is texas rangers golf club worth it?: review after korn ferry event

Nestled in the heart of Arlington, Texas, the Texas Rangers Golf Club stands as a testament to exceptional design and thoughtful transformation. More than just a golf course, it offers a distinctive, MLB-themed golf experience that seamlessly blends premier golfing with a celebration of America’s favorite pastime. From its award-winning layout to its world-class amenities and commitment to sustainability, this municipal gem delivers a challenging, engaging, and unforgettable round for every golfer. Some courses, like Waterchase Golf Club, also offer great experiences.

From Municipal Layout to Championship Track: A Story of Transformation

The site, once known as the antiquated Chester W. Ditto municipal layout, underwent a monumental $8.5 million renovation, masterminded by Arlington native John Colligan and Trey Kemp of Colligan Golf Design. Their vision transformed a worn-out course into a modern marvel, leveraging the land’s natural 55 feet of elevation change to craft diverse hole designs that demand thoughtful shot-making. The redesign introduced over 110,000 square feet of strategically placed sand traps, adding layers of challenge while simultaneously widening fairways to offer a degree of forgiveness. This thoughtful balance ensures Texas Rangers Golf Club design caters to a wide range of skill levels.

The transformation was recognized globally, earning “Best New Course” acclaim by the Dallas Morning News in 2020 and being named the second-best renovation in the world by Golf Inc. in 2019. This extensive overhaul completed in 2019, with the state-of-the-art clubhouse opening a couple of years later, solidified its status as a premier golfing destination.

A Unique Alliance: Where Baseball Meets Golf

What truly sets the Texas Rangers Golf Club apart is its groundbreaking partnership with the Major League Baseball (MLB) team, the Texas Rangers. This collaboration, which began with the course’s opening in February 2019, infuses a subtle yet captivating baseball theme throughout the property. From the “On Deck” circle near the first tee for warm-up shots to tasteful branding elements, the MLB-themed golf club offers a one-of-a-kind experience. When you walk in, one of the first things you notice is a large display case filled with Texas Rangers baseball memorabilia, a perfect “toe-dip” into the adventure that awaits.

Hosting the Pros: A Testament to Championship Quality

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The club’s distinguished ability to host a prestigious event like the Korn Ferry Tour’s Veritex Bank Championship speaks volumes about its quality and conditioning. Professional tournaments like this demand pristine playing surfaces and a layout that rigorously tests the world’s best players. The Texas Rangers Golf Club conditions routinely meet these high standards, thanks in part to careful overseeding in winter that keeps the course green and lush even when most other courses in the area are dormant.

The Veritex Bank Championship has been a resounding success since its inception, boasting winners like Tyson Alexander, who secured back-to-back victories in 2021 and 2022, seasoned journeyman Spencer Levin in 2023, and Tim Widing, the defending champion. The tournament has been so well-received that the city, Veritex Bank, and the Korn Ferry Tour recently announced a six-year extension to their partnership, ensuring this exciting event continues for years to come. Playing a course frequented by pros provides a true benchmark for your own game.

Playing the Texas Rangers Golf Club requires more than just a powerful swing; it demands strategic thinking, especially when encountering its well-designed hazards. The course’s “Texas Big” scale, with generous fairways and receptive greens, offers ample scoring opportunities but also presents specific challenges that can trip up the unwary. For the most part, the course is very generous off the tee, allowing even mid- to high-handicappers plenty of chances to score.

Let’s delve into some of the course’s most memorable and strategic holes:

  • Hole 11: The Par-3 Rubik’s Cube

    This seemingly benign 173-yard par-3 is a bit of a “Rubik’s Cube.” It almost always plays directly into a formidable south wind, often deceptively masked by trees behind the green. Add a subtle uphill climb to the putting surface, requiring an extra half-club, and players frequently come up short in the massive front bunker. Even if you hit the green, the nearly 7,000 square-foot putting surface is split by a large hump, making a two-putt a tall order if you’re on the wrong side. Precision and club selection are paramount here.

