Ratliff Ranch Golf Links

In 1988 Jeff Brauer, who has since become a nationally renowned architect, sculpted this West Texas wasteland into a links-style course reminiscent of the great courses over seas. The flat terrain has been modified with mounding and features plush fairways surrounded by large, immaculate bent-grass green and extreme rough.

Brauer didn't incorporate many water hazards into the layout (only four holes), but like the great links courses of Scotland, the difficulty of the course is often determined by the weather conditions-when the wind blows hard and blows your ball into the thick rough, scores add up quickly. Subtle mounding is evident throughout to add to the links-style feel. There are a few difficult par 4s on the course. Number 18 is the number one handicap at 412 yards, but holes 5 and 8 are around 450 yards. Number 14 is a drive-able par 4 at 285 yards.

Getting there : Take Interstate Hwy. 20 West to Loop 338 (exit 121). Go north on Loop 338 approximately 5 miles to Grandview. Turn left onto Grandview, and the clubhouse will be approximately .5 mile down on your left.