Rockport Country Club

Rockport Country Club Review & Rating

Designed by Bill Coore, who is now partnering with Ben Crenshaw on course design, Rockport Country Club opened for play 1985. The course was designed around sixty-five acres of inter-connecting lakes and ponds and carved out of the unusual coastal live oak trees. The contoured fairways, which vary from wide and forgiving to somewhat tight, meander though knolls, sand dune bunkers of all sizes and shapes (mostly huge!), and some beautiful homes set back among the oaks.

Most of the holes are straightforward and the total yardage is manageable at 4827 to 6538 yards – but that doesn't mean that Rockport Country Club is an easy track. Water comes into play on 14 holes, bunkers are scattered all over the course, approaches and tee shots can be tight, and wind can be a big factor. And you still have to contend with the greens which can be challenging. Rockport Country Club puts a premium on your entire game – shot making, course management, and putting – all of which makes this a fun and challenging track.

Hole #5 is one of the best offering a little bit of everything that typifies Rockport Country Club – a 472-yard par 5 with a fairway split by a huge sand bunker that leads from just in front of the forward tees all the way to a well-protected green. Long hitters can take the right side and then risk the carry over water and a bunker to try and nail the green or you can take the safer but longer left side.

Just prior to our playing Rockport Country Club, the course got hit with 13 inches for rain which impacted the greens and fairways and washed out some of the bunkers. Overlooking that damage, the fairways were in above average condition and the greens were fantastic. The greens have plenty of contour and slope creating subtle breaks and they range in size from huge to postage stamp – no cookie cutter greens will be found here. When we played they were about average speed. The shorter holes have smaller greens while longer holes have the largest greens and most are well protected by bunkers, trees, or water. For example, #16, a 335-yard par 4 with a narrow slot off the box leads to a very small green protected by trees on the right side, two green-side bunkers and water off the back – fun hole!

Bottom, line this a very good track and worth trying to find a way to play it. Memberships are available and Rockport Country Club seems like it  has a very vibrant and active member base.