Maybe the best thing for those who want to stay and play in the Mid-Valley for golf is that there are a variety of choices and multiple “niches” – wide fairways, doglegs, scenic views, and tough challenges to easier, relaxing rounds – which they can go to for a game that fits their style.

Three of those courses are winners from last year’s Winter Texans Favorite Golf Course contest – Stuart Place Country Club and Treasure Hills in Harlingen and Tierra Santa in Weslaco.

These three courses are the crème-de-la-crème of courses not only in the mid-Valley but hang right up there with the best of the best in Deep South Texas. In fact, Stuart Place was named favorite overall golf course across the Valley last season. It’s no surprise – this course has exploded in popularity for the past six years or more.

While it is a country club, it’s open to the public. It’s refreshing, enjoyable and peaceful. Those who golf here also have a great time in the clubhouse – that’s where much of its growing fondness has come from. But the clubhouse and friendliness alone aren’t what gains its loyalty.

In fact, one could consider the clubhouse, the golf course and everything in between part of Stuart Place’s charm and what it provides – not just golf but a delightful golfing experience.

A one-time bird sanctuary, the course is a 9-hole, par-36 trip on an ambitious golf course that has continuously maintained its beauty with well-groomed fairways. Be careful to not get too caught up in the magnificent scenery, or the friendly people – they can also be part of the challenge, but a friendly part at least.

Treasure Hills Country Club is just pure joy to play. From wide fairways to elevation changes and strategically placed traps, it went from almost closing its doors to becoming a spot that offers as unique a layout as any in the Rio Grande Valley.

Located at 3009 N. Augusta National Drive – doesn’t that alone make you want to play, it rings of nostalgia and prestige – Treasure Hills is a Robert Trent Jones Jr. design that plays anywhere from 5,230 yards at the red tees, to 6,960 yards from the blues. That difference is significant and will leave you with several options on how you attack the holes – grip it and rip it, swallow your pride and play smarter, or something in between?

This course was built in 2000, given new life and has been off and dunning ever since.

Located at 1901 Club De Amistad in Weslaco, Tierra Santa Golf Club offers golfers a paradise-like experience, from the renovated club house to delicious breakfast, lunch or dinner options at Tony’s Grill and to a layout almost unmatched anywhere around.

Lush greens, stunning landscapes and top-notch amenities come together here to create an unforgettable golfing experience. It truly is a golfer’s haven and is designed to challenge and delight players of all skill levels. Get immersed in the beauty of this meticulously designed 18-hole golf course. With a perfect blend of challenging holes, scenic fairways, and strategically placed hazards, each round promises a memorable golfing adventure. You may want to forget that memory afterwards, or it may become your story of the ages.

Tierra Santa, like many Valley courses, has invested in their operation and the returns have been terrific. They even flip-flopped its front and back nine at one point meaning No. 18 turned to No. 9. The good side is that even if you have a bad No. 9, you still have nine more holes to recover – and can make a stop at the clubhouse along the way.

The pro shop has been remodeled as well as the restaurant. The course has been in immaculate shape for several years and the layout is fabulous. You could play this course over and over and never get tired of the challenges, or the beauty of several holes.

It has 14 lakes; strategically placed sand traps and provides multiple shot selections for almost every hole. Par 3s are easily reached but where they land – even if on the green – can make the difference between a birdie and a bogey, or something else.

While those three reign supreme, there are other Mid-Valley courses that are just perfect for about any golfer at any level.

Tony Butler was the first golf coach at the University of Texas in 1927 and The Tony Butler Golf Course in Harlingen provides top-notch layout with municipal-like fees. Just don’t think you’re going to play at just any old muni – if it has Butler’s name on it, it’s going to be somewhere between very good and great.

The city has gone all in for the 27-hole facility and the golfers have responded positively in droves. Completion of its multi-million-dollar revamp project has been so major that one may not even recognize it. Holes 1-18 went through the makeover of makeovers as the city looked to increase its position as a destination city, not just a connecting point at the airport to just go on to McAllen or South Padre Island.

But the course’s impact on Rio Grande Valley golf remains great, if not greater than any other golf course in terms of Rio Grande Valley Golf.

Tee boxes, fairways, bunkers, greens, lakes – it’s about as different as could be all the way to drainage upgrades. Management promised “it will be harder and completely different.” They delivered as promised.

But there still remains more options for Mid-Valley golf.

