Lakeway Country Club - Yaupon Golf Course

Review of Lakeway Country Club Yauupon Golf Course in Austin

Lakeway Country Club is home to two excellent golf courses that are owned and managed by Club Club out of Dallas.  Live Oak is considered the easier of the two courses because the terrain is a little flatter but the tree-lined fairways are tighter – read our review of Live Oak to learn more. 

Yaupon is a fairly typical Hill Country course with lots of elevation changes coupled with doglegs, several tight tree lined fairways, some blind shots, forced carries, and guarded greens.  It's short by today's standards (4974 to6741 yards) but plays much longer due to the wind and elevation changes – there are 4 sets of tee boxes and plus 3 combos, so pick the right set and you'll have a fun round. The first time you play Yaupon you will find it challenging because of the ups and downs, blind shots, and sloping greens as well as not knowing where to place the ball on the doglegs. 

The first hole at Yaupon sets the stage for what to expect – this zig zap 572-yard par 5 requires a huge uphill tee shot that ideally needs to carry a big right-side bunker, followed by another long uphill shot and then a blind shot left and downhill toward the green.  Some of the other holes that we really liked included:

• #4 is a short, 343 yards, par 4 with a slight dog right, a good risk-reward shot to try and fly the trees, and a green with 3 tiers and two bunkers
• #8 is a 389-yard par 4 with an elevated tee, a sharp dogleg left, and a fairway that ends (it's easy to drive it off the end fairway) with 2 bunkers before it heads uphill – the uphill shot to the green doesn't appear that steep but it requires you to add a full club to nail it
• #14 is a fun 556-yard par 5 that horseshoes around the trees and then downhill to the green
• #18 is a fantastic finishing hole – a 516-yard par 5 with a tee shot down a three-tiered  roller coaster fairway leading to a reachable pond then it's a long climb uphill to a severely elevated green

When we played Yaupon in March the fairways were transitioning to spring conditions but were in very good condition.  Most of the fairways are ample but not what I would call generous – it's easy to hit the rough or land under the trees.  Some huge beautiful homes line some of the fairways.  The rough was cut thick but playable.

The Yaupon greens were excellent but a tad slow – they normally run an 8 to 9.  They are a wide variety of shapes and range from small to good sized.  They are soft and held the ball well.  The slope and undulation is gentle but there are some subtle breaks.

The bunkers are filled with soft fluffy sand and the lips range from flat to several inches to a foot or more.  They are strategically placed in the fairways, some are hidden, and most guard the greens

Yaupon and Live Oak are private but if you stay at Lakeway Resort & Spa you can play either course.  Lakeway Resort has a great Stay & Play and lots of amenities – read our review of Lakeway Resort & Spa to learn more.