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Nine hole golf courses have been a backbone of the game and are enjoying a resurgence With time at a premium in the mod- ern world and the game of golf continuing to grow, we continue to see a renewed interest in the non-traditional round played on courses that are less than 18 holes. New facilities are opening across the country and throughout the state of Texas. The bottom line is that nine-hole courses have been a big part of the golf world since the game was invented. It took until 1974 for there to be more 18- hole courses in America than nine-hole facilities. Many of the nation’s premier golf clubs – with names likeThe Country Club in Boston, Merion in Philadelphia, and East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta – were founded with just nine golf holes originally in play. That list includes a number of the most ballyhooed courses inTexas, including the eponymous country clubs in the state’s four largest metropolitan areas. Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin all had nine-hole courses first before expanding to 18 holes.The National Golf Foundation lists 167 nine-hole, regulation-length golf courses in the Lone Star State. Sometimes, playing nine holes is enough golf for one day. If you have a hankering to double that amount, well you can play the course twice, often for the same price or just a few dollars more. The Texas Golf Insider has whittled down the state’s extensive list of nine-hole courses to a dozen of the best, with a little variety in the location of the courses to make sure you can find one near you. Dallas-Fort Worth area Timberlinks Country Club (Denton) This par 35, 3,043-yard course has it all: unique and interesting holes, very good conditions, reasonable rates, and great putting surfaces.The layout, designed by Lyndy Lindsey, is fair but challenging and will test course management and shot-making skills with its tight fairways, doglegs, dramatic elevation changes, several ponds and creeks, sand and grass bunkers, rolling fairways, risk/reward opportunities, and well- protected greens. Starr Hollow Golf Club (Tolar) Starr Hollow GC is an exclusive, uber-private golf course located on a 3,000-acre working ranch southwest of FortWorth.The course was designed by Joe Finger and founded and owned by Marvin Leonard in 1967, who also built Colonial Country Club and Shady Oaks. Starr Hollow is serene, scenic, loaded with wildlife, and home to a splendid variey of golf holes all kept in flawless condition. Many golf aficionados refer to the club as “Little Augusta.” Stewart Peninsula Golf Course (Lewisville) Designed by Tripp Davis, this fun and very demanding course was Inspired by both Scotland’s classic links architecture and California’s Monterey Peninsula coastal courses.The course has views of Lake Lewisville from almost every hole, with forced carries, downhill shots, doglegs, water, bunkers, tough approach shots and more demanding your best throughout.Two sets of tee boxes and two pins on each green make each nine a little different. Sand Hills Golf & Country Club opened in 1962 and features 3,045 yards of golf from the back tees for a par of 36, all with pristine Zoysia fairways. Three holes stand out on layout – the 470-yard fourth, a reachable-in-two par 5; the 270-yard, drivable par 4 sixth, and the 220-yard par 3 eighth, the most difficult hole on the course.Two sets of tees allow for an 18-hole round. On the weekends, the course is open only to members in the middle of the day. Central Texas Blue Lake Golf Club is set on the south shore of Lake LBJ on a portion of the former Wennmohs Ranch. Finger designed the 2,376- yard, par 32 layout without a sand bunker and with a routing that includes five par 3s, three par 4s and one par 5.The first course record (which might still be the record, according to club management) is 55 for two turns around track as set in 1964 by 1959 Masters champion Jackie Burke.The course features rolling terrain – level lies are a premium – Bermuda greens, doglegs, lots of trees and views of the lake from several tees and fairways. Adjacent toWillie’s re- cording studio and condos, it’s scenic and quiet, and there are few rules – sixsomes, beer, country music, and tee-shirts are common. A fun track to play and a relax- ing and refreshing divergence from the formal country club scene.The pro shop features all kinds of Nelson golf para- phernalia. East Texas Marshall Lakeside Country Club (Marshall) Lakeside is the oldest course in Mar- shall and one of the oldest in the state, dating back to 1923 when a routing by Gus Carter debuted. This