A Look at the Top Golf Courses in the Houston Area

The Greater Houston metropolitan area stretches over 10,000 square miles across nine counties. With a size comparable to that of some U.S. states, this vast collection of urban environments is one of the major centers of Texas. With its warm weather, scenic bodies of water, and passion for sports, Greater Houston is an ideal setting for golf enthusiasts.

The Houston area has golf courses that have hosted PGA and LPGA Tour events, historic destinations designed by world-renowned golf architects, and exclusive country clubs with immaculately-landscaped settings. More than 80 top-notch public and private courses are available for Houston residents across the metropolitan area.

With so much to choose from, it can be difficult to pinpoint the best destinations to enjoy high-level golfing in Greater Houston. That’s why we’ve got you covered with a look at the top golf courses in the Houston area.

Cypresswood Golf Club: Cypresswood is a public golf club in Houston that offers 36 holes of championship golf spread across two elite courses: the Tradition Course and the Cypress Course. These highly-rated courses are lined with tall pines and hardwoods, and each presents unique challenges. Cypress is known for its rolling fairways, while Tradition has difficult sand traps.

Golf Club of Houston: Golf Club of Houston is a semi-private golf club with two 18-hole courses. The Member Course is private, while the Tournament Course, designed by Reese Jones and tour professional David Toms, is open to the public. The Tournament Course was the home of the Houston Open PGA Tour event from 2003-2019, and professionals love its perfectly groomed fairways and difficult bunkers.

Memorial Park Golf Course: This is a municipal course owned by Houston, meaning it is available to the public. A gorgeous course with excellent landscaping and fair prices, Memorial Park Golf Course attracts 60,000 people every year, so crowds can be a problem. It was designed by John Bredemus in 1935 and renovated in 1995. The 600-acre course has now been the new home of the PGA’s Houston Open since 2019.

Wildcat Golf Club: This club overlooks Houston’s downtown, providing a backdrop of the skyline for golfers to enjoy. Wildcat Golf Club has two 18-hole courses, the Lakes Course and Highlands Course, both available for public booking. The Lakes Course has difficult water challenges and significant elevation changes. The Highlands Course is a links-style course with dramatic city views and challenging bunkers.

River Oaks Country Club: This exclusive country club is in Houston’s affluent River Oaks neighborhood. It has a mostly flat course along the shallow waters of the Buffalo Bayou. It was designed by Donald Ross in 1924 before being upgraded by Rees Jones in the 1990s. The course has challenging water traps and some lengthy holes that will have golfers using every club in their bag.  

The Club at Carlton Woods: This ritzy country club provides two high-end golf courses designed by world-famous architects. The Tom Fazio Championship Course, which was opened in 2005, is a hilly course with difficult slopes and challenging terrain that will be an adjustment for many golfers. The Jack Nicklaus Signature Course was opened in 2001 and is covered in wooden terrain, lakes, and parkland, as well as greens with bunkers that will test golfers’ accuracy.