Timber Creek Golf Club - Creekside No. 2
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Timber Creek Golf Club - Creekside No. 2
With creeks, tall pines, oaks and no homes, Friendswood has a jewel of a daily-fee golf course in Timber Creek. Mike Bailey/GolfAdvisor
Timber Creek Golf Club - Pines No. 1
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Timber Creek Golf Club - Pines No. 1
The opening hole on the Pines nine at Timber Creek Golf Club is a straightforward par 4 over water. Mike Bailey/GolfAdvisor
Timber Creek Golf Club - Magnolia trees
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Timber Creek Golf Club - Magnolia trees
There are a few Magnolia trees sprinkled into the layout at Timber Creek Golf Club near Houston. Mike Bailey/GolfAdvisor
Timber Creek Golf Club - Pines No. 7
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Timber Creek Golf Club - Pines No. 7
The seventh on the Pines nine at Timber Creek Golf Club is a 407-yard par 4. Mike Bailey/GolfAdvisor
Timber Creek Golf Club - Creekside No. 1
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Timber Creek Golf Club - Creekside No. 1
The first hole on the Creekside nine at Timber Creek Golf Club is a short par 4 that ends with a semi-island green. Mike Bailey/GolfAdvisor
Timber Creek Golf Club - Creekside No. 9
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Timber Creek Golf Club - Creekside No. 9
The ninth hole on the Creekside nine at Timber Creek Golf Club is a reachable par 5. Mike Bailey/GolfAdvisor
Timber Creek Golf Club - Timber Trails No. 3
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Timber Creek Golf Club - Timber Trails No. 3
The third on the Timber Trails course at Timber Creek Golf Club is a short but tricky par 4. Mike Bailey/GolfAdvisor
Timber Creek Golf Club - Timber Trails No. 5
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Timber Creek Golf Club - Timber Trails No. 5
A large bunker guards the 441-yard, par-4 fifth on the Timber Trails course at Timber Creek G.C. in Friendswood, Texas. Mike Bailey/GolfAdvisor
Timber Creek Golf Club - Timber Trails No. 6
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Timber Creek Golf Club - Timber Trails No. 6
The par-4 sixth on Timber Creek Golf Club's Timber Trails course has a few hazards. Mike Bailey/GolfAdvisor
Timber Creek Golf Club -  patio dining
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Timber Creek Golf Club - patio dining
There are plenty of good vantage points on the golf course at Timber Creek Golf Club in Friendswood, Texas Mike Bailey/GolfAdvisor
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A look at Timber Creek Golf Club near Houston: Natural Texas beauty enhanced by architect Jay Riviere

FRIENDSWOOD, Texas -- Twenty-seven hole Timber Creek Golf Club is one of Jay Riviere's best courses. The late architect from Houston drew inspiration from Winged Foot, where he once worked as an assistant pro, to design a course on a piece of land that is dissimilar to the rest of the Houston area.

Riviere sought to take advantage of the rolling terrain that meandered around creeks and natural water hazards. Best of all, there are no homes on the property, which also includes an expansive clubhouse built above the golf course.

The course breaks down into three nines -- Timber Trails, Creekside and the Pines, all named for their predominant features. Timber Trails is the longest and perhaps most difficult of the three (par 36, 3,575 yards), while the Creekside is the shortest at 3,135, but it is a par 35 with just one par 5.

In addition to the well stocked golf shop and grill in the clubhouse, Timber Creek Golf Club also offers a covered outdoor pavilion, comprehensive practice facilities and GPS on the golf carts. Lessons are also available.

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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A look at Timber Creek Golf Club near Houston: Natural Texas beauty enhanced by architect Jay Riviere