As we turn the calendar to January once again, we here at AG wanted to draw your attention to a few things happening in the new year. Starting with the magazine itself, you may notice some small changes to the layout inside. We just wanted to make some things a little more dynamic, so we got together and came up with a few ways to improve things. We also look forward to some more new dynamic content in 2026, including bigger, bold photos and a few other ideas we’re kicking around. We are liking the changes so far, and really hope you do too.
Speaking of other business, we are expanding our golf expos to Houston in 2026. After a couple of years in Dallas, we wanted to expand, and Houston felt like a great fit. We have seen plenty of success at the Dallas Expo, and we hope Houston has a similar vibe. If you have family or friends in the Houston area, we hope you will drop them a reminder to come see the brand-new Texas Golf Expo in Houston April 3rd and 4th, 2026. Of course, we’ll be back at the Plano Event Center for the Dallas edition as well. That will take place Friday, March 20 — Sunday March 22.
On to more pressing business …
A few things took place in 2025 that you should keep your eyes on in 2026. First, Meadowbrook Fort Worth, Cowboys Golf Club and Texas Star all reopened after major renovation projects. Meadowbrook is a great municipal layout that really flexes with superior topography. Architects John Colligan and Trey Kemp really created something special in east Fort Worth. Conditions were solid when the course reopened in late 2025, but with a spring of some rain and sunshine in 2026, we only expect the course to get better and better. The main issue Meadowbrook will face are the number of rounds it will see annually moving forward. However, the larger tee boxes should help, as the grounds crew can move tees around to prevent them from seeing too many swings, especially on par 3s. No. 6 is a true beast of a par 5, and No. 8 is one of the prettiest par 3s you will see. The back nine at Meadowbrook has a few more of the bones of the original layout, and the finishing stretch of 16, 17 and 18 are all great. If you didn’t make it out to Meadowbrook in 2025, add it to your list for 2026.
Texas Star also reopened after an extensive greens renovation in late 2025, and conditions were better than ever. The new greens and lack of play while they were being updated made it immaculate in the fall. It was so cherry, we ranked it as the No. 1 course on the West for our November Best of Public rankings. We expect it to continue to thrive moving forward in 2026.
Cowboys Golf Club also decided to pull the plug on its struggling greens at the beginning of the summer for a complete renovation. Rather than just update the greens, Arcis Golf also decided to upgrade cart paths, irrigation, tee boxes, bridges, and add a new 18-hole putting course and a fun new look to the driving range. The course reopened in late 2025, and the new-look greens are fantastic. There were also a few layout changes, including a centerline bunker on No. 1, removal of the bunkers behind the 3rd green (the Cowboys star is there now), some additional tree removal across the course and some other nice new elements that have Cowboys headed back toward the top of the food chain in the daily fee ranks. The course is already open, and the new range and putting course should be open very soon. Speaking of that new range, it incorporates some more Cowboys-themed additions, including used turf from AT&T Stadium and goal posts that serve as a fun target to fire a few range balls through.
The new putting course is also nearing completion and was designed by Beau Welling. If you aren’t familiar with that name, he is the architect who is behind Fields Ranch West Course, Travis Club, and as a Master Planner, has assisted Tiger Woods with Bluejack National, Trout National, and, coming soon to Fort Worth, Bluejack Ranch. The 18-hole putting course at Cowboys has blue artificial turf surrounded by traditional green, which frames each whimsical hole beautifully. It’s a great addition that offers something else to do while on property. If you have kiddos, you can take them up to play just the putting course, or if you have a group of buddies, play the new putting track before lunch, grab a bite and then head out to play the 18-hole updated layout in the afternoon.
Texas is becoming a destination for high-end private golf. It can be a bit of a bummer to see a bevy of new, spectacular courses that will be bordering on unplayable for the general public, but there are a lot of new high-end private courses worth mentioning, not only here in DFW, but elsewhere in the state.
Loraloma is one of the newer properties in Texas. This David McLay Kidd (Bandon Dunes, Gamble Sands) design opened in the fall and figures to be one of the top designs in the state. Located 25 miles from downtown Austin, this luxury course and community will continue to grow, and should you manage to get an invite, it will be one of those days you cancel everything and make it work.
Another similar property is Freestone. This community is located in Fairfield and sits on the largest private lake in the country. Boating, fishing, dining, an 18-hole course, short course and every amenity you could ever dream of. Sure, it’s for the wealthy, but Freestone is just a prime example of how golf is exploding in the state of Texas.
There are a few new private clubs that are more local. One is Maverick Golf & Ranch Club. This Discovery Property is located in far south Fort Worth near Aledo. Maverick features 1,100 acres of golf course, amenities and homesites. There will be three golf experiences when complete: an 18-hole championship course, a 12-hole executive course and a 9-hole par 3 course, all designed by the legendary Tom Fazio. Rumors suggest a fall opening, but major developments like this are always a bit of a moving target. Expect more news about Maverick Golf & Ranch Club throughout 2026.
