Pine Dunes Resort

Few courses in Texas carry the cult reputation that Pine Dunes Resort has earned among serious golfers. Carved through the towering loblolly pines of East Texas, the course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and opened in 1993, and it consistently draws comparisons to the great woodland layouts of the British Isles — an unusual claim for a Texas track, but one that holds up on the ground. Fairways corridor through dense pine forest, and the sandy, well-drained soil gives the whole property a links-adjacent feel that belies its landlocked setting. It has appeared on numerous best-in-state lists and maintains a devoted following willing to make the drive out to rural Wood County.

Frankston sits in the Piney Woods region, roughly midway between Dallas and Shreveport, where the landscape shifts decisively from the open plains most people associate with Texas golf. The tall timber, red clay, and rolling terrain create something genuinely distinct.

This is a resort and stay-and-play destination, meaning the full experience is meant to unfold over multiple rounds — and regulars will tell you the course rewards that kind of time.