THE 18 BEST HOLES

Want to know the best 18 holes in Dal las-Fort Worth?, Just ask Justin Leonard in his short but successful career, the 26-year-old has come from winning the 1990 state go\f championship at Lake Highlands High School to capturing the 1997 British Open championship. He nabbed one of 1998’s biggest prizes by overtaking Lee Janzen in a victory at The Tour Championship. That $720,00 payday pushed Leonard to eighth on die year’s money list at $ 1.6 million.

He’s played all over the world, but he got his start here, learning the game on the city’s best courses. What better tour guide for the best local golf?



Royal Oaks CC #13 PAR 4,467 YARDS (BACK TEES)

“This is the signature hole of my home course, and it’s easy to see why because it’s a difficult length, but a truly beautiful golf hole. If you’ve got the wind into you, which is often the case, it takes a good drive, then an iron to reach the green. There is a large reinforced creek in front of a large green, so it’s best not to be short on your approach, or you can easily find the water.”



Colonial CC #5 PAR 4,466 YARDS

“The end of what is known as the Horrible Horseshoe {holes 3-5) at Colonial. You need to hit a driver or three wood off the tee to a well-guarded fairway. Dense, tall trees run all along the right side in front of the Trinity River. Huge pecan trees guard the left side with a fairly small, bunkered green.”



Northwood Club #16 PAR 3, 213 YARDS

“A really good par-3 at the course where my parents are members. The uphill green has good bunkering in the front, meaning a shot not well-struck will likely find the sand.”



Preston Trail #16 PAR 4,428 YARDS

“This is a good par-4 with a slight dogleg left. Water comes into play with a large creek in front of the green. With bunkers around the R-shaped green, it can present quite a challenge with your approach shot. I love Preston Trail because it’s such a classic course.”



Bent Tree CC #15 PAR 4,405 YARDS

“This is a tight, difficult, but very good golf test for this par-4 hole. The hole plays slightly dogleg to the left with water along the left side, trees on the right, with bunkers on both sides of the green.”



Four Seasons-TPC #14 PAR 4.390 YARDS

“Wind determines everything off the tee; it can either be blowing in your face, or it can swing around and be behind the ball. You face a great, but very tough, second shot with the water coming off the water, which surrounds the green on three sides. It’s a very tough hole for everyone.”



Oak Cliff CC #17 PAR3.149YARDS

“Very nice par-3 on a very old-style traditional course. Golfers face an uphill shot to a heavily bunkered green with trees on die left and a large, tricky green to putt.”



Colonial CC#1 PAR 5,572 YARDS

“Good chance to start off your round at Colonial with par or even birdie. The hole doglegs to the right with plenty of trees on the right and a good approach angle. It’s critical to get your round off to a good start before you face the Horrible Horseshoe.”



Royal Oaks CC #14 Par 5,547 YARDS

“Great par-5, which takes several turns before you get to the green. You need to hit a big drive off the tee to give yourself several options for an interesting second shot. A creek runs all along the right side, with several large trees guarding the green.”



Cottonwood Valley #15 PAR 4,472 YARDS

“Easily the best hole on the course. Very difficult uphill second shot to a huge, very slanted green, which is well-guarded by bunkers in front of the green. A very good test.”



Sherrill Park #14 (No. I Course) par 5,588 yards

“This is good public-course golf. This hole usually plays into the wind, with water protecting the right side of the fairway and die green on die approach.”



LasColinas#18 PAR 5.576 YARDS

“This is a tough finishing hole with good second-shot opportunities, where par can be a real premium with all the danger areas factored in.”



The Shores #18 PAR 4,452 YARDS

“This finishing challenge can be very tough on a windy day when you face the gusts coming at you off nearby Lake Ray Hubbard, Water comes into play off the tee and the approach. A small lake cuts into die landing area on the right side, while a large bunker guards the left side of this dogleg left.”



Gleneagles Queen’s Course #17 PAR 3,191 YARDS

“Very difficult hole on this very difficult course. There is plenty of water all along the left side of this hole, which doglegs slightly left. The green is well bunkered, making your tee shot a likely all-or-nothing proposition.”



Royal Oaks #7 PAR 4.456 YARDS

“Good par-4 with a tough dogleg right angle to it. There are trees all along the right side with a challenging, well-bunkered green. Simple looks can be deceiving here.”



Brook Hollow GC #8 PAR 3, 186 YARDS

“Very nice, picturesque par-3 mat plays over a scenic pond. There is out of bounds all along the left side with shot selection critical to find the putting surface and have a chance on these tough greens.”



Northwood Club # 10 PAR 4, 380 YARDS

“The position of your tee ball on this short par-4 solely determines what to hit on your second shot. You can hit an iron or lofted wood off die tee for good position. There is a large gully running in front of a banked green with trees in back and sand in front.”



Stonebridge Ranch #9 PAR 4.461 YARDS

“Tough hole on a demanding Pete Dye layout. You must clear the water on your tee shot, then navigate a fairly tight fairway with bunkers on both sides to a sloped green.”