Courtesy of the club
Courtesy of the club
Courtesy of the club
Courtesy of the club
Courtesy of the club
Courtesy of the club
Courtesy of the club
Courtesy of the club
Courtesy of the club
Courtesy of the club
Courtesy of the club
Courtesy of the club
Whispering Pines Golf Club
Whispering Pines Golf Club
1532 Whispering Pines Dr
Trinity, TX 75862-7100
United States
Overview
Corby Robertson, who made a fortune in coal reserves, staked out the Whispering Pines course in the early 1990s, then brought Texas-based golf architect Chet Williams (at the time a design associate of Jack Nicklaus) to help him create strategies through bunkering and green contours. Williams refined the rough-hewn routing cut through east Texas piney woods into a dazzling romp across a gently rolling landscape, culminating in a final six-hole stretch along gator-infested Caney Creek and the headwaters of Lake Livingston. The club continues to make renovations, which has included tweaking greens, moving tee boxes and replacing its fairways with zoysia grass, which resulted in a #51 ranking (its highest) in the last ranking period.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
100 Greatest: Ranked since 2013.
Previous ranking: 51st (highest).
2025-'26 ranking: 66th.
Best in State: Ranked Top 5 in Texas since 2013.
2025-'26 ranking: 1st since 2013.
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
“Challenging but straightforward fair course, with dynamic routing that incorporates natural features of creeks, tree lined fairways and good mix of varied length in holes. While driver is the easy pull on just about every tee, retrospective look around the course gives considerably more shot options off the tee to find a safer play, but if enjoying risk/reward, this course has plenty of those shots where taking on the dangerous line will provide substantially shorter approaches. Greens were generally receptive and of considerable size offering a lot of hole locations on fairly undulating greens."
Read More2025
Review
“Challenging but straightforward fair course, with dynamic routing that incorporates natural features of creeks, tree lined fairways and good mix of varied length in holes. While driver is the easy pull on just about every tee, retrospective look around the course gives considerably more shot options off the tee to find a safer play, but if enjoying risk/reward, this course has plenty of those shots where taking on the dangerous line will provide substantially shorter approaches. Greens were generally receptive and of considerable size offering a lot of hole locations on fairly undulating greens."
Read More2025
Review
“One of the best in the state of Texas. Great layout variety mixed with great conditioning in a tough weather area of Texas. Many shot options for golfers to be aggressive or play for position. A fun golf experience that leads the pack in Texas golf design and enjoyment."
Read More2025
Review
“A great experience and fun course to play."
Read More2024
Review
“As good as it gets, if you are able to get it. Never, ever, ever say no if you get the invitation to play Whispering Pines."
Read More2023
Review
“Great variety of holes, excited to see what the next hole presents. Par 3s all vary and an awesome #16 island green. Water comes into play and affects shot options and strategy. Green complexes challenging and quick. Great scenic views that do not feel like Texas."
Read More2023
Review
“Exclusive private club open in spring and fall. Core routing (no houses) in remote area bordering a large lake. Large site with a lot of trees, bunkers, and water. Excellent variety of holes; challenging without being overwhelming. Very good green complexes and most hole corridors are sufficiently wide. Not to be missed."
Read More2022
Review
“Wonderful firm and fast conditioning throughout the course. First three holes greet the player w/ a shortish par 4 opening hole w/ an incredible dual tiered green, a long uphill par five 2nd hole that wraps around penal bunkering with the 2nd shot, and the 3rd hole that challenges the player w/ a long downhill approach to a difficult green complex. Awesome risk reward cape type hole w/ #14 which is a shortish par 4 that provides the player w/ a risk reward tee shot over water that can be played aggressively left of a tree or conservatively right of the tree. Par three #15 felt overdone w/ the bunkering and rock work surrounding the green surface for an island green hole. Long difficult finishing hole that requires a solid drive to setup a long approach over water to a difficult green complex. Three of the par 5's and three of the par 3's largely go the same direction."
Read More2022
Review
“Major changes after course reopened in 2020 primarily affecting conditioning and playability- TifEagle greens, the rest of the course Zeon Zoysia, new bunkers, new irrigation, some drainage. Essentially, other than better conditioning, the bones of the course- its routing- and primary design features remain largely unchanged. As previously noted, the course was built on large site with relatively minor elevation changes, rugged terrain, creeks, ponds, wetlands, and a tributary of the Trinity River in play, mostly laterally, but with some forced carries. Excellent variety of short, medium, and long holes Hole corridors guarded by trees or water and bunkers, with native grasses also in play. A fair, but stern test from the back tees for the scratch player, requiring both power and accuracy, simultaneously on some holes."
Read More2022
Review
“Cut out of the woods in the middle of nowhere. A great mix of long/short par 3/4/5's. Overall it's an amazing golf course that keeps you excited to see more. The last stretch of golf holes were a true but fair test of your ability on the golf course."
Read More2022
