Whispering Pines Golf Club named best course in Texas for 12th time

In May, both The Dallas Morning News and Golfweek named Whispering Pines Golf Club the best golf course in Texas in the annual rankings. Additionally, the course was also recognized as the No. 19 modern course in America and the No. 55 overall course in the country by Golf Digest.

The course was originally designed in 1998 by Texas golf course architect Chet Williams when he was with the Nicklaus Design Group. The course initially opened in March 2000 and opened its doors to rave reviews and has been recognized by The Dallas Morning News as the best course in Texas 14 times. The course has also appeared in Golf Digest’s Top 100 five times and GolfWeek’s Modern Course rankings every year since 2011.

In December 2019, Williams returned for the course’s new construction which was strategically planned during the course’s end-of-season closure. Whispering Pines reopened to members in the fall of 2020.

Under Williams’ guidance, some of the changes to the course included re-grassing the fairways and rough with Zeon zoysiagrass and TifEagle bermudagrass was added on the greens. All of the greens were completely rebuilt, including several that were completely redesigned, and all tee boxes were leveled with several new tees added. The course’s bunkers were also rebuilt with some eliminated and others added.

Hole No. 14 at Whispering Pines. (Photo: Hugh Hargrave, Whispering Pines Golf Club)

General Manager Tim Timlin, a 30-year veteran in club management with a track record of creating and delivering unique golf experiences, oversees the course operations.

“Everyone at Whispering Pines has worked incredibly hard through our recent course construction to be ready for this year,” Timlin said. “This is the best place in Texas to play.”

The property which encompasses Whispering Pines Golf Club was purchased by local philanthropists Barbara and Corby Robertson Jr. in 1970. In 1998, the Robertsons’ vision for the property broadened when they decided to add a world-class golf course. Williams was asked to design the “best course” in Texas.

“The experience at Whispering Pines over the years is truly special,” Corby Robertson said. “We are especially appreciative of all our contributors and Spirit sponsors who have enabled its positive impact on the global golf community. We’re also honored that Chet Williams’ creative genius and our Whispering Pines team effort continues to be recognized by the golf community in Texas and around the country. We devoted significant resources to new construction on the course in the last two years, so we’re thrilled to see that we continue to deliver a memorable experience to members and their guests.”

The property features an 18-hole championship golf course carved through piney woods, creeks, lakes and natural dunes. A nine-hole short course, The Needler, is also featured.

In addition to the Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship (Nov. 1-7), Whispering Pines is the host course of the Spirit Charity Challenge featuring Spirit alumni and Spirit Hall of Fame Game which features local sports Hall of Famers and celebrities at the course.