The word Tempest comes from the Latin word tempestas, which means weather or storms. Two hours east of Big D sits one of the true hidden gem courses in Texas. A perfect storm of great land, great conditions and a world class ownership group and crew dedicated to elevating their property every single day. Tempest Golf Club, located in the town of Gladewater, features 18 fantastic golf holes that sit among tall pines and offer topography that isn’t like anything in predominantly flat DFW. Joe Bruno, the owner of the property and prominent attorney based in New Orleans, purchased the property in 2006 to broaden his portfolio into the golf realm.
A decade ago, Jeffrey Brauer was hired to renovate and freshen up the property. The new layout was completed in 2018 and has since received rave reviews including AVIDGOLFER’s best outlying course the last two years and No. 30 on the Dallas Morning News top 50 public courses in the state.
Tempest offers tees that stretch to 7,229 yards and can play as short as 4,512 from the forward tees on this par 72 layout. No. 13 is the longest hole on property, tipping at 584-yards, and the par 3 fourth hole stands as the shortest from the back tees, sitting at 157-yards. Of course, the tips can play tough and should be reserved for top of the food chain players, but the blue and white tees offer more approachable experiences with the blue measuring 6,748 and the white 6,051. If you want to play even shorter, there are gold tees that sit at 5,239 and red tees at 4,512.
As you approach the property, you are greeted by a massive American flag, which is perched atop a 205-foot pole. The flag itself flutters above the ninth green and near the driving range, serving as a reminder of those who have fought for our country to protect our freedoms. You feel the patriotic juices begin to flow as you pull in the parking lot, and that feeling continues throughout your round as you routinely look up to see it in the distance. And, when it comes to shot execution, you can always take a quick peek at the flag and get a general idea of the wind direction.
The clubhouse features Neptune’s Grille + Bar, which will keep you fueled up on food and drinks pre, during, or post-round. Breakfast options include avocado toast, short stack or even a breakfast burger. Wings, quesadillas, Neptune’s burger or even a selection of flatbread pizzas are on the menu for lunch or dinner.
The golf course layout at Tempest is unlike anything you will find in DFW. The east Texas vibe is strong, with large pines that frame the holes wonderfully and tremendous elevation changes throughout the rolling 18-hole layout.
“You are going to see a golf course you are not going to see in Texas.” said General Manager Jason Crews. “We have a lot of things Dallas and Fort Worth don’t offer. The rolling landscape and the pine tree forests. Every hole stands alone and the feel of being out in the woods … you don’t get that in DFW. You will get an experience you won’t get anywhere else.”
Superintendent Ken Bowman was brought in to elevate the turf conditions and manage the tough Texas soil. Bowman has done a fine job, as even the spots that once struggled with erosion or tough growing conditions are now flourishing under his control. Bowman has also dealt with the mitigation of salts in the water used to irrigate the turf, which has been a challenge in itself.
“We have a constant challenge maintaining the grass out here, but I think we’re doing a great job,” Bowman said. “It’s beautiful out here, which is really the best part of it. It’s a challenge to grow grass, but I think we’re almost where we want to be, and to be honest, I have enjoyed that challenge. I think people really love the layout once they get here. We just need to make sure the conditions are exceptional to keep them coming back.”
The first couple of holes play relatively flat, but No. 3 really shows off the elevation changes on the course. The elevated tee gives way to a stripe of fairway below that features a small creek that crosses about 370-yards from the tips. The green is slightly elevated on approach and offers a putting surface that slopes from back right to front left.
No. 4 is one of the most interesting holes on the opening nine. The shortest hole at Tempest, “Sombrero” is just 157 yards, but the significant downhill shot and the swirling winds can make this anything but a simple club selection with water short and bunkers long and left. Precision matters here, as missing the green can lead to some challenging pitch shots.
No. 5 has long been a hole that was challenged with turf management. The rugged terrain and runoff issues made it tough to keep the fairway pristine on this uphill, blind par 4. However, Bowman’s dedication to elevating the course has really paid dividends on this hole, as the fairway grass is better than it has ever been. It is one of the most difficult holes on the opening nine, and now the turf conditions match the challenge.