traditional course plays at 3,131 yards and features tight, tree-lined fairways, tiny, raised and swerving greens, and a good amount of water. Celebrities such as Mickey Mantle,Y.A. Tittle, and Roy Clark have graced the fairways here.The course was renovated in the mid- 1950s, with Dallas-based architect Lee Singletary doing some work on the course over the years. West Texas Concho Springs Golf Course (Eden) Designed by Williams, Gill & Associ- ates, this 6,000-plus yard course tests even the best of golfers. Hardin Creek winds its way along and has a say in play on eight of the holes. Elevated tees on three holes add to the challenge, and the course’sTifEagle Bermuda putting surfaces sport an average square footage of 5,500 and are considered by some as the best greens in the region. Though hunting is not allowed, one should not be surprised to see deer, turkey or other wildlife roaming the course. South Texas Palmilla Beach GC, Port Aransas Palmilla Beach is a fun, fresh, fast play and Texas’ only “true links” course, with three holes right on the water. Originally designed by Arnold Palmer, Palmilla is now a 12-hole facility, including nine holes of regulation play plusThe Loop, a three-hole, family-friendly short course. The routing includes coastal sand dunes, open parkland and Paspalum turf that allows balls to “run” much further.The course is an amenity of the posh Palmilla Beach Resort & Golf Community, but ev- eryone is welcome.There is no member- ship required nor is there a dress code.Beeville Country Club, Beeville Country Club features a private 3,218-yard course with plush Bermuda grass from tee to green, dozens of Coastal Live Oaks, narrow, tree-lined fairways and small putting surfaces. No need to bring your sand wedge as there are no bunkers, and water also protects the front of the greens on holes 5, 7, and 8. Opened in 1944, the course has been voted among the top dozen nine-hole facilities in Texas and is fun to play from start to finish. Houston area Conroe Country Club, Conroe Conroe CC is a traditional, solid course with tree-lined fairways and tiny greens. Majestic oaks add character to the facility, which originally opened as the San Jacinto Country Club to provide recreation for residents in the oil business. A private facility designed by John Bredemus and opened in 1931, Conroe CC plays at 3,176 yards. It gained fame for its annual invitational golf tournament, which drew the likes of future PGA Tour players Miller Barber, Homero Blancas, Rocky Thompson and Dave Marr over the years.The course was renovated in 2010 with help of architect Jeff Blume but retains its Golden Age flavor. Big Easy Ranch, Columbus Set on land where the Texas Hill Country makes way for the Coastal Plain, the splendid nine-hole Chet Williams- designed course at Big Easy Ranch features all par 3s ranging from 65 to 251 (!) yards.With dramatic elevation changes and beautiful waterfalls, this isn’t your average par 3 course as whitetail deer and exotics freely roam the prop- erty, creating the perfect backdrop for a unique golf experience. Completing the golf amenities are a driving range, putting green, a short-game practice area and The Golf Academy. Big Easy Ranch has become widely recognized and lauded for its world-class hunting, wing shooting, state-of-the-art sporting clay course and trophy bass fishing as well as its golf, set- ting itself apart from other hunting and sporting clubs.

Scott Schreiner Golf Course Scott Schreiner Golf Course is an 18-hole course that is nestled among the rolling hills in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. Redesigned by renowned golf course architect Joe Finger in 1999, it is one of the best kept secrets of the southwest. The layout features mounded greens in a variety of sizes and shapes.The fairways offer generous landing areas, yet are tight enough to present a comfortable challenge. The signature hole is number 17, a 535-yard par-5.Water comes into play on the second shot, then again on the approach to the green, which is surrounded by water on three sides.A waterfall to the left of the green adds a pleas- ing aesthetic. Set against the beautiful hills and rustic Texas landscape, this course is fun for all. The course is located in Kerrville,Texas making it an easy drive from San Antonio or Austin. A putting green, driving range, chipping greens with sand bunker, com- plete pro shop, and available golf lessons are some of the amenities found at the course. Kerrville boasts over 900 acres of public spaces to paddle,bike and play in.Enjoy eclectic restaurants,local music and local breweries and wine during your stay.

