Course Review: Falconhead Golf Club

Contributed by Norm Rigg
May 2009

Falconhead Golf Club (Austin, TX)
Par 72 (7,302 yards)

Green Fees: $59 to $79 for 18, $29 to $49 Twilight

Established in 2003, Falconhead was laid out by the PGA Tour Design Center as a high end public fee course located in the Texas hill country a few miles from downtown Austin.

While the golf course has a development of prestigious homes built around it, they rarely distract the golfer and at times provide useful aiming points. Falconhead is a very hilly course, with an abundance of Texas oaks. It appears that the course was originally exclusively for cart golf, as there are long hikes between certain holes, especially from 9 to 10, 11 to 12 and 15 to 16. The club policy has changed from “walking is allowed at restricted times” to walking is allowed any time, which is great to see. A reasonable fitness level is recommended as it is indeed very hilly, always windy and a good distance no matter which tees you play.

Overall, Falconhead is an enjoyable, interesting course that uses the terrain well. With five sets of tees and distances from 5,202 yards to 7,302 yards, it is a challenging course for any level of golfer. The opening few holes provide a good, gentle start to get a feel for the layout and then it gets progressively more challenging. The front nine heats up with the difficult two shot 6th and the long par 3 7th before finishing up with the long par 4 9th. On the back nine, holes 11 and 12 really use the terrain well with elevated tees and greens. Hole 16 is a great risk/reward par 4 that is driveable but guarded in front by a sea of bunkers which means any shot off-target is in trouble. The 17^th is the “signature hole”, a pretty, challenging par 3, especially from the back tees. The par 5 18^th hole is a potential birdie hole and a great way to end the round. Remember to keep your ball to the left as it is adjacent to the driving range.

Texan hospitality is the order of the day with the Falconhead staff and the practice facilities are excellent.
Overall, I would give Falconhead Golf Club a 2 / 4 for walkability, a 3 / 4 for architecture and aesthetics, and a 2 / 2 for playability for a total of 7 / 10.
Review by Norm Rigg (May, 2009)

The Walking Golfer Course Rating System

Total is out of 10 Points

0 – 4 points – Walkability

0 – 4 points – Architecture and Aesthetics

0 - 2 points – Playability and Strategy