DFW area recs

[willh2os]

I just moved to Addison, and I am looking for two things.

 

I was hoping I could get some recommendations for public courses in the area at at a good rate.

 

I was also wondering if anyone had any recommendations for lessons. TIA

[endurancechiro]

First off, welcome to the area! I live in Addison/N. Dallas as well. There is a good group of guys on here from the area. Here in DFW you have a huge amount of options for good golf, you can do cheap courses for under $30, or you can get as high as $200 a round (cowboys, tribute).

For the money, a friend and I like these: Indian Creek in Carrollton (lakes is cheaper, $38, but creeks is a little tougher and slightly better shape, $70), Pecan Hollow (really good practice facility in Plano, and the course is pretty nice as well), Firewheel in Garland has a couple nice courses. All of these are in the $40-50 range with a cart. I haven't been out to play it yet, but I hear Sherrill Park and Grapevine Muni are both excellent courses as well for a reasonable rate.

Jaytee617 has a thread asking some of the same stuff on here, we get out and play these courses probably 3x a month on the weekends. Let us know if you are ever looking for a round!

On the instructors, I've only really worked with one, Mark Maness over at Golden bear golf center in Carrollton knows his stuff, he isn't into changing every aspect of the swing to make it look picture perfect, he wants to take the swing your body allows, and make it better (kind of a "swing your swing" mentality). Golden bear and pecan hollow are probably the 2 best practice facilities I have come across.

[mctrees02]

I would second Mark Maness at GBGC. When I was in north dallas that was also my go to practice facility. Grapevine is the gold standard for sub $50 golf in the area but you'll rarely get off before 930am on Saturday unless you live in Grapevine (they get priority w/ a membership). I'm also a big fan of Stevens Park and Tenison Park Highlands for affordable rounds at a good pace.

I skip Sherrill Park on weekends because 7-8 minute tee times = 5+ hour rounds and the courses take a big beating from a consistently full tee sheet. That being said, getting over that after 6pm twilight in the summer is great. $15-21 for all you can play in 2-2.5 hours. If you're by yourself then it shouldn't be a problem to knock out 18+ before sundown.

[Tejasmtb]

Sherrill Park is one of the best Muni's for the standard $32-40 green fee, I just played Course #1 today and it was a solid 5 hour round. If you play there Fri-Sun that's a standard 18 and it's a beating. I like Frisco lakes for $34 riding during the week after 2PM and Coyote Ridge used to be a nice little course as well, not so sure anymore as I haven't played there in a while. I have never been to Grapevine Muni but I hear good things, but sounds like you run into the same dilemma on play time there as you do at Sherril Park. I play TPC Craig Ranch with a buddy who is a member and the same at Castle Hills, both are pretty nice courses.

Golden Bear is an excellent practice facility but I do find it silly that you have to pay extra to use the "short game/chipping" area. Another highly over looked practice facility in the area is Hank Haney Golf Ranch @ Vista Ridge off of 35, just on the other side of the interstate from Indian Creek GC. I have my first lesson there with Steve Johnson next week, and while he is steep on his hourly rate ($250) he is considered one of the best instructors in all of Texas and has consistently rated as one of the nations top 100 instructors. DA Weibring @ Spring Creek was once a nice facility but they sure have let it go in recent years and I have a feeling that they are waiting for the property to get purchased for real estate development because they do not seemed too concerned about improving the conditions. It's a shame that it isn't in better shape because it is very close to the house. Next month the new top Golf in Frisco/The Colony will be open and that's always a good time too.

There are a bunch of decent and even a dozen or more great courses (most are semi-private/private) in the North DFW area and if you have the freedom to play during the week you can find some really good deals at 50% off and even less at times. I would love to meet up with some fellow WRX members and play sometime, my usual group plays at a much lower level and it would be nice to play with others who have a similar handicap (5-7) at times. Let me know if any of y'all would like to meet up for a round sometime.

[TexasAg]

There are plenty of good public course options with reasonable prices. I like Firewheel in particular. I think the pace of play there tends to be better than most of the other courses on the weekends. Pecan Hollow and Indian Creek are also nice courses. I don't personally care for Sherrill Park, but I do play there a few times a year. Grapevine is also a great muni course.

I've had good experiences working with Dennis Sales at Texas Star in Euless. It's a bit of a drive, but their practice/lesson facility is outstanding and Dennis offers some very good packages. Re: Steve Johnson, I have had a lesson from him . He's a very nice guy and seemed knowledgeable, but I wouldn't pay $250 for a lesson from him (my lesson was a gift from a friend). There are very few instructors I would pay that kind of money to work with, quite frankly. For $300 an hour, you can go see Chuck Cook at Dallas National.

[Tejasmtb]

I've had a lesson with Chuck Cook and didn't feel that he was worth the price either. It's funny how ones experience is all relative to each and every persons outlook and expectations. I'll take this one lesson with Steve and if we gel then I'll be sure to take a few lessons a year with him, if not then I'll continue to shop instructors until I find one that I feel embodies the characteristics I seek in a coach.

FireWheel isn't a bad place but only if you don't have to play the Old Course, they are constantly dropping green fee specials on Golf Now which is nice. Texas Star is a nice course as well, you ca even play there for $20 at times but unless you live in the mid-cities area it's a difficult area to get to during the week. WoodBridge in Wylie, near FireWheel, was a nice, challenging, low traffic course a few years back but I haven't been since 2008/2009 so I don't know if that is still the case. I have heard good things about Twin Creeks in Allen and Bridges in Gunther but I haven't personally played either. I played Gentle Creek in Prosper a few times with a buddy who is a member and I can honestly say it is one of the best courses the DFW has to offer.

[mctrees02]

Bridges in Gunter is the hidden gem of DFW. It's a little over an hour from downtown Dallas but my buddies and I love that track. Better yet, you can get around there in 3 hours on weekends because it doesn't draw in a ton of play after the locals get their morning rounds in.

[Thug Hunter]

Firewheel courses in Garland get another vote from me. It's where I play when I'm visiting the in laws. And they have a police discount

[sompin2do]

Woodbridge is in great shape. Greens just punched 2 weeks ago. Fees through 2:30 include a sleeve of Pro V's. 15% discount for PDA members, Wylie residents and their guests. Also have a Police, Fire and active Military discount.