Canyon West Golf Club (Weatherford, TX on 05/10/20)

The last month or so I’ve been heading to the golf course on Sunday afternoons. This week was no different and I ventured out to Canyon West Golf Club, which is about 30 miles west of Fort Worth, along the I-20. From where I live in the North Dallas area it was a bit of a drive to get out here!

I found an online tee time for ~$40 which was a good deal considering the normal $50 green fee. Canyon West appears to be one of a number of quality courses on the western outskirts of DFW – Sugar Tree, Split Rail, Cross Timbers, Squaw Creek and Whitestone are all out this way as well.

For $40 the conditions were acceptable, however the fairways were struggling and weren’t very well manicured (think bare patches and some crabgrass), at least on the front nine. The fairways on the back nine were softer and presented better. Other parts of the maintenance were solid as the tees were full and the greens were fast and pure.

One of the wagons showing the western theme at Canyon West.

If you can get past the rough-around-the-edges look of Canyon West then I think you’ll find a lot to like, as I did. The course makes its way through a community, however the homes never really come into play or overwhelm the course. Also, you’ll find plenty of elevated tees (a nice surprise for North Texas) and an open, relaxing design.

Other cool things about Canyon West are its “western” theme, a driving range that is a tribute to the Lone Star State and nice aesthetics throughout the course. You’ll find some old wagons, including one near the practice putting green. The driving range has painted rocks laid out in the shape of Texas, which I thought was pretty unique!

Canyon West is one of those courses that presents well visually, thanks mostly to the limestone rock walls that surround multiple green complexes. There are waterfall features on the 4th and 5th holes, although only the waterfall on the 5th hole was running when I played. Some roses were in bloom as well and those added a bright color to the course.

The 134 yard 12th is the course’s signature hole.

I played the gold tees which are 71.0/124/6653. While I chopped it around the back nine, I found Canyon West to be playable except for a few tight driving holes on the back. The course appears to be Wes and Stan Mickle’s only design.

While the front nine is highlighted by the 4th and 5th holes (with their waterfalls) I preferred the back nine as it seemed to have more character. The back nine has a great stretch from the 11th through the 14th, which has its own water features – including an island green. The 12th is a 134 yard par-3 with a large island green. That green is the centerpiece for the 11th through the 14th, which play around the water.

If you are in Fort Worth then I’d certainly recommend a round at Canyon West, as the course has tons of charm! If the fairways had better coverage then I could argue that Canyon West would be one of those “hidden gems”. However, as conditions stand right now it probably isn’t worth much more than a half hour drive to play out here.

Course Pictures (click any picture to scroll through the gallery):

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