The Golf Club at Star Ranch — Attraction in Hutto

The Golf Club at Star Ranch is built on what was once the Timmerman cattle ranch and is unique in that several architects collaborated on the design: Jay and Carter Morrish and the Bechtol, Russell design firm.

The course has 5 sets of tees and can be played anywhere from 4,990 – 7,017 yards. With a slope rating of 128 from the back tees and 116 from the forwards,

This was my first Texas golf experience and, if I have anything to say about it, it won’t be my last. My understanding is that Texas golf is characterized by several things: the prevailing winds, unforgiving native grasses that are usually found outside the first cut of rough, gorgeous, strategically placed bunkers, and the blue Texas sky. If so, Star Ranch epitomizes Texas golf. The majority of holes are wide-open and subject to the winds that are often associated with the Hill Country. There are over 60 beautiful white sand bunkers that come into play along the peripheries of the fairways and, more significantly, around the greens. Many are intricately shaped, adding to the course’s challenge and aesthetic beauty. Additionally, water comes into play on about 7 holes – more if you spray the ball off the tee.

The TifEagle greens are in a category all their own. The tend to be on the large side, and the majority are sloped back to front. When you combine that with the undulation of the land, you’ll have some interesting putts. The speed is just right for a public course of this caliber. The mounding and swales around the greens can make for some tricky up and downs!

The front nine is reminiscent of a links-style course, with gently rolling and wide-open fairways contoured to the lay of the land. There are no tricks or hidden hazards – what you see is what you get! The outward nine has only one par 5, but what it lacks in par fives and overall length, it more than makes up for in long, challenging par 4s that exceed 400 yards in length from the Champ Tees (6,341 yards). These three holes are three of the four toughest holes on the front side.

The back nine provides a little more of a challenge. With longer and tighter holes, it will challenge your shot-making ability along with your mental acuity. You’ll need to manage a few water hazards, cacti patches, and a creek that crosses the fairway.

It's not often that the shortest hole on a golf course steals the show, but the 15th does just that. It’s the course’s signature hole and one that you’ll talk about for a while. From the Preferred Tees, it plays 123 yards with a large bunker in the back left and a beautiful waterfall abutting the right side of the green. It may be short, but this hole is all about the green; it’s long, narrow, multi-tiered, and has a false front. Many players have hit what they thought was a perfect tee shot into a front pin only to watch their ball roll back down into the water. Par is considered above average on this hole.

For over 15 years, the practice facility has been the envy of golf courses all around the state. When local rezoning and road reconstruction necessitated the move of the driving range, Star Ranch General Manager Ricky Heine contacted Austin golf course architect Roy Bechtol, one of the golf course’s original designers. Bechtol responded with a 12-acre practice facility design that features a driving range with a 55,000-square-foot teeing area, six target greens, and a short game area with five bunkers and two chipping greens. There’s a large practice green behind the clubhouse, too. You can practice with every club in your bag; chances are you’ll...

From the vantage point of the neighboring homes, the golf course unfolds like an artist's canvas, a picturesque landscape dotted with emerald fairways and sculpted greens. The lush expanse exudes an air of tranquility, inviting players into its embrace, where every stroke seems to weave a tale of skill and precision against a backdrop of natural beauty.

The meticulously manicured fairways carve through rolling hills, flanked by swaying trees that lend a sense of serenity to the surroundings. The crisp, manicured grass gives way to challenging bunkers strategically placed, adding a layer of intrigue and excitement to the game. The greens, meticulously tended to, offer a thrilling challenge, beckoning golfers to test their accuracy and finesse.

The course's layout appears to be a harmonious blend of nature and design, showcasing a thoughtful integration of obstacles and open spaces. The designers seem to have sculpted the course to meld seamlessly with the natural contours of the land, offering golfers a truly immersive experience.

From afar, the golfers' movements seem graceful, their swings precise and deliberate as they navigate the challenges presented by this stunning course. Spectators, like myself, can't help but be mesmerized by the spectacle unfolding before our eyes—a ballet of athleticism and strategy set against the breathtaking backdrop of this immaculate course.

While I didn't step foot on the course, observing the players from the nearby houses offered a glimpse into the allure and allure of this golfing sanctuary, leaving me yearning to experience its...

Course is pretty and very well kept. The four hour guarantee turned out to be a real pain. My foursome started with 2 holes free ahead of us and once we got approx. 10 minutes behind schedule, the marshal was on us more often than I use a driver on a par 5. We were told a few times that the two holes ahead of us were free… yeah, just as they were when we started.. It didn’t help that the group behind us were rude. We ended up bypassing the 15th hole just to put some distance between us and the hecklers, as well to get the Marshall off our arses.

Although I was conducting business, we were NOT playing slow by any normal standards. Additionally, the carts would just stop and refuse to move if the GPS tracked the location off the cart path. This happened at least 5 times—could not go forward, could not reverse—obviously adding to the time per hole.

I’m not a professional golfer, but I am a golfer who conducts business with clients on the course almost every week. Clients who work for the largest employer in Round Rock. This location is convenient, and I’m sure a great place to play a round if you’re there to get done ASAP. I don’t imagine everyone is treated how we were—our experience was poor, however.

This was my first time at Star Ranch. After the experience my entire team, it will...