Lufkin Country Club

Lufkin Country Club plays through and around some tall east Texas pines with some of the holes playing near and over a couple small lakes.  A majority of the holes are side-by-side but a tree line will keep sprayed balls out of the other fairways.  Some of the holes take advantage of the natural terrain – for example, holes 6, 7, and 8 have roller coaster fairways, elevated greens, and some down hill shots off the tee box – making for a fun ride with some challenging shots to the green.  Outside of a couple minor dog legs, some fairly tight fairways and approach shots, plus a blind shot, most of the holes are straightforward with what you see is what you get. 

Water comes into play on three holes: 

• #14 is a fun 153 yard par 3 with a carry over a lake to one of the largest greens on the course
• you can get wet on #9, if you spray the ball any where along the right side of the fairway
• #15 is a short 349 yard par 4 with a carry over a lake sitting in front of the green

Outside of the water, what makes Lufkin Country Club challenging are the very small oval greens which for us were very difficult to hit in regulation. If you can hit the greens in regulation and keep the ball fairly straight you should have a very good round.   

Lufkin Country Club, like most Texas courses was hit hard by a very harsh winter and then a very dry summer and the conditions when we played were really bad.  The fairways seemed to be about 70% sparse grass and 30% dirt until you got near the green where they were in much better condition.  The greens had also suffered a lot of damage and there were some very rough spots, making for some bumpy and challenging putts. 

The majority of the greens are flat, some have some minor slope, and you shouldn't have much trouble reading the greens and two putting – outside of the rough spots.  There are only 10 bunkers and all are guarding the greens.  They are the strangest bunkers that I've ever seen – they averaged about 2 or 3 feet wide and 7 or 8 feet long! The traps were wet when we played thanks to a recent rain, but it looked like the sand was thick and soft. 

Lufkin Country Club was built in 1926 and all of the facilities are very dated.  The course was described to us as a "poor man's country club."