Tierra Santa Golf Club
About
The first "daily fee" course built in the Rio Grande Valley, Tierra Santa opened in 1997 as the centerpiece of a residential community. This challenging 18-hole track was designed by Jeff Brauer, who consulted with PGA Tour pro Steve Elkington to sculpt the flat farmland into undulating fairways that wind through a total of 14 lakes.
The course is very challenging, with water on most holes, significant length, and wind that seems to always blow strong. The lush fairways are covered in bunkers, and most holes are finished off with extremely large, fast greens that reek of championship quality. The trick here is to know where to bail out, as many "safe" bailout areas were incorporated into the layout.
Five of the par 4s are over 430 yards. The 3rd hole offers a risk-reward decision with a double fairway that tempts you with a 200-yard carry over water on one side, and a safe landing area to the right. The most difficult hole on the course is the 443-yard No. 5, which features a 200-yard carry off the tee and water on the left of the fairway and beside the green. No. 9 can get you as well-it's a 460-yard monster with bunkers all over the fairway.
The scenic 18th is the signature hole at 451 yards with water along the left side and bunkers on the right. Your approach shot must carry the waterfall fronting the green.
Getting there : From Harlingen or McAllen, take Hwy 83 to the Westgate exit. Drive 3.5 miles to the end of the road where the course is located.
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 72 | 7139 yards | 73.6 | 124 |
| Blue | 72 | 6601 yards | 70.8 | 119 |
| White | 72 | 6045 yards | 68.2 | 110 |
| Red (W) | 72 | 5283 yards | 71.3 | 121 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black M: 73.5/131 W: 80.6/144 | 432 | 572 | 384 | 201 | 443 | 359 | 547 | 168 | 460 | 3566 | 415 | 524 | 416 | 185 | 610 | 444 | 367 | 161 | 451 | 3573 | 7139 |
| Blue M: 71.1/128 W: 77.8/139 | 410 | 523 | 321 | 179 | 415 | 338 | 524 | 139 | 435 | 3284 | 370 | 495 | 355 | 170 | 591 | 427 | 336 | 143 | 430 | 3317 | 6601 |
| White M: 68.7/118 W: 74.3/132 | 358 | 493 | 291 | 144 | 389 | 314 | 491 | 123 | 409 | 3012 | 317 | 466 | 324 | 146 | 566 | 383 | 300 | 124 | 407 | 3033 | 6045 |
| Red M: 64.8/107 W: 70.1/118 | 321 | 432 | 217 | 104 | 359 | 254 | 429 | 91 | 374 | 2581 | 282 | 431 | 292 | 115 | 533 | 342 | 275 | 104 | 329 | 2703 | 5284 |
| Handicap | 3 | 9 | 13 | 15 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 17 | 5 | 10 | 14 | 8 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 18 | 6 | |||
| Par | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
Bar, Grill, RestaurantAvailable Facilities
Meeting Facilities, Banquet FacilitiesAvailable Activities
Swimming, BilliardsAccolades
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Golf Advisor: Top Courses in Texas (2024 #22)
Reviews
There is better value elsewhere, Hotdeal only.
Played here Saturday. I called to make a tee time for twilight after 3. I was told $35 over the phone. When I checked into clubhouses I was told new rate was $45. Not sure if there was a tournament that morning, or some Birthday parties going on at Tony’s, but my experience could’ve been better for nearly $50 green fees. Water on 2 of the 4 coolers, Only ran into the cart girl once on hole 9. Pace of play was the slowest I had experienced here in front 9. Had at least 2 groups in front on each hole. Back 9 played a little faster which was nice. Had to move past a group of 5 in order to finish before Sundown so only got 17 holes in,
The course is in great condition
They’ve invested a lot of time and money on this course, so glad that they are using golf now.
A winter Texan Haven
This is a nice track. The staff is warm and welcoming, especially to the WinterTexans. We have played several times while in South Texas for the winter. The course is not spectacular, but nice. The greens are true and well maintained. Bunkers could use a little more atttention. Some of the fairways have some weak areas, but nothing major. The course does allow fivesomes to play, which delays the pace of play. I would suggest this course to anyone in the Rio Grande Valley.
One of the best munis in the RGV
The course was in great condition, greens were pretty good. Only bad thing was the weather, it was pretty hot and humid and there are not enough trees to keep you away from the sun.
My new favorite course in the RGV
Played this course for $35 twilight (starts at 3pm). Includes a cart and all the golf you can play.
You could tell the course recently flooded last week from some of the leftover debris due to the huge amount of rain, but it wasn't really noticeable and overall the course was in great shape! Only a few areas marked off as still wet. Teeing off at 4pm the greens were a little hard but still rolled nicely.
Since I played right after a shotgun start tournament, I had no one in front or behind me which made for a really enjoyable time. The front 9 has houses along most of it but there's plenty of room in case you hook or slice a ball not to hit one.
Great green, slow play
Nice layout, pretty straightforward with a few holes really deeming "local knowledge". The greens were phenomenal and very true. The course was a bit dirty and noisy, a little more upkeeping would make it an outstanding course. Still a "Top-3" course, in my opinion, in the RGV (Palm View, Los Lagos, Tierra Santa). Definitely looking forward to another round, just hoping it plays a bit faster than my first time.
back to great!
Superintendent, owner, management, staff have all worked hard and together to reproduce a great, welll looked after 18 fairways, 18 greens and most sandbunkers are being refilled with sand! Has taken time and yes much $, but us golfers are so thankful for a great course, friendly ProShop and great food restaurant!
/2012Thank you