MONKEY ISLAND, Oklahoma – In the book classic Lost Horizons, Shangri-La is described as a fictional, mystical, harmonious valley, full of wonder and mystery. Thankfully, for the traveling golfer, the is a very real place, with 27 holes of championship golf, a spectacular new par 3, The Battleground, hotel, and activity center all befitting a $100 million dollar-plus renovation which has produced a place full of wonder and mystery, wonderful scenery and laid back luxury. “I’ve been here long enough to see the good, the bad and now the very, very good,” said longtime condo owner Mike Williams, who now serves as VP-Communications and Government Affairs. Indeed, like many storied resorts, Shangri-La, located 90 minutes Northeast of Tulsa, Ok. on Grand Lake, has seen plenty of ups and downs in its nearly 50-year history. Once the favorite hangout for Oklahoma native, New York Yankees legend Mickey Mantle who played hundreds of rounds of golf here and still has a golf bag with his name on it in the pro shop, the resort hosted the 1982 National Governors’ Conference to bring in people from all over the country to see the resort. But there was a slow and steady decline after that through a series of owners which left Shangri-La more of a ghost town than a scenic resort. But all that changed in 2010 when Oklahoma’s Eddy Gibbs, who lives outside of Tulsa, bought the property and poured more than $100 million into the resort to restore the place to new heights of golfing grandeur. “When Eddy took over he was determined to do it right, not cut any corners and put out a spectacular resort product which appeals to the entire family,” said Shangri-La President & CEO Barry Willingham. Consider it mission accomplished when you see the latest version of the resort up close and personal. The old hotel was knocked down and a new modern multi-story facility was put in its place. There is a two-story modern stone golf clubhouse with the always hopping Buffalo Bar at the top. A new, very cold, Resort Pool came with a three-million dollar price tag along with a watery outdoor playground. The latest family attraction is The Anchor activities building which sits almost directly in front of the resort. It contains just about every kind of indoor and outdoor family attraction you could ask for. There are outdoor tennis and pickleball courts along with a large indoor sports bar, every kind of arcade and computer reality games including, Trackman, you could ask for, plus old school pop a shot and even Ping-Pong tables, the kind I begged my parents (with no success) to get when I was a kid. There is even an outdoor mini-Fenway Park Wiffle ball field, complete with its own green monster outfield wall and a LOVE’S outfield sign in tribute to the Oklahoma truck stop and convenience store company whose founding family has several places here. But golf was and still is the main attraction here. What was once 36 tired golf holes has been turned into 27 spectacular and scenic championship holes routed along the Oklahoma landscape with views of the lake and the rolling hills by architect Tom Clark. The newest attraction and one of the best anywhere is the Battlefield Par 3 Course. It covers 45 acres of very hilly and rugged territory with plenty of trees and water and 18 challenging short holes on the 3,000 yard course“I always thought this would be a great spot for a motocross track or a short par 3 golf course,” said Williams. Thankfully, the golf course won out, designed by Clark, and the grand opening this summer provided the golf exclamation point to a full links experience. “I can promise your game will get better by coming over here and playing and practicing,” said Battlefield assistant head pro Chad Dalton, who hit the pin, not once, but twice during our round together. You could walk The Battlefield, but the terrain is so steep at parts, a cart is the preferred method to soak up the full experience. There are five sets of tees plus the Felix set of tees named for Felix the Cat in the fairways and close to the greens to allow more short game practice. Each of the tee markers features a different Oklahoma War Hero. In addition, Gibbs has collected WWII vehicles from all over the world and displays them here. An armored personnel carrier is his latest addition on a special site on the Heritage golf course with a WWII tank next! The Championship golf features 3 nine hole layouts, Heritage, Legends and Champions. Each featuring plenty of elevation changes, lots of trees, views of the lake and pure white sand in the greenside bunkers. The Champions has the most views of Grand Lake with some of the early holes on the nine hole layout routed against the water. It might be the shortest from the back tees, but has more water and traps. The Legends Nine features the par 5 closing hole known as the Mickey Mantle Hole where the longtime member once made a double eagle here on one of his final rounds in the early 1990s. Willingham came within three feet of equaling the Mantle feat during our round. Food includes Doc’s inside the resort, Eddy’s where Oklahoma legendary singer Toby Keith has been known to come by and sing a few tunes, the Monkey Grind for an early morning coffee, The Anchor for pizza and burgers and The Summit in the clubhouse, as well as The Canteen at The Battlefield clubhouse. One other feature is the large on-site marina. If you didn’t happen to bring your boat on a visit to Shangri-La you can always rent one to see the lake. But it begs the question. When you discover this special Sooner State site, why would you ever want to sail away? The good times are back at Shangri-La and longtime visitors and members will tell you, they were never this good or this modern before. For more information, go to www.shangrilaok.com or call 918-257-4204.