Brian Oar
Brian Oar
Brian Oar
Brian Oar
Brian Oar
Brian Oar
Brian Oar
Brian Oar
Brian Oar
Brian Oar
Brian Oar
Brian Oar
Brian Oar
Brian Oar
Brian Oar
Brian Oar
Big Easy Ranch: The Covey
Columbus, TX • Private
Overview
Architect Chet Williams has already set the standard for golf in Texas with Whispering Pines, the state’s top-ranked course in Trinity, north of Houston. The land he had to work with at The Covey, set within a 2,000-acre hunting club 75 miles west of Houston, was even better with hills, ridges and ravines cut by natural dry washes that have been reinforced as rushing-water streams. With no surrounding development, The Covey is a scenic journey through the Texas outback through groves of pines and hardwoods and cross-course views. Numerous specimen trees have been left standing in the fairways that must be maneuvered around, and Williams’ green complexes can be wicked, flanked and fronted with deep, staggered bunkers, with strong putting contours that create multiple internal levels and severe false fronts that eject any short approach 30 or 40 yards back down the fairway. The halfway house behind the ninth green on the property’s highest point is one of golf’s best, with an upper-level observatory deck and lounge that offers 20-mile views across the county.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
Second 100 Greatest: Debut appearance.
2025-'26 ranking: 111th.
Best in State: Debut appearance.
2025-'26 ranking: 3rd.
Best New Private Course, 2024.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“The drive into The Big Easy does not prepare you for the experience of a very well conceived architectural gem of Chet Williams. The course is aimed at presenting a challenge worthy of big time competition and does not disappoint. An interesting variety of shapes and connection to overall design. Each hole is unique and offers an opportunity to choose lines off the tee and to shape shots. The greens are firm and fast, characterized by undulation and a variety of levels, making it possible to have wide ranging hole locations. The fairways are very uniformly maintained and watered with the Zoysia resting on a sandy base. Native grass and ample live oaks line the exterior of the holes framing the shot lines nicely. This course is a true offering at the best of Texas golf."
Read More2025
Review
“Great shot options and layout variety. Plenty of risk/reward to keep you thinking the entire round. Starting with hole #2 a shorter par 4 that challenges the tee ball with a bunker centre fairway but shot options to either hang back or take on the left side of it. The par 4 hole #5 a dogleg left with an intimidating large bunker on the inside corner can leave an approach from 110-220yds depending on the tee shot in a prevailing wind. A great Biarritz and continuous contours and slope throughout the green complexes, each with true roll. Challenging but fair finisher on #18 a par 5 with water challenging both the tee shot and approach. There is width to the course but it maintains a great routing and shot making."
Read More2025
Review
“Great shot options and layout variety. Plenty of risk/reward to keep you thinking the entire round. Starting with hole #2 a shorter par 4 that challenges the tee ball with a bunker centre fairway but shot options to either hang back or take on the left side of it. The par 4 hole #5 a dogleg left with an intimidating large bunker on the inside corner can leave an approach from 110-220yds depending on the tee shot in a prevailing wind. A great Biarritz and continuous contours and slope throughout the green complexes, each with true roll. Challenging but fair finisher on #18 a par 5 with water challenging both the tee shot and approach. There is width to the course but it maintains a great routing and shot making."
Read More2025
Review
“Covey is a Texas hill-country test with playable width that still makes you pick smart lines. The par 3s changes look and yardage, and the par 4s reward a committed line off the tee.. Conditioning was excellent and firm, fast, and consistent. The ranch backdrop and the course’s scale make it memorable."
Read More2025
Review
“Great variety in terms of the clubs one hits throughout the round as well as the differences between short, medium, and long holes. Designer also does a good job of creating variety with the sides of the fairway or greens that a player needs to favor hole to hole. 8th and 18th holes give the player multiple options to play depending on the amount of risk one wants to take"
Read More2025
Review
“Great variety in terms of the clubs one hits throughout the round as well as the differences between short, medium, and long holes. Designer also does a good job of creating variety with the sides of the fairway or greens that a player needs to favor hole to hole. 8th and 18th holes give the player multiple options to play depending on the amount of risk one wants to take"
Read More2025
Review
“Nice golf course and relaxed club. Tough course, very scenic, nice getaway from Houston or Austin."
Read More2025
Review
“A really nice use of the naturally rolling hills, streams and native trees. Elevation on most holes with some added sidehill lies in many of the fairways. The golf course does not punish you off the tee. You can find the fairway but you need to realize the starting lines in order to have the best angles - and shortest approaches - into the fairly large greens. The dog leg left par 4 5th is a perfect example. From the back tees it plays 500 yards long. Taking an unnerving line (cutting the corner) seemingly into the native grass areas put us in the fairway with only 120 yards to the green. Taking the safe play down the middle left us with a 215 yard approach. Options galore on 3 of the 4 par 5s. My favorite hole was the short par 4 8th. You can go for it with a driver, aim down the separate left fairway with a hybrid or three wood or aim to the right (another stand-alone fairway) with a 5 iron. Three ways to play one hole! Chet Williams did a really nice job with this property."
Read More2024
Review
“Compared to Whispering Pines, Chet Williams was able to work with elevations and open up the fairways. This provides a bit more forgiveness of the tee, but don't be fooled. There are plenty of strategic routes off the tee that may be second guessed when playing for the first time. In soft conditions, the fairways can be less challenging and the greens a bit more receptive. However, when it is dry the generous size begins to close in on you. The greens provide both obvious undulations and some very subtle ones that can have you second guessing your putts. The course is beautiful and it is nice to see some elevation in Texas. Overall, it is a fun round for corporate golf and can be a challenge to the low handicapper from the back. "
Read More2024
Review
“Compared to Whispering Pines, Chet Williams was able to work with elevations and open up the fairways. This provides a bit more forgiveness of the tee, but don't be fooled. There are plenty of strategic routes off the tee that may be second guessed when playing for the first time. In soft conditions, the fairways can be less challenging and the greens a bit more receptive. However, when it is dry the generous size begins to close in on you. The greens provide both obvious undulations and some very subtle ones that can have you second guessing your putts. The course is beautiful and it is nice to see some elevation in Texas. Overall, it is a fun round for corporate golf and can be a challenge to the low handicapper from the back. "
Read More2024
