The clubhouse at Frisco Farms, which was completely renovated and reopened back in April, is everything you would expect from an Arcis-managed property. The new bar area has plenty of beers on draft, a great area to lounge, vaulted ceilings and vintage décor. It’s a cozy place to grab a drink and a bite after you play, or just lounge around and enjoy some company if you live in the neighborhood. Adjacent to the bar is a new game room with big-screen TVs, a trio of dartboards, billiards table and even shuffleboard. If you lost a few bucks or feel like you didn’t take enough off your group on the course, pop into the game room for some nine-ball or cricket and see if you can’t dig a little deeper into some pockets.
As with other Arcis courses, they place a great emphasis on their food and beverage program and, now, with a great new clubhouse, the menu at Frisco Farms has evolved to match the updated décor. Items like smoked wings and Korean bao buns are on the menu, along with staples like a club sandwich and Arcis’ famous Crush Burger. You can also get beverages for any age inside, from a Transfusion or Blackberry Basil Smash to beers or non-alcoholic sippers that are perfect for the warm summer months. Such as the Berry Aqua Fresca, which is a refreshing blend of strawberries, blueberries, mint and spring water.
There aren’t a lot of tricky architectural elements to the course at Frisco Farms. It is mostly a what-you-see-is-what-you-get type layout. There is some water and some bunkers that make this more of a shot-makers course, and those who are longer hitters will find they cannot bully this layout with pure length. Sure, there are spots you can bang driver, but there are also many tee shots where an iron or hybrid is not only more conservative, but also necessary. This is a perfect place to dial in your iron and wedge game, work on your chipping and putting, and do it all at a reasonable price (especially on weekdays).
One thing to note about Frisco Farms are the number of homes surrounding the course. Each hole is tree-lined, so be sure to keep your nugget on the course or risk potential damage to windows or other property. The first hole is a great example of this, and although short, it requires precision, as there are houses lining both sides. This will be a recurring theme on most holes as you navigate the par-72 layout. Driver is certainly in play here, but at just 376 yards from the tips, it’s not completely necessary. There is a bunker short left of the green that must be avoided, and the green is narrow front to back, so a precise wedge or short iron is required.
Although this layout is only 6,400 yards from the back tees, the longest par 4 of the round is No. 2. Playing at 462, this one does require a driver to ensure enough distance to attack the green. This hole does look fairly straight, but it does require a slight draw off the tee (this will be a common theme) to ensure a proper angle into the putting surface. There is a bunker that guards the green short and left, so be sure to avoid it.
After another par 4 comes the first par 5 of your round at Frisco Farms. As I mentioned before, longer hitters aren’t just going to be able to bully this course, especially on the par 5s. Water sits about 250 yards out from the tee on No. 4, making this a three metal or hybrid off the tee. From there, players will have somewhere between 200 and 215 into the green. Water continues all down the left and guards the green on that side, and with more homes on the right, the second shot can be intimidating. It’s not a big hitter’s par 5; it’s a shot-maker’s hole.
The first par 3 of this layout comes next, with a sliver of White Rock Creek splitting the landing area between tee and green. Playing as the longest par 3 on the course, this can require a mid- or long-iron if you are playing the 188-yard back tees. This is a generous putting surface from front to back, so be sure to trust the yardage you get before pulling the trigger.
Another ball-striker’s delight comes at the short par-4 sixth. At just 286 yards, this would be a par 3 in a lot of U.S. Opens. But this hole also features water in the middle of the landing area that extends just short of, and behind, the green, making this a simple tee shot, but anything but on the approach.
After players navigate the par-3 seventh that plays 183 yards and has water all down the right, they tackle the par-5 eighth hole. At face value, this plays fairly short at just 500 yards. But as has been the case with most of the driver holes, this requires a very aggressive line over the trees down the left, or players must hit a hard draw. For those who can play a right-to-left ball, it’s a simple hole. But those who work the ball left to right can find themselves in a backyard swimming pool quickly with a ball that gets a little too frisky down the right side.
As players make their way to the back, they can pop in the clubhouse for a quick Hebrew National Dog, Kuby’s jalapeño cheddar sausage or pimento chicken salad wrap. Grab a dog and load your cooler up for the back nine and the push for some more birdies coming in.
No. 10 is another par 5 that keeps driver in the bag for most. A three-metal to carry White Rock Creek to the initial landing area is a solid play, leaving somewhere around 210-220 yards remaining. The hole plays slightly uphill from there, so add a bit of additional yardage to that number to assure you can get home in two. Or choose to lay up and play for a more conservative route. The green is massive on this hole and can add up to a full club or more. depending on pin placement. So be sure you really dial in your yardage should you lay up to a wedge or short iron number.
No. 11 is another short par 4 that features water across the fairway and short of the green. Most players will need just a long iron or hybrid to leave a scoring club in hand to a slightly elevated putting surface. It’s another hole that can help you get your long irons sharpened up if they have been a little loose over your past few rounds out.
After another par 4 comes the short par-3 13th. Playing just 133 yards from the tips, this won’t be more than a short iron for most players. But coming up short will lead to a water ball, as a small pond guards the green. Distance control can lead to a good look at a deuce on the card on the shortest hole on the course.
Back-to-back par 4s lead up to the final stretch, which includes the longest hole, coming at the par-5 16th. Playing 520 from the tips, finding the fairway here doesn’t necessarily mean you are in position “A.” Hitting a tee shot down the left side of the fairway can lead to some overhanging trees and a forced lay-up, while finding the center or right-center can offer a green light to attack the green in two. This is arguably the most well-guarded green complex on the course, with three pot bunkers short and right of the green and one on the left. Find any of them, and what should be an easy par or better can suddenly become a struggle to avoid bogey.
No. 17 is the final par 3 and plays just 147 from the back tees. There is some visual intimidation as water is on the right, but it should rarely come into play. There is a huge bunker short and right of the green that must be avoided at all costs. The best bet is to take an extra club and play for the center of the green. Do this, and a simple two-putt par awaits before you tackle the final hole of the day.
One more par 4 awaits at No. 18. This is a pretty tee shot that plays back over water. which also runs the length of the hole down the left. Miss on that side, and par will be tough, but miss too far right, and as has been the case for much of the round, you will be in a backyard. Longer hitters can chew as much off the water as they choose, and finding the fairway will leave nothing more remaining than a short iron or even a wedge. It’s a nice finishing hole to the layout at Frisco Farms.
Overall, Frisco Farms offers a great opportunity to refine your game. It’s great for seniors who have lost some distance or for juniors who have yet to find theirs. Amateur players and higher handicappers will find this is a great property to sharpen their skills as they potentially work up to a longer, more challenging course. That’s not to say Frisco Farms won’t challenge lower handicappers as well, as there are plenty of shots that require full attention and a shot-maker’s mentality. Course conditions were acceptable for a daily fee course that doesn’t beat you up too badly in the pocketbook. Getting off the fairways can offer some challenging lies, but tees, fairways, bunkers and greens are all very solid as we enter the dog days of summer.
The course is fun and playable for anyone, and that’s always a draw, especially for those working on certain aspects of their game. The updated clubhouse is really a great addition to the neighborhood and offers plenty of things to do pre- or post-round. Arcis continues to raise the bar for food and beverage programs at their properties, and Frisco Farms is no different, with plenty of great options for lunch, dinner or cocktails.
If you live in Frisco or the surrounding areas, Frisco Farms is a safe bet for your next round of golf, or who knows … maybe some darts, pool or shuffleboard.