Austin is a gateway city to the storied Texas Hill Country—home to German beer, Texas wines, barbecue and some excellent golf courses. The rolling hills, dotted with lakes, limestone cliffs and caverns, natural springs and stands of cypress and oak, make for dramatic and challenging layouts. Add to that the state's golf pedigree—Ben Hogan, Harvey Penick, Kathy Whitworth and Byron Nelson all hail from here—and you've got a historical backdrop as well. Even better, golf is a year-round sport in Austin. October, when it's still warm enough for shorts, and March, when the bluebonnets are out in force and the World Golf Championship and SXSW are in swing, are ideal times to visit. Hotel rooms can be scarce on festival weekends and when the University of Texas Longhorns are playing at home, so book early.
FAZIO CANYONS GOLF COURSE
Although the Fazio Foothills course, which is steps from the Omni Barton Creek Resort's back door, is closed for renovation until 2018—and the hotel is about to undergo a much-needed facelift—a stayover at Barton Creek to play a round on Fazio Canyons is still worth it. Just a short hop from the hotel, this well-manicured course takes you for a rollicking tour of Texas Hill Country: twists, turns, blind shots, elevated tees, waterfalls, lakes, and putts that break up hill. Short Springs Branch, a limestone-bed creek that winds through the course, adds to the scenic punch. omnibartoncreek.com
PALMER LAKESIDE
Palmer Lakeside has a different look and feel from its three sister courses at Barton Creek, and that's to do with its impressive hilltop setting overlooking Lake Travis, 25 miles west of the resort (the hotel provides a shuttle but drive yourself so you can stop at Opie's Barbecue on the way back). There are lake views from the first tee and several from the back nine, which is a step up in challenge from the front; the par-3 Nos. 11 and 14 are real showstoppers. Although the course is just 6,400 yards from the tips, it feels a lot longer. omnibartoncreek.com
APPLE ROCK AT HORSESHOE BAY RESORT
With the star attraction, Ram Rock, undergoing renovations, Apple Rock is the go-to course at Horseshoe Bay Resort. A Robert Trent Jones, Sr. design, the action unfolds along the banks of Lake LBJ. (Horseshoe Bay has three RTJ, Sr. courses—the only club in the continental U.S. to claim this distinction). The starting tees are perched atop a hill and the views are stunning. Memorable back-to-back par 5s on the back nine take you from the highest to the lowest points of the golf course. The resort's third course, Slick Rock, is a fun layout and boasts an Instagram-worthy hole where players riding a cart have to traverse the 35-yard waterfall. hsbresort.com
HYATT REGENCY LOST PINES
Spread out across pristine land along the Colorado River east of Austin, Hyatt Regency Lost Pines, is the best course you can play in the Austin area that doesn't require a hotel stay. Variety is the name of the game here, with a gorgeous mix of terrain from a links feel with prairie grasses (when it's high, these native grasses provide plenty of the challenge) and deep piney woods to riverside holes. The expansive course, designed by Arthur Hills, with no houses in sight, has one of the best practice facilities in the state and a Harvey Penick Golf Academy to boot. lostpines.hyatt.com
ONION CREEK CLUB
This private course has a lot of history. Built in 1974 by Austin native Jimmie Connolly and Jimmy Demaret, the first three-time winner of the Masters, Onion Creek is known as the birthplace of the Senior Tour. In the mid-90's, Austin native and two-time Masters champion Ben Crenshaw and his design partner Bill Coore created an additional nine, for 27 plush holes. It's a relatively short course but tight, with mature trees, and challenging. Always in top shape, Onion Creek is a host a qualifying site for the men's U.S. Open. Custom golf tour operator Texas Golf Trails can provide access to this and other private courses in the area. onioncreekclub.com
GREY ROCK GOLF CLUB
Grey Rock is hands-down the best daily-fee in Austin, and that's because it was a semi-private club before the city took it over. The Jay Morrish design has served as the host course for the U.S. Open qualifier and the Texas Women's Amateur Championship. Plus its location just 20 minutes south of downtown makes for a convenient round. With generous fairways framed by stately oaks and a fairly wide open layout, it's a great value. Plan to stick around for a libation and house-made BBQ in the Biergarten on the outdoor patio of the beautiful limestone clubhouse. greyrockgolfandtennis.com
TERAVISTA GOLF CLUB
There's a reason Teravista is a favorite on the central Texas golf circuit. This semi-private course is fun for all skill levels, with five sets of tees. The rolling hills provide a picturesque base for the views that can span for miles .You can count on the conditions being good and the staff welcoming. Because Teravista sits on a hill and is exposed to the elements, winds can be a major factor in play throughout the course. Some complain about the slow play so get out early and beat the crowds and the heat. falconheadaustin.comDESTINATION GUIDE: AUSTIN What To Do When You're Not Playing GolfWhere To Eat In Austin
