Course Review – Fossil Creek
Since it opened back in 1988, The Golf Club at Fossil Creek has been a great daily fee option and one of the only Arnold Palmer designs in the DFW area. For years, players have flocked to this Arcis property and consistently rave about customer service, course conditions and amenities. Just a couple years ago, Arcis pumped some cash into the experience, with an update to the clubhouse and a complete bunker overhaul, both of which have Fossil looking great and ready for your public golf dollar.
Although it isn’t huge, the driving range has 24 stations, which are perfect for banging balls or warming up pre-round. There is a chipping area and a putting green to roll a few before you get started just to get a feel for the slippery greens, which on our visit were immaculate. The indoor teaching facility is available for lessons from any of the experienced instructors on property.
Playing at 402 yards from the “Palmer” tees, No. 1 is a manageable par 4 that rewards those bold enough to hit driver. A well-placed tee shot leaves just a wedge or short iron, but water on the left is reachable if you are aggressive. A three-metal or hybrid is a more conservative choice, and still leaves a reasonable opportunity for an opening three or easy par.
No. 4 is a great short par 4 which can definitely jumpstart your round if you open with a few pars. Playing at just 339 yards from the back tee area, the long hitters can sling a draw up near the green and have a chance at a simple pitch-and-putt birdie. Those choosing to lay-up will need only a short iron or wedge into a green surrounded by mounding that can leave some awkward stances should you miss the putting surface.
After the second par 3 of the front nine, No. 6, named “Big Fossil,” is a short par 4 which requires a pinpoint tee shot and then a short iron or wedge to an elevated green over a rock face just on the other side of a Big Fossil Creek, which crosses the hole at the end of the fairway. The green is narrow front to back, and guarded bunkers left and short right, so knowing your yardage is paramount if you want to hit the middle of the green. Even when finding the fairway, this is a tough shot to judge, as the elevated green makes choosing a number and committing to the shot difficult.
Before you head for the seventh tee, be sure to stop by Fossil’s halfway house, which is called “The Boat House.” This spot, which is churning out some tunes to enjoy as you fuel up, has a complete food and beverage menu that is available to golfers and members of the community who access the Blue Line walking trail that connects the nearby neighborhood to the golf course. A seating area with Adirondack-style furniture, tables, rockers, misters and bistro lights make the ambiance great as you watch or compete in some of the model boat races in the nearby pond. You can also pop back into The Boat House again before you tee off on No. 16. It’s a great place to get a beverage or some snacks before you finish out the front nine.
No. 7 plays as one of the toughest holes on this Palmer layout. At 430 yards from the back tees, this one doglegs to the right, and distance is necessary to make your approach as manageable as possible. However, longer hitters can bring Big Fossil Creek in play, so a more conservative 3-metal or even hybrid might be a better play. If you are able to get one down close to Big Fossil, a shorter approach awaits to a slightly elevated green. The wind here can swirl a bit, so be mindful of club selection, and know that hitting the fat part of the green might be a good decision.
No. 8 is the second par 5 on the front nine at Fossil Creek. A speed slot in the fairway can slingshot well-struck balls down the fairway, giving players the option to get home in two. But a well-guarded green that features water short and bunkers around the putting surface means a layup might be a smarter decision. The green here is diabolical, with a severe slope from back to front and left to right. Miss on the wrong part of the green here, and a two-putt can be a challenge.
No. 10 is the beginning of a great stretch of holes to begin the inward nine. This par 3 is a wild ride from the tips, playing close to 210 yards and a full carry over water. It does play slightly downhill, but almost always fights the prevailing south wind, making club selection tough. If the wind is blowing, making sure you choose enough club is a must, or you might watch your ball chewed up by the wind and splashing down in the drink. Mounding behind the green can make any chip shots from over the surface a bit dicey, but it is certainly better to be long than short to avoid a big number.
The quirky 11th hole will really put your course management skills to the ultimate test. There is a chance that longer hitters can cover the corner which winds to the right and over a rock and native grass-filled tributary. This shot is only reserved for those with ultimate confidence with a driver. A smart play would be a long-iron or hybrid to the initial landing area straight out in front of the tee, but taking this route assures it will be a three-shot par 5. The third shot will again play back over Big Fossil Creek to the green which has a pair of bunkers to avoid. This is a hole design that can derail your round if you try to be too cute.
No. 12 and No. 13 are two of the best holes on the property at Fossil. A scenic lake off to the right of the No. 12 tee and fairway makes this a challenging tee shot. Testing the right half of the fairway leaves a shorter approach, but also runs the risk of the south wind pushing your ball into the water. Favoring the left side of the fairway with a controlled 3-wood or hybrid leaves a longer approach, but assures a dry tee shot and leaves players staring down the length of this green which trundles from front left to back right and is surrounded by a trio of bunkers.
No. 13 is one of my personal favorite holes at Fossil Creek. Playing almost 200 yards from the tips, this scenic par 3 offers an elevated tee shot to a green that is almost completely surrounded by water. A landing area short and right is a good place to bail out if you want to take your chances getting up-and-down, but those who are bold can try to fire at the pin and go for the glory. Anything right will wind up rinsed, so choose carefully.
After a manageable par 4, comes another scenic hole, the 394-yard 15th. This tee shot works uphill toward a cross creek that makes hitting driver a bit iffy for the long hitters. A 3-metal or hybrid for position is a crafty play and leaves a challenging approach over water to a green that is fairly narrow from front to back and slopes severely from left to right. Miss the green left, and you will be faced with a slick pitch shot that can be tough to get close. It’s a pretty hole, and one that can pose a tough par should you miss the fairway or the green in regulation.
No. 16 is another of my favorite holes on the course. A shorter par 4, playing just 379, this is not a driver hole for most. A mid- or long-iron is a great play for position off the tee to avoid a fairway bunker on the right. However, the real challenge here isn’t the tee shot, but rather the approach to one of the smaller greens you will find on any course in the area. The putting surface narrows to the back, so any pins cut on that section of the green make it tough to fire at the pin. It’s a fun little hole, and one that puts a premium on ball-striking and distance control.
The final hole at Fossil is one last opportunity at a birdie. Another par 5, this one again can be played in a variety of ways. A downhill dogleg left off the tee, driver may be too much for the bombers, as Big Fossil Creek again runs through the fairway at the bottom of the hill. A tight draw 3-metal or even hybrid will bound down the hill approaching the creek and will give big hitters the chance to give the green a run for their second. A pair of fairway bunkers guard the right for those who choose to lay-up, which will leave nothing more than a wedge third. Another large bunker protects the green short and left, so favor the right-center of the putting surface.
Fossil Creek is more than just a great property for teeing it up. They also specialize in weddings, if you are looking for a gorgeous venue to tie the knot. “The Glen,” which is set among the beautiful oak trees and features golf course backdrops, provides a perfect setting for the ceremony. The trees can even be up-lit for a dramatic effect, and pendant lighting illuminates the patio. New stairs and a stamped concrete walkway lead to the ceremony site, which can seat nearly 200. Fossil is also a great spot for your corporate outing, fundraiser or charity tournament.
Overall, the Golf Club at Fossil Creek has long been one of the top daily fee choices in the area. The combination of great service, amenities and the dynamic Arnold Palmer layout make this a great property in the Arcis Golf stable of courses. The updates from a few years ago have really settled in and have Fossil looking as good as it has in years. It is a must-play for those wanting a challenging course that boasts rock-solid overall conditions and customer appreciation.