Preston Trail Golf Club

Few private clubs in American golf carry the mystique of Preston Trail. Founded in 1965 and designed by Ralph Plummer, the course became almost immediately synonymous with a certain strain of Texas power and exclusivity — a men-only membership policy that held for decades made it one of the more talked-about clubs in the country, for reasons well beyond its fairways. Byron Nelson, Lee Trevino, and Ben Crenshaw are among the legends who have played here, and the club hosted the Byron Nelson Classic for many years before that tournament moved on.

Plummer's design works with the rolling terrain of North Dallas, producing a course that rewards local knowledge and penalizes carelessness without resorting to gimmickry. The layout has a classic mid-century American feel — measured, strategic, and quietly demanding.

Dallas in general offers serious golf infrastructure, and Preston Trail sits near the top of that hierarchy. For those fortunate enough to play it, the experience carries a sense of occasion that the scorecard alone cannot explain.