This was my first time playing golf at Rayburn Country. The course was in great shape. Greens were superb in November. It offered a challenge and it is affordable. I look forward to going back. Also, I had an amazing fish dinner at the onsite restaurant.
3 months ago
Rayburn Country Resort in Brookeland, Texas, sits nestled along the shores of Lake Sam Rayburn. It was built in 1968 to serve as the centerpiece of the master plan community, encompassing 3,300 acres of lakefront property. For golf lovers, there’s an 18-hole Robert Trent Jones golf course and an immaculate 14,000-square-foot clubhouse, as well as a hotel, a restaurant named Sammy Ray's, a family pool area, tennis courts, a fitness center, a marina, and banquet space. Future plans include hiking and biking trails, a bar and game room, a spa, and other improvements aimed at appealing to a wider variety of vacationers. Many of these amenities are available at no charge to residents of the community.
Guests have several dining options available. Sammy Ray’s is the ultimate bar and grill experience. It's perfect for either date night or treating the team to dinner after that big win. It’s also the area’s go-to venue on Friday with free live music.
The Angelina Room is located in the main clubhouse and offers a great selection of steaks and chops as well as some interesting seafood dishes. And, they have a pretty good Tex-Mex menu!
The golf course, once known as Rayburn Country Club, has undergone a significant transformation over the years. The front nine was designed by Jay Riviere and opened in 1968. The back nine was designed by legendary golf course architect Robert Trent Jones and opened in 1972. The 3rd nine, known as the Family 9, was designed by Robert Von Hagge.
The Front 9 was always a member favorite, probably because it was the easiest of the three layouts. The fairways are generous, water only comes into play once, and so do the bunkers. The Back 9 also has generous landing areas off the tee, although the many doglegs may have you second-guessing your club selection. The holes are much tighter, the approaches are more challenging, and the majority of the greens are elevated. When all 3 nines were playable, the Family 9 was the toughest, relying on shot placement and small greens. Driver was usually not a good choice of the tee, even on the 600-yard double dogleg.
After years of neglect, the front and back nines have been renovated, and decisions are being made on what to do with the 3rd nine. Now featuring over 150 feet of elevation change, this redesigned course has brought new life to the property and is quickly becoming a bona fide golf destination.
The golf course will appeal to all skill levels, as long as you pick the right set of tees! The designers did a fantastic job of blending the natural beauty of the surrounding piney woods with well-placed hazards, bunkers, and undulating greens. Skilled players will be presented with several risk/reward opportunities as they play the course; what they choose to do is up to them!
The course has several memorable holes. Number 6 is a picturesque par 4 that looks like something straight out of North Carolina. The hole plays 410 yards with tall pine trees lining both sides of the fairway, so keeping the ball in play will go a long way in posting a good score. The green is elevated and protected on each side by deep bunkers.
The 10th hole at Rayburn Country Resort is a dogleg left par 5 that plays downhill the majority of the way. I mention that because at some point, you’ll be faced with a downhill lie as you approach the green, something not all players are comfortable with, and may prohibit you from going for the green in two. Another deterrent is the “chasm” that crosses the fairway about fifty yards in front of the green, which is a lot wider than deep.
Number 16 is another great golf hole. It’s a dogleg right par 4, playing 442 yards (I’ve played shorter par 5s!). The tee shot is semi-blind, so just hit it down the middle. Your approach shot plays downhill into a very large green protected by grass bunkers on the left and a small pot bunker on the right. It will take two long and well-struck shots to reach the green in regulation.
5 months ago
Best course to play in SETX imo. Food is really good and a nice little coffee shop too. GPS on the carts. Staff has always been very friendly. Would love to stay and play one day.
7 months ago
Beautiful course went on a chill Tuesday in December and just about had the place to ourselves, great pace of play.
2 months ago
Get your green jackets ready, this is the best pine tree course this side of the Mason Dixon line. I don’t care what Jim Nance says. A challenging course with views for days. Carts with top level tech and seats like a Vexus. Affordable and approachable, we felt right at home.
Huge shoutout to Jordan who I coordinated our little scramble tournament with months in advance and he went above and beyond to make sure we were taken care of. Can’t speak any higher of that man and the work he put in to make sure we were accommodated. At the same time, he was helping a local organization pull off a 100+ golfer tournament that went off without a hitch. So if you want to host your organization’s tournament, look no further and give Jordan a call.
We ate at the clubhouse after each round and the Cali chicken sandwich, the pimento cheese bacon burger, and the MARGS were out of control good. They were a good price too! Like am in East Texas Augusta heaven??
Overall, great course, great accommodations, great food and no one got arrested on their way to their tee time.
a year ago
