North Dallas Golf Courses

[Carl smith]

I found out I will be traveling for business to North Dallas in September, specifically I will be staying near the Galleria Center (635 and the North Dallas Tollway).

 

Any recommendations for courses in the area? Looks like I will have the oppurtunity to play Sunday evening when I come in and Friday morning before I leave. This will be in September.

 

So many courses are mentioned on the board and on the web but I dont know Dallas that well. Tour 18 sounded fun but everyone is saying the course is downtrodden. Plus, I know nothing if that point on the map that looks like 30 minutes in Iowa time driving is really 3 hours in Dallas driving. Any recommendations?? I currently have a 12 handicap and coming from Iowa I have a problem spending $100+ for a course.

 

Oh, and any places for great food in the area you want to throw in wont be turned down, though Im more interested in the golf.

 

Thanks -- Carl

[jongordo8]

I am going to suggest several courses and then several ways to save some money as well.

I think a must play is the tribute in the colony. It is like Tour 18 but with British Open holes (right on the lake so the wind blows, really cool).

Riverside golf course in Grand Prairie is a nice course. Indian Creek (the creek course) in Carrollton is nice as well.

If you look at idealgolfer.com you can find some deals for all 3 courses (Tribute for 60 bucks). Also check out golfnow.com when it gets closer as you can get good deals there too.



[quote name='Carl smith' timestamp='1342470659' post='5287284']
I found out I will be traveling for business to North Dallas in September, specifically I will be staying near the Galleria Center (635 and the North Dallas Tollway).

Any recommendations for courses in the area? Looks like I will have the oppurtunity to play Sunday evening when I come in and Friday morning before I leave. This will be in September.

So many courses are mentioned on the board and on the web but I dont know Dallas that well. Tour 18 sounded fun but everyone is saying the course is downtrodden. Plus, I know nothing if that point on the map that looks like 30 minutes in Iowa time driving is really 3 hours in Dallas driving. Any recommendations?? I currently have a 12 handicap and coming from Iowa I have a problem spending $100+ for a course.

Oh, and any places for great food in the area you want to throw in wont be turned down, though Im more interested in the golf.

Thanks -- Carl
[/quote]

[edub72]

If you're staying at the galleria, the tribute as mentioned and also the old American, next to each other. You can go west 20-30 minutes and hit grapevine or cowboys, southwest to Texas star, north to Weston stonebriar, check for a discount since you are staying at the galleria. The TPC Las colinas is 10 minutes from there but that would only be for souvenirs as its just not that fun of a course unless you just want to play a tour stop course. Many others and as mentioned check out idealgilfer

[edub72]

If you're staying at the galleria, the tribute as mentioned and also the old American, next to each other. You can go west 20-30 minutes and hit grapevine or cowboys, southwest to Texas star, north to Weston stonebriar, check for a discount since you are staying at the galleria. The TPC Las colinas is 10 minutes from there but that would only be for souvenirs as its just not that fun of a course unless you just want to play a tour stop course. Many others and as mentioned check out idealgolfer.com and golfnow.com

[MeanGreen85]

+1 for The Tribute

[sompin2do]

Another vote for Tribute. I'm playing Tour 18 this Saturday on an Ideal Golfer pass, but with the regular prices of the 2 being comparable I would take Tribute. Just be ready for the wind......

[GoStars]

I'd vote for Texas Star or Grapevine Municipal. The Tribute doesn't do that much for me, and it and Old American will be pretty close to (if not over) your price limit. I have heard great, great things about Old American, but it is notoriously hard. The Tribute is a neat experience, but while it LOOKS like the British Open, it doesn't PLAY like the British Open. The course isn't firm, you don't play bump and run shots, etc. Fun, but I think ultimately unfulfilling. It can also be pretty slow there (I had a horrible experience there playing behind a junior tournament the course was TOTALLY unprepared to handle).