The long par 5 sixth hole is one of the tougher driving holes on the course. Named “Long View”, the tee shot requires players to miss five fairway bunkers that can collect tee shots and make this 566-yarder play even longer. The second shot plays significantly downhill to a landing area with significant mounding on the left. Longer players can attempt to get home in two, but a layup leaves a fairly straightforward wedge into a mostly flat putting surface.
Of all the holes at Tempest, No. 7 may just be my favorite. This Redan par 3 plays near 200 yards from the back tees and offers what I consider to be one of the best backdrops on the course. Large pines sit nestled just off the back edge of this infinity green, which seamlessly frames the hole with the dark pines contrasting the bright green putting surface perfectly. A huge cross-bunker that appears to be greenside is actually well short, offering an optical illusion and one greenside bunker left challenges players that wish to attack the back left pin locations. It’s an objectively well-designed golf hole, and one of my favorite par 3s, not only at Tempest, but anywhere.
After you stop to take a photo under the massive flag on No. 9, players head to the par 5 tenth. A large pond comes into play off the tee, and depending on how far back you play the course, the water becomes a more significant concern. A good tee shot that misses the bunkers in the middle of the landing area gives players a chance to get home in two. But the green complex is one of the toughest on the property. Water short means players need to make sure they take enough club, but a wacky three-tiered green can lead to some comical putts.
“High Bridge”, also known as the par 3 twelfth, is one of the most beautiful holes at Tempest. At 186-yards from the back tees, it plays over a massive creek bed to a green that doesn’t offer a lot of square footage from front to back. Bunkers front left and back middle can make for some really challenging shots, so it might be the best idea to take a conservative middle of the green approach.
“Skyline” and “Boardwalk” are the names for No. 15 and No. 16. Skyline gets its name from … well, you guessed it, its elevated tee shot offering views for miles into the horizon. A slight dogleg left that plays significantly downhill, with a pitched fairway that runs left to right. This is a tough tee ball for anyone who likes to work the ball left to right. A hybrid, or even a long iron will offer a simpler way to hold the fairway, while those who play a draw can work the ball with the dogleg and against the pitched fairway for optimal position. “Boardwalk” is an absolute stunner. A short par 4 with bunkers short of the green and on the right, the American flag is visible in the distance, and the dual creeks that must be covered really add to the visual appeal of the tee shot. From the green, a large pond is visible, making this one of the prettiest and most serene spots on the course.
After the par 3 seventeenth comes the long par 4 finisher. This offers another elevated tee shot with the flag predominantly featured just beyond the landing area in the distance. Water runs from in front of the teeing area all the way to short and right of the green. A good tee ball that hugs the right center is perfect, leaving an approach to a green that has some friendly mounding on the left. If you miss with your approach, miss left, as sometimes this small hill can beneficially kick balls down toward or even onto the putting surface.
Tempest offers stay-and-play packages. There are condos on the back end of the driving range, just a minute drive from the clubhouse, which Tempest has subleased and is offering for overnight and multi-day visits. The condos are three bedrooms and can accommodate as many as eight people and are super clean and comfortable. All you need to do is call the pro shop for more information on booking.
I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention a couple of off-property fun spots to hit up while out at Tempest. The Country Tavern is a must while in town, as it offers some of the best barbecue in the state and is just a 10-minute trip down the road into Kilgore. On your way back to the course, pop in at City Limits Bar and catch a beer or two with the locals. We happened to pop by for Wednesday karaoke night and the locals were surprisingly pretty solid singing everything from Elvis to Shania Twain.
Tempest Golf Club is a perennial favorite of the AVIDGOLFER Staff. The course offers tremendous character and a jovial vibe throughout the round. You just won’t find anything like it in DFW. In the last six years, conditions have continued to evolve and improve every time we visit. Even the spots that used to be a little rough are in great form, and the greens continue to roll true time and time again. Course management and maintenance is an ongoing process as once one project seems to be nearing the end, another needs to be started. Tempest is no different, with some potential bunker renovations on the horizon and a new fleet of golf carts going online in June.
“We want every golfer to have a private course experience at a public course,” Crews said. “That’s what we’re trying to do. We want to make Tempest one of the best courses in Texas. That may be a lofty goal, but I think we have the team and the ownership to do it.”
We cannot recommend Tempest enough. For the price and for the layout, it’s absolutely worth your time to head east. And with their affordable stay-and-play packages, it’s a no-brainer for a summer getaway. Tempest is a must-see.