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Sleepy Hollow Golf & Country Club

The golf : Once one of Dallas’ hot spots for golf back in the 1950s and 60s, Sleepy Hollow has lost a little of its luster over the years, but still offers an interesting day of golf for those will to slip south on I-45. The former private club is now a semi-private facility, with every amenity shut down except for the golf. It’s like going back into the 1960s when you drive onto the premises to search for the bare-bones pro shop.
While some consideration should be given to the fact that we played after a week of intense rain, creating wild, unkempt course conditions, there’s no mistaking the ghost-town feel of what was once a bustling country club.

The Lake Course is the simpler layout of the two, playing only 6,052 yards from the tips with only one par 4 over 400 yards. Much of its length comes from the solid par 5s that average 550 yards. Two holes stand out on the front nine. No. 2 goes 529 yards into a sharp dogleg with a pond guarding the corner, and No. 7 is the long par 4, playing 425 yards with a lake along the entire left side.

The River Course, while unnoticed these days, is still one of the toughest golf courses in the DFW area. Extremely long with loads of trees, water, and bunkers, hole after hole is punishing and can beat down even the most accomplished golfer. Don’t play this from the tips unless you have to. If you do, you’ll be faced with a 634-yard par 5, followed by a 238-yard par 3 on the front.
The back nine is pure murder, featuring an island green and holes that get progressively more difficult as you plod your way through the round. The dogleg left, 435-yard No. 14 didn’t yield a single birdie during one minor-league bush tournament, when 150 aspiring pros took their best shots. No. 16 is almost 600 yards, lined by the Trinity River and doglegging to the right. Hole 17 goes 205 yards through a tunnel of giant trees and is the last thing you’ll be ready for when you’re limping home.
Other notes: 1956 US Open champion Cary Middlecoff was once the head pro at Sleepy Hollow, and SMU great Doak Walker was the club’s first champion.

The details : 214-371-3433. 4747 S. Loop 12, Dallas, TX 75216

• Lake: 1956. Press Maxwell. 18 holes. Par 70. Back – 6,052 (68.3/108). Middle – 5,650 (66.3/107). Forward – 5,210 (69.5/114). Price - $$.
• River: 1956. Press Maxwell. 18 holes. Par 71. Back – 7,031 (73.4/125). Middle – 6,450 (70.7/118). Forward – 5,878 (74.1/123). Price - $$.

Getting there : From downtown Dallas, take I-45 south and find the South Loop 12 exit. Take 12 east and the club is just down the road on the left.