Golf - Public Course · 18 Holes · Par 71/72
Bastrop
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Review of Lost Pines Golf Club
This course closed in 2015 and hopefully a new owner with buy it!
Located at the entrance to Bastrop State Park, which is one of Texas Outside's favorite State Parks, Lost Pines Golf Club is a non-profit organization that is operated by a five member board elected by the membership of the club. The course was designed by Thomas Haynie, Jr (a civil engineer who grew up in Bastrop) and Arthur Fehr, an Austin architect and it opened in 1937 as a nine hole course. In 1997, the Lost Pines Golf Club was expanded into an 18-hole course and presently occupies 135-acres of Bastrop State Park. Over the years, we have loved camping at Bastrop State Park and spending one afternoon playing the course.
The front nine at Lost Pines Golf Course isn't one of the most exciting nines in Texas - it's short with three tee boxes ranging from 2859 yards to 2280 yards, most of the holes are straightforward with what you see is what you get, and the conditions aren't the best, but it's got a couple holes that are fun, for example:
The front nine is a warm up nine with straight forward holes and flat fairways and small mostly level greens, while the back nine is a blast to play with 3 par 3s, 3 par 4s and 3 par 5s; a couple dramatic elevation changes; some roller coaster fairways that are tight and tree lined; some challenging greens; and some really fun holes like:
When we played in January 2014 Lost Pines was dormant and suffering from the severe Texas drought over the last couple years. As such the fairways were in poor condition - a mixture of dirt, weeds, and clover! The back nine seemed to be in a little better condition than the front. There was no distinction between the fairways and the rough. The front nine is flat and the back is a roller coaster. All of the fairways are a tad tight and tree lined - spray it left or right and you're most likely lost.
The Lost Pines greens are small and most are ovals. The front nine greens are mostly flat to gently sloping while the back has plenty of slope and undulation and will test your putting skills. Pin placement made for some very challenging shots when we played. The greens were a tad slick, a little bumpy, and not in the best condition - particularly on the front nine.
The bunkers are relatively small at Lost Pines Golf Course with lips that ranged from a couple inches to a couple feet. The sand was a little wet from a recent drizzle so it was hard to judge condition - seemed like the sand would be somewhat soft and maybe a tad thin.
In September and October 2011, Bastrop County was hit by the most destructive wildfire in Texas history - two people were killed by the fire, 1,673 homes were destroyed, and insured property damage was estimated at $325 million. Most of Lost Pines Golf Course was spared thanks to sprinkler systems, but on some of the holes on the back nine the forest was destroyed as was a large portion of the State Park - what a shame!
Tee Box | Yardage | Rating | Slope |
---|---|---|---|
Blue | 5,801 | 67.2 | 117 |
White | 5,361 | 65.9 | 110 |
Red | 4,689 | 63.0 | 104 |
Approximate Weekend
Rates: $25.00 to $30.00
Service is good and friendly, but don't expect cart service. There is putting green but no driving range. The pro shop must be the original from 1937 and it has some unique character. Golf supplies and food (chips, snacks, candy) are limited.
Here's How Texas Outside Determines the Scorecard RatingThe Texas Outside rating scale ranges from 1 to 10 – a perfect 10 course would be something like this: links along a cliff overlooking the Pacific ocean and bordered by tall trees; lush fairways on rolling hills with lots of natural hazards; water (which is crystal clear) on most of the holes; immaculate greens (but they are undulating and tough); lots of variety and character (each hole is completely different and includes blind shots, elevation changes, doglegs, and significant challenges); perfectly manicured traps with the whitest and prettiest sand you’ve ever seen; a nice club house with great food and a 19th hole; a GPS; plenty of beverage carts or your own cooler and ice; and it only costs $40 bucks! What this means is that you probably won’t find any 10s in Texas – try Cabo San Lucas, Pebble Beach, or some of the Hawaii courses!
All of the above determines the overall score for the golf course. In other words, we like courses that are pretty, fun, very challenging with a lot of variety, and fairways and greens in excellent condition – all for $40. We also tend to play the courses that are affordable for the masses, which means in the $30 to $80 range. We rate hard and we haven’t found a 10 in Texas yet – don’t worry we haven’t given up and we’re still looking.
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