The first hole at Wild Spring Dunes, the new destination property that has opened its first course, a Tom Doak design, in the pines of northeast Texas.
Erik Matuszewski
The shuttle ride from the temporary clubhouse to the first tee of the first course at Wild Spring Dunes is more than a mile, a sandy stretch that takes golfers further into the hushed and picturesque pines of northeast Texas. It also provides a sneak peek of what’s in store at the next big thing in the world of destination golf.
Tucked into the tall trees and tumbling terrain – about 2 ½ hours from both Houston and Dallas – Wild Spring Dunes has officially opened its first 18-hole layout, a Tom Doak design that immediately vaults into contention as the best resort course in golf-rich Texas.
Wild Spring Dunes is the latest golf getaway from the family that helped popularize experiential destination golf just over 25 years ago with the creation of Bandon Dunes on the remote and rugged Oregon coast. Michael Keiser, the son of Bandon Dunes founder Mike Keiser, is the developer of Wild Spring Dunes, which has plans for two 18-hole courses, a 12-hole short course, and a “garden” putting course on the sprawling 2,400-acre property in rural Mount Enterprise, Texas.
An aerial look at Wild Spring Dunes, a property developed by Michael Keiser, the visionary behind Sand Valley, Rodeo Dunes and Old Shores.
Erik Matuszewski
Wild Spring Dunes is actually one of three destination golf projects that Keiser currently has in the pipeline, along with Rodeo Dunes in Colorado and Old Shores on the Florida panhandle.
Texas ranks fourth nationwide in resort-related golf facilities, according to the National Golf Foundation, trailing Florida, California and Michigan, but the Lone Star State doesn’t quite have the depth in destinations that many other states do.
Consider that while eight states combine for 55% of Golfweek’s Top 200 U.S. golf resort courses — with California, Florida, Michigan, Arizona, Hawaii, North Carolina, South Carolina and Michigan all counting more than 10 — Texas sits slightly behind that group with eight. Texas only has one resort course among the top 40 in Black Jack’s Crossing at Lajitas, with the newer Fields Ranch courses at Omni PGA Frisco slightly further back (East in a tie for 49th and West in a tie for 90th). Omni Barton Creek and TPC San Antonio also have two courses ranked among Golfweek’s Top 200 resort layouts.
Destination Golf
Spring fed ravines are part of the design at Wild Spring Dunes, which winds through tall pines and open meadows.
Wild Spring Dunes | Sandborn
Unlike Rodeo Dunes, which is in Colorado’s chop hills less than an hour from the Denver airport, Wild Spring Dunes takes some getting to. The easiest route for national travelers is likely from the airport in Houston, with a drive due north that takes you past an abundance of truck stop gas stations and maybe a dead armadillo or two along the side of the road.
Wild Spring Dunes is only about 15 minutes outside the town of Nagadoches, which is home to Stephen F. Austin University, but it’s definitely hidden away off the main road.
Doak and his “dream team” of assistants took full advantage of the rolling landscape, with a routing that embraces the natural contour of the land as it bounds across sandy soil and open meadows and alongside towering pines and rugged ravines.
The short par 4 17th hole at Wild Spring Dunes
Wild Spring Dunes | Sandborn
There are wide fairways, firm and fast conditions, and – as with many Doak designs – a handful of challenging (and incredibly fun) half-par holes that reward imagination as much as precision. There is even a long par-4 that features a blind tee shot as well as a blind approach shot to a green that has a partial punchbowl look and feel. It’s one of a number of holes that will be discussed, debated and, perhaps for some, decried after the round.
Holes 1 and 9 are both stunners, starting from one of the higher points of the property, with the opening tee immediately giving one a sense of scale and an appreciation of the movement of the land. While golf was the first part of the project plans, there will eventually be a clubhouse and boutique hotel near the first tee, along with a comfort station nearby.
A conceptual rendering of one of the cottages at Wild Spring Dunes.
Wild Spring Dunes | Sandborn
For now, there are temporary clubhouse facilities not far from the main entrance. And not far from there is an offshoot road to a small development of nine residences, some of which are under construction, on lots of about one acre.
Clearing has been completed for the second course at Wild Spring Dunes, a creation from the renowned design duo of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. Jim Craig, who designed the popular Commons course at Sand Valley in Wisconsin, will add a similar 12-hole short course at Wild Spring Dunes while Clyde Johnson is adding the 18-hole putting course.
For now, the initial Doak course has thrust Wild Spring Dunes onto the national stage – as the Keiser family has unquestionably demonstrated proof of concept at popular destination properties such as Bandon Dunes and Sand Valley. While Wild Spring Dunes might not be of the same size and scale, the expectations are nearly as big – and at least to start, its first layout should emerge as a serious contender to be the best resort course in a state with nearly 90 of them.
Wild Spring Dunes is immediately in the debate for the rankings of the best golf resort course in Texas.
Erik Matuszewski
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