Just a few miles away, sits one of the most anticipated new private projects in DFW. Bluejack Ranch, designed by the one and only Tiger Woods with some collaboration from the aforementioned Beau Welling, is a project hatched by Andy Mitchell and sits off U.S. 377 and Kelly Road, and is also the brainchild of former TCU and PGA Tour player J.J. Henry, who has joined this effort as a partner. Henry has long been trying to get a project in south Fort Worth off the ground, and now it is finally becoming a reality.
The more than 900-acre Bluejack Ranch development will offer more than 600 home lots and a club built around the Woods-designed golf course, which is expected to be a stern test of golf for high-level players and amateurs alike. The Fort, which will serve as the epicenter of the amenities, is also under construction and like its neighbor Maverick, a fall opening is planned for Bluejack. With Tiger’s name attached to this property, memberships and homesites are sure to go fast, as the area surrounding Aledo continues to explode with activity.
In a December social media post, Tiger, alongside J.J. Henry, said, “One of the reasons I do this, is because I want it to be multi-generational … three or four generations playing all at the same time. That’s what we’re going to have here.” Bluejack Ranch is, without a doubt, one of the most talked about new projects in Texas private golf.
Up north is another project that has been in development for the last couple of years. 1876 Country Club in Celina is coming soon and offers another private option for those in the rapidly growing northern suburbs of Dallas. The clubhouse will offer dining and luxury amenities like a state-of-the-art fitness center, racquet sports, and a resort-style pool. The course progress has been slow on the project, but it is coming along … and the Lee Singletary design is due for a soft opening sometime soon.
We mentioned a couple of the public renovations in Cowboys Golf Club and Meadowbrook Fort Worth. But there was another local renovation that will impact the 2026 PGA Tour schedule. Speaking of that schedule, one thing we’re excited about in 2026 is the new tour schedule once again placing the CJ CUP Byron Nelson and the Charles Schwab Challenge back-to-back. Although neither was granted elevated tournament status for 2026, the convenience of both being in consecutive weeks again should hopefully help draw a few more big names into the fields this upcoming season. The Nelson takes place May 18-24 and the Schwab is the following week, May25-31. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is the defending champ at the Nelson, and Ben Griffin defends at the Schwab. Anyway, back to that renovation … TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney reopened in late 2025 after Lanny Wadkins reimagined the course. The overall routing remains the same, but the greens have been updated and are very different from the old Craig Ranch. New turf across the entire course and some new, large waste bunkers have been added in several spots. In addition, the removal of some trees and underbrush has opened up vistas across the property. Wadkins did a wonderful job on the update, and the changes should challenge the tournament competitors, while keeping the elements fair for membership. We anticipate scoring at the Nelson to be a little tougher than in the past, but I suppose you never really know until pegs are in the ground in May. Remember, these guys are really good. Regardless, the new TPC Craig Ranch is fantastic.
Speaking of tournament golf, there is another new tournament you may not be familiar with. In December, officials from Abilene Christian University (ACU) Athletics, Golf Channel and HNS Sports Group announced a multi-year partnership to host a new collegiate golf tournament, the Abilene Christian Intercollegiate. The competition will be held annually at Halbert National in Granbury, Texas.
If you haven’t heard of Halbert National, we don’t blame you. We hadn’t either until the middle of 2025. This privately owned course isn’t open to the public, and it doesn’t offer memberships. Located 40 miles southwest of Fort Worth on 170 acres along Lake Granbury, Halbert National is owned by medical biotech entrepreneur and founder of Caris Life Sciences, David D. Halbert, and designed by legendary golf designer Tom Fazio. Halbert, an Abilene native and ACU alumnus opened the 7,542-yard, par-72 course in 2025 for himself, his wife and anyone he wants to entertain. So, to say it’s exclusive is an understatement.
The inaugural event will take place October 19-21, 2026. The three-day tournament will feature nine men’s and nine women’s golf teams with three rounds of stroke play. Halbert will host the tournament, with both the men’s and women’s teams competing annually in the field alongside some of the country’s top collegiate golf programs.
Early commitments on the women’s side include 2025 NCAA semifinalist University of Oregon, in addition to Baylor University and Purdue University. Initial teams on the men’s side feature Southern Methodist University, University of Houston and Texas A&M University.
“Partnering with Golf Channel and competing at one of Texas’ most remarkable courses (more) gives us an incredible opportunity to showcase college golf at its highest level. We’re proud to launch an event that we believe will grow into one of the sport’s premier traditions,” said Zack Lassiter, ACU vice president for athletics, in a December press release. “This tournament highlights the national profile of Abilene Christian University, the excellence of our student-athletes, and the power of collaboration with our partners at Halbert National. It’s a celebration of what’s possible when vision and commitment come together, and we’re excited to see it become a signature moment on the college golf calendar.”
