Golf in El Campo

A 7,100-yarder with a par of 72, the course at Meadowbrook Farms Golf Club represents the design vision of famed PGA Tour champion Greg Norman, nicknamed “The Shark” for his tendency to chew a course's grass before deciding to play it. Norman’s own turf company supplied the hybrid Bermudagrass tees, fairways, and rough for the course, while Floradwarf constitutes the gently undulating and generously rewarding putting surfaces. This greenery is surrounded by native prairie grasses, wetlands, and wildflowers as well as a majestic hardwood forest. Before tackling the course, players can bring their game up to speed at the club’s Player Development Center. The same GN-1 turf featured out on the course covers the tee areas at the driving range as well as the pitching greens and practice fairway. And all areas are stocked with towels and fresh water for drinking or dumping on your instructor when your swing finally clicks.

From the moment golfers step into the rustic, Old West?themed clubhouse, outfitted with cowhide covers on the chairs and a boar's head on the wall, The Wilderness at Lake Jackson transports them to a bygone era. That vintage vibe carries over to the course?a quiet, idyllic landscape without a single house or teleportation tube in sight. Considered one of the top courses in Houston, the 18-hole Wilderness weaves through rippling terrain carved into the wetlands area of Lake Jackson. Water comes into play numerous times, including on the 572-yard 15th hole. As a whole, the course stretches 7,106 yards, but each hole features four tees so players of any level can test their skills.

Designed by famed course architects Arthur Hills and Mike Dasher, Sienna Plantation Golf Club's frequent elevation changes transform the flat landscape into rolling waves of green. These undulations are only the beginning of the challenges players face. On hole two, the narrow fairway and sand bunkers form a perfect storm of difficulty, forcing golfers to thread the needle or risk taking an unplanned trip to the beach. Elsewhere, flowing creeks wind around holes 16 and 17, where the promise of a rewarding score tempts players to take precise shots close to the water's edge. Live oaks and mature cedar elms along the fairways provide both scenic views of nature's beauty and ample shade for treating caddies to a picnic lunch. Course at a Glance: 18-hole, par 72 course Total length of 7,151 yards from the back tees Course rating of 73.9 from the back tees Course slope of 129 from the back tees Four sets of tees per hole Scorecard

BlackHorse is impressive in both size and stature—there are two 18-hole courses, each of which is plotted around naturally occurring wetlands and mature trees. The back nine of the south course plays through a quarry. Each hole has six tees to accommodate golfers of all skill levels, and the public course includes a full-service restaurant.

Golf Etc. features a bevy of bogey-friendly products from brands such as Titleist, Ping, Bridgestone Golf, Adidas, Callaway, TaylorMade, and more. In addition to its armory of traditional fairway artillery, Golf Etc. also builds, repairs, re-grips, and re-shafts trusty clubs at its on-site workshop. Re-gripping is $3 per club, plus the price of grip, and can be completed the day the clubs are brought in. If your club handle is already gripped for success, you can opt for a one-hour video golf lesson ($80), which uses a digital coaching system known only as V-1 to give golfers a clearer understanding of their swing and teach them how to harness its inherent energy to jump-start a dead golf-cart battery. Golfers can also get their drivers fitted ($75) and find out which long-distance clubber is best for their game using the Swing Labs Digital Fitting System. Short-gamers can practice putts on a 280-square-foot indoor green that features authentic challenging breaks. Prices provided are from the Pearland store and may vary by location.

A two-month membership to Southwyck Golf Club arms golfers with the weapons they need to whittle away excess plodding and emerge with an A game (a $70 value). Members enjoy free twilight-hours greens fees seven days a week, unlimited range balls, merchandise discounts, and USGA handicap service. Twilight golfing includes two draft beers, two fountain drinks, or an ephemeral, betwixt-and-between mixture of both. Groupon holders will also receive one anytime round of golf, valid any day, which also includes the potent duo of two draft beers or two fountain drinks (up to a $75 value).