Driftwood Golf & Ranch Club
Opened: May 2022
18-hole / Par-72 / 7,720 Yards
78.3 Course Rating / 145 Slope
Architect: Tom Fazio
Driftwood, Texas, USA
Driftwood is the latest project from the Discovery Land Company which began operating in 1994. Headed by its visionary owner Michael Meldman, the secret sauce for the various projects (over 35 to date) is providing ultra-luxury real estate properties where customer service is central for its appeal and success.
These projects are centered upon the specific role golf plays in the offering.
Meldman smartly engaged the services of one of the most renowned architects in the sport — Tom Fazio. The talented architect has been the designer of 15 such projects. A number of them rightly lauded for the compelling architecture provided.
The various locations for Discovery projects are also varied — both domestic USA and international.
The latest comes in the Austin, Texas location with Driftwood Golf & Ranch which opened in May 2022.
The facility is located on 800+ acres and situated roughly 30 minutes from the core downtown area of The Lone Star State’s capital city. There is also a related downtown Austin facility on Colorado Street providing members with a range of amenities that links the two for a city-country connection.
The raison d’être for Driftwood falls back on a proven Discovery formula — a laser-like focus to customer service by attracting families via a wide array of amenities and ensuring the smallest details are executed consistently and successfully.
Driftwood is a stout course – championship tees extend to 7,720 yards as a par-72. There’s also an imposing 78.3 course rating (no misprint!) and 145 slope.
Unlike nearby other new major area golf developments such as The Travis Club and Loraloma, Driftwood’s topography is rather subdued. There is movement in the land but more nuanced than dramatic in nature.
One of the clear strengths at Driftwood is the routing. The holes are constantly moving about — no real predictable pattern exists and therefore daily wind conditions mandate constant player adjustments.
Driftwood has a straightforward starting hole – playing 421 yards. On the surface the par-4 hole is rather ordinary until one reaches the putting green. The level of sophistication is clearly evident with a number of internal movements bolstered by closely cropped fall-off areas. This pattern is seen at a number of the other holes encountered during the round.
Generally, the Fazio motif involves creating visually stirring holes but from a strategic sense may be less so in terms of the challenge encountered. Driftwood is the flipside of that equation.
The outward nine at Driftwood is located east of Driftwood Golf Club Drive. The golf is also aided by the lack of intrusive housing that far too often only serves to clutter up a property. Housing will be included but its placement will be smartly located to avoid any eye-catching distractions.
Scorecard success at Driftwood is dependent on getting off to a good start. After the opening hole you face a lengthy par-5 (594 yards) and a mid-length par-3 (1892 yards). If one can’t get things going early, then the task ahead ramps up considerably.
Players encounter three long two-shot holes at 4, 5 and 7. Quality tee shots are needed to secure the best angle into the green. As mentioned at the outset, Driftwood has discerning targets to access. Often times greens are cordoned to specific sections and several are elevated. Land too far away with approaches and you face a vexing array of various movements. Avoiding three-putts can be a real chore for those executing haphazardly.
One of the more interesting holes on the opening nine comes at the par-3 6th. Rarely does Fazio insert a long par-3 of consequence into the mixture of holes. Hole 6 plays 242 yards and includes an elevated target replete with the aforementioned internal devilish movements. A superb challenge indeed.
However, the main issue with the quartet of par-3 holes is that nearly all — save for hole 3 — are exceedingly lengthy. A bit more diversity on the presentation and shotmaking side would have been a better choice.
Fazio smartly inserted a change of pace hole at the 8th. The par-4 plays 345 yards and strong hitters can go for the green when prevailing wind conditions are presented. The hole turns gently to the left and trees on both sides near to the green serve as watchful sentinels so that a powerful tee ball must negotiate the narrow gap provided. Even if someone can somehow get on or near the green you again face various internal green movements that will quickly expose those unable to decipher them.
