Absolutely love what TF is now. As someone said above, not great place for the tournament in May for a lot of reasons but as a golf club it's very cool.

Also glad I have a few friends who are members!

Thanks for y'all's thoughts

I like Trinity Forrest now I like the course and it's fun. on that note Tom Dundon and Jonas Woods claims before it opened did not hold up well "best course in Texas guaranteed we will get a US Open!" They have definitely ate those words but they do a lot for charity which is great. I think why people do not like it is the public money aspect. Tom and Jonas should have paid for it all period or found different land. Give me every excuse you can then accepting public money to fund a golf course is shameful. Tom claims to be a big billionaire well big billionaires don't accept city money when a course is private.

The course is not a championship caliber course but it is fun and I have fun every time I got out there. I hate the clubhouse it reminds me of the Bridge in the Hamptons.

When I was talking about moving to Dallas the option was posed to me. I just didn't like the drive but the course is fun and I needed a family club. I kept both my memberships in Houston just switched to a non resident. It is probably the best practice facilities in DFW. The guys I know who are members are members else where with the exception of 1 guy. I enjoy getting the invite a few times a year. They definitely purged a lot of Dallas National members.

Out of curiosity what is the social initiation/dues at DCC?

None ya aka none ya business. I wouldn't post it on txags

Dallas Athletic Club $25,000 $702

Per the avid golfer article

What are everyone's thoughts on private clubs in Irving? Four Seasons vs Las Colinas Country Club vs Hackberry?

Obviously these are at three different price points, so how about quality of golf and members? Which is the most fun for a single, scratch golfer in his mid-thirties?

I found it interesting to read about the membership moves from LCCC to Four Seasons, and I'm wondering if members are moving back now that the renovations are complete and the new driving range is open.

I've only played Hackberry for a charity scramble and was woefully disappointed in the driving range. The course was decent and the greens were decently pure for a lower tier club. Wouldn't be a bad option if you were looking for an entry level price point as I enjoyed the course. Don't know about size of membership, I'd expect pretty high for an entry level ClubCorp club.

I have a buddy at 4 Seasons that I'm trying to get a game with. Everything I've heard is that the course is always in excellent shape and the practice facilities are top notch.

I worked in Las Colinas for a while and had views of LCCC and always wanted to play it but never had the chance. Do they have 2 courses? If so, I would think that would be a huge advantage and was one of my fave things about Prestonwood when I was a member out there years ago.

Thanks, sounds like we have had similar experiences at Hackberry. I play there at least once a month and I honestly really enjoy the course (fun layout, challenging greens, walkable), but the practice facilities are really lacking.

LCCC just has one, 18-hole course. Four Seasons does have two courses, including the TPC course that is open to guests of the resort and Cottonwood Valley which is not. Four Seasons definitely has the best practice facilities and amenities when you consider the sports club.

I'm really curious if any current members can comment on the men's leagues at these three.

Four seasons is great so is Los Colinas.

Avid Golf with their 2022 rankings. It's just a discussion point, not meant to be gospel.

DNat and Northwood remain top Golf and CC per their rankings. Brookhollow on Northwood's heels after the redo. Bent Tree made a huge move just based on the clubhouse redo.

Prices everywhere keep going up. I don't know why Lakewood doesn't raise theirs given a supposed 5-8 year wait list. Royal Oaks made a big bump on initiation fee as did Bent Tree.

Personally surprised to see Craig Ranch ahead of Trinity Forest for golf club, but as the article says TF is polarizing. But facilities and exclusivity at TF are way better than TPC. TF course isn't for everyone, which I get.

https://myavidgolfer.com/cover-story-best-of-private-clubs-2022/#:~:text=Congrats%20to%20Northwood%20Club%20in,the%20top%20spot%20for%202022.&text=Dallas%20National%20is%20one%20of,golf%20course%20in%20the%20Metroplex.

Always an interesting read. While I knew prices were going up, some were surprising. A few of them in particular could gone a little to far.

