Hidden Falls Golf Club

Review and Rating of Hidden Falls Golf Club in Marble Falls Texas

Hidden Falls Golf Club, formally a private course called Meadowlake Country Club, is owned by the City of Meadowlake and is open to the public. The course was designed by Leon Howard and the front nine opened in 1973 and back opened the next year.  Hidden Falls golf course was carved out of a pecan grove and the terrain is gently rolling to flat.   Like most courses built in the '60s and '70s, the course is a little short by today's standards and with four sets of tee boxes you can find a yardage that fits your game and skill level, which means you can have a relaxing and enjoyable round regardless of your skill level.

The front nine is more traditional and fairly straight-forward with one water hole, no bunkers (but very good use of mounding), and 4 dog legs as it winds its way through the Meadowlake community with moderately priced homes lining the fairways. This is a nine where you should score very well and have the opportunity to have a record-setting score. The most memorable and challenging hole on this nine is #4 which is 379 yards but the #1 handicap because it requires a very precise drive to give you a shot at the green thanks to a large tree and pond that are in the middle of the fairway about a 140 yards out and blocking your approach to the green. The right side of the tree is narrow and it's easy to land in the yard of one of the homes but if you take the left side and stray too far left you're blocked by other trees – a fun hole.  On the front each of the holes are a little different from the others and there are 2 dog legs left and 3 dog legs right. 

The back nine is much more exciting, scenic, and memorable.  This nine is challenging with some ups and downs, blind shots, 5 water holes and very few back yards to worry about  This nine requires some good course management and shot making skills.  Take #13 (a long 453-yard par 4) for example, from the tee box you have a blind uphill shot followed by a sharp dog leg right to the green.  You can try to cut the sharp dog leg right and significantly shorten the hole with a great risk-reward shot that requires you to fly the trees and avoid the homes along the right side but if you're too far right you're OB and if you're short of the fairway you'll contend with some berms and trees blocking the approach to the green. The safe drivers go left and need to hit it far enough to make the turn and precise enough to avoid the tree smack dab in the middle of the downhill fairway leading to the green – a fantastic hole that I can't wait to play again! #18 is another get hole – 537 yards with a dog left, three ponds to avoid, and a small climb uphill through the mounds to the green.  The back is a fun and more challenging nine but it still offers you an opportunity to score well. 

When we last played Hidden Falls in September 2018 the fairways were ok on the front (some bare spots) and thick which we didn't get a lot of extra roll.  The rough was very playable.  The fairways are ample but if you miss you'll be in a back yard or under the trees.  The back nine was in much better condition (an 8.5 or so) but still thicker than normal fairways.  Some of the fairways were ample and others a tad tight on the back.

The greens at Hidden Falls Golf Club are large and well guarded by mounding.  Most have some slope and undulation but it was manageable and fairly easy to read.  When we played they were in very good condition, ran at a reasonable speed (8.5 or so), and held the ball pretty well. 

Water can come into play on one hole on the front nine of Hidden Falls Golf Club and on 7 holes on the back nine. Miss the water and you'll have a great round.  Good news – no bunkers to worry about on either nine. 

Bottom line – reasonable rates, some fun holes, and average conditions make Hidden Falls Golf Club well worth playing.