Where can you find inexpensive, quality golf in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area?

Here's a question I get a lot when people ask me about playing golf in the Dallas/Fort Worth area: Where can I find cheap golf that's worth playing?

Fortunately, that's an easy one to answer. And there are a lot of answers. While the DFW area certainly has its share of higher-priced courses such as Cowboys Golf Club and Tour 18 Dallas, there are a lot of bargains out there, and many of them are quite good.

Look to the DFW munis

One reason is that the Metroplex has really good collection of municipal courses. Not just in Dallas, mind you, but all the surrounding communities as well as Fort Worth.

One of my personal favorites is Grapevine Golf Course, which is just five minutes from the aforementioned Cowboys Golf Club. The difference in price is about $100, and Grapevine, one of the few courses designed by the legendary Byron Nelson, has 27 holes (the newest nine was done by D.A. Weibring).

Dallas proper has several good munis, including the Highlands Course at Tenison Park, just 10 minutes from downtown. Opened in 1926, it was Dallas' first muni and favorite haunt of Lee Trevino. I also like Stevens Park and Luna Vista (formerly L.B. Houston), which were both recently redone by Colligan Golf Design.

In Euless -- near Fort Worth and only 10 minutes from DFW International Airport -- Texas Star Golf Course is another municipal gem. Designed by Keith Foster, the course has plenty of elevation change and bentgrass greens. Or head over to Arlington and check out Tierre Verde Golf Club, an Audubon Signature course opened in 1998.

A couple of historic gems

But you don't have to stick to munis to find good, affordable golf. In fact, some of the more affordable golf in the DFW area has a lot of history.

Glen Garden Golf & Country Club near Fort Worth, for example, is where the late great Jack Grout, Jack Nicklaus' old teacher, used to be a pro, and Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson and Sandra Palmer used to play regularly. And at the Golf Club of Dallas near Southern Methodist University, you can check out the original home of the Dallas Open (now the HP Byron Nelson Classic).

And don't forget, when it comes to getting good rates, you should look for online specials at the facilities' Web sites, at GolfTexas.com and at GolfNow.com, which can feature significant discounts if you pay in advance.

Mike Bailey is a former Golf Advisor senior staff writer based in Houston. Focusing primarily on golf in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America with an occasional trip to Europe and beyond, he contributes course reviews, travel stories and features as well as the occasional equipment review. An award-winning writer and past president of Texas Golf Writers Association, he has more than 25 years in the golf industry. He has also been on staff at PGA Magazine, The Golfweek Group and AvidGolfer Magazine. Follow Mike on Twitter at @MikeBaileyGA and Instagram at @MikeStefanBailey.
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Where can you find inexpensive, quality golf in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area?