Columbia Lakes Resort

Originally developed by the Tenneco company as a place for executives to discuss strategy, the course owners ended up caving into the economic possibilities of the valuable real estate and hiring Jack Miller to create the course as the centerpiece of a subdivision in the early 1970s.

Tall Texas oak trees covered in moss, dogleg fairways, lagoons, and winding, clear-blue lakes highlight the golf course on this 2,000-acre resort. Many of the holes have been nominated as some of the most difficult in Houston, including the 533-yard No. 5, which doglegs right around a lake that impacts play on every shot. No. 18, a long par 4, requires a perfect drive to the right side of the fairway in order to have a chance to fire away at the long approach. This approach must carry water and avoid the overhanging trees, and the green is extremely shallow, less than 50 feet deep.

Tom Fazio redesigned this impressive resort course in the early 1980s. It was his first assignment in Texas before working on his famous Barton Creek layout.

Getting there : From Hwy. 288 south, take Hwy. 35 west and turn right on Columbia Lakes Blvd. The course is just down the road on the left side of the street