Stewart Peninsula - Golfing Year-round in Texas

As I teed off at the first hole on a mild 65 degree Christmas Day, I knew that Stewart Peninsula was a special golf course. A mild northwest breeze blew off Lake Lewisville, magically keeping the hair out of my eyes as I twisted into my back swing. My shot fell just to the right of the mid-fairway bunker, and I laughed quietly, knowing that golf at this time of year is either impossible to find or absolutely miserable when you come from Oregon like I do.

Located in The Colony of North Texas, Stewart Peninsula Golf Course is one of the most beautiful and challenging courses you're likely to come across. Situated literally on a peninsula, the course is naturally surrounded by water on nearly every fairway. If those fail to claim your ball, then the man-made pond on the fifth hole will force you to focus your game even more. It's a par 3, but if you don't clear the water, then the strokes can add up quickly. The next three holes are deeper in-land, but the challenges are always present, as the fairways narrow, the sand traps increase, and another man-made lake threatens to capture even more balls.

Stewart Peninsula is an award winning nine-hole course, but it offers two different greens and two flags at the end of each hole, thus allowing for a complete 18 hole round after two revolutions of the course. This does NOT make for boring golf, because the double green and pin location on each hole require a completely different approach from the tees, fairways, and even chipping.

The course has a full-time maintenance staff that keeps everything in tip-top shape. Even in the heat of summer, the fairways are green and lush with the greens trimmed to perfection. The entire staff, headed by course owner Brandon Clough, is both cordial and infectiously knowledgeable. Even the marshalls, whose job is to keep the pace of play moving so that all golfers can enjoy a good round, are friendly. Most recently, this course opened its gates to the community to enjoy fireworks on the 4th of July that are launched from the tip of the peninsula.

From the dead of winter to the height of summer, Stewart Peninsula Golf Course is fantastic. Tee times can be made very early in the morning for those who abhor the heat of a midsummer's afternoon. Plus, the grounds aren't closed until the final ray of sunlight has reflected off the lake. So whatever your tastes are, regardless of time of day or time of year, good ol' Stewy P is the place to be.