Texas Trip Planner

Enjoy the best in public and resort golf in the Texas capital city, a favorite long-weekend and bachelor-bachelorette destination with a long and storied history in the sport.

While my golf travels often take me to some of the most coveted golf courses around the world, when I'm at home in Austin, I'm walking the munis like everyone else, usually with my dog in tow and maybe a beverage or two stuffed in my golf bag. As a central Austin local since 2008, I've played the courses near my home a good deal; if you're not sure where to begin, here's the skinny on Austin's municipals and courses closest to downtown.

In Texas' capital city of Austin, where hipsters, techies, hippies and rockers all live harmoniously, the golf scene is similarly diverse. Affordable, well located municipal courses serve those living in central Austin, while lavish country clubs fight for University of Texas boosters, and top PGA Tour pros such as Ben Crenshaw and Tom Kite can be found on the town's perimeter. Those visiting Austin in search of a destination-worthy golf experience with luxury hotel amenities will do just fine, too. Here's where to stay-and-play on an Austin golf trip.

You have a few days in Austin, Texas, but not a lot of cash? That's OK. Austin is a great city for golf, and it's pretty easy to fill up your weekend with golf at some very good courses -- and do it all for less than $200. Brandon Tucker has done the legwork for you.

In Austin, Texas there seems to be a festival or event of some kind every weekend these days; during the fall especially. Here are the top places to play golf in the Lone Star State's capital city.

The PGA Tour tees it up at another resort golf course this week: the TPC San Antonio's AT&T Oaks Course. Should it be on your must-play list?

Texas residents Brandon Tucker and Mike Bailey compare Austin and San Antonio for golfers and visitors to Texas Hill Country.

You can play golf all year in Central Texas and the Hill Country, but when is truly the best time for a trip?

Here's a question I get a lot when people ask me about playing golf in the Dallas/Fort Worth area: Where can I find cheap golf that's worth playing? Fortunately, that's an easy one to answer. And there are a lot of answers. While the DFW area certainly has its share of higher-priced courses such as the Cowboys Golf Club and Tour 18 Dallas, there are a lot of bargains out there, and many of them are quite good.

Looking for a weekend golf getaway in the Dallas-Fort Worth area where you don't have to get on a plane? That's easy. You could stay at a resort nearby such as the Four Seasons or Westin Stonebriar, or you could get away from it all by taking a two- or three-hour drive. The great thing about being in the Metroplex is that it's not far from the Oklahoma, Louisiana or Arkansas borders, so it doesn't take much to get out of the state. So grab a friend or two or three, and get out of town. Here are three weekend suggestions.

Great golf awaits within driving distance for residents of Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio and Austin.

Houston resident and Golf Advisor Senior Writer Mike Bailey ranks his ten best public courses to play around Houston.

Resident golfer Mike Bailey offers the lay of the land for public golf in the Houston, Texas area, from Memorial Park to nearby Galveston.

Black Jack's Crossing opened in 2011 and is quickly becoming one of Texas' most intriguing destination plays for bucket-listers. It's not the easiest course to get to, but what awaits in this remote desert at about 2,200 feet of elevation is simply unlike anything I've encountered in my travels.

The best public golf courses in the state based on our community's ratings and reviews.

A multi-year, $100 million enhancement elevates this Hill Country getaway for golf and relaxation at the lake.

The Hyatt Regency Lost Pines and Wolfdancer Golf Club -- in Lost Pines, Texas -- hangs its 10-gallon hat on displaying the best of what makes the state unique, from numerous dining venues that celebrate Texas cuisine to offering outdoor fun of all sorts. Activities are especially family-friendly, with petting zoos, horseback riding and a large pool area and a water park large enough to accommodate 495 occupied guest rooms on a summer day.

Hill Country duo takes home Iron Chef title at Chef to Chef Conference in New Orleans.

The Dallas Morning News recently published its list of the 100 best golf courses in Texas, as well as its "Top 50 You Can Play" list. Longtime Texas golf writer Mike Bailey breaks down the rankings, including a few key changes he'd make.

Not all Texas country clubs have had the steadfast history of Fort Worth's Colonial. But while some of these sites have been lost, others are now public and affordable.

There are more than 750 golf courses in the Lone Star State. Many of them are well known, but some don't get the recognition they deserve. Mike Bailey has lived in Texas for most of the past 40 years and offers up some golf courses -- broken down by region (San Antonio-Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston-Beaumont, West Texas and beyond) -- that aren't necessarily on the national or even state radar, but are worthy of your time.

From Houston to San Antonio and Dallas, here are four public courses in Texas that host pro golf events.