• Fri. Feb 14th, 2025

Bluejack National – Worldgolfer’s Golf Course Reviews

Byadmin

Feb 3, 2025



Designer: Tiger Woods/Beau Welling (2016)
Location: Montgomery, Texas
History: Bluejack National sits on the site of the former Blaketree National Golf Club, an ill-fated Coore/Crenshaw project that they abandoned and was completed by the founder Thomas Blake. This course closed in 2005 and the land was left vacant until 2014 when Beacon Land Development bought the property. They saw the potential in the land and hired the duo of Tiger Woods and Beau Welling to build Bluejack National, which opened in 2016. This course opened to considerable praise and won Golf Digest’s Best New Private Course that year. Bluejack National currently owns the following awards:

#97 Best Course in North America – Top100golfcourses.com (2019)
#139 Best Course in America – Golf Digest (2023)
#75 Best Modern Course in America – Golfweek (2024)
#24 Best Residential Course in America – Golfweek (2025)
#3 Best Course in Texas – Golf Digest (2023)
#13 Best Course in Texas – Golf Magazine (2024)
#1 Best Course in Texas – Top100golfcourses.com (2020)
#4 Best Private Course in Texas – Golfweek (2024)

Conditions: 9/10, Bluejack National is in fantastic shape with firm Zoysia fairways, pristine bunkering, and smooth Bermuda greens.
Value: N/A, This is a private course.
Scorecard:
Tee                     Par         Yardage         Rating          Slope
Tiger                 72            7552                75.8              135
I                           72            6959              73.1               129
Acorn                72            6688             71.9               127
II                          72           6178              69.7               119
III                         72           5224             70.0               121
Hole Descriptions: Despite its status as one of the largest and most influential states, Texas isn’t really known for its golf, especially compared to similar states like New York and California. The reason for this is the hot climate and combination of flat, swampy and desert topography that doesn’t necessarily promote great golf. Bluejack National, with its rolling hills and tall pines, evokes images of the Carolinas and is certainly among the best courses in Texas.
Bluejack National was the first and only course I’ve played in the Texas (although this is probably changing soon) and sets a high bar for my future golf in the Lonestar State. One of my first takeaways from Bluejack National was how much of an absolute blast it is. This is a very playable course for golfers of all abilities with generous fairways, limited rough, and numerous ways to get around each hole. While the course’s saucer-like greens and their tight surroundings will keep better players at bay, this is a course you can play numerous times without losing a ball or getting beat up and that is refreshing coming from a Tour legend such as Tiger Woods. The fun at Bluejack goes far beyond the course itself with insane amenities, a laid-back feel, and legendary comfort stations. This is truly a place where you’d love to be a member and spend all day. Visually, it’s clear Tiger took a lot of inspiration from Augusta National with several replica holes like the standout 12th and Fazio-inspired, tight-lipped bunkers that look gorgeous. If I had any criticisms of the course, I’d say that too many of the holes blend together and this probably holds Bluejack National back from being an elite top 100 course. Despite this, I absolutely loved my day here and think it is easily one of the best experiences in golf.
Another fun thing about Bluejack National is that they announce your name and club affiliation on the 1st tee, a nice touch that’s pretty unique. The opening hole itself is one of the best holes on the course as a 428 yard dogleg left par 4. This stunning hole plays downhill from an elevated teebox to a narrower fairway lined by water down the left beginning at 230 yards and a right crossbunker at 300 yards. This approach plays over the water to a diagonal green that slopes predominantly right-to-left with a giant bunker short.
The par 4 1st
The approach at 1
The 2nd hole is a 533 yard dogleg left par 5 that plays a bit like the 2nd hole at Augusta National but more level. This tree-lined par 5 turns left around a large crossbunker at 265 yards and provides a chance for longer hitters to cut the corner here. Like Augusta, this triangular green contains a lot of movement with two bunkers flanking its front.
The par 5 2nd
A closer look at the 2nd green
The 3rd hole is the longest and toughest par 3 at Bluejack National, playing uphill at 194 yards. This hole requires a brief forced carry over a hazard to a long, narrow, back-to-front sloped green lined by a left bunker.
The difficult par 3 3rd
The 4th hole is an interesting 394 yard par 4 playing straightaway and semi-blind slightly uphill. The fairway here is initially enormous but narrows around 260 yards with tall trees down either side that may block you out if you’re out of position. The most interesting feature here is a Biarritz-like green defended by a deep left bunker and surrounded by tight lies.
The semi-blind par 4 4th
The excellent 4th green
At 582 yards, the 5th hole is the longest par 5 at Bluejack National and a true three-shotter. This hole begins with a downhill teeshot to a generous fairway that bends to the right ever so slightly. Two giant crossbunkers are well-positioned on either side of the fairway around 255 yards and you’d be wise to avoid these. Your second shot plays back to the left to a narrower fairway lined by trees. A large bunker defends well-short of a tough, narrow green with two tiers that slopes left-to-right. The length and green make par a good score here.
The par 5 5th
The 6th hole is a 412 yard straightaway par 4 that plays slightly uphill with a generous fairway. A large right crossbunker at 255 yards dominates your view from the tee but there is little other danger. The difficulty on this hole comes on the approach to an elevated, back-to-front sloped green with a narrow opening and two large right bunkers. It’s worth noting that one of golf’s best comfort stations can be found on this hole.
