Big Easy Ranch: The Covey

Columbus, TX • Private

4.6

Panelists

12 Reviews

1 / 16

Brian Oar

2 / 16

Brian Oar

3 / 16

Brian Oar

4 / 16

Brian Oar

5 / 16

Brian Oar

6 / 16

Brian Oar

7 / 16

Brian Oar

8 / 16

Brian Oar

9 / 16

Brian Oar

10 / 16

Brian Oar

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Brian Oar

12 / 16

Brian Oar

13 / 16

Brian Oar

14 / 16

Brian Oar

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Brian Oar

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Brian Oar

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 reenforced 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 approached 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

Holes 18

Length 7511

Facility Type Private

Year Opened 2023

Designer Chet Williams

Panelists

Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists

4.6

Reviews

1 / 10

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."

2024

2 / 10

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. "

2024

3 / 10

Review

2024

4 / 10

Review

“The Covey at the Big Easy is one of the top golf courses in Texas. Its defining strength lies in the strategic options available off the tees, providing golfers of all skill levels with engaging challenges and flexibility. Furthermore, the expansive, undulating greens enhance the experience by offering various pin placement possibilities. This dynamic design guarantees members will continually find new and rewarding ways to enjoy the course."

2024

5 / 10

Review

“Houston golf is pretty terrible, but The Covey shows you don't have to go too far outside of Houston to find a piece of land that can develop a world class golf course. Unique Features: The site has tremendous elevation change for SW Texas and the investment in the creek system pays off with a series of tumbling water features that appear natural, beautiful and strategic. The bunkering itself is also artistically well done with great definition while still complementing the natural surroundings. Some people won't like the trees and bunkering down the centerlines but nothing is hidden and these are the only trouble around otherwise very forgiving landing areas and I think the consistency of these features adds to the variety while maintaining the same feel and character throughout the 18 holes. I think it works very well on #1, #2, #3, #7, #16, & #18 and not so well on #8, 14. Having these features on #1-3 really sets the tone for the course that Chet is going to challenge your mind on almost every shot. #2 and #3 are such great golf holes you walk off the 3rd green excited to see what is next. Very rarely can you see every hole. Each drive forces you to focus exclusively on the drive and then the rest of the hole reveals itself. Almost every shot feels like you are only people playing Big greens with lots of knobs, false fronts and run offs, and backstops (usually with a bowl or certain death if you overshoot the slopes). So greens play a lot smaller if you want to score. I wouldn't describe them as unique in style (as this is the fashion) but they are interesting, strategic, and every detail is well thought out and some of the greens like #8 are truly unique. Included in that variety is several downwind greens slope back to front and encourage you to run the ball up. Other Notes: Wonderfully maintained. Greens were fast but soft. Zoysia everywhere was kept tight around greens so the runoffs really ran. Bunkers were flat bottomed and tastefully flashed halfway up the bunker World Class holes: #3 - Par 5 with tree in the middle at 100yds. This is a hole with a tree in the middle done right. So many pin positions on this green as well. Great risk / reward and strategy hole based on pin location. #12 - What a great hole. A blind tee shot to to a landing area that slopes away and the native pinches in from the right the further up you go. But you don't want to bail out left because you run out of hole and the green slopes front left to back right with a steep dropoff to the right. It's long but you can run it up and utilize the slopes to get it close. #2 - Perfect use of a centerline hazard that is carriable for long hitters and rewards you for doing so. But the small green carved into the hillside rewards precision and anyone who took on the fairway bunker. And the big knob feature allows you to utilize the hill to get it close but punishes you if you try to use it and go long. So many possible scores here for a short/mid length par 4 I think this course can get even better with time. #8 - Maybe not a world class hole but a very interesting/controversial one. I think this hole is a little clunky (in the sizing of the fairways and the exact number of trees blocking the green). There doesn't really seem to be a reason to layup on the left side. The green is absolutely incredible with tumbling ridges back to front and one diagonally and perfect for a short par 4 like this. #14 - The tees (way back) are bit clunky with the centerline trees. It's a visually stimulating tee shot from the back tees but strategically the first 2 shots from the back tees are not that interesting because the centerline trees are not really in play and everyone has to layup. So I think it's a better hole from the one ups. Now the trees do matter as now you can go for the green if you navigate them. However...the tee shot is more pretty back on the other side of the creek. I thought the shot options were very strong. The par 5s on the back were lower than the rest of the course and brought my score lower from what would have otherwise been a Top30 score. Good holes - #4,5,9, 17, 18"

2024

6 / 10

Review

“The Texas hill country an hour from Houston? Exceptional new Chet Williams design that helps etch his name in the list of great modern day architects. Hole one opens up with no green side bunkers, an ironic opening for a course with phenomenal greenside bunkers on the next 17 holes, with the exception of #13. Large greens with vast undulation are present on all 18 holes. Natural creek beds weave throughout the course, which at times had me wondering if I was at Shadow Creek in Vegas, although most everything is natural here at the Covey, except for the trophy bucks folks pay high dollars to hunt on the 2000+ acre property."

2024

7 / 10

Review

“One of the best courses in Texas I have rated in the last 5 years. Nice piece of property in start of Texas hill country with elevation changes and natural streams throughout the property. Routing uses the elevation changes and streams to create high shot value. The green sites have false front. Rolling greens and run offs. Conditioning of course is excellent"

2024

8 / 10

Review

“Great design on a beautiful piece of land. Green complexes are the character of this design. False fronts, run offs and several levels bring all ranges of challenges to strategic placement of shots into the greens of every hole."

2024

9 / 10

Review

“Chet, the course designer has used this unique piece of property to build a wonderful, challenging course. The greens are as perfect as I have seen on many of the top 100 courses. They are built with multiple pin opportunities and varying degrees of difficulty. While very new and with a few tweaks should be considered for best in Texas. All of this without considering the commitment of the owners and the amenities on the property."

2024

10 / 10