LAGUNA VISTA, Texas -- It's pretty rare to find a calm day on the south Texas coast, so fortunately, when Chris Cole and Stephen Caplinger designed South Padre Island Golf Club they had the prevailing wind in mind.
The semi-private golf course located just a few miles from the wide-open Gulf of Mexico isn't pure links, but the individual holes are very much links-style, given that wind figured into the design of all of them. Short par 4s generally play into the wind. Bogeys on those holes aren't bad scores, and you can make up for them with some good birdie chances on the downwind holes, particularly the par 5s.
More than anything, though, the course, which borders on the Laguna Madre, offers a variety of holes and looks, with water coming into play on at least eight holes. Opened in 1997, South Padre Island Golf Club is arguably the best golf course in the Rio Grande Valley.
South Padre Island Golf Club - hole 12
The short, par-3 12th at South Padre Island Golf Club is one of the most difficult on the golf course.
Mike Bailey/TravelGolf
South Padre Island Golf Club - hole 13
Trouble looms off the tee and on the approach of the 13th at South Padre Island Golf Club in Laguna Vista, Texas.
Mike Bailey/TravelGolf
South Padre Island Golf Club - hole 14
The 14th at South Padre Island Golf Club is a tricky dogleg left par 4.
Mike Bailey/TravelGolf
South Padre Island Golf Club - hole 17
The par-5 17th at South Padre Island Golf Club has a real Scottish links feel to it.
Mike Bailey/TravelGolf
South Padre Island Golf Club - hole 18
The finishing hole at South Padre Island Golf Club requires two good shots to avoid water hazards.
Mike Bailey/TravelGolf
South Padre Island Golf Club - hole 4
The first par 5, the fourth hole at South Padre Island Golf Club is the first turn away from the prevailing wind.
Mike Bailey/TravelGolf
South Padre Island Golf Club - hole 5
The fifth hole at South Padre Island Golf Club is all risk-reward if you pull driver off the tee.
Mike Bailey/TravelGolf
South Padre Island Golf Club - hole 7
The par-5 seventh at South Padre Island Golf Club usually plays downwind.
Mike Bailey/TravelGolf
South Padre Island Golf Club - hole 9
The par-4 ninth at South Padre Island Golf Club provides plenty of peril off the tee and on the approach.
Mike Bailey/TravelGolf
South Padre Island Golf Club - hole 3
The par-3 third hole at South Padre Island Golf Club usually plays into a stiff breeze.
Courtesy of South Padre G.C.
South Padre Island Golf Club - Laguna Madre
The fifth hole at South Padre Island Golf Club bumps up against the Laguna Madre.
Courtesy of South Padre G.C.
(based on 3 reviews)