Best golf courses near Houston, TX

River Oaks Country Club is ranked 29th in Texas

A significant renovation was completed by Tom Doak (in collaboration with Brooks Koepka) to transform the old municipal course at Memorial Park—which hosted the first Houston Open in 1947 and then again from 1951 through 1965—into a layout worthy of being a PGA Tour venue. Originally built in 1912 at a hospital near Camp Logan for recovering soldiers to use, architect John Bredemus redesigned the course in 1935 and added a second nine. Now with signature Doak green complexes and tour-level conditioning, Memorial Park is once again a must-play in the state and averages 60,000 rounds a year.

The 36-hole Champions Golf Club is one of the most appropriately named clubs in America. It was founded by Texans Jackie Burke, Jr. (who turned 100 in 2023) and Jimmy Demaret, and the two hold five major championships between them, including four Masters green jackets. A procession of the game's best professionals have tested their games at the vaunted Cypress Creek course (the club's second course, Jackrabbit, actually scored higher in our Best in State rankings), which has played host to the 1969 U.S. Open, a Ryder Cup, several PGA Tour tournaments including the TOUR Championship, and the 2020 U.S. Women's Open. When Cypress Creek opened in 1957, it was regarded as one of the finest new courses of the post-World War II era, ranked among the 100 Greaters courses from 1966 to 1988. It's a tight, treelined shotmaker's course with treelined fairways and big, well-protected greens--the fourth, bending around a crook of Cypress Creek, was long considered one of the toughest par 3s in the country. A 2018 renovation by Texan Chet Williams, designer of Whispering Pines, the 51st ranked course among America's 100 Greatest, kept the features and shot demands updated and sharp without straying from Cypress Creek's noble heritage.

This 1926 John Bredemus-designed course has a rich history with ties to Jackie Burke, Sr. (a founder) and Jimmy Demaret (who was once the head professional). Cary Middlecoff, Betsy Rawls and Fred Couples all won tournaments here. In 2021, Tripp Davis renovated the entire course to improve drainage, add irrigation and re-emphasize the strategic thoughtfulness of the design through the shifting of greens and tees, redistributing fairway contour and moving bunkers to more impactful locations.

Lochinvar Golf Club is ranked 33rd in Texas

Champions Golf Club Jackrabbit Course is ranked 21st in Texas

Houston’s Gus Wortham Municipal Course—just a few miles from downtown—has roots dating back to 1908, when the original Houston Country Club was routed on the site. It’s the rare piece of property in the sprawling Texas metropolis with elevation changes that make for a scenic, rolling layout. The course is the oldest continually operated course in Texas, and Harry Vardon, Ted Ray and Bobby Jones played exhibitions there over the years. The Houston Golf Association entered a 30-year lease and operating agreement in 2014. Architect Baxter Spann restored the course in 2017, rebuilding greens, bunkers and reshaping contouring, as well has reconfiguring the irrigation system for better water conservation.

Lakeside Country Club is one of the best golf courses in Houston. Discover our experts reviews and tee time information here

Royal Oaks Country Club is ranked 36th in Texas