Split Rail Golf Club

THE COURSE

Rated 4 stars by Golf Digest’s “Places to Play” in 2009, Split Rail Golf Club proudly honors the birthplace of golf with its distinctly Scottish-inspired design. The thrilling par-72, 7,353-yard links-style course—designed by Phil Lumsden—draws influence from the classic layouts of Scotland, delivering a unique experience right in the heart of Texas.

Blending strategic challenge with everyday playability, the course features 419 Bermuda grass fairways bordered by dramatic bunkering and rolling mounds of tall fescue. The Champion Dwarf Bermuda greens demand creativity and precision, inviting players to test both touch and imagination.

Challenging enough for scratch golfers yet accessible to all skill levels, the course offers five sets of tees to ensure a fun and rewarding round for everyone. Split Rail has hosted several prestigious tournaments over the years, including multiple Texas Golf Association Mid-Amateur and USGA qualifying events—solidifying its reputation as a championship-caliber venue.

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COURSE TOUR

Hole 1

The par 5 first hole is a shot maker’s dream. The fairway is framed by a wood lined creek on the left and out of bounds on the right. A large hill on the right of the landing area demands a left to right shot to find the fairway. The second shot requires a gentle right to left angle to navigate a fairway bunker on the right and a copse of trees on the left. The green is protected by bunkers on both sides, and slopes from back to front.

Hole 2

The 2nd hole is a long par 4 that usually plays into the prevailing Southwest wind. The fairway is generous in width; however, errant tee shots will be penalized. A tee shot finding either of the two large bunkers are the right will make reaching the green difficult on the second shot. Moguls line the left side of the fairway and landing on or around them, and the result will be the same. The green slopes from back to front and there’s a slight tilt from right to left.

Hole 3

The only par 4 on the front nine that could be considered a “birdie” hole. Bunkers on the left and right of the fairway frame the tee shot, but the water on the right definitely comes into play. Visually, a left to right tee shot is the order of the day although a nice draw that can fly the large mound on the right can have positive results. The two-tiered green is surrounded by four bunkers. Putting downhill here can be a challenge, and there is steep drop off to the water just behind the hole.

Hole 4

The first of the four par 3’s has a narrow but deep green. The terrain slopes away from the green on either side. Bunkers guard the front and left side of the green.  An errant shot left will find the water. An errant shot right will find the creek. It is a two club difference from back to front. Because the green is slightly uphill, it might take one more club.

Hole 5

#5 is the number 1 handicap hole. The tee shot is a challenge as a water hazard is visually intimidating. Some might challenge it and try to hit it over, but the smart play is to the right. The approach shot doesn’t get any easier as the rise in elevation requires an extra club. Finding the bunker in front of the green can require a long bunker shot. Find the bunker on the left and it’s a bunker shot to a shallow green sliding away from the bunker. The green might be the most challenging on the front nine. It is definitely deserving of the distinction the most difficult hole on the golf course.

Hole 6

#6 is a par 5 that requires equal amounts of daring and restraint. Off the tee a strategic bunker awaits any shot to the left. Trees line the right of the fairway for almost the entirety of the hole. Water looms left on the second shot. The daring will try to get home in two while the patient golfer will play for position on the approach to the green. The green complex is one of the most challenging on the course.  A shallow L shaped green is protected in front by water and a deep bunker; both run the width of the green. Difficult to see but there is a slight change in elevation that requires more club that what the distance indicates.

Hole 7

More than a few members consider this to be the toughest hole on the golf course. With the 90 degree dogleg left hole, There is ample reason for that sentiment. First, the tee shot must split a narrow treelined fairway to the landing area and be long enough to carry the dogleg. The bunker on the far right side acts as a reference point for the dogleg but can be reached. A hazard dissects the fairway just in front of the 100 yard. Marker. The green is elevated so only the front third can be seen from the fairway. The approach shot is made more difficult by the knob on the left side of the green.  There is little room to the right is not much better as there are hug pecan trees there. The green is two tiered, and there is a significant drop in elevation from the front to back.

Hole 8

This is the shortest par 3 on the course and provides a good chance for a birdie. If it looks familiar, that’s because it was patterned after the Postage Stamp par three at Royal Troon. It is the narrowest and smallest green on the course. There’s a pot bunker on the front left and the bunker on the right is one of the deepest on the course Members love to aim at the hill and let the ball bounce off it. It is definitely a high risk/high reward shot. Despite its size, there is a two club difference front to back.

Hole 9

The final hole on the front nine is a good one. A dogleg right layout, the dogleg becomes more pronounced the longer tees you play. Despite a generous landing area, a treelined creek runs down the length of the left side as well as the right side. The kidney shaped green is well protected with a large mound on the left and three bunkers on the right. Since the hole plays generally into the wind, it presents quite the challenge to finish the none.

