i've played some moderate courses in my lifetime here in the state of Texas

Texas Star, Tour 18 Dallas, Lantana, Stevens Park, Cedar Crest, Tennison, Riverside, Waterchase, Memorial Park

but what are the top 10 toughest courses in Texas to play???

Walden on Lake Conroe

I'll second Walden on Lake Conroe. Although my real first choice would be Waterwood National if it were still open. An absolute beast, although with modern equipment probably a lot more playable.

I would think Ram Rock is near the top.

Whispering Pines rating from the back tees is 77.3/152. Hard to imagine many higher than that.

My ghin scores show the tips at cimarron hills at 77.2/141 while the online scorecard says 75.5/141.

I always thought it was ~77...our resident members know what the deal is?

I think when the greens are really rolling out there it's gotta be in the mix. Probably not thr toughest, but in the discussion at least.

For the obvious - What is the rating at Traditions from the tips?

Champions ought to make the top ten.

Watched the Hogan Tour (maybe Nike) pros struggle to break 80 on a cold nasty day at Northshore CC outside of Corpus.

Stener Ranch wore me out, got to be over 140.

RamRock is probably the toughest course I have played, from the tips, in Texas.

Stonebridge Ranch Dye Course is 77.6/147 from the tips.

Ram Rock as far as those I've played.

I know there are a lot of courses I have played and a lot I have not, bit to add to Ram Rock,

It is just a genius layout. I think of RamRock as a masterpiece, probably similar to a Merion on the national stage. It requires you to hit every single club in your bag and to be very precise with them. But, unlike most courses considered shotmakers courses or target courses, the course does not tell you what to hit. It is very similar to Colonial in that regard. YOu can approach every hole in multiple ways, and there are no gimmies. It is absolutely relentless. I am sure there are more difficult courses according to course ratings, slope etc. And I have certainly played more difficult courses across the country. But most of those do it with length. Ram Rock is as close to perfect as I have ever seen.

My sister is a member and I play it a few times a year. I cant get enough of it.

From the tips? Or from men's tees? Some courses are darn near impossible from the tips, yet much easier from a forward tee.

For example, Cordillera and TPC San Antonio are extraordinarily difficult from the tips, but are manageable when you shorten the course to 6900 yards.

EDIT: For what it's worth, TPC San Antonio Oaks Course is probably the most difficult course in Texas. At the very least, it's certainly the most difficult tour stop in Texas.

[This message has been edited by AgPrognosticator (edited 7/1/2013 8:09p).]

Redstone tourney tees are tough. Number 5 is the hardest hole I have ever played. 76/144

I agree with HouAggie. Whispering Pines is an incredibly tough course

[This message has been edited by EastTexAg14 (edited 7/1/2013 8:24p).]

Yah I never got why people play Los Rios when they could go two feet and play Pecan Hollow

quote:

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Redstone tourney tees are tough. Number 5 is the hardest hole I have ever played. 76/144

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I agree that the tourney tees would make the course really tough if you struggle with length. If you have length and are comfortable with long irons, it's really not as bad as the rating would suggest because its pretty wide open and next to no rough. I don't think I've played a super tough course in Texas, so I guess I would have to agree with the posters who said Walden on Conroe. That place can destroy you on any hole. Great course though.

I've played Stevens Park, Cedar Crest, Tennison and Memorial Park from the regular men's tees.

Ram Rock, IMO, is harder than any of those.

Gig 'em, FAST FRED '65.

Before the world wide web, village idiots usually stayed in their own village.

Here's a top ten vote for Twin Creeks in Cedar Park. Not sure on the rating but from the tips but it has to be silly difficult. Just not sadistic enough to give it a go from back there.

The Cliffs is tough for me

I heard back in the early 90's that Wedgewood in Conroe was borderline unfair. I played it for the first time in 1998 after there had apparently been some significant clearing of trees and it was brutal, so I can imagine how tough it was before it was softened. Still the only time I've hit a 7-iron off the tee on a par 5 was out there (hole 15 or 16, I believe).

Newport Dunes for me. Tight fairways and wind off the coast. You miss the fairway and you basically lose your ball.

Twin Creeks is my home course. 139 from the one ups. Brutal

Traditions -7,121 yards, 151/74.6

TPC San Antonio Oaks from the tips.

Hell the pros would have a hard time breaking par (they play from the 1 up tees during the tournament).

Austin Golf Club is brutal. My index is currently 3 and I tried my best and shot 93.

xaggie95 is a member and was kind enough to take me out there. It's a completely private club out in Spicewood. Absolutely awesome facility and design. If you miss a green on the short side you are screwed.

I haven't played Ram Rock, so I can't comment on that one.

I have played Stonebridge's Pete Dye course in a high school district tournament. I was playing decent golf leading up to it and didn't break 90. Some dude named Hunter Mahan won that tournament.

I've played TPC San Antonio Oaks from the tips. I was a 5 hdcp at the time, played well, and shot an 84. I was happy with it.

I've played Redstone from the tips. I didn't play well, and it just beat the crap out of me.

Out of those three, I'd say TPC San Antonio was probably the most demanding. I just somehow managed to find the fairways and stay out of the pot bunkers off the tee.

I need to play Ram Rock.

Slope rating wise, Summit Rock is actually the hardest of the Horseshoe Bay courses (145 from the back, while Ram Rock is "only" 137). I've played Summit but never Ram so I can't personally compare, but I don't really remember Summit being extremely difficult like I've heard Ram Rock is infamous for being.

Honestly, for me the hardest arecourses that are tight off of the tee. So off the top of my head Traditions and Redstone Tourney seemed difficult.

I think the criteria should include multiple tees. Any course is going to be very difficult for the vast majority of us from 7300 or 7400 yards. But move up to 6900 and it gets far more manageable. I personally think great golf courses do not get a lot easier moving up one tee.

In other words, length cannot be their only defense or the only reason they are difficult.

Personal choices for hardest are Waterwood before it closed. I always got out there once a semester when living on campus at Sam.

Wood forest and Black Horse South are up there, but I've only played them in scramble formats.

San Angelo CC always kicks my ass. May be all the water distracting me or just a mental thing, but I always tend to screw up more than a few holes out there.

And ironically enough, Bear Creek Masters (houston). That course just doesnt set up well for me and my shot shape. Once I get rid of my hook, this will definitely come off the list.

Don't let RAMF fool ya...dude can lay off the sticks for months and shoot pretty close to par cold turkey...

Like someone previously stated Whispering Pines from tips, 7473 yds and 77.3/152 slope speaks for itself.

La Cantera Palmer course is probably the toughest I've personally played. If you are at all off with your tee shots, it will be a very long day.

The Nicklaus Course at Carlton Woods is the hardest one I have played. Caught it one day against a north wind from the tips. Ugh...that wasn't pretty.

Anybody play The Falls in New Ulm?
I played it once and thought it was pretty tough, would love to play again sometime.

ANother Vote for TPC Oaks Course. That place is CRAZY tough. Anyone here ever play Dallas National?

Gil '91