If you have been a loyal AVIDGOLFER reader over the years, you know our monthly course features usually focus on a course here in Dallas/Fort Worth and the surrounding areas. But, on occasion, we like to venture off the beaten path to showcase courses you might not be familiar with.
I wouldn’t say Abilene is necessarily known for its golf, but a course out that way caught our attention, so we thought you should know about it. Live Oak Golf Club, which was once known as Diamondback National, was designed by Charles Coody. If that name rings a bell, it’s because he’s a native Texan who captured the 1971 Masters, besting Jack Nicklaus and a young Johnny Miller. If you are curious what ties Mr. Coody has to Abilene, he was raised there and attended Abilene Christian before eventually transferring to TCU, where he graduated with a degree in business.
Now that you know a little history about the architect, let’s talk about the course. Two years ago, Arizona-based Thompson Golf Group acquired the property with the intention of not only rebranding the course, but also upgrading the facilities, adding a new fleet of golf carts, and placing a renewed focus on course maintenance and overall hospitality. Thompson has since upgraded on-course bridges, tidied up course conditions, added those new carts, and even upgraded the website and added a loyalty program.
After a little warmup on Live Oak’s massive driving range, players make their way to the first tee. With four sets of tees, the par-71 layout can play at almost 7,000 yards from the tips to a more manageable 5,000 for beginners, juniors, or the ladies.
The opening hole at Live Oak plays as one of the longer par 4s on the golf course. At 438 yards, this tee shot is more demanding than it appears from the tee box. Water on the left isn’t visible from the tee, so be sure to favor the right-center of the fairway, or you could potentially be down a ball after one swing. Shorter hitters shouldn’t have to worry about this hazard, but it can come into play for those who have power.
If you are familiar with grasses here in Texas, you know that a great number of our greens are Bermuda. The oppressive summer heat makes keeping other grasses lush difficult, but Live Oak has taken on that challenge with Bentgrass greens, which were in very solid shape for this time of year. There are a few spots here and there that could use a little TLC, but overall, I would give them a solid 8/10, especially for Bentgrass in this heat.
Other highlights of the opening nine include the par-4 5th hole, which plays at just 327 yards but rises uphill, with two fairway bunkers that can collect wayward tee shots. The real challenge on this hole is the quirky green, which features a massive false front. Players who come up just short on their approach, or those unable to control their spin, can watch their ball rip back off the front edge into a collection area that is anything but simple to chip from. Long is no bargain either, with a rock wall that plummets into the abyss below. Although it’s not a long hole, it can really jump up and bite those who aren’t precise with a short iron or wedge. The back of this green is also a great spot to take in the views of the West Texas mesas in the distance. It’s a perfect place to capture some content or a selfie to make your friends jealous.
No. 6 is also a well-designed test. A long, meandering dogleg right, this 553-yarder is a delight for those who like to play a fade. The fairway is relatively generous and features no fairway bunkers, but miss too far in one direction or the other and you are likely to be unable to find your ball or, at best, only be able to advance it a short distance. Those with firepower can take a run at the green in two, but it requires carrying Lytle Creek to a tabletop putting surface that is almost impossible to hold from that distance. The smarter play is to lay up short of the creek and try to stuff a wedge.
After the par-4 7th comes one of the signature holes at Live Oak. One thing I think most players will notice the first time they play this course is the beauty of the par 3s. No. 8 unquestionably checks that box, with its peninsula green surrounded by a large, horseshoe-shaped bunker. Tipping out at close to 180 yards from the back tees, this hole is about as visually intimidating as any par 3 you will find. Water, sand, and virtually no topography to the hole mean you don’t see much of anything while standing on the tee. It’s a shot that can be hard to commit to, but one that really boosts the confidence should you find the putting surface.
After a closing par 4 to finish the outward nine, don’t forget to pop into the clubhouse for one of Live Oak’s delicious food items, all of which are crafted to get you in and out quickly so you don’t fall out of position on the course. The Jalapeño Sausage is a real banger, made with brisket chunks and a nice pepper bite on the back end. Slather a little mustard on top for a quick bite that is packed with flavor. They also make a mean burger and, on our visit, had a chicken sandwich special that really had us buzzing.
No. 12 is another picturesque par 3. Playing just over 200 yards and slightly uphill, this green is nestled into a natural amphitheater of oaks, offering a parkland look that makes this hole a real stunner. The green on 12 is massive. Miss on the wrong side and you can easily be looking at a 70-footer or more. Of all the holes at Live Oak, this is one of Coody’s finest.
A short par 4 comes at No. 13, which is a solid birdie opportunity, as long as you avoid the left side and the rock wall that comes into play in the landing zone. Yes, there is a manmade rock outcropping in the fairway landing area. It’s only a few stones tall, but should you chase your tee shot up next to it, you have virtually nowhere to go. Although you may have only 40 yards left into the green, you are forced to take an unplayable lie. It’s a quirky feature, but it will make you think rather than just hammering driver.
No. 15 is the second par 3 of the back nine and the last par 3 of the round. This is another scenic hole, playing 208 yards from the tips but a more manageable 175 from the green tees. A chute of trees leads to a green that is cut into the terrain like a punchbowl. Beyond the green is another scenic view of the West Texas landscape in the distance. It’s not the easiest par, but it is a very interesting design.
A 4-5-4 finish offers a couple more chances to score. The par-5 17th is one of the more interesting holes on the property. Players must navigate a pair of water crossings, which can leave some decisions to be made. From the back tees, getting across the initial water can be tough and not tremendously beneficial to attempt. But, playing one or two tees in, it can be done. Everyone in our group chose a more conservative approach, hitting irons or hybrids off the tee, which set up a second iron or hybrid to the secondary landing zone. That left nothing more than a wedge into the green and a good look at birdie.
No. 18 again features a small creek crossing the fairway, but as long as you don’t stray too far right off the tee, you can still be aggressive and leave yourself one final scoring opportunity.
Although it’s close to three hours from the center of the Metroplex, the course conditions and overall layout make it worth the trip. The course itself is fun and playable. The Bentgrass greens were solid, and Nos. 4, 5 and 8 alone are worth the drive. Unfortunately, Live Oak doesn’t offer any sort of stay-and-play package, as there are no on-site accommodations. However, should you happen to be making your way to Lubbock for a Red Raiders game this fall, it makes all the sense in the world to stop on the way there or the way back to tee it up. There are also plenty of options for an overnight stay in Abilene, along with other courses in the area should you want to make a weekend of it with some buddies.
The one thing that made me a bit sad on the drive back was that Live Oak is just a little too far away to add to our regular rotation of courses. If it were about 90 minutes away, like some of the outlying courses we have featured in the past, I would be there at least once a quarter. It’s that much fun. If you are ever headed to Abilene and looking for a place to tee it up, I can’t recommend Live Oak Golf Club enough.