  • Hole 12: Precision Off the Tee

    One of the few holes on the property truly demanding a precision tee ball, Hole 12 appears tighter due to trees framing both sides of the fairway. Finding the short grass is critical here, typically leaving a mid-iron approach for most players.

  • Hole 13: Strategic Par 5 (or 4)

    A par 5 for daily play, Hole 13 transforms into a demanding par 4 during the Veritex Bank Championship, perfectly illustrating the importance of golf course strategy. Success here revolves around the water hazard guarding the left side. A slight fade off the tee towards the right side of the fairway is often the wisest approach, effectively taking the water out of play and setting up a clear second shot. When assessing your second shot, particularly if tempted to “go for it” in two, remember the green sits approximately 10 feet lower than the layup area. Long irons can easily carry over the green and out of bounds. The decision between aggression and caution, especially with the intricate water hazards Texas Rangers Golf Club presents, is crucial. Factor in the Texas weather; spring and summer often permit more aggressive lines, while fall and winter winds demand a more conservative, calculated approach.

  • Hole 16: The Funhouse Green

    The final stretch offers chances to score, starting with No. 16, a short par 4 playing just 327 yards from the back tees. It creeps slightly uphill, so seemingly reachable shots may fall short. Laying up is a wise option, but the great equalizer is the “funhouse” putting surface. Pins in the front can be challenging to get close, as everything wants to run away toward the back. Carrying it too far into the green sends shots careening 35-40 feet away by a severe ridge. A chip or putt from back-to-front is equally challenging to judge. Pick a club and commit for the best chance at a birdie.

  • Hole 17: Echoes of Chester Ditto

    This hole notably utilizes a similar routing as the old Chester W. Ditto Golf Course. Running parallel to North Collins St., this 405-yard par 4 demands a right-to-left shot shape off the tee to avoid a central fairway bunker. Players who can execute a high draw with their driver will have a distinct advantage. Favoring the right side of the fairway is the optimal play, leaving roughly 170 yards into another fascinating green complex with a runoff on the left and a bunker on the right.

  • Hole 18: The “Walk Off” Finish

    The final hole of the day, aptly named “Walk Off,” is a very gettable par 5, making it a stellar finishing hole, especially if money is on the line. Anything from eagle to triple bogey is in play. The hole trundles downhill about 25 feet from the tee to the landing area, then climbs 25 feet back up to the green. Carrying the visible cross bunker from the tee can send balls deep into a speed slot in the fairway, offering a great look at getting home in two. Four water ponds ascend the hill on the right, featuring meandering brooks that spill from pond to pond, offering a stunning final view and one more obstacle to avoid. The green is heavily contoured, so hitting it in two or regulation doesn’t guarantee a simple birdie or par. It’s a great finishing hole to a course that has become a favorite in the area.

Key Considerations for Your Round:

  • Elevation Changes: With 55 feet of varying terrain, club selection and shot trajectory become paramount across the course.
  • Bunkering: The 110,000 square feet of bunkers are strategically placed, demanding precision but also offering a catch-all for slightly errant shots.
  • Wider Fairways: While forgiving, they still encourage thoughtful placement to open up optimal approach angles.
  • Course Conditions: The course is consistently well-maintained, with overseeding in winter to ensure lush, green playing surfaces year-round.

Beyond the Greens: World-Class Amenities and Dining

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The Texas Rangers Golf Club provides an unparalleled experience extending well beyond the 18 holes. Its amenities are designed to enhance every aspect of your visit, from warm-up to post-round relaxation.

The Stately Clubhouse

The beautiful 34,000-square-foot clubhouse is a majestic focal point. One of the first things you’ll notice upon entering is the impressive display case to your left, brimming with Texas Rangers baseball memorabilia, setting the tone for a unique adventure. The clubhouse features a large banquet hall, perfect for hosting your next tournament, corporate outing, or settling scores after a charity scramble. It also serves as the player hospitality area and check-in for the Korn Ferry Tour event. The club’s experts are also adept at wedding planning, making it a picturesque venue to get hitched. A spacious patio offers another inviting spot for lunch or a post-tournament awards ceremony, providing a fantastic vantage point of the course.

