Lost Pines Golf Course

Review of Lost Pines Golf Club

This course closed in 2015 and hopefully a new owner with buy it!

Located at the entrance to Bastrop State Park, which is one of Texas Outside's favorite State Parks, Lost Pines Golf Club is a non-profit organization that is operated by a five member board elected by the membership of the club. The course was designed by Thomas Haynie, Jr (a civil engineer who grew up in Bastrop) and Arthur Fehr, an Austin architect and it opened in 1937 as a nine hole course. In 1997, the Lost Pines Golf Club was expanded into an 18-hole course and presently occupies 135-acres of Bastrop State Park.  Over the years, we have loved camping at Bastrop State Park and spending one  afternoon playing the course. 

The front nine at Lost Pines Golf Course isn't one of the most exciting nines in Texas – it's short with three tee boxes ranging from 2859 yards to 2280 yards, most of the holes are straightforward with what you see is what you get, and the conditions aren't the best, but it's got a couple holes that are fun, for example:

• #2 is a short 302 yard par 4 with a 90 degree dog leg left – a tempting risk reward shot to try and fly the trees to get on or close to the green, you also need to not overrun the fairway and end up in the forest if you don't go over the trees
• #8 is the #2 handicap hole and it requires a decision on the second shot to lay-up or try to fly  the lake to the green set off to the left side of the fairway – some shot making skills and a "go-for-it" attitude are needed to par this fun 379 yard par 4

The front nine is a warm up nine with straight forward holes and flat fairways and small mostly level greens, while the back nine is a blast to play with 3 par 3s, 3 par 4s and 3 par 5s; a couple dramatic elevation changes; some roller coaster fairways that are tight and tree lined; some challenging greens; and some really fun holes like:

• #12 is a short 150 yard par 3 but it requires a slight downhill shot over a ravine to a small oblong sloping green with two bunkers
• #15 is only 285 yards but the tee box is elevated,  the fairway is a very tight tree lined roller coaster ride, and the approach shot is uphill to a tree lined small raised green
• that's followed by a 443 par 5 with a big downhill shot from the tee box and a risk reward shot to try and fly the deep ball eater ravine (it's safer to lay-up if you're not a long hitter) to an uphill two tier green
• #17 is target golf to try and nail a small green with no room for error that's 87 to 133 yards downhill and over a ravine

When we played in January 2014 Lost Pines was dormant and suffering from the severe Texas drought over the last couple years.  As such the fairways were in poor condition – a mixture of dirt, weeds, and clover!  The back nine seemed to be in a little better condition than the front. There was no distinction between the fairways and the rough.  The front nine is flat and the back is a roller coaster.  All of the fairways are a tad tight and tree lined – spray it left or right and you're most likely lost.

The Lost Pines greens are small and most are ovals.  The front nine greens are mostly flat to gently sloping while the back has plenty of slope and undulation and will test your putting skills.  Pin placement made for some very challenging shots when we played.  The greens were a tad slick, a little bumpy, and not in the best condition – particularly on the front nine.

The bunkers are relatively small at Lost Pines Golf Course with lips that ranged from a couple inches to a couple feet.  The sand was a little wet from a recent drizzle so it was hard to judge condition – seemed like the sand would be somewhat soft and maybe a tad thin. 

In September and October 2011, Bastrop County was hit by the most destructive wildfire in Texas history – two people were killed by the fire, 1,673 homes were destroyed, and insured property damage was estimated at $325 million.  Most of Lost Pines Golf Course was spared thanks to sprinkler systems, but on some of the holes on the back nine the forest was destroyed as was a large portion of the State Park – what a shame!