The inward half of holes takes a counterclockwise turn for holes 10 thru 12. There’s an opportunity to gain momentum with the par-5 10th and par-4 11th. Both are sufficient but neither is especially noteworthy from a design perspective.
However, matters change noticeably when arriving at the 12th. The 497-yard par-4 provides the only blind tee shot on the slight dog-leg right hole. The landing area also includes a pinched fairway so those looking to advance the ball as far as possible will need to be ever mindful of the accuracy needed. Those leaving the green in no more than four strokes can rightly celebrate the accomplishment.
For the duration of the round Driftwood keeps the pressure building.
The gauntlet of holes provides only one “breather” at the short 339-yard 14th. Two long par-3s come at the 13th and 17th holes, respectively. Driftwood does have one par-5 in that stretch — playing 605-yards with water alongside the entire right side of the hole.
The pattern of water on the right side of a hole is repeated twice more — at the challenging 16th at 476 yards and on the finale which plays 480 yards. This repetitive inclusion is a bit disappointing — not because of the strategic implications involved but in doing so again and again.
The 18th deserves special mention given how the hole was ultimately constructed. The water feature was man-made and smartly located with a stream feeding into a pond on the right side of the drive zone and another closer to the green with a stream hugging close to the left side of the putting surface. The concluding hole is a brilliant finisher and a testament to impactful imagination and engineering wizardry in what it succeeds in doing.
Like any Discovery project, one will enjoy the comfort stations placed around the course. I frankly admit the range of offerings would make most ordinary full-scale clubhouses seem ordinary.
So how well does the Fazio course at Driftwood compare with other golf offerings Discovery provides?
Driftwood is not dependent on off-site scenic views that often are the key element at other Discovery projects. The essence of Driftwood is more centered on how the course plays — rather than the dependence on a beauty contest in how the course solely looks.
It’s important to point out the total detailing of the presentation of the turf. Driftwood is impeccable in course preparation. One might surmise the grass is cut with tweezers instead of power mowers.
As described previously, Driftwood is notable because of the diversity of the greens. They vary in shape and in complexity with various twists and turns presented. Approaches must be gauged with the utmost in precision to optimize one’s opportunities.
On the flipside, there are moments when overall hole quality drops — a richer combination of par-3 holes would have helped and the two short par-4 holes are sufficient but hardly compelling.
The Austin golf market is clearly accelerating rapidly. Pre-existing private courses are going through various internal improvements and the new ones coming on the scene are clearly looking to make their respective mark.
Driftwood’s emergence will certainly change the conversation in how upscale golf properties are showcased. The Austin market is already launching and the competitive bar is not only rising but intensifying.
Golf enthusiasts who come to Driftwood had best be advised — have their golf game in good order. If the appropriate tee boxes are selected, the experience will be a memorable one for all the right reasons. Conversely, take on more than you can handle and the pushback from the design will be noticeable on your scorecard.
Discovery has had inordinate success with its various projects because the array of details is always attended to with utmost attention and execution.
On that front — Driftwood delivers.
***
Verdict — BIRDIE +
***
Ratings AssessmentDouble Eagle Not a hole to be missed. Compelling architecture throughout testing mental and physical resolve. Your heart bumps with exhilaration from 1st tee to 18th green. Eagle + Superior shotmaking values in tandem with related turf quality melding an experience of the highest order. Eagle Like its namesake – flies high in the clouds. Consistent variety with strategic holes demonstrating brilliance at various moments. Birdie + Engaging design providing thoughtful intersections with creative results front and center. Birdie Quality architecture exists but held back by limited standout holes encountered. Par+ Has several holes of note but too many pedestrian ones subtract from the experience. Par Enjoyable but like vanilla ice cream – mainly ordinary. Bogey Little substance of note – has design fumbles that are more prevalent than need be. Double-bogey A total mistake — in need of upgrades with substandard holes, inferior routing and substandard conditioning. Triple-bogey An utter mess. Avoid the pain of the experience and the loss of time / money. ***
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Related: Grade “A” Architecture – Driftwood Golf & Ranch Club