Golf Channel will present live coverage of all three rounds of the Abilene Christian Intercollegiate from October 19-21.
The event will honor the late Johnny Perkins, a Granbury native and standout wide receiver at Abilene Christian from 1974-76, where he became the program’s all-time leader in receiving yards and earned All-American honors. His record-setting career at ACU helped launch him to the NFL, where he was drafted by the New York Giants in 1977 and went on to play seven seasons. As a member of the ACU Sports Hall of Fame and the university’s All-Century Team, Perkins remains one of the most celebrated athletes in Wildcat history.
“I’m honored to host the Abilene Christian Intercollegiate at this premier golf course. The event unites the innovative spirit of Caris Life Sciences with my ACU heritage, all while celebrating my friend and ACU classmate, Johnny Perkins,” Halbert said. “I look forward to welcoming the Golf Channel and a national TV audience to experience competitive collegiate golf at Halbert National.”
This will be a great event. Now, we just need to figure out a way to wiggle our way onto the course before the tournament. Your move, Mr. Halbert.
As of the writing of this feature, Scottie Scheffler is still the top player in the world, and has just received his fourth consecutive Player of the Year Award. It’s been a while since we’ve seen someone on tour this dominant. Will that continue in 2026? Scottie is just a United States Open away from capturing the career Grand Slam. This year’s U.S. Open will be at Shinnecock Hills, and it just so happens that the final round, will take place on June 21, which will not only be Father’s Day … but also falls on Scheffler’s 30th birthday. Maybe the stars will align.
Will 2026 be the year Jordan Spieth returns to form? Hard to say. It’s even harder to believe the last time Jordan won on Tour was all the way back in 2022 at the RBC Heritage. With that said, Jordan is still only 32 years old, and when he was playing his best, he was one of the most impressive players on Tour. Maybe 2026 will be the year Jordan gets back on track and brings home a couple more wins. We would absolutely love to see it.
Speaking of local Tour pros, Will Zalatoris seems to be healthy for the first time in a while. Will Z. was the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year just five years ago, and like Scottie, still has yet to turn 30. Back problems have been a speedbump, but this talented Wake Forest product already has three 2nd place finishes in major championships. He finished 2nd at Augusta in 2021, and 2nd at the PGA as well T2 at the U.S. Open in 2022. From his recent social media posts, Will seems to think he is past the injury concerns, so we hope to see prime Zalatoris in 2026.
We went over all the new private courses popping up around the state. Texas has never really been known as a great destination for resort golf. Barton Creek and the JW Marriott in San Antonio are both great, and of course the PGA Frisco Omni/Fields Ranch combo changed the game here locally. But that would be more of a staycation for those of us in DFW. If you have been paying attention, there is a new resort that is a work in progress down in Mount Enterprise, Texas. Wild Spring Dunes is a Dream Golf development (Bandon Dunes, Sand Valley, Rodeo Dunes) They have two courses planned, a Tom Doak, and a Coore-Crenshaw.
An 8-hole preview loop is available now for the Doak layout, with a soft opening of all 18 in the spring and a grand opening next fall. The Coore-Crenshaw has been routed and the initial phases of shaping are underway. The entire 36, clubhouse, hospitality, dining and accommodations are all expected to be complete sometime in 2027. There are already grumblings of a third 18-hole layout and potential short course, as Dream Golf acquired thousands of acres to expand as they want in the coming years. The natural topography, towering east Texas pines and post oak savannah make this a spectacular piece of land. Wild Spring Dunes is going to be a very special place when it is all complete, but get something planned for 2026 if you want to get in on the ground level and brag to all your friends that you saw it in its infancy. Although it’s still very raw, you can see the vision, and we think Dream Golf is going to knock this one out of the park.
Although this isn’t a story for 2026, we expect to begin seeing some buildup for the 2027 PGA Championship at Fields Ranch East Course in Frisco. Once the 2026 PGA at Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania comes to a close on May 17, Fields Ranch is up in the batting order. We expect to see a lot of promotional material and news about the 2027 tournament in the second half of the year. You can register for ticket information on the PGA Championship website now, and more information will come as we draw closer to the tournament. We’re pumped that we are only about 16 months away from major championship golf returning to North Texas.
Hopefully we didn’t miss anything, but with the popularity of golf in Texas, we’re sure we probably left a few things out. From ongoing renovations, new renovations, new resorts, and new private clubs, the one thing we wish we would see is a few new daily fee courses pop up here in the area. Courses are packed with old and new players alike, making tee times tough. But there are still plenty of options, and with some luck and an alarm set here and there, you can still cop those premium weekend tee times. We love that golf is so popular, and we hope it stays that way, but a couple of new public courses would be great for those who can’t shell out for a premium club membership!
Regardless, we hope you enjoy your 2026 on the links and all the great things to come in the area.