Will Barkley
Will Barkley
Miguel Lecuona
Boot Ranch
Overview
In 2005, Boot Ranch commissioned Hal Sutton and Jim Lipe to design a breathtaking golf course in the undulating terrain of Texas hill country. Built over the existing harsh terrain, the course traverses canyons and natural waste areas with fairways bordered and dissected by the Palo Alto Creek, which spills out spectacularly into a natural waterfall at the par-4 10th. The course appears open off the tee, but driving space is quickly taken away by tall grasses, forced carries or strategically placed clusters of trees. In 2017, Heritage Links led a massive renovation of the bunkers and putting surfaces, changing from bentgrass to TifEagle Bermuda. The renovation also saw length added to the signature par-4 finishing hole, now a challenging par 5 with a tight fairway that gets shrunk by trees and bunkers forcing players to either go for it in two or layup to a much longer approach.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
Best in State: Ranked 13th in 2021-'22.
2023-'24 ranking: 18th.
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
“Wonderful shape. Has a couple of fun short par 4's. Firm and fast."
Read More2021
Review
“Boot Ranch is about as much fun as you can have on a golf course. The course has varied terrain including lakes, ponds, arroyos, and waterfalls. It's a big, bold Hal Sutton design in which most holes have a preferred route and an optional bail out that adds difficulty on the subsequent shot. The greens have good movement and the green surrounds often allow for chip, pitch, or putt options. Every hole has some unique characteristic. Overall, the design favor heroic shots, so a good score here makes the golfer feel as if they have really accomplished something. The only negative is the lack of walkability."
Read More2021
Review
“Beautiful Hal Sutton-designed course in the Texas Hill Country. Firm and fast greens highlight this lay of the land design. Holes #8 and #10 highlight the Hill Country scenery. Play it if you get the chance."
Read More2021
Review
“A rather nondescript start to the round that improves dramatically down the stretch. Back nine was lots of fun. Pretty forgiving course that won't beat you up but small greens and tightly-mown surrounds demand precision with the irons. I found the conditioning to be excellent when I played."
Read More2019