The par 4 6th
The 7th is the shortest hole at Bluejack National as an 137 yard par 3. This is a very pretty one-shotter playing over water the entire way to a diagonal, bunkerless green that slopes back-to-front with a vertical ridge running through its center.
The par 3 7th
At 318 yards, the 8th hole is one of two reachable par fours on the course and is a fascinating and memorable hole. This teeshot plays through a chute of trees towards an extremely narrow green lined by a large bunker left and steep collection area right. The entire green slopes towards this collection area, leaving an extremely difficult chip. While a lot of birdies will be made here, I imagine there will lots of disappointed big numbers as well.
The risk/reward par 4 8th demands extreme accuracy
The number 1 handicap 9th hole plays alongside the 18th and takes you back to the clubhouse as a 400 yard par 4. This straightaway hole features no real danger on the teeshot but plays steadily uphill the entire way, making it play long. This green slopes hard back-to-front with a false front and right bunker as its defense.
The par 4 9th
The back 9 begins with a strong, 428 yard dogleg left par 4 featuring a wide fairway that takes a sharp turn left around 230 yards. There are three bunkers down the left at 180, 220, and 260 yards that will need to be avoided, although longer hitters can cut the corner here. This approach plays to a wide, shallow, back-to-front sloped green with two tiers and a pair of bunkers defending short.
The par 4 10th
The approach at 10
The 11th hole is a 523 yard straightaway par 5 with a brief forced carry over a creek to a narrower, tree-lined fairway. This undulating green is set off to the left with a bunker lining it on the right. This isn’t one of the more memorable holes here, but is apparently home to the only Bluejack oak tree on the entire property.
The par 5 11th
The approach at 11
There’s a significant Augusta National-like feel at Bluejack National and nowhere is it more obvious than the par 3 12th. Easily the signature hole, this 159 yard par 3 is essentially a replica of the famous 12th at Augusta. Playing downhill over water the entire way, this gorgeous hole features a shallow green that slopes back-to-front towards the water with a pair of bunkers long and steep slopes short. There’s a picture on the website of Tiger Woods playing this hole with a crowd behind him and you could easily think the picture was taken at The Masters.
The stunning par 3 12th
Like Augusta, the 13th hole that follows is a reachable par 5 at 508 yards. This straightaway hole features nice bunkering with a crossbunker down the left at 245 yards and one down the right at 310 yards. Similar sequential bunkering is seen in the lay-up area and this wide green is quite unique, with both edges of the green sloping towards a middle swale like a diagonal Biarritz.
The par 5 13th
The approach at 13
The 14th is another interesting hole as a slight dogleg right 367 yard par 4. Playing slightly uphill over a creek, this hole features a large bunker down the right around 215 yards and a fairway that slopes left-to-right and starts to turn right following the bunker. This green contains lots of movement and is defended by a bunker left, yielding the best angle to those who take an aggressive line over the fairway bunker.
The par 4 14th is one of the better holes on the course
The 15th hole continues uphill as the final par 3 on the course at 173 yards. This one-shotter features a large, back-to-front sloping green that wraps around a deep left bunker and has mounding on the right that will carom balls onto the putting surface.
The par 3 15th
The 16th hole is another fun par 4 playing at 413 yards with a semi-blind teeshot to a generous fairway lined by a crossbunker down the left at 200 yards. There’s a speed slot after this bunker and this approach runs steadily downhill towards a bunkerless, front-to-back sloped green that’s easy to run through.
The par 4 16th
Careful on your downhill approach at 16
At 302 yards, the 17th hole is a reachable par 4 and a great chance to get a shot back late in the round. This hole runs uphill and straightaway with a very generous fairway initially. At around 240 yards, a string of bunkers begins down the left, leaving a difficult approach. This green is well-defended by a front bunker and slopes steadily back-to-front.
The risk/reward par 4 17th
A closer look at the danger at 17
Bluejack National’s closing hole runs parallel to the 9th and plays as nearly the same hole as a 417 yard par 4. This hole plays longer than the distance uphill and features a pair of crossbunkers around 230 yards that narrow this fairway. This approach continues uphill to an undulating green surrounded by tight lies and a left bunker.
The tough par 4 18th
The 18th green is an elusive target
General Comments: Bluejack National the complex is an impressive place with gorgeous houses and amenities such as pickleball, tennis, pools, and a baseball field set up like Fenway Park. The Club operates on an all-inclusive model, and the comfort stations throughout the course are absolutely elite and always stocked. The course’s signature drink, the Jackhammer, is dangerously delicious and the jerky station near the 12th is a fitting Texan touch. Practice facilities are also extremely strong with a full grass range containing a large bullseye target, short game area, and 10-hole short course that’s lit up at night. You can tell a lot about Bluejack National when you show up at the range and music is blasting early in the morning. This is not golf in the Hamptons!
Verdict: With obvious inspiration from Augusta National, Tiger Woods’ first US design is a surprisingly playable and very fun course over hilly, tree-lined property outside Houston. The experience itself might be even better than the golf, with outrageous amenities, excellent practice facilities, and a very laid-back vibe that makes you want to spend all day here. If you get the chance to play Bluejack National, I highly recommend it!



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