[Birdies4Days]

I played Tour 18 earlier this year and I thought it was in good condition. Fast greens

[sompin2do]

[quote name='ThirtyOverPar' timestamp='1343449053' post='5368144']
I played Tour 18 earlier this year and I thought it was in good condition. Fast greens
[/quote]

Played there today. Good condition overall but this heat is really lowering the water level on the biggest pond. Greens are slow now but still in good shape. Fairways are still green but we need a few inches of rain soon. A lot of the bunkers are pretty hard and crunchy. They have some good specials going on in the afternoons and with this heat it's real easy to get on.

[golfdad907]

Coming to Big D, welcome.

Old American is simply awesome, but have to buy the yardage book as it's tough, but awesome. The yardage book is PGA Tour Caddy quality.

Tour 18 is nice, Bridlewood, Texas Star, Grapevine (27 holes and one of best munis around), Trails of Frisco.

TPC Las Colinas is ridiculously over priced and over rated.

Bear Creek at DFW isn't all that great, Riverside is a hard hat course, they squeezed 18 holes where had land for 16.

Cowboys is in good shape and most an interesting layout, but it's 179 including food and drinks for all day.

Castle Hills went pretty much private, all day rate including food and drink, and they have great food. You can have breakfast, play 18 then lunch, play again then dinner.

Check Golfnow as well, find most deals there.

[RustyWedges]

These guys have put you on the right course for golf.

Barbecue
Make the drive west to Coppell and go to Hard Eight Barbecue, best "main stream" BBQ in the area, EASY. Make sure you get a few of the poppers. There is a hole-in-the wall BBQ joint that I think is better but it's not in the best of neighborhoods.


Burgers
Good Burgers are pretty easy to find in D-Town, one of my favorite spots is Twisted Root Burger Co. They offer buffalo and "Game Meat" burgers in addition to the standard beef, and turkey patties. While your at the Galleria, head to the mall and find Five Guys Burgers and Fries. Just a good a$$ plain-jane hamburger. The small order of fries there is big enough for two. Jakes is great too.

Mexican Food
Best Mexican food I've ever had is Amigo's Restaurant in RIchardson, Tx. Great prices, good service, and a strong top shelf margarita. Other good Mexican resturants are Mi Cocina, Matt's Rancho Martinez, and Mia's

[Thug Hunter]

Take the somewhat short drive to the PGA Superstore in Plano too. Coming from Iowa, you will never see a bigger golf store.

[RustyWedges]

^^^^ True, but there used equipment prices are a joke, and the employees scoop up all of the good stuff before it hits the shelves.

[golfdad907]

[quote name='RustyWedges' timestamp='1343529031' post='5371458']
These guys have put you on the right course for golf.

Barbecue
Make the drive west to Coppell and go to Hard Eight Barbecue, best "main stream" BBQ in the area, EASY. Make sure you get a few of the poppers. There is a hole-in-the wall BBQ joint that I think is better but it's not in the best of neighborhoods.


Burgers
Good Burgers are pretty easy to find in D-Town, one of my favorite spots is Twisted Root Burger Co. They offer buffalo and "Game Meat" burgers in addition to the standard beef, and turkey patties. While your at the Galleria, head to the mall and find Five Guys Burgers and Fries. Just a good a$$ plain-jane hamburger. The small order of fries there is big enough for two. Jakes is great too.

Mexican Food
Best Mexican food I've ever had is Amigo's Restaurant in RIchardson, Tx. Great prices, good service, and a strong top shelf margarita. Other good Mexican resturants are Mi Cocina, Matt's Rancho Martinez, and Mia's
[/quote]

Hard 8 in Coppell "not in the best of neighborhoods" ???? You are kidding, I hope. Hard 8 isn't cheap, but it's great food. The orginal is in Stephenville, TX and pretty well known.

