Traffic sucked pretty bad on the I-45 from Houston to Dallas my last time making the trip, so this time around I hoped to avoid that afternoon traffic. My plan was to find a nine-hole course along the way to break up the drive. Today I made it about an hour up the road before stopping to check out Hearne Municipal Golf Course.

Before today, if you asked me where Hearne, TX was at on the map, I’d have told you that I have no idea. Now, I can say that Hearne is somewhere between Bryan/College Station and Waco. I’m sure knowing that isn’t too helpful, but in case you find yourself passing through the area with the clubs then Hearne Municipal is right on the way.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from the course, but it was convenient and I was determined to take advantage of a beautiful almost-fall day (mid 70’s and sunny). So, as I pulled into the course’s parking lot I set my expectations low. I paid the $12 walking rate and headed for the first tee – or at least tried to.

Hearne Municipal is one of those nine-hole courses with multiple tee boxes for each hole. I get the idea and from a playability standpoint it probably is best. But, tying to figure out where each tee box is located can be confusing. I saw a sign for the “10th” hole, but didn’t realize it was a par-5 while the 1st hole is a par-4 with the tee boxes moved up. To further complicate things, the blue tees are for the front nine and the white tees are for the back nine. I stood around like a dummy staring at the scorecard for a minute or two until I figured it out.

After displaying my brilliance to tee off in the correct spot, I enjoyed my round and my walk at Hearne Municipal. The course plays as a par-36 with two par-3’s, five par-4’s and two par-5’s. The blue tees are 3,149 yards while the whites are 3,224 yards, so the course has some length to it. Thankfully, the fairways are wide and you can hit the ball almost anywhere and still find it.

From what I can find online, the course was built in 1935 and the green complexes are the most challenging thing about the course. The greens are tiny and shaped like upside down teacups, so every shot just catches an edge and rolls off into the rough. Then you are left with a decision to try a lofted chip or bump and run it into a hill. Unless you are a great iron player you will be left testing your short game.

The part I liked the most about the course was its setting. The course is set in the country, among many oaks and pines. The terrain rolls and there is just enough elevation change to add to the course’s look. My favorite holes are the par-4 2nd and the par-3 6th. The green complex on the 2nd sits in a group of trees and then the 149 yard 6th plays along the edge of the property and has a wooded look to it.

Regarding the conditions, everything was better than I expected and I have zero complaints. The course was well cared for on my visit and all the turf looked healthy with minimal baked out spots. Overall, I’d say it was pretty lush. The fairways, tees and greens were longer but had that nice green color to them. The greens rolled fine, just slow.

I liked the course more than I thought and always like squeezing in a bonus round on a golf trip. Hearne Municipal is a solid small-town course with a laid-back country vibe to it. If you find yourself in the area with the clubs and some time to spare, then it is worth a look.

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