“Home Plate” Restaurant and Patio

For a bite to eat, look no further than the “Home Plate” restaurant and patio. This dining establishment fully embraces the baseball theme, with framed Rangers jerseys from every era of the franchise adorning the walls, alongside a large mural of Hall of Fame third baseman Adrian Beltre. The restaurant boasts plenty of TVs, including a magnificent eight-screen wall that can display different programs or sync to form one massive screen. Home Plate is not only a great place to unwind pre- or post-round but also an excellent spot to enjoy a burger, a cold beer, and catch your favorite team on TV.

The menu offers a fantastic selection. We highly recommend the Rangers burger, a brisket-infused Nolan Ryan beef patty, topped with bourbon bacon jam, white cheddar, and crispy onion straws. If you’re seeking something lighter, the crispy tofu power bowl, featuring mixed greens, tofu, quinoa, bell pepper, pickled red onion, avocado, egg, cucumber, and carrots, is a sure-fire way to fuel your body for an afternoon on the course. Wash down any dish with an ice-cold beer, a crafted cocktail, or refreshing iced tea.

Unrivaled Practice Facilities

The Texas Rangers Golf Club boasts one of the best overall practice facilities in the area. They offer a massive, double-ended driving range with multiple targets, perfect for refining your swing or getting loose before your round. There’s a spacious putting green conveniently located near the clubhouse, and a secondary, smaller area to roll a few putts just to the west of the driving range. Three dedicated chipping and short-game greens are available, each equipped with a bunker, making this a primo place to dial in those crucial wedge shots and shave strokes off your score. The practice facility is so versatile that you will often see the University of Texas at Arlington golf team honing their skills there.

Environmentally Conscious Golfing

Beyond its aesthetic appeal and playability, the Texas Rangers Golf Club demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainable practices. It employs a modern approach to water usage, utilizing recycled runoff water for irrigation. This eco-friendly initiative highlights the club’s dedication to environmental responsibility, showcasing how a top-tier golf course can also be a mindful steward of natural resources. This detail underscores the comprehensive thought put into its revitalization and ongoing operation.

Plan Your Visit: Essential Information

Category Details
Contact (817) 275-5941
Official Website Texas Rangers Golf Club Official Website
Tournament Info Veritex Bank Championship Course Details
Operating Hours 30 minutes after daylight to 30 minutes before dark (except Christmas Day)
Tee Time Booking Up to 7 days in advance (phone/in-person), online booking at 7:00 AM daily
Resident Discount 20% discount on posted daily rates for Arlington residents
Senior Discount Discounts for golfers age 62+ (resident and non-resident)
Included in Rate Green fee, ½ cart, and range balls before play
Payment Methods Cash, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, Checks (for tournament deposits only)

The Final Verdict: Is Texas Rangers Golf Club Worth the Investment?

Ultimately, the Texas Rangers Golf Club stands as a resounding success story in municipal golf. While the price point might be slightly higher than some other municipal options in the Metroplex, the overall golf club features—including excellent practice facilities, championship-level conditions, the unique MLB brand appeal, and outstanding dining—undoubtedly justify the investment. It’s a truly transformed facility, blending award-winning design with a unique baseball theme and robust playability. The course effectively caters to a diverse range of golfers, offering forgiving elements like wide fairways alongside demanding features such as strategic bunkering and elevation changes. Furthermore, its ability to host a professional Korn Ferry Tour event, consistently maintaining excellent conditions, solidifies its status as a premier golfing destination.

Whether you’re a devoted Texas Rangers fan or simply an avid golfer seeking a challenging, well-designed, and enjoyable round, the Texas Rangers Golf Club is undoubtedly worth the visit. It delivers on its promise of a memorable golf experience, ensuring you’ll leave with both a good score (hopefully!) and a great story to tell. For many, finding a better overall golf experience for the price in the Dallas-Fort Worth area is a firm “no.”

Rony Poepka

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