Cottonwood Creek Golf Course is another Harlingen option. It is a 9-hole golf course at 1001 S. Ed Carey Drive. This course was built in 1985 and is absolutely perfect for the great golfer who wants to perfect his or her swing, to the golfer who doesn’t have the time – nor maybe the patience – to play 18. Located amid a community you just want to call home, the simplicity of this course isn’t putt-putt simple, it’s still a course with challenges, twists and turns.

The fact that it’s just nine holes also gives you the option to play another round if you finish within your time frame.

Raymondville Municipal Course is a course made for the high handicapper – and it’s a nice stop along the way from the Valley to Corpus, or anywhere north of there. It has minimal hazards, wide fairways and minimal trees. For many – that’s a golf course made in heaven, one where you can just let it loose. After you've warmed up with the first eight holes, you will find a water hazard at No. 9, a hole that also has a few grass bunkers protecting the green. You didn’t think it would be that simple, did you?

Raymondville Municipal is a 9-hole par-36 course that plays slightly longer than 3,000 yards.

If precision is your thing, you have to play Harlingen Country Club. If nature and beauty is your thing, you still need to play it – it provides the best of both worlds in a luxurious and peaceful environment.

It also has an array of social events enabling members to have fun all the time and year-round.

Having first opened its doors in 1949, the member-owned club’s hacienda-style clubhouse embodies the community’s welcoming ambiance. Harlingen Country Club features an 18-hole golf course, open for member play year-round. Club members can also enjoy access to practice facilities, golf lessons and a full schedule of tournaments and events.

Harlingen Country Club also provides members top-rate practice facilities including a driving range, putting green and chipping green. It may sound like a broken record, but this is another course to put on your bucket list. You don’t have to be long, but if you’re a sharpshooter, this course will fill you with rewards.

Mid Valley Golf Courses

Harlingen Country Club

Address: 5500 El Camino Real, Harlingen
Phone: (956) 412-4100
Description: 18-Hole, Par-72
Website: harlingencc.com
Yardage: Red – 5,035; White – 5,664; Blue — 6,261; Black — 6,541
Amenities: Putting green, chipping green, driving range, bar and restaurant
Resident, non-resident, and seasonal memberships are available.

Llano Grande Resort & Golf Club

Address: 2215 East West Blvd., Weslaco
Phone: (956) 253-4303
Website: llanogranderesort.com/golfing/
Amenities: Pro-shop, bar and grill
Monthly, seasonal and yearly memberships are available.

Raymondville Municipal Golf Course

Address: 13839 Emma Ross Road, Raymondville
Phone: (956) 690-4068
Description: 9-hole Par 36
Yardage: Red – 2,440; White – 2,896; Blue – 3,040
Amenities: Driving range, rental clubs
Open to public

Stuart Place Country Club

Address: 155 Highland Drive, Harlingen
Phone: (956) 428-2000
Description: 9-hole Par-36
Website: www.stuartplacegolfcourse.com
Yardage: Blue – 2,646; White – 2,205; Yellow – 2,057; Red – 1,944
Amenities: Bar with snacks, practice putting area
Winter Rate: $18 for 9 holes with cart; $27 for 18 holes with cart.
Full and seasonal memberships are available.

Tierra Santa Golf Club

Address: 1901 Club de Amistad, Weslaco
Phone: (956) 973-1811
Description: Par-72
Website: tierrasantaweslaco.com
Yardage: Red – 2,580; White – 3,012; Blue – 3,284; Black – 3,546
Amenities: driving range, putting/chipping green, pro shop, restaurant
Annual and seasonal memberships are available.

Tony Butler Golf Course

Address: 2640 Golf Course Dr., Harlingen
Phone: (956) 216-5970
Description: 18-Hole, Par-71; 9-Hole, Par-35
Website: tonybutlergc.com
Yardage: Blue – 6,320; White – 5,837; Red – 5,113; also have senior tees around 5,400
Amenities: driving range, putting green, chipping green, pro shop, snack bar
Annual, seasonal and monthly memberships are available.

Treasure Hills Golf Club

Address: 3009 N. Augusta National Dr., Harlingen
Phone: (956) 425-1700
Description: Par-72
Yardage: Red – 4,749; Gold – 5,361; White – 6,360; Blue – 6,788
Amenities: Pro shop, snacks, concessions, beer, sandwiches; driving range, putting green
Special membership prices

Cottonwood Creek Country Club

Address: 1001 S. Ed Carey Drive, Harlingen
Phone: (956) 428-0766
Description: 9-Hole, Par 27 Course
Website: cottonwoodcreekcountryclub.com
Daily green fees, monthly rates, weekend specials.