By Brynna Breen
Wood County, Texas, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information, has an average fall temperature of about 68 to 75 degrees. Wood County—especially central Wood County—features “gently rolling to hilly terrain” with usually nice or warm weather, rarely seeing tornadoes, torrential rain, or other weather that would bar outdoor activity (other than, again, that lovely Texas heat).
So what does all that mean?
Well, it means many wonderful things for Wood County. But to many of our folks, it mostly means one big, important thing: plenty of really, really nice golf courses.
The Links at Land’s End
A mention of golf in East Texas would be woefully incomplete without dedicating significant space to the flagship course in Wood County: The Links at Land’s End.
Comprising many acres of lush, rolling, and shaded land, this golf course is located on an actual peninsula on our beautiful Lake Fork and functions like a Hollywood movie’s country club. This is not just a touristy sounding exaggeration; in fact, the Links was recently recognized as one of the Top 50 Public Golf Courses in the U.S. by Golf Pass!
The Links features an 18-hole, par-71 course, which measures 6,664 yards. The course rating is 72.6, and the slope rating is 130. The course is open seven days a week, year-round. The Links also features other added benefits, like a stay-and-play package, overnight lodging, a restaurant (which is open to the public as well), the golf shop, the main clubhouse, a swimming pool complex, and more.
The Links at Land’s End is also often used for private events, such as weddings, conference meetings, and more.
Pricing for the Links is attainable for the average golfer—and that was by design. “We strive to deliver an incredible golfing experience at a reasonable price,” said Tom Keenan, one of the owners, during a previous interview. “Our goal is to deliver such value that golfers want to come back to Wood County again and again.”
Mineola Country Club
Of course, the discussion would not be complete without mentioning the Mineola Country Club either.
Located off the loop in Mineola, the Country Club features a restaurant (Logan’s Biscuit Co., which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner), a bar, a fully stocked pro shop, a golf simulator, and an event venue. Several different amenities are open to the public, including golf, the bar, the restaurant, and the golf simulator. The Country Club pool is open to members only.
The Mineola Country Club was featured in Wood County news outlets in 2023 for a tragic fire that leveled the 92-year old clubhouse. However, the facility came back to the news in 2024, when it was built afresh and re-opened. This means the Mineola Country Club has all the benefits of a long-standing institution (“serving the community since 1932”), with all the benefits of a brand-new facility and a dedicated community to back it. It’s the best of both worlds.
The Mineola Country Club golf course itself is also highly acclaimed. According to the club’s website, the course is “consistently named in the top ten best 9-hole courses in Texas.” A 71-par “semi-private 9-hole course,” this Wood County course is set on a series of rolling hills outside Mineola proper. The course has several different yardages, including 6,089, 5,262, and 4,863.
Course rates for the Mineola Country Club are quite achievable. Visit the website for more information.
Holly Lake Ranch Golf Club
Wood County, Texas also proudly features the Holly Lake Ranch Golf Club.
Holly Lake Ranch is a gated community, but the Holly Lake Ranch website announces that outside public play is now available for the golf course: non-association members are welcome to sign up to one of the gated golf course’s limited public tee times.
The course itself is built over 168 (yes, you read that right, one hundred and sixty-eight) acres. It’s a par-72 course, and it is 6,784 yards from the championship tees and 5,584 from the forward tees. “Built in 1974, the course traverses the naturally rolling terrain while meandering through towering pines, stately oaks, and beautiful dogwoods,” says the website. “Our champion bermuda grass greens and bermuda fairways and tees offer up supreme playing conditions any time of year.”
Visit the website for more information.
Lake Fork Golf Course
Set on the west banks of Lake Fork, the Lake Fork Golf Course is located an equally accessible 30 minutes from Mineola and Winnsboro. The course offers 9-hole and 18-hole options, which are set across 145 “estate-like acres.”
“Founded in 1998, we cater to our members with a beautifully manicured 18-hole golf course designed by architects Gill and Williams,” says the website.
The course is par-72 along 6,017 yards, featuring many water hazards, as well as more than 2,000 trees. The full-service course is open year-round and aims to be family-oriented with “familiar places and friendly faces.”
The Lake Fork Golf Course also features a pro shop and a clubhouse. They also offer golf lessons. Visit the Lake Fork Golf Course website for information about tee times, rules, rates and more!
Eagle’s Nest Mini Golf Park
The latest addition to the golf course family in Wood County is Eagle’s Nest Mini Golf Park in Winnsboro.
The owners, Stephanie and Aaron Mees, are a husband-and-wife team with a passion for creating a fun and welcoming space where families and friends can connect and make great memories!
“We moved here from Friendswood, Texas, just outside of Houston. As parents of three grown children, we were looking for a new adventure for this “empty nest” phase in our lives. We enjoy mini golf as a family so much and wanted to share our love for this classic activity with others. Thus, Eagle’s Nest Mini Golf Park was born!” said the Mees.
The couple purchased an existing course in Winnsboro and with a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, they transformed it into an interactive, American pop culture-style course with two simple goals: “To bring joy and entertainment to the Wood County community, and to celebrate timeless trends, moments, landmarks, and ingenuity that have shaped American culture over the decades.”
“Eagle’s Nest Mini Golf Park is creative, family-friendly, and just a little bit out of the ordinary. From custom-built features to its interactive elements, this course was designed with much thought, lots of love, and just a tad bit of whimsy and nostalgia!”
A Wide Variety of Golfing Choices
Whether you want a Hollywood-esque course, a gorgeous new facility right outside town, a gated community experience, or a place where the goal is “familiar places and friendly faces,” Wood County, Texas has a place for you to golf.