Big Easy Ranch golf course - no. 1
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Big Easy Ranch golf course - no. 1
The golf course at Big Easy Ranch makes a great first impression. Notice all the waterfalls from tee on the first hole, which plays from 65 yards to 135 yards. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Big Easy Ranch golf course - no. 2
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Big Easy Ranch golf course - no. 2
From the back tee, the second hole at Big Easy Ranch is a difficult 193 yards, but move up to the forward tees to the left and you take much of the water out of play. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Big Easy Ranch golf course - no. 3
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Big Easy Ranch golf course - no. 3
One of the flatter holes at Big Easy Ranch is the medium-length third hole. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Big Easy Ranch golf course - no. 4
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Big Easy Ranch golf course - no. 4
The longest hole at Big Easy Ranch is the fourth, which can play 251 yards from the back tee. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Big Easy Ranch golf course - no. 5
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Big Easy Ranch golf course - no. 5
A good sized lake comes first starts to come into play on the fifth hole at Big Easy Ranch in Columbus, Texas. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Big Easy Ranch golf course - no. 6
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Big Easy Ranch golf course - no. 6
Beautiful bunkering, like this one greenside on the sixth hole, is a big part of the picture at Big Easy Ranch in Columbus, Texas. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Big Easy Ranch golf course - no. 7
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Big Easy Ranch golf course - no. 7
It's pretty much all carry on the seventh hole at Big Easy Ranch in Columbus, Texas. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Big Easy Ranch golf course - no. 9
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Big Easy Ranch golf course - no. 9
Big Easy Ranch ends as it starts, with a beautiful water features on the ninth hole. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Big Easy Ranch - no. 8
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Big Easy Ranch - no. 8
Look familiar? Though not an exact replica, the par-3 eighth hole at Big Easy Ranch has more than a resemblance to the par-3 12th at Augusta National. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
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Brand new Big Easy Ranch in Columbus, Texas is one of country's finest par-3 golf courses

COLUMBUS, Texas -- Designed by the same architect who created Whispering Pines (ranked no. 1 in Texas by the Dallas Morning News), Big Easy Ranch takes its place among the finest par-3 courses in the country after opening in 2016.

As part of of a private outdoors club that includes premium hunting and fishing, Big Easy Ranch employed Chet Williams to design the course. Williams, a former lead associate for Jack Nicklaus, also designed the par-3 Needler Course at Whispering Pines in Trinity, Texas, as well as the top-ranked championship layout there.

The course at Big Easy Ranch measures 1,570 yards from the longest of three sets of tees. There are 14 waterfalls as well as a lake, pristine white bunkers and perfect MiniVerde greens. The eighth hole is very similar to the 12th hole at Augusta National.

Big Easy Ranch also offers extensive practice facilities, which will be used my members and guests as well as golfers who attend the new Hal Sutton Golf Academy. The two-sided range offers golfers the opportunity to work on fades and draws as well as all aspects of the short game. Clubfitting, which includes a system with the new PXG Club, is also being offered.

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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Brand new Big Easy Ranch in Columbus, Texas is one of country's finest par-3 golf courses