Royal Oaks at $125K initiation seems a little outrageous. I've never been that impressed with the course or facilities but they do have a prime location. Agree that the gap between Lakewood and Royal Oaks sticks out like a sore thumb.

Legend said:

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Personally surprised to see Craig Ranch ahead of Trinity Forest for golf club, but as the article says TF is polarizing. But facilities and exclusivity at TF are way better than TPC. TF course isn't for everyone, which I get.

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Club Corp owns TPC Craig Ranch. Club Corp is a big sponsor of Avid Golfer. Their ranking of Club Corp clubs (and the Sports Club) are always way to high in my opinion. They know where their bread is buttered though.

That Prestonwood cost now. LOL for what you get. Definitely some club corp love being given there

Surprised they didn't mention the renovation just completed at DAC. They added a bar in the men's locker room, redid the locker room bathrooms, totally redid the dining room, added outdoor patios, and had a full refresh of the clubhouse.

Prices are definitely going up and Lakewood does seem cheap relative to other comparable offerings. The DAC dues they show are outdated and the initiation is going up at a rapid clip. Wouldn't be surprised if DAC is at $50k for golf in the not too distant future as there's a pretty decent wait list these days.

I have never understood why DAC doesn't get more love. If you're in east Dallas, DAC would be such a good option. Much better golf at DAC. Lakewood literally has only the fact that it's a bunch of Lakewood people as members going for it (which is a positive if that's where you live). And its outdoor patio that is great. Otherwise, DAC is better in most metrics.

Legend said:

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Avid Golf with their 2022 rankings. It's just a discussion point, not meant to be gospel.

DNat and Northwood remain top Golf and CC per their rankings. Brookhollow on Northwood's heels after the redo. Bent Tree made a huge move just based on the clubhouse redo.

Prices everywhere keep going up. I don't know why Lakewood doesn't raise theirs given a supposed 5-8 year wait list. Royal Oaks made a big bump on initiation fee as did Bent Tree.

Personally surprised to see Craig Ranch ahead of Trinity Forest for golf club, but as the article says TF is polarizing. But facilities and exclusivity at TF are way better than TPC. TF course isn't for everyone, which I get.

https://myavidgolfer.com/cover-story-best-of-private-clubs-2022/#:~:text=Congrats%20to%20Northwood%20Club%20in,the%20top%20spot%20for%202022.&text=Dallas%20National%20is%20one%20of,golf%20course%20in%20the%20Metroplex.

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Thanks for posting this list. I've been fortunate to visit most of these country clubs (all post renovatations as well) so here's a few points I want to bring up.

- 100% agree on Northwood and Brook Hollow. Both are the absolute pinnacle of golf. Amazing courses (if it wasn't for crowd control they could easily host the US open in terms of quality of the course). I think Northwood gets the slight nod over Brook Hollow for 2 reasons. Better location and the Tennis program has a huge advantage of being in the same neighborhood as T-bar (T-Bar racket club is within walking distance of the clubhouse, you get alot of cross-play between the 2 as a result). That's a huge bonus for the Tennis program

- I have always thought Bent Tree was extremely under-rated. People always put it in the Lakewood/Royal Oaks tier but i'm not sure why. The neighborhood is perfect. Custom built late 70s/early 80s houses which I think was the last good era for this area (90s became generic 2 story red brick and then 2000 onwards screamed L.A wannabe vibe). Course is fun to play, always in good condition, it doesn't have a pretenious feel (way more laid back then lakewood/DCC) and the new clubhouse is the best in the area. People always say DCC, Northwood, and Brook Hollow are the 3 overall best but i'd gladly replace DCC with Bent Tree.

- Never been a fan of DCC. Have had mutiple members even tell me "if it wasn't for our friend group we wouldn't even stay here". The tennis program is average, the golf course is nothing special

Fore Left! said:

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That Prestonwood cost now. LOL for what you get. Definitely some club corp love being given there

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Clubcorp got rid of young executive membership and raised the prices of the regular adult membership.

