Whitestone Golf Club

The city of Benbrook and ClubCorp teamed to create this public-private venture that has resulted in a unique 7,100-yard Jeff Brauer design. Long and susceptible to the wind, White Stone rolls through an impressive Hill Country-like setting with huge oak trees, lots of rocks, and loads of native oaks, cacti, yucca, and wildflowers.

Bunkers are everywhere, and water comes into play on about seven holes. The key to scoring well is keeping the ball below the hole, avoiding nasty downhill putts on the extremely fast greens. The par 5s are tough, and average golfers should probably play them conservatively and be happy just getting there in three, since three out of four are fronted by hazards and require carries.

On the front No. 1 tests you early--it’s a 555-yarder with a creek that crosses the fairway and forces a layup on the second shot. No. 9 is nice as well, a 360-yarder that should be played with a short iron to lay up in front of the creek. This hole features a nice dip in the center of the green that requires knowing the correct pin placement.

The back starts strong like the front, opening with a 580-yard par 5 with a sloping fairway that is cut by the creek on two occasions. No. 11 is the best par 3 on the course--a 200-yarder that plays dow hill over a creek and into a creek surrounded by bunkers.

Getting there : The course is 2.5 miles south of I-20 on Hwy. 377 South. The course is on the right hand side of the road.