Review of Traditions Club at Texas A&M

Date Played: November 30, 2010
Front Nine Rating: 10.0 Stars
Back Nine Rating: 9.0 Stars
Initiation Fees: Under $10,000
Monthly Dues: $201 to $400
Brief Description:

Traditions Club at Texas A&M is a Jack Nicklaus and Jack Nicklaus II co-design which opened in Bryan, Texas and is home to the Aggie men’s and women’s golf team.  Jack designed an 18 outstanding holes of golf in the center of 900 acres of some surprisingly beautiful terrain that makes playing the 7,146 yard private course fun, scenic, and challenging.  Jack Nicklaus sums it up well: “it’s an incredible piece of property with naturally rolling terrain, large native trees, and Turkey Creek.” 

The natural terrain with several varieties of stately hardwoods creates plenty of challenges that you’ll need to manage during your round, some of which include: forced carries on 15 holes over ravines carved deep by the creek, wetlands and natural areas plus elevated tee shots, sloping fairways, downhill as well as uphill shots, and the meandering Turkey Creek crisscrossing the fairway. 

On top of all that there are dog legs, blind shots, several risk reward opportunities, 68 strategically placed bunkers, and challenging green complexes – all of which may be why the course has a rating of 126 to 151.  Traditions Club is a true test of your game from tee to green.  But don’t let all of that discourage you from doing whatever it takes to play this outstanding golf course.  If you don’t know a member, you can become one if you want to play the course or you can sign up for one of their stay & play packages which gives you the right to play the course and enjoy all of the Club’s amenities – read our review of the Traditions Club Stay & Play to learn more.

Before you tee off at Traditions Club, make sure you spend some time at the range, putting green, and bunker area, pick the right set of tee boxes, study the yardage card carefully, and consider leaving the big dog in the bag.  Or better yet play the 19th hole which is a somewhat representative practice par 5 hole or play with a member who is willing to share some of the secrets to managing the course.  You’re in for a scenic, fun, and demanding ride that puts a premium on accuracy over distance.  In addition, you'll be tempted to try several risk reward shots that are very high risk and may cause your score to skyrocket!

The front nine is incredible and home to several “Wow” holes that are not only visually stunning but challenging from the tee box to the cup.  Some of the “Wow” holes include:

• the first two holes are good but #3 was our first
  "Wow" - a 539 par 5 with a sweeping and sloping downhill fairway then across the creek and up to the green
• another "Wow" on #4 which is a short 354 yard par four that demands an accurate tee shot from an elevated tee box to avoid the three huge bunkers plus a small pot bunker and not overshoot the fairway and land in the creek crossing the fairway leading to a tough approach to a green guarded by three big bunkers
• #6 is the #1 handicap hole with a risk reward shot off the tee box to try and fly the creek in a deep ravine and a bunker to shorten the dog left 584 yard par 5 - survive the tee shot and you'll need at least a couple more precise shots to stay in the narrow fairway, fly the creek in front of the green, and avoid 4 greenside bunkers

The back nine is equally impressive and seemed to have much wider and more forgiving fairways but much tougher greens with severe slope, plenty of undulation, plus tiers and ridges and severe slope back to the fairway.  Some will say that this nine is tougher.  A couple of our favorites on this nine included:

• #10 is another "Wow" hole - a 559 yard par 5 (#2 handicap) with a downhill shot to a dog left fairway then a narrow shot across a creek and natural area crossing the fairway (a real roller coaster ride) leading to a dog right green
• #13 is only 381 yards but the tight fairway takes a 90 degree turn right and has a creek and ravine to cross leading to a tough green with plenty of slope, a big tier, and very steep slope in front
• #16 is a very scenic par three with a creek crossing in front of the tee box and a forced carry over of 190 yards from the tips acoss a lake to a green guarded by the lake, a huge bunker on the left front, trees in back, and a good sized bunker on the right

The fairway’s at Traditions Club at Texas A&M vary from tight and narrow tree lined to ample and forgiving where you can pull out the big dog and let it rip.  All of the fairways are tree lined and the front nine has some beautiful huge homes watching you play and waiting for your stray balls.  When we played in November, despite the harsh winter, severe drought, and record heat, the fairways were in near perfect condition – lush, plush, and a real pleasure to hit from. 

If you miss the fairway, the rough is thick and dense and tends to hold the ball up, making for an easy recovery shot.  If you really spray the ball, you’re wet, deep in the trees, or lost in a deep ravine, native area, or wetland.  The entire course is very well maintained and manicured.

Traditions Club’s greens were also near perfect and they were soft, smooth, and ran at a good speed of around a 9.  Most are raised with a steep front making a bump and run tough and all are well guarded with plenty of bunkers, trees, creeks, and natural areas.  They vary in shape and size ranging from small to well above average size.  Practice putting before you head out – the greens are challenging with some severe slope, multiple tiers, and spines and very subtle breaks.  Pin placement can make two and three putts common.

The white sand bunkers are fantastic - but can steep and deep bunkers of all shapes and sizes from pot to some huge monsters be called fantastic?  The sand is soft and fluffy and thick.  At times I thought I was on the sandy beaches of Destin, Florida – maybe that was one of the reasons I spent so much time in them; the only thing missing was a Pina Coloda and an umbrella!  The bunker faces vary from a foot or so to some very steep and deep monsters where if you’re up against the lip, you’re in for a sand storm.  After practicing your putting, go practice your sand shots.  I’m still removing sand from my shoes, pockets, hair, and several orifices.

Traditions Club is stunning and the facilities and stay & play lodging are equally impressive.  The stay & play package is an excellent way to experience this outstanding course and all of its amenities.