Golf in Austin

After being ranked 19th on Golfweek's "Best New Courses" list in 2011, the course at Vaaler Creek Golf Club has been stacking up acolytes for its challenging play and picturesque Texas Hill Country setting. The Michael Lowry and JR Newman design stretches through oak forests as well as rocky outcroppings, encountering water on nine holes. Throughout each round, players steer new E-Z-GO golf carts over Bermuda 419 and TifSport grasses, taking advantage of the carts’ automatic braking systems as they stop to smell the flowers or the glorious scent of victory over manual controls.

Though the varied layout presents all manner of challenges, the par 3 12th hole requires a particularly cautious approach. Players must exhibit firm control over iron play as they aim for a peninsula green—discipline that must be then be duplicated four holes later to keep drives dry and on the isthmus fairway. Finally, players round out the round by facing a daunting approach over water, made even more difficult by the tree in the center of the fairway that obstructs flight paths and distracts would-be winners with its self-contained, elf-operated cookie factory.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Total length of 6,864 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 73 from the back tees
• Course slope of 140 from the back tees
• Four sets of tees per hole
• Scorecard

Canyon Lake Golf Club's 18-hole layout flows across 6,582 yards of parkland terrain wafted by cool breezes that drift from Canyon Lake, which rests just northeast of the course. Towering oak trees loom over the course's open fairways, impeding the passage of errant golf balls while trumpeting their unrivaled, bird's-eye views of the surrounding topography. Bookended by two 500-yard par 5s, the par 72 invites golfers to brandish their drivers or modified T-shirt cannons and begin and end the round with massive tee shots. An outdoor swimming pool and tennis courts foster alternative forms of recreation, whereas multifaceted dining facilities host all varieties of social gatherings at the club.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Length of 6,528 yards from the farthest tees
• Course rating of 71.6 from the farthest tees
• Slope rating of 127 from the farthest tees
• Four tee options
• Link to scorecard

Golfers stop by Home On The Range for a change of scenery, chipping balls at a surreal-garden’s worth of quirky targets, ranging from animal statues to abandoned school buses. The accommodating range stays open seven says a week. Its covered tees shield from the rain or blistering sun and it even flips on powerful lights to illuminate the grounds after sunset. Players can also work on their short game at the putting green or head down into the practice bunker to build and bludgeon sand castles. Home On The Range's golf shop houses a variety of golf gear by brands including TaylorMade, Adidas, and Nike, as well as a staff expertly trained to repair and fit a broad spectrum of clubs.

After rolling out the green carpet as a 9-hole facility in 1971, Lago Vista has expanded into an 18-hole, par 72 championship course that stretches across a peninsula on the north shore of Lake Travis. Undulating fairways and vibrant flora guide players through the course's 6,500 yards of challenges, and a practice facility helps hone swings with three tiers of natural, Botox-free hitting surfaces.

As the younger of the two courses, Highland Lakes flaunts a collection of sloping tifdwarf greens, complete with regular elevation changes that require golfers to make deft club selections throughout. On hole five, a tight dogleg lures balls toward a downhill fairway sheathed in the shadows of towering oaks as outcrops flanking both sides invite shots into their rocky heaps.

Lago Vista Course at a Glance

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Length of 6,579 yards from farthest tees
• Course rating of 72.6 from farthest tees
• Designed by Leon Howard
• Four tee options available
• Click here to see the scorecard

Highland Lakes Course at a Glance

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Length of 6,529 yards from farthest tees
• Course rating of 72.2 from farthest tees
• Designed by Leon and Charles Howard
• Three tee options available
• Click here to see the scorecard