While there, head East on Bethel Rd about a block, the hole in the wall called Coppell Deli has best burgers around. You can also go to DeliMan Grill on Denton Tap, in Coppell, same owner much better atmosphere.

Ana Mia's, also in Coppell, is mighty good Mexican, as is 7 Salsas (within 2 blocks of each other).

[mctrees02]

For staying at the Galleria area...there is MUCH better BBQ available than Hard 8. They really struggle with consistency in their smoked meats and their poppers that so many people love are often wrapped in undercooked bacon. It's not the worst place for BBQ by any means (that would be Sonny Bryan's & Dickey's).

The 3 best in town are 1) Pecan Lodge, 2) Lockhart Smokehouse and 3) Meshack's in Garland. Meshack's & Pecan Lodge will usually sell out over the lunch hour though which might be a problem for you. Off the Bone & Baby Back Shak do a great job with ribs. Mac's in downtown Dallas is also good eating.

To combine golf and BBQ, you should head to Grapevine Municipal for golf and then eat at Bartley's BBQ in Grapevine. I've never understood why more people don't notice Bartley's but they put out a far superior product to their Hard 8 neighbors a few miles away.

If you're around on a Friday, then I would go play Texas Star and then stop in for lunch/dinner at North Main BBQ in Euless. It's all you can eat for $12-13. They have excellent tea, excellent ribs, and underrated pulled pork.

If you head north to play Tribute, you can do a lot worse than stopping by Rudy's BBQ on the Tollway. It's easily the best of the chain BBQ places in Texas and some of their locations (Frisco included) are putting out above average smoked meats these days.

For Tex-Mex, you're right by Mi Cocina at Preston/Forest. Fernando's at Midway/Northwest Hwy is another good option. If you find yourself playing Sherrill Park in Richardson, you can stop around the corner at Casa Milagro for my favorite fajitas in the area. In DFW, you can pretty much throw a stick and find good Tex-Mex food.

If you're looking for something a bit different, check out Cane Rosso down in Deep Ellum. They serve wonderful pizzas and pastas on a nightly basis. There's something awesome about your pizza being cooked at 900* for 90 seconds and then being served to you shortly thereafter.

[Reif]

Did the recommended Texas Star/Euless Main double today.

I really like that golf course, but I have to say the greens were slower and bumpier than I remember (I've played there eight or ten times over the years).

I did tee off very late (4:15) so that might have had something to do with it, but there were a lot of old unfixed pitch marks that are going to be there in the morning.

Pulled pork sandwich was good, although the bun is pretty vanilla.

For those interested, the all you can eat is $15.

[TServos]

[quote name='Reif' timestamp='1370658561' post='7193560']
Did the recommended Texas Star/Euless Main double today.

Pulled pork sandwich was good, although the bun is pretty vanilla.

For those interested, the all you can eat is $15.
[/quote]

I would like to try that place. I have found, however, that good BBQ joints seem to go out of their way to serve the plainest bread with their sandwiches. It's almost as if its a source of pride that they offer stuff that makes Wonder Bread look like it is made by an artisanal bakery.

[mctrees02]

[quote name='TServos' timestamp='1371211313' post='7238660']
[quote name='Reif' timestamp='1370658561' post='7193560']
Did the recommended Texas Star/Euless Main double today.

Pulled pork sandwich was good, although the bun is pretty vanilla.

For those interested, the all you can eat is $15.
[/quote]

I would like to try that place. I have found, however, that good BBQ joints seem to go out of their way to serve the plainest bread with their sandwiches. It's almost as if its a source of pride that they offer stuff that makes Wonder Bread look like it is made by an artisanal bakery.
[/quote] I think it has something to do with the bread being free. I'm good friends with the owners at Lockhart smokehouse and love to needle them about this from time to time.

[jaytee617]

not that anyone should go to a BBQ place for the bread, but Spring Creek BBQ bakes their rolls fresh daily and they are great. the ribs aren't bad either, they have a good flavorful rub on them.