University of Texas Golf Club Review

Texas Outside Rating: 9.0

Golf - Private Course · 18 Holes · Par 72
Austin
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University of Texas Golf Club Review

University of Texas Golf Club Review

The University of Texas Golf Club is a very exclusive and upscale golf club with an outstanding 18 hole golf course, tennis center, club house, pool, and more.  This Bechtol Russel design is limited to 475 members and it's home to the University of Texas golf team.

Each of the nines at the University of Texas Golf Club is a little different, for example:

  • The front nine is a par 35 and as such is around 200 yards shorter from each of the tee boxes, has a long fun 605 yard par 5 and two great par 3s
  • The back nine is a more interesting layout with some really fun holes, a scenic view of Lake Austin, and it seems harder than then the front

Each of the nines at The University of Texas Golf Club will throw a little bit of everything at you.  You’ll encounter some great risk reward shots, lots of elevation changes that will require you to club up or down, a couple intimidating forced carries, several holes that require good course management, a few that have tough approach shots, and some tight fairways most of which are rolling, contoured, and sloping.  There are 5 sets of tee boxes with yardages ranging from 5102 to 7412 and if you pick the right set of tee boxes, play strategically, and can keep the ball out of the bunkers, you’ll have a great round. 

When we played in early August the fairways and rough were in excellent condition.  All of the fairways are rolling and you’ll have some uphill and downhill shots as well as uneven lies.  Most of the fairways are a tad tight but a few are waiting for you to bring out the big dog and let-er-rip.  Miss the fairways and the rough can be tough – when we played it was cut a little thick.  Miss the rough and you’re most likely lost in the trees and brush. 

The greens at the University of Texas Golf Club are a wide variety of shapes and sizes and most would be considered on the small side, which puts a premium on your approach shots. The slope and undulation is very manageable and the ball seems to run very true.  When we played they had just been aerated so it was hard to tell what speed they would normally run – my guess would be around a 9 to 10.  They were in very good condition with no damaged areas. 

The bunkers at the University of Texas Golf Club range in size from small pot bunkers to some huge multi-fingered monsters.  Most are fairly steep and deep and can be very challenging.  When we played the sand was very firm – similar to what it would be like after a rain or if they hadn’t been raked in awhile.

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Course Slope & Ratings

Tee Box Yardage Rating Slope
Black 7,412 76.7 144
Blue 6,635 72.6 134
White 6,105 69.6 124
Gold 7,152 75.0 140
Red 5,102 70.9 129

Course Information

Course Architect:
Bechtol Russell
Greens Condition
9.0
Greens Difficulty
8.5
Fairway Condition
9.3
Bunker Condition
8.5
GPS:
No
Walkable:
Hard and hilly
Scorecard
Course Map
Beware of water on 2 holes and the 48 sand traps.

Texas Outside Rating

Overall Rating:
9.0 out of 10
Beauty:
9.0
Difficulty:
8.5
Variety:
9.3
Fun to Play:
9.0
Value:
8.8
Condition:
9.0
Front Nine Rating:
8.8
Back Nine Rating:
9.0
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FEES & AMENITIES

Initiation Fees: $25,001 to $40,000
Monthly Dues: $401 to $600

The pro shop is well stocked, the clubhouse is upscale with a great restaurant and bar, service is ok, and the practice facilites are 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.