El Dorado at Quail Valley Golf Course
About
Developers eventually had their way with this cow pasture on the fringe of Houston. Loaded with native pecans and oaks and supplemented with even more transplanted trees, the terrain is ideal for golf, with two creeks and five natural lakes on the property. In fact, it's good enough to host the PGA Tour's Houston Open in 1973 and 1974.
The traditional El Dorado Course plays to a par 70 and features five par 3s that go 190-yards-plus from the tips. Jay Riviere designed the back nine.
Jeff Blume managed the redesign and complete renovation of the El Dorado Course in 2009.
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 71 | 6931 yards | 74.6 | 138 |
| Blue | 71 | 6552 yards | 72.8 | 135 |
| White | 71 | 6146 yards | 71.0 | 128 |
| Gold | 71 | 5685 yards | 68.7 | 122 |
| Gold (W) | 71 | 5685 yards | 73.8 | 136 |
| Red (W) | 71 | 5100 yards | 70.7 | 123 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black M: 74.6/138 | 526 | 201 | 425 | 403 | 399 | 222 | 578 | 211 | 397 | 3362 | 516 | 222 | 404 | 412 | 224 | 401 | 403 | 399 | 588 | 3569 | 6931 |
| Blue M: 72.8/135 | 515 | 151 | 406 | 378 | 383 | 198 | 552 | 195 | 372 | 3150 | 499 | 204 | 388 | 398 | 208 | 382 | 377 | 385 | 561 | 3402 | 6552 |
| White M: 71.0/128 | 505 | 143 | 374 | 352 | 347 | 187 | 533 | 178 | 358 | 2977 | 484 | 191 | 360 | 372 | 184 | 362 | 342 | 350 | 524 | 3169 | 6146 |
| Gold M: 68.7/122 W: 73.8/136 | 462 | 129 | 352 | 304 | 322 | 170 | 522 | 155 | 339 | 2755 | 468 | 173 | 339 | 355 | 154 | 350 | 320 | 321 | 450 | 2930 | 5685 |
| Red M: 66.3/117 W: 70.7/123 | 420 | 107 | 329 | 261 | 298 | 147 | 463 | 127 | 311 | 2463 | 427 | 148 | 303 | 323 | 115 | 336 | 297 | 264 | 424 | 2637 | 5100 |
| Handicap | 5 | 13 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 17 | 3 | 15 | 11 | 8 | 18 | 14 | 6 | 16 | 4 | 10 | 2 | 12 | |||
| Par | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 35 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 36 | 71 |
| Handicap (W) | 5 | 17 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 15 | 3 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 16 | 14 | 4 | 18 | 10 | 12 | 2 | 6 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
Bar, Snacks, Grill, RestaurantAvailable Facilities
ClubhouseAccolades
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Golf Advisor: Top Courses in Texas (2022 #22)
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
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Photo submitted by u000003288063 on 10/22/2025
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Weather beautiful Photo submitted by u000003288063 on 10/22/2025
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Conditions great Photo submitted by u000003288063 on 10/22/2025
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Photo submitted by Houston2020 on 09/27/2025
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Photo submitted by Houston2020 on 09/27/2025
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Photo submitted by 18Hdotorg on 05/30/2022
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Photo submitted by afmarko99 on 09/19/2020
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Photo submitted by caddyshack79 on 07/06/2020
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Photo submitted by Floyd600 on 04/08/2020
Very nice!
Despite significant rain fairways and greens were in great shape. Bunkers will require work as a result but nonetheless enjoyable round. Will be back for sure!
Championship Caliber Course
Was passing through Houston and wanted to get in a round of Texas golf (Floridian). I can't say that I've ever played a course that big that was located within a neighborhood. The course seemed unwalkable. It had to be over 10 miles long.
Summer mid day golf in the Texas heat presents its on challenges. Sure the grass was on the dry side and the ground was hard but the course seemed well maintained. Fairway shots rewarded the golfer while missed fwys presented additional challenges. Greens were fast and fair. 135 course slope is well earned and deserved. Definitely recommend some kind of navigation if you aren't familiar with layout.
If I had to complain i would say the practice facilities aren't 4*. But everything you need is there.
Overall strong course deserving of its 4* rating.
Great conditions
Course in great condition. Greens were punch but coming back nicely.
Can feel safe with all equipment sanitized.
Also has restaurant to sit down after hot round!
Corse in great shape!!
Fairways and greens in great shape. Tee times spread out now waiting on the tee. Felt like we had the whole course to ourselves!
Great Day
Dorado course is a great layout. There are some very interesting 90 degree holes with long water carries. The event heavy rains had caused some aft spots on the greens, but overall the course was in great shape!
Great Greens
Bunkers were worked, but still without rakes, we played them, just moved the ball to a better lie if needed. Greens were true and in great shape. Tee times were spaced due to limited carts.
Great Greens
Greens were rolling true, tee times were spaced due to cart availability.
Worst bunker conditions ever!!
Not only were we delayed by a juniors tournament off the first tee, we were backed up throughout the round, with up to four groups on the same hole at a time. Our round took five hours (1:07pm-6:00pm). The bunkers were so bad, I lost three balls (two to fairway bunkers and one to a greenside bunker) simply because the water in the bunkers was so deep and filthy, there was no way to see and/or find the balls. Just an embarrassing display of poor course management all the way around. Manage the tee sheet better, pump the water out of the bunkers and plan around your scheduled tournaments more efficiently. It’s not the first time I’ve been delayed by a junior golf tournament at this course. A really decent golf course, with fairway and green conditions better than average, but with everything else so poorly managed, it’s all easily overlooked. I would not and will not play this course anytime in the near future, nor will I recommend this course to anyone.
Kc
Course and greens in good shape.
Busy and adhering to social distancing rules as well as one player per cart.
Fantastic
Staff was great, I had an excellent burger in the clubhouse before the meal. The pro at the proshop let me tee off a bit early. I didn't run into any groups until hole 12 (playing alone) but the 4some in front of me obviously knew the course and played quickly but kindly let me by when I caught up. Hope to play again soon!
Aerated greens
Every golf course should warn players before they make tee times that the greens have been aerated or discount the green fees accordingly.
Windy weather - Aerated Greens
Rescently aerated greems should be available for potential reservations. Finding out after you get to the course for your round is TOO LATE. Pace of play was excellent, fariways in good shape, bunkers so-so, and putts would bounce on the dimpled greens after aeration. Course is excellent, but need to check conditions before reserving a TEE TIME, especially since you have to pre-pay.
El Dorado in Great Shape
Fairways in great shape except where players are not allowed to repair divots due to COVID 19. Marshalls could have sand with them and perform this task periodically. Greens in outstanding shape. Rolled very well and inverted cup + 3' Gimme rule pretty much elimiated possible touching of the flag. Allow fivesomes, which slows play. Waited on every single hole, but stil finished in 4 hours. Great Value through Golf Now Hot Deal!
Eldo looks pretty good !
Played a few times last week and this week and the course it is in really good conditions. Greens rolling pretty good and fairways are cut well.
Surprised
Was really surprised with the conditions and pace of play for a Saturday. Finished the round in less than 4 hours.