Hillcrest Country Club

After delays due to the Korean War, Hillcrest finally opened in 1953 with a traditional layout designed by the popular Warren Cantrell, who also supervised the construction of the clubhouse and served as the first golf pro, club manager, and superintendent.

The course is set on the north side of Lubbock in a rocky, caliche-laced field loaded with deep gullies. The layout stretches 6,992 yards from the tips and plays to a par 72. One of Hillcrest’s highlights is the difficult par 3s. No. 17 stands out as the best: a 174-yarder into a well-bunkered green.

Each nine offers difficult stretches of holes. In fact holes 6-8 on the front and 12-14 on the back make up the six most challenging holes on the course. Hole 6 is one of the longest in West Texas, playing 577 yards uphill–an insane figure given the winds that often blow out here.

Other notes: Hillcrest is private but will allow you to play if you are a member of the USGA. In 1994, all of the greens were rebuilt, marking the first green renovation since the club’s opening. When the club opened in 1953, the membership fee was $240 and the monthly dues were $10.

Getting there : From N Loop 289, take the University Ave. exit and turn right. When you come to Newcomb, turn left and continue down this road until it dead-ends at the clubhouse.