The past couple of years have been difficult for many businesses. While not knowing if they were going to be opened or closed, it gave directors of golf, owners, golf pros and those who make decisions an opportunity to make some tweaks to their courses – minor to major.

We invite you to try out a new course, or two or three, and then let us know about your favorites in our golf course survey. We would also like to solicit additional feedback for our wrap up story. And if you would, attach a short note to your ballot, telling us why you voted the way you did.

We would love to hear your thoughts, your stories, and any duffers anecdotes you would like to share. Send any additional information to news@wintertexantimes.com.

Champion Lakes (Palm View) Golf Course

It’s hard to keep up with the improvements and upgrades at Palm View, now named Champion Lakes, because they are constantly on top of it. This is probably the most well-maintained golf course in the Valley. The biggest difference for this course has been the recent opening of their Airport runway…oh, wait.. it’s not a runway, it’s a new lighted driving range – and it’s huge.

You would never dream that this beautifully manicured to perfection golf course is a municipal course, but it is. From teeing off to finishing, you'll more than likely use every club in your bag, and maybe wish you had more. The greens run true, the pin placement is always challenging, and most holes will ask you – what's your strategy here. There are plenty of holes where you determine how much of a bend you want to cut or if you really want to take a shortcut and go over these trees. Some holes will show you a wide-open fairway but if you don't know which side to put the ball, you may be giving yourself extra distance to the hole – or an impossible next shot.

Address: 2701 S. Ware Road, McAllen
Phone: (956) 681-3444
Description: 18-hole, par-72 public golf course
Website: https://www.palmviewgolf.com/
Yardage: Black – 6,783; Blue – 6,384; White – 5,814; Red – 4,816
Amenities: Chipping green, putting green, lighted driving range; clubhouse, restaurant; pro shop.
Winter Texan Specials: Discount Coupons online.

Shary Municipal Golf Course

At one point it seemed that different parts of this course were under construction for a long time. Temporary greens, ground under construction and more. It never stopped attracting golfers and it's all been worth it.

You won’t recognize these greens now.

The course purchased some new equipment that doesn’t tear out the grass and these are comparable now to the best greens across the Rio Grande Valley. You can play 19-27 for a short round or do the traditional 1-18. No. 1 gets your brain going right away. It might be worth taking a few extra practice swings and take in what it has to offer you. After your tee shot, do you want to cut the water already or play safe and lay up? What about that big tree at the edge of the water? And the bunkers? Do not go long... do not tee off to the left...there is a lot to think about, and we are just talking about the first hole! Worth every minute of it.

Address: 2201 N. Mayberry St., Mission
Phone: (956) 580-8770
Description: 27-hole municipal golf course
Website: sharymunicipalgolfcourse.com
Yardage: 1-18 Blue – 6,000; White – 5,036; Red – 4,746; 19-27 Blue – 3,138; White – 3,019; Red – 2,764
Amenities: Pro shop, putting green, kitchen.
Winter Texan Specials: Memberships – call for information.

Monte Cristo Golf & Country Club

A little bit of TLC can go a long way. Such is the case at Monte Cristo Golf & Country Club.

“It’s a different course. They’ve worked on the fairways and made a lot of things better,” were the comments from the pro shop. This course needed only some tender loving care, and it’s getting it.

It may be somewhat out of the way, but the scenic holes, the refreshing air – and oftentimes heavy wind – combined with a fairly simple layout makes this a pleasurable course to play even under the most stressful of days. Their island hole is tougher than it looks with the wind, and you need to make sure you get enough air under your ball so it sticks. But the big question is – do you want to grip it and rip it?

Address: 2919 N. Kenyon Road, Edinburg
Phone: (956) 381-0964
Description: Par-71 Public course
Website: montecristogcc.com
Yardage: Gold – 6,392; Blue – 6,014; White – 5,373; Red – 4,521
Amenities: Driving range, practice greens, pro shop, restaurant, bar.
Winter Texan Specials: $33 for 18 holes, call in advance.

Tierra Del Sol Golf Course

By now everyone should know that Tierra Del Sol underwent a major facelift a few years ago and the changes have been remarkable. What’s even better is that they keep up with the maintenance to make sure those changes remain in play for their golfers.

Tierra Del Sol has a wide variety of layouts and some of the nicest rolling greens in the Valley. Several holes let you stand there and “grip it and rip it,” even if you kick out a banana hook or slice every once in a while. Coming up 18 with the Clubhouse rising up behind the finishing hole makes you feel like you're on some type of private country club estate. It is a beautiful way to end the round on a fun golf course to tackle.

