Tangle Ridge Golf Course Review

Texas Outside Rating: 9.1

Golf - Public Course · 18 Holes · Par 72
Grand Prairie
Website · Locate This Course

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Tangle Ridge Golf Course Review

Tangle Ridge Golf Course is not your typical muni course, in fact it is an outstanding 18 holes of golf that was rated as the "44th Best Municipal In America" by Golfweek in 2009.  It has also been rated

Tangle Ridge is located in the Grand Prairie hills and is the highest elevation in the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex which means you'll encounter panoramic vistas, rolling tree lined fairways, dramatic elevation changes, and the secluded look and feel of some of the best Hill Country courses.  And it's just you and nature when you play Tangle Ridge - no homes, no freeway noise, and no barking dogs. 

Tangle Ridge Golf Course is relatively short from the tips at 6835 yards, but it's no walk in the park and has a slope of 133 and rating of 73.4.  The front nine is fantastic and the back is a little easier, flatter, and not quite as exciting.  This is a layout that will throw a little bit of everything at you and it requires good course management and shot making skills.  You'll get to use a variety of clubs as you try to manage the elevation changes, risk reward opportunities, doglegs and blind shots, trees and thick rough, numerous bunkers, creeks and ravines, dramatic mounding, and elevated and well guarded green complexes.  Make sure you pick the right set of tee boxes and don't try to be too macho if you want to score well and not have to buy the drinks after your round. 

But don't let those challenges discourage you from playing this outstanding track.  You can handle it and you'll find some very fun and memorable holes, for example:

  • #1 sets the stage for your round - a creek cuts across the dog leg left fairway which is rolling, contoured, lined with trees, mounds and ten bunkers of all sizes (mostly large)
  • #8 is a really fun 575 yard par 5 that requires accuracy and course management all the way to the green - an elevated tee box and downhill drive to a reachable creek (depending on the prevailing wind), then an uphill fairway that gets very narrow before it ends, and a tough approach shot back over the ravine to a guarded green - you'll want to stop at the club house for a beer after this one and you'll want to play it again
  • #14 is short at 384 yards and you'll be tempted to try to shorten it by hugging the right slide of the fairway which horseshores around the lake - beware of the sloping fairway which will want to take your ball for a swim
  • the 521 yard par 5 #18 offers a good risk reward shot off the tee box - head right with a longer carry and narrower landing zone or go left to stay dry and hit the wider fairway but you'll have to avoid the strategically placed bunkers - if you survive that then be prepared to nail the approach to a well guarded green for an opportunity for a birdie

Tangle Ridge is known for it's consistently good conditions and it's been in very good shape both times we've played it.  The rolling contoured  tree lined fairways are ample and the rough is typically a little thick but playable.  The fairways also have several mounds and berms that can create some very uneven lies and tough shots.  Miss the fairways and you're lost in the natural areas and trees.  

The greens were also in excellent shape and about average size. They seemed challenging the last time we played - very fast (10 to 11) and hard to read with subtle breaks, some steep slope, and minor undulation.   Several are surrounded by huge steep sand or grass bunkers and swales. 

The bunkers are treacherous - all shapes and sizes from pot to huge, strategically placed, and most are steep and deep.  The sand is soft and thick but you still need to do what you can to avoid them or bring a lawn chair, a cold beer, and an umbrella and enjoy the show as fellow golfers try to get out on the first try.  

Bottom line - wow, what a fun track that's challenging but fun, scenic, and a pretty good value.

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Course Slope & Ratings

Tee Box Yardage Rating Slope
Blue 6,337 70.8 128
White 5,969 69.0 125
Gold 6,835 73.4 133
Red 5,187 70.6 125

Course Information

Course Architect:
Jeffrey Brauer
Greens Type:
Bermuda
Greens Condition
8.5
Greens Difficulty
8.5
GPS:
No
Walkable:
Hard
Scorecard
Course Map
Beware of water on 9 holes and the 59 sand traps.

Texas Outside Rating

Overall Rating:
9.1 out of 10
Beauty:
9.0
Difficulty:
8.5
Variety:
9.5
Fun to Play:
10.0
Value:
8.5
Condition:
9.0
Front Nine Rating:
9.5
Back Nine Rating:
8.8
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FEES & AMENITIES

Approximate Weekend
Rates: $35.00 to $65.00

Service is ok, the food is ok (the burger is great), the pro shop has the basics, and the practice range is good.

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Here's How Texas Outside Determines the Scorecard Rating

The 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! 
Texas Outside rates courses on the following:

  • Beauty – tall trees, rolling hills, beautiful houses, waterfalls, and similar stuff would score high; a 1 would be flat, bushes or cactus instead of trees, and some grass but mostly weeds
  • Difficulty – a straight, 300 yard par 4 with no traps or hazards, no out of bounds or water would probably get a 1; if it is a 460 yard par 4 over two ravines, with water along one side, natural hazards on the other, strategically placed traps or that dreaded tree right in the middle of the fairway, we are talking a 10. 
  • Variety – what would you give a course where all the holes looked and played exactly the same (“I thought we just played that hole!”); were side-by-side, which is good for finding or dodging other people’s balls, but not much fun; and you can see the flag from every tee box?  That’s right, it gets a 1.
  • Fun Scale – a 10 is where you walk off the course and say “now that was fun” and you can’t wait to get back, or you immediately turn around and play another 18 holes
  • Value – a 5 is $50 to $60, a 10 is $20 to $30, and 1 is $200 or so – of course all of this is dependent upon how you liked the course.  For example, if a run down, boring municipal course, with six players on each hole was only $10; it would still get a value rating of 1.
  • Condition – this one’s pretty easy – what condition are the fairways. A 10 commands very lush perfectly manicured fairways, compared to a 1, which has fire ants, weeds, and more dirt than grass!
  • Condition of Greens and Difficulty – very hard to read greens with lots of undulation and tough pin placement, rate very high on the difficulty scale.  Condition is self-explanatory.  

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.