Prestonwood has always been under-valued price wise + membership numbers are high so i'm not suprised they raised the initiation fee (20k for priority access to 2 different courses along with secondary access to nearby Canyon Creek and Brookhaven isn't awful in todays market).

How is prestonwood compared to gleneagles?

I'd say Kohls vs Macy's or maybe Nordstrom. There is value to be had at Prestonwood, but pretty meh. Gleneagles is very nice, albeit with some limitations that keep it from the very upper echelon of dfw clubs. Totally different ballpark.

Kings is still closed at GlenEagles so good luck actually getting a teetime.

We were members there for a few years. Nice club with really nice amenities. Coody twins (tu golf team kids) are members there.

Tee times are so hard to get with only 1 course and 500+ golf members.

Legend said:

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How is prestonwood compared to gleneagles?

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Prestonwood is the better of all of the low-end clubs (Hackberry, Brookhaven, Canyon Creek, Eldorado, Shady Valley).

Gleneagles is a signficant step up from Prestonwood, it's one of the nicer mid tier clubs (it's more comparable to something like Stonebriar, Ridglea, Castle Hills).

560ti said:

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Legend said:

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How is prestonwood compared to gleneagles?

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Prestonwood is the better of all of the low-end clubs (Hackberry, Brookhaven, Canyon Creek, Eldorado, Shady Valley).

Gleneagles is a signficant step up from Prestonwood, it's one of the nicer mid tier clubs (it's more comparable to something like Stonebriar, Ridglea, Castle Hills).

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Thanks. I've played Gleneagles a bunch in the 90s when it was a great club. I had heard it declined when Club Corp bought it and heard Prestonwood had improved of late. I just didn't know how much the gap had narrowed but sounds like it is still significant.

Legend said:

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560ti said:

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Legend said:

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How is prestonwood compared to gleneagles?

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Prestonwood is the better of all of the low-end clubs (Hackberry, Brookhaven, Canyon Creek, Eldorado, Shady Valley).

Gleneagles is a signficant step up from Prestonwood, it's one of the nicer mid tier clubs (it's more comparable to something like Stonebriar, Ridglea, Castle Hills).

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Thanks. I've played Gleneagles a bunch in the 90s when it was a great club. I had heard it declined when Club Corp bought it and heard Prestonwood had improved of late. I just didn't know how much the gap had narrowed but sounds like it is still significant.

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It's decline probably had nothing to do with Clubcorp themselves. Usually the courses that sell to clubcorp are selling because they need work and aren't making alot of money. Gleneagles probably sold at a low point and then upgrades/improvements were done to make it what it is now.

That's what happened to Prestonwood. Memberships had dropped 25% in a 6 year span and the owner got caught stealing water from a Dallas owned Creek that he used to illegally water the Hills course. Once the accusations happened clubcorp bought both courses in 2014 and then started immediately improving both the club house and the course.

DAC is great, its just the far east location that throws people off. By far the best value in Dallas.

I used to play Gleneagles all the time and it lost some panoche over the years as Willowbend aged. They did just have a renovation on the kings course. I also still love the 19th hole with the barber. It just really comfortable being in there.

I grew up playing Gleneagles and living on the course. My parents no longer are members or live in DFW but it was great in the 90s especially when I was in high school. I practically lived there in the summers and my friends and I used to sneak beers from the pool area and the 19th hole. Had my senior prom dinner at Gleneagles in 96 it was high end back then.

I have played it a few times in recent years and I still have a soft spot for it. It definitely lost some of the panache when ClubCorp purchased it. It could be a premier club with 2 courses be it the Kings is superior IMO.

With a looming recession and COVID golf push over I have a feeling these initiation fees are about to go down drastically. I remember getting out of college in 00 before the bubble burst and I was living in Houston working for Enron of all places. I tried to join a club in Houston and god some of the initiation fees where outrageous. Fast forward to 03 and most of those places where begging for members. I get that feeling is happening again where a ton of people are going to drop these clubs as the economy tanks.

