Cowboys Golf Club

Definitely a must-play for the DFW-bound golfer, the Cowboys Golf Club is first-class all the way, and fortunately void of the cheese that you might suspect from an NFL-themed course. In this location next to the Grapevine Municipal and the Lake Grapevine dam, Jeff Brauer created what might be his most impressive design.

Void of houses, the design rolls through some impressively wild terrain that is loaded with every species of tree imaginable, creeks, 100-foot elevation changes, and thick habitat that produced bobcats and cougars during construction. Fingered bunkering gives the track a MacKenzie-like look, which goes well with the natural setting and traditional design.

One of the better holes is No. 2, a skinny 376-yarder that plays over a creek and features a spectacularly difficult green that is bisected by a pesky ridge. Watch the pin placement here and keep the ball below the hole, or you’ll end up with a 5-putt like I did.

On the back side No. 17 is the best par 3 on the course, and perhaps one of the best in the DFW area. Playing almost blindly uphill over a ravine and water hazard, the sloping green is difficult to hit because of the deceptive view from the tee.

Getting there : Located just north of DFW International Airport off Hwy. 26, .25 mile west of Grapevine Mills Mall and adjacent to the Opryland Hotel and Conference Center site.