Readers’ List - Best East Texas Golf Courses

This makes two columns in a row about golf.
Can I help it if East Texans are nutty about their golf? If we keep this up, I bet the editor is going to move this column to the sports page.
Having loved and played the sport for over forty years, Tim Wheeler, of Chandler, sent me his four favorite public courses. His reasons for choosing them are fascinating. Wheeler writes that these are the courses that he believes “are superior to any other public courses available out there.
- Pine Dunes Resort, Frankston, Texas. “A Jay Morrish design that is a jewel,” writes Wheeler. “It has one of the most difficult par threes in East Texas, number six, as well as a dual fairway par five. Well thought out design and you can tell it when you play. This I believe is Morrish's first course he designed without Tom Weiskopf his former partner and a former British Open Champion.”
- Twin Lakes Golf Course, Canton, Texas, which Wheeler says is a very difficult golf course. “This course is LONG from the tips. This course is built within a 900 acre container plant and tree farm. When playing holes seventeen and eighteen, it looks like something one might see in Napa Valley California with the rows of container plants on the rolling hills resembling the look of vineyards. It is owned by the Gideon (Deon) Dekkers family formerly from South Africa.”
- Garden Valley Golf and Resort, Garden Valley, Texas, which he says has a wonderful layout. Wheeler challenges anyone to find a more beautiful back nine in Texas, especially in the spring with the native dogwoods in bloom along with the numerous azaleas sprinkled among the course. “A must play,” he adds.
- Oak Hurst Golf Course, Bullard, Texas is a nice little golf course to play, according to Wheeler. “I really like the design; although I must admit that number ten could be better. It was designed by the late Carlton Gibson, who also designed Eagles Bluff on Lake Palestine. I believe that the late Mr. Gibson was at one time the greens keeper at Cherry Hills in Denver, Colorado home to a U. S. Open in the 1960's. The greens here can be suspect at times, but all in all, a fun course to play.”
Another golf fan, Harry Casserta of Tyler, tells me that his favorite course is Willowbrook Country Club. He adds that the best thing about golf at Willowbrook is golf pro, Chris Hudson. Casserta, who just finished a volunteer stint as president of the club, says “Chris Hudson has rejuvenated the program at Willowbrook.” Accomplished amateur and collegiate players from all over the U.S. seek Hudson out for instruction, according to Casserta who claims to be Hudson’s only failure.
Casserta’s other favorite thing about Willowbrook, founded in 1922, is the tradition; this from the man whose love of golf began as a youngster working in the pro shop along with the current president, Robert Bailes, and assisting the legendary, George Slicks” Brooks. He says tradition has it that the course is “an unsigned work of art designed by golf course architect Ralph Plummer.”
I’m not done with golf yet, folks. I still want to know which benefit golf tourneys you like the best, for example, the one that happened last Monday at Eagle’s Bluffs to benefit the Bullard Library.
Jane Prokesh of Bullard writes that the tournament included all kinds of fun, like chances at big prizes- my favorite was the golf cart- for a hole in one, raffles, and other entertaining ways to spend the day, like playing Mah Jongg and bridge, not to mention hamburgers, salads, and a wine and cheese event. I’m looking forward to reporting here how much money was raised for the library.
There are three new bags of clubs at my house, none of which belong to me. Still, I am excited about clipping today’s column and tucking it away in the pocket of my husband’s new golf bag.
A special thanks to those who contributed their knowledge to this week’s list, Tim Wheeler, Harry Casserta, and Jane Prokesh.

Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives in East Texas with her family and while she can’t swing a club, she never passes up the opportunity to drive “those sporty little golf carts.”