Course Review – Mansfield National
Mansfield doesn’t have many options for golf. Although for the last few decades, it has grown into one of the busiest suburbs in the southern part of DFW, yet your golf options are limited. Of course, there is Walnut Creek Country Club, but it’s private. So, unless you’re a member there, that leaves you with only one option. Mansfield National, or “Manny Nat,” as we affectionately call it here at AG, is coming up on its 25th year as Mansfield’s only daily fee golf option. In that quarter century, this John Colligan design has seen its share of ups and downs. But over the last half-decade or so, it has seen rock-solid conditions, especially on the greens.
Native Oak trees, mesquites, cedars and elms line fairways and bunkering throughout the layout, framing holes nicely. There isn’t an abundance of water, but the Low Branch Creek can make an appearance here and there as you weave your way across the 225-acre property. In recent years, native areas have been allowed to fill in, making some of the holes a bit tougher and tighter than in years past.
National offers a driving range and putting green to work on your game, if you want some practice or need to loosen up before your round. The clubhouse is nice and offers plenty of good food and drinks. I think they offer some of the best breakfast sandwiches in the area if you happen to be teeing it up in the morning, and their burgers are solid, too, if you happen to be around for lunch post-round. Staff is friendly and welcoming, and those working the snack counter are always eager to top off your cooler with the beverage of your choice and plenty of ice.
The opening hole at Mansfield National is one of the toughest you will face on the opening stretch. It almost always plays into the predominant south wind and features a large fairway bunker on the right. There is some bailout on the right, but miss left and native grasses can swallow errant tee shots, potentially leading to a big number. Find the fairway and avoid a couple of greenside bunkers, and an opening par is possible.
The next several holes of this layout are where you need to attack and score before the course gets tougher. No. 2 is a straightaway par 4 with a bunker that sits on the left side of the landing zone. The best play is just right of the bunker, and that will leave just a short iron or wedge into the slightly elevated green. A precise shot with a scoring club could lead to a good chance at a birdie.
No. 3 is the first par 5 of the day, and for longer hitters, really plays like a par 4. At just 488 yards from the tips, the longer hitters can bully this hole with a drive up the left center and have less than 200 remaining. There is a large bunker on the right and some native area the bombers can reach. So if you want to be a little more conservative and hit a three-metal, you certainly can, but a good drive here can set up a chance for an easy birdie.
No. 4 is another fairly simple hole. Usually playing straight downwind, a good driver should carry the fairway bunker on the left, finding a speed slot and sending balls screaming down the fairway just a wedge from the green. This green has some undulations, so be aware of pin position and try to judge your approach properly to avoid a difficult two-putt. This hole is another reasonable chance at birdie on this opening stretch.
The first par 3 of the day is one of the toughest holes presented on this par-72 layout. This hole can play well over 200 yards, plays slightly uphill and must carry a large native grass-filled gorge. It is basically all carry on the line of the green, although there is a decent-sized bailout zone short and right of the green. Club selection can be tough, as the slight elevation change can add a club, but the wind often swirls off the trees surrounding the green and can jettison balls long or short, depending on when you step on the tee. It’s a tough customer, and par is always a great score.
After the second par 5 of the opening nine comes the par-4 seventh hole, followed by the shortest par 3 on the course. This 160-yarder usually plays directly into the wind, adding a club or two depending on conditions. This green is also multi-tiered, so be sure to keep your shot on the proper side of the green for the best chance to score.
The short par-4 ninth is another opportunity to attack or play conservatively, depending on how aggressive you are feeling. At just 369 yards, a good drive that covers the fairway bunker on the left can leave a short second shot, but a more conservative play off the tee might be the smarter play with trouble on the right. There is also a horseshoe-shaped bunker that guards the front of the green, so be sure to choose enough club to carry it.
After the par-3 10th, come a trio of holes that are a delight for those who play a fade. No. 11 is a par 4 that doglegs hard right off the tee and is perfect for a controlled cut off the tee. Balls will trundle down a fairway that slopes from left to right, leaving a scoring club in hand for their second. Upon approach, be sure to avoid missing the green left, as balls will kick right toward out-of-bounds, and even should they stay in play, leaves a difficult up-and-down.
The second of back-to-back par 4s is another tee shot that favors those who hit the cut. Although the green is hidden by the tree-lined dogleg, there is a high-tension tower you can see from the tee box that makes for a great line for the longer hitters. The green sits just right of it, and with a big tee ball, players can get fairly close to the putting surface. This is another wild green with multiple tiers, so be aware of that when you try to dial in your second shot. You can play this hole with a more conservative line, but it’s perfect for those who like to rip a power-cut.
No. 13 is a golden opportunity at a birdie as you prepare for the closing stretch. This 500-yard par 5 plays with the prevailing south wind most days, and during the dry summer months can really yield some massive bombs off the tee. If you strike a good one, you need to just navigate the grassy, gnarly ditch short of the green to have a real chance at a birdie or better. The green is narrow front to back. So should you be too far away, it can be tough to hold with a mid- or long iron, making a layup out to the left a smarter play, as you will be playing along the length of the green from that angle.
After a short par 3, come, in my opinion, the toughest back-to-back holes of this Colligan design. On No. 15, you switch direction, playing back to the south and those prevailing winds that help on No. 4, 10, 11, 12 and 13. This par 4 plays less than 400 yards, but into the breeze, it can play significantly longer. The approach shot to this slight dogleg right also plays a little uphill to a deep green, so the approach can be tricky.
One of the most unique designs at Manny Nat is the par-5 16th. This 554-yard hole is the longest on the course but can play much longer than the card reads for a couple of reasons. One, it’s another hole that usually plays into the wind, and two, hitting a driver on this hole can lead to problems. From the tee, it is about 250 yards to a pond that juts out on the left, so any balls pulled can end up in the drink. Secondly, should you hit driver and avoid the water, there is a depression in the Earth (by design) about 280 yards from the tee. There is a slight chance longer hitters can either cover the ditch or chase a ball through it, making for a flat lie. However, should your ball end up in the grass-filled crevasse, you will be forced to take a higher lofted club to escape, making for a much longer third shot. Best way to play No. 16, in my opinion, is to play short of this feature and play this as a true three-shot par 5.
After a short par 4, comes the final hole of the day. After a day where many holes favor those who play a cut, this one is a perfect finisher for those who like to sling it from right-to-left. The dogleg plays uphill, so well-struck tee shots don’t achieve a lot of additional chase. There is also a fairway bunker straight off the tee that can be reached should your intended draw not roll over left. There is a large bunker short and left of the green, which can make for a tough sand save. It’s a solid finisher, but one that can be gettable with a couple of good efforts.
Mansfield National has long been considered by our staff as one of the easier layouts in the Metroplex. There are a handful of holes that can jump up and bite you, but on a day where your ball-striking is on point, it can be a scorable course. It very much adheres to designer John Colligan’s mantra that “golf should be enjoyed, not endured.”
That’s not to say you are going to fire a career round every time you head to Mansfield, but this absolutely is a course that can yield some birdies for even the mid-to-high handicapper.