Lighthouse Country Club

Lighthouse came along before the prestigious Horseshoe Bay resort, with Leon Howard architecting the design back in 1968. As is typical of his philosophy, the course is fairly basic and surprisingly flat for this Hill Country setting.

While many complain about the lack of championship-style amenities (“the worst clubhouse in America”) and average condition of the course (“the cart paths are dirt”), Lighthouse has its advantages: it’s less expensive and is always good for a quick 18 holes.

Howard’s layout is spiced up somewhat by water hazards that impact play on about half of the holes. Holes of note include the scenic No. 7, which plays uphill to an interesting-looking green surrounded by slabs of granite and thick trees. Holes 9 and 11 are tough par 5s because of their length and the creek that cuts into the fairway on both holes.

Getting there : From Austin, take Hwy. 71 north to Route 2233, then turn right and find Route 2900. Turn left on 2900 and follow the signs to the course.