Hole 10

The back nine starts with a challenging uphill dogleg right par 4. A strategic bunker frames the left side of the fairway. There is a partially hidden bunker on the right.  With its steep face, finding this bunker will make par difficult. The green sits on a plateau making it impossible to see the entire surface. A pronounced decline on the left side of the green offers another challenge to par. The green is two tiered with a huge drop from back to front. Here’ s the catch phrase for the back nine stay below the hole.

Hole 11

The eleventh hole is the shortest hole on the course. Downhill and usually down wind, club selection is key to the unique shape of the green. The left offers the deepest part of the green at over fifty feet in width with change in elevation of over six feet. The green narrows to less than twenty feet wide on the right. With the bunker in front, it demonstrates that a hole does not have to be long to present a challenge.

Hole 12

Members will swear that #12 though straight is deceptively difficult. Water guards both the left and right side of the fairway. A hazard area to the left and bunker on the right might the landing area for the tee shot narrow. The green twists away to the left from the approach and bunkers are there for any shot offline. Sloped from back to front, the green offers many subtle breaks.

Hole 13

Number #13 presents a dogleg left tee shot that must thread the tree lined fairway and carry the creek. The shallow green is surrounded by bunkers, but put the tee shot in play, it is a short iron to the green. The green slopes in both directions from the center right, and there is a considerable drop on the left side.

Hole 14

The par 5 14th hole is the longest on the course. It also presents the widest fairway, and with the prevailing wind at the golfer’s back, it would appear that the tee shot is stress free. Moguls run the length of the left fairway and a large water hazard on the right. With a good tee shot getting home in two is a definite possibility. Bunkers though guard both sides of the green. The green is two tiered and slopes from back to front. Pin placement on the knob back left is one of the toughest pins on the golf course.

Hole 15

Turning back for home #15 presents a formidable challenge. The tee shot is usually into the wind, and the landing are is one of the narrowest on the golf course. The two bunkers on the left and the water hazard on the right add to the difficulty. Members have numerous nicknames for the large hill on the left. None are complimentary. The cross bunker can come into play and make a difficult hole even more so. The green is one of the largest on the golf course and there is a ridge that dissects the middle of the green.

Hole 16

#16 might be considered the most difficult par three.at Split Rail. Only a portion of the green is visible from the tee. Along with the usual crosswind, club selection can be challenging. The green is not deep and there is a ridge that separates the front of the green while is slopes severely from front to back.  A deep bunker sits to the right front. Tee shots that do not reach the green can get some crazy bounces from the mounds that surround the green.

Hole 17

Another short par four tee shot on #17 must split the trees left and right and carry the creek. Two bunkers sit on the right and a large mogul on the left. A wayward shot right will find the water, and just beyond the second bunker the water cuts into a sloping fairway. Water continues to come into play just right of the green, and another cross bunker sit just to the right. The green again, slopes from back to front, and a depression on the left can make putting a challenge.

Hole 18

The home hole is a par five that normally play into the wind; however, a good tee shot and a golfer might be tempted to go for it. Two large trees sit on either side of the teeing area and can come into play with an errant drive. Rolling hills and a bunker line the left side while a huge steep faced bunker on the right. The fairway splits from there with large moguls separating the two fairways. Going to the right is the shorter approach but that fairway is narrow and slopes toward the center. Going to the left is no bargain as a large tree blocks some approach shots and the front left of the green has a false front. Playing up hill from the left more club is need to carry the bunker The green slopes from right to left, and has some of the most subtle changes of any green on the course.

GOLF COURSE POLICIES

The dress code applies to Members and guest(s) and pertains to use of golf facility. Shirts with a collar, mock neck or turtlenecks are required. Soft spikes or tennis shoes are required. No cutoffs or warm-up suits will be permitted.

The golf course and practice facility are closed on Monday, except for holidays that fall on Monday. The course is also closed on Christmas Day and Thanksgiving Day. The Club may also be opened on Monday due to tournament scheduling.

Each driver is expected to use good judgment and is responsible for the operation of the cart to prevent damage done to the golf course or to the car. Any driver of a golf cart is entirely responsible for any damage done to the golf course or golf cart and will be required to reimburse Split Rail in full. Drivers are expected to observe golf cart rules, such as keeping carts on paths around tees and greens, do not proceed past cart signs in par 4 and par 5 fairways, carts remain on the path on all par 3’s, and do not drive carts in native grass areas or on mounds. Check with the golf shop for golf cart return times in the evening. Minimum age requirement to rent a golf cart is 16 and the driver must have a valid driver’s license.

The Club abides by the liquor laws of the State of Texas and does not serve liquor to persons under the age of 21. Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission prohibits alcoholic beverages from being brought onto or taken off the premises of Split Rail.

Please allow faster players through when possible and always try to keep up with the pace of play. Members and guests may play up to 5 players in a group, but everyone in the group must be riding in a cart. Non-member groups of 5 are not allowed before 11:00am Friday through Sunday and on Holidays. Members and guests making tee times for two players may be paired with others on busy days.

Members can book tee times up to 14 days in advance. The general public can book tee times up to seven (7) days in advance.