Lantana Golf Club

Lantana Golf Club opened in 2002 and has quickly built a reputation as a top notch golf course. For example, in 2007 the Dallas Morning News rated it in the Top Ten Dallas Area Golf Courses and Avid Golfer rated it in their Top 5 Luxury Courses. Lantana is very proud that it is one of twelve courses in the United States to host the PGA Tour Stage 3 Qualifying School and better yet, they were selected as one of six courses in the US to host Stage 2 – when the pros use a course to qualify for the tour, that is an excellent testimony to a great course!

The Lantana course was designed to take advantage of the spectacular terrain and heavily wooded areas of this 1,718-acre master-planned community. "Playing Lantana is actually like playing two different courses," Jay Morrish (the course designer) explains. "There are wide open spaces–almost like meadows–and there are heavily wooded holes with changes in elevation. And the high flashed faces of the bunkers not only add to the beauty of the course, but they improve the playing experience."

We last played in February when everything was dormant, but Lantana was in excellent condition and would be lush and green during the season. On most holes the fairways are wide and forgiving unless you really spray the ball and then you've got a problem, particularly during the summer when the rough is cut thick. The fairways meander throughout the Lantana Community and are lined with either nice homes or with trees. The terrain is mostly flat to gently rolling with a couple fun holes (specifically #6 & #7) that are up and down the rolling hills. There are a number of doglegs but in most cases you can see what you need to avoid in order to score well.

The greens are average size and were in near perfect condition, very fast (12.5 on the stint meter), and difficult to read. Plus each of the greens has a fair amount of slope and some undulation – you need to practice your putting before heading out. And while you're practicing, you better spend some time with your trap shots.

The fairways have over 90 bunkers and the greens are very well protected with some huge white soft sand just waiting for your shot. In early 2008, Lantana was redoing all 90 bunkers at a cost of $700,000. They have made sure that the bunkers are strategically placed and wave/flash faced (aka, high lipped or steep faced)which can present a major challenge if you land near the face. The new sand is soft and fluffy and pure white – if you're anything like me, you'll get a lot of practice with your sand wedge and you'll carry a lot of sand home in your shoes and hair!

You need to play Lantana now because Lantana is only 40 members away from going private. Call them about a membership before you loose your chance. Members can rent a Segway – what a fun and unique way to play a round of golf! To learn more about the Lantana Golf community, click here.