Ross Rogers Golf Complex - Mustang Course

Review of Ross Rogers Golf Complex Mustang Course

During the depression, the Work Progress Administration provided the funding for building a new golf course which opened in 1940 and was named after the mayor of Amarillo, Ross Rogers.  Another nine was opened in 1959 and the final nine in 1978.  The courses were originally named East & West but renovations to both courses over the years have resulted in significant changes and a renaming of the courses to Mustang and Wildhorse.  

Each of the courses is a little different and has it's own unique personality and characteristics, for example:

• Mustang is now a links style course, thanks to over 300 trees being removed during a renovation in 2013 – this 18 is characterized by nasty bunkers and wide fairways with thick challenging roughs
• Wildhorse is more traditional and straightforward and since it's renovation in 2004 has been named the Best Course in Amarillo by the Amarillo Globe News and the Peoples Survey every year since it opened

Mustang Golf Course at the Ross Rogers Golf Complex has undergone a number of changes since it opened in the 40's.  The most recent change was to remove over 300 trees, several of which died during the drought, giving the course a more open links style look and feel.  It still has a somewhat straightforward and traditional feel to it with several holes where you can see the flag and what you're up against, several side by side holes, and most holes straight ahead with little trouble besides the thick rough and 19 deep bunkers. 

A lot of the holes are straight ahead but you will find some minor ups and downs, several blind shots, and contoured, rolling, and sloping fairways, plus wind – all of which can affect your score.   The back nine was home to our favorite holes:

• #11 is a fun slightly downhill 320 yard par 4 and it will temp you to bring out the big dog and try to drive the green – but if you spray it right you're in the trees or lake and a bogie will be the most likely score
• #12 is 192 yards from the tips and it's all carry over the lake
• the 585 yard par 5 18th hole will make you want to come back and play this 18 again – a blind slightly uphill shot off the tee with a huge bunker in your landing zone and then 5 more bunkers and a slight dog leg right shot to the green

When we played in August, we where shocked at the conditions at Ross Rogers Golf Complex – the fairways were lush and plush, the rough was thick and verydeep grass, and the greens were near perfect!  What a joy to play!

The fairways are gently rolling and contoured and most are wide and forgiving – but if you miss you're in a very thick challenging rough. 

The Bent Grass greens at Mustang were near perfect, a tad small, and a little slower than we would have expected.  Most of the greens have manageable slope and undulation, they ran true, and held the ball well.  Hitting them was challenging for us and the fringe was thick around the greens and not puttable. 

Stay away from the bunkers – they are steep and deep with heavy but fluffy sand.  The back side of the bunkers are also challenging with a very thick and deep rough.

Bottom line – a fantastic value, excellent conditions, and an opportunity to turn in a good score if you can keep it in the fairway or if you have an excellent thick rough shot!