 4s where the environmentally sensitive areas really come into play. To top it off, the fifth and sixth have blind shots for added difficulty – the tee shot at the fifth and the approach at the sixth. And if the pin is behind the bunkers at the sixth green, forget about going after this flag.
The final par-4 on the front side, the ninth, is an exceptional hole. Tabbed “Devil’s Point”, this 422-yard hole features a creek zigzagging through this hole, which forces you to tee off with something other than a driver. The approach is a nailbiter because the creek lines the right side of the green, and two bunkers dangerously lurk on the left.
The first par-4 on the back nine, the 11th, is the easiest hole on the course as long as you don’t hit your tee shot down the middle (see sidebar). For most, that’s no problem. The 12th, a 457-yard dogleg-right, is an animal. Lose your ball in the native areas right or catch the bunkers on that side and there goes any chance for par.
The 13th is the most scenic hole at Texas Star … and that’s saying something. Named “Coyote Bluff”, the 13th climbs up a monstrous hill and then turns hard left at its apex. Smart golfers will try to squeeze their tee shots in between the two fairway bunkers; risktakers will try to blast it down the left to cut the dogleg. Club selection is paramount on the approach because the hole drops down significantly to the green; in fact, it’s a two-club drop. And if you go over the green here, chances are your ball is lost in the native grasses.
Nearly as scenic, but just as enjoyable to play as the 13th, is the 15th hole. The key to this hole, nicknamed “Battle Cry”, is strategy. A massive lake on the left cuts through the fairway and empties down the right in the form of a tranquil stream. This will make you think off the tee and do one of two things – lay-up with your tee shot and go over the water on your approach, or try to carry the water on the right with your drive and bunt your approach to the putting surface. Either way, the water cannot be avoided.
“This is my favorite hole,” Walden said. “It’s a risk/reward hole that you can either hit 6-iron or driver depending on how adventurous you are.”
The final par-4 at Texas Star is the 17th, widely considered the toughest hole because it usually plays into the wind (see sidebar). Pair that with the exhilarating par-5 18th, and it makes for a resounding finish to a spectacular golf course.
Golfweek might not think this course is as spectacular as 50 other U.S. municipals, but they did at least rank Texas Star as the ninth best golf course you could play in Texas for 2010. That’s quite an honor that the city of Euless can be proud of – they have that friend everyone loves.
“When you have something great what’s there to say other than positives,” Walden said.
A Round at Texas Star Golf Course
Address: 1400 Texas Star Pkwy., Euless, TX 76040
Phone Number: 817-685-7888
Web site: www.texasstargolf.com
Designer: Keith Foster
Opened: 1997
Par/Yardage: 71/6,936 (Texas); 6,529 (Blue); 6,022 (White); 4,962 (Red)
Fairways: Bermuda 419
Greens: Bentgrass
Rates: $57 Monday-Thursday; $77 Friday-Sunday and Holidays. Rates include cart and range balls. Twilight, senior and junior rates are available.
Toughest hole: No. 17. Measuring 471 yards, this is the longest par-4 at Texas Star. Thank goodness this toughie occurs at the end of the round. Oh wait, that could be a bad thing, especially if you have a good round going. Trouble abounds for your tee shot – native grasses and a large tree on the left, and a fairway bunker and more trees right. A booming drive will still leave a mid-iron approach to a green that has a bunker front left and drop-off collection area on the right.
Best chance at birdie: No. 11. Tabbed “Double Barrel” because of its double fairways, the 11th can be had with a booming drive … just so long as it doesn’t go down the middle. The right fairway will give you a better view of the green on the approach, which just so happens to be where most sliced tee shots end up.
Most scenic holes: No. 3. A definite jawdropper thanks to the hill and towering trees behind this green.
No. 10 – What excites you is the view from the fairway downhill to the green.
No. 13 – A spectacular sight from this fairway looking down at the green.
No. 15 – This dazzler has it all – profound water features, trickling waterfalls, risk/reward options, sneaky elevation.
Could use work: Whomever created the hole flags had the right idea to copy the Texas flag and use the Texas Star logo in place of the Lone Star. Only problem is the horizontal color bars are wrong. The white bar should be on top with the red at the bottom.
Yours plus one: Texas Star is proud of their bentgrass greens. But it’s up to you to keep them in pristine condition. The rule of thumb, especially for courses with bentgrass greens, is to repair your ball mark plus another one. Keep the course in better shape than you left it.
A touch of lemon: Notice that extra little tang in the water from the coolers? Yes, the water has a little lemony twist to it. Texas Star could very well be the only course to do this.
Double barrel it: A visit to Texas Star has to include a dining experience at Raven’s Grille … and trying to tackle the Double Barrel Chicken Fried Steak. This steak is so big that it comes on its own separate plate. Go for it … if you dare.
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