My thoughts exactly. I have played Brook Hollow many times and the course is top notch the best in Dallas IMO and one of the best in Texas. Socially it is very stuffy. You are not going to get invited to a random table in the 19th. Northwood has the best social atmosphere in Dallas and the best 19th hole in Dallas and the type of place you will get invited to a random table in the 19th. The also has the best tennis in Dallas but their location still is not great in the Valley View area.

I always felt Bent Tree was highly underrated. Awesome Tollway location with a great course. They needed to raise their dues & initiation IMO.

I have never been a fan of DCC the course but will say the 19th hole is great and an awesome place to watch a Mavs game. Our managing partner is a member at DCC & PT said he has not played at DCC in over 15 years but said he uses the restaurant and gym a ton. He actually complains about PT and how the atmosphere has shifted over the past few years in a negative way. From what I have overheard him say is its nothing but a bunch of bratty trust fund kids who are getting into PT these days who are then turning around & getting their bratty trust fund friends in. Said the vetting process for a lot of these guys goes to the wayside because their dads are members or they come from prominent families and guys think they are going to get some business out of them if they help them so they turn a blind eye to major character flaws. He has said many times PT is not what it used to be. (had to make a few edits do not want to dox my boss he would be pissed)

Personally feel PT is the most over hyped course in Texas. The buffet & course are just ok but nothing to wow about. I would rather play Northwood over PT the buffet is the exact same.

I dont know if this has been mentioned but Royal Oaks regularly floods with big rains and will close up a week or two for clean up.

DarthVaderAg01 said:

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The also has the best tennis in Dallas but their location still is not great in the Valley View area.

I always felt Bent Tree was highly underrated. Awesome Tollway location with a great course. They needed to raise their dues & initiation IMO.

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I think if anything there location is great, it's the main advantage they have over alot of clubs (Northwood HIlls and Prestonwood to the North/East, North Dallas/Preston hollow to the south, Brookhaven/Galleria to the West). Alot of valley view has either been recently torn down or renovated, there's not a ton over there

All of those clubs in that DNT, 75, 635, George Bush square (Preston Trail, Bent Tree, Northwood, Canyon Creek, Prestonwood) are amazing locations to be, your basically in the middle of Downtown to 121

Bent Tree is amazing (I have it as the 3rd best country club in DFW). They just had a huge assessment to build the new clubhouse and iniation just went up 33% in a single year so prices are raising.

560ti said:

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DarthVaderAg01 said:

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The also has the best tennis in Dallas but their location still is not great in the Valley View area.

I always felt Bent Tree was highly underrated. Awesome Tollway location with a great course. They needed to raise their dues & initiation IMO.

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I think if anything there location is great, it's the main advantage they have over alot of clubs (Northwood HIlls and Prestonwood to the North/East, North Dallas/Preston hollow to the south, Brookhaven/Galleria to the West). Alot of valley view has either been recently torn down or renovated, there's not a ton over there

All of those clubs in that DNT, 75, 635, George Bush square (Preston Trail, Bent Tree, Northwood, Canyon Creek, Prestonwood) are amazing locations to be, your basically in the middle of Downtown to 121

Bent Tree is amazing (I have it as the 3rd best country club in DFW). They just had a huge assessment to build the new clubhouse and iniation just went up 33% in a single year so prices are raising.

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Had a buddy just join. 90k I think. Dues are $900 or so.

Initiation used to be 25k for junior membership then 40k once you made 40.

ChoppinDs40 said:

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Had a buddy just join. 90k I think. Dues are $900 or so.

Initiation used to be 25k for junior membership then 40k once you made 40.

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Yeah they've been raising it pretty consistently. It was 50k just 5 years ago and now it's at 100k (the most recent jump was from 75k to 100k just in the last 12 months)