Junction Golf Course

Review and Rating of Junction Golf Course, Junction, Texas

Junction Golf Course opened for play in 1927 thanks to the hard work of many volunteers who raised the money to create this 9 hole course – they hauled dirt, dug ponds, removed trees and rocks and created a very interesting layout.  The course is scenic with rolling hills, a variety of trees, the bottom lands of Cedar Creek, several small ponds, and towering bluffs including Lovers Leap where ages ago two young Indians leaped off the cliff because they weren't allowed to get married!

The first 4 holes play on one side of the road and they are home to 3 challenging dog legs, out of bounds on one or both sides of the fairways, uphill and downhill shots, and ponds that can come into play on 4 holes.  Here are a couple of holes that we liked:

• #1 is a 480-yard par 5 that takes a sharp turn right and downhill past a pond to the small heavily contoured green
• #3 is a 387 par 4 and another dog leg right and then downhill past a pond to a turtle back green – the approach shot to the green can be challenging thanks to trees on the left and the pond on the right pinching the fairway

The last 5 holes are more straightforward and traditional as they play down and across the bottom lands of Cedar Creek.  which can come into play on three holes.  Our favorite holes here included:

• #5 a 350-yard par 4 that requires some shot making from an elevated tee box and a downhill shot that needs to avoid a large pecan tree in the middle of the fairway plus a pond on the right – and you need to land where you'll have an approach shot over Cedar Creek to the green
• #8 is a 163-yard par three with a tight tree lined fairway and a carry over Cedar Creek

The greens range from postage stamp size to a little smaller than average.  Some are raised and all have some minor to severe slope and contour.  They were running slow (around a 7) when we played and they were very bumpy. 

The fairways are ample to tight, tree-lined, and have out of bounds on both sides – one side is trees and the other is another fairway. They were in very poor condition with lots of weeds, ants, dirt, gravel, and dandelions.  

There are no bunkers to contend with except for 2 which has a grass bunker in front of the green.

The course is currently owned by the Hill Country Fair Association and the greens were sand from the time the course opened until the early '70s, at which time the greens were replaced with bermuda grass.  Several members and individuals have taken responsibility for doing everything they can to maintain and improve the conditions, using their own funds.  They should be commended for the sacrifices and commitment they have made to Junction Golf Course over the last couple of years.  They have done a commendable job in improving the course conditions considering the lack of funds and limited member and public golf fees!