Address: 700 E. Hall Acres Road, Pharr
Phone: (956) 402-4545
Description: 18-hole, par-72 Municipal golf course
Website: golf.pharr-tx.gov
Yardage: Blue – 6,827; White – 6,266; Gold – 5,820; Red – 5,252
Amenities: Driving range, putting green, pro shop, restaurant.
Winter Texan Specials: Call for specials.

The Club at Cimarron

Under new ownership, Cimarron is making changes to improve an already great course. They are currently filling in sand traps and are hoping to bring in a new fleet of golf carts soon.
Wide open and long, Cimarron will challenge you on every single hole, either by length or by making sure you prepare for your second shot widely before even hitting your first shot. No. 18 is a beautiful hole that offers golfers to show how long they can hit both their drive and second shot. Even if you clear the water on the second shot, you face a green that will either reward you for your bravery or make you walk off it thinking… what if?

Address: 1200 S. Shary Road, Mission
Phone: (956) 581-7401
Description: 18-hole, par-72
Website: cimarroncountryclub.com
Yardage: Gold – 6,821; Blue – 6,444; Regular – 6,134
Amenities: Driving range, chipping range, fitness center, restaurant, pool.
Winter Texan Specials: Call membership services club for memberships; there are also small weekly group opportunities.

Los Lagos Golf Club

One of the more unique golf courses in the Valley, Los Lagos has been working on making their course more golfer friendly. The biggest thing is the elimination of sand traps. They also opened a new putting green while keeping their other putting and chipping green open.

The course is wonderfully challenging and “delightfully” windy…many times even blustery. Los Lagos has amazing rolling hills, leaning fairways and holes that will give you plenty of options on how you want to reach the green. The bunkers are strategically placed as are the pins. Don’t let its beauty lull you into a false sense of security, this course is one of the most enjoyable courses in the Rio Grande Valley. You hit a great shot here, you will remember it. There are shortcuts to take that play risk or reward in a major way. Island holes and elevation changes make the wind even a tougher foe. And, of course, you are always hitting into the wind – we still don’t know how that’s possible.

Address: 1720 S. Raul Longoria Road, Edinburg
Phone: (956) 316-0444
Description: 18-hole, par-72 course
Website: https://cityofedinburg.com/departments/golf_course/lagos_golf_course.php
Yardage: Black – 7,188; Blue – 6,789; White – 6,211; Gold – 6,211; Red – 5,561
Amenities: Putting green, chipping area, practice bunker, driving range, pull carts, rental clubs, food and beverages.
Winter Texan Specials: Call for specials.

Howling Trails Golf Club

This course has transitioned into a wonderfully kept course that grows in popularity each year since the La Joya school district took over ownership. It is a fairly wide-open course, but water and trees that you come across are perfectly placed where you would like your shots to land. With 27 holes, you can enjoy 9, 18 or all of them and see some major layout differences on each one.

Address: 1910 Hole in One Dr, Mission, TX 78572
Phone: (956) 323-2165
Description: 27-hole, public, owned by La Joya ISD
Website: Facebook
Yardage: Holes 1-18; Blue – 6,175; 19-27 – 3,459; 1-18 Reds – 5,597; 19-27 – 3,201; 1-18 Yellow – 4,881; 19-27 – 2,873
Amenities: Putting and chipping, pro shop (currently not open).
Winter Texan Specials: 1 p.m. special, $20 for 18 holes.

Ebony Hills Golf Course

Ebony Hills remains open, and thriving, despite talks of being closed or sold. It has a simple layout with very few obstacles in your way, making it a dream course for any level of golfer to attack the greens aggressively and practice shots one wouldn’t dare try on a tougher layout with all sorts of hazards. One reminder though, like its sister golf course Los Lagos, the wind can do dastardly deeds to your golf ball, and your round.

Address: 30 W. Palm Dr., Edinburg
Phone: (956) 292-2144
Description: 9-hole, par-35
Website: cityofedinburg.com/departments/golf_course/ebony_golf_course.php
Yardage: Gold – 2,899; Blue – 2,719; Red – 2,572
Amenities: Snack shop, putting green, chipping area, practice bunker.

El Niño Golf Course

Want to improve your short game and accuracy? This is an ideal place. A compact, but nicely laid out course, El Niño is affordable and will still give you challenges, whether it is from tee to green, or green to pin.

Address: 511 E. Loop 374, Palmview
Phone: (956) 585-5551
Description: 9-hole, par-29 executive golf course
Website: http://missionwestrv.com/el-nino/
Yardage: 1,285 yards
Amenities: Santa Fe style clubhouse.
Winter Texan Specials: Park residents – 9 holes, $5; 18 holes, $10; Non-Park residents – 9 holes, $8; 18 holes, $15.