Tempest Golf Club

Tempest Golf Club in Gladewater, Texas is one of the premier golf courses in East Texas. Formerly known as Southern Hills Golf Club, the course is located about two hours east of Dallas and 75 miles west of Shreveport, Louisiana. You ll know you are at the club when you see its huge American flag flying some 200 feet up a sky-scraping pole. Tempest Golf Club opened in 1989, but it has benefitted immensely from a comprehensive Jeff Brauer design in 2018. In the years since the redesign it has made multiple appearances on Golf Advisor s list of the Top Courses in Texas. Tempest Golf Club always draws raves for its beauty, its fun and provocative layout, and its exciting green complexes. Carved out of piney woodlands, the playing field features pronounced elevation changes and spectacular views. Holes proceed uphill and downhill in every direction. Tempest Golf Club boasts beautiful par 3s, most notably the 12th hole, which plays over a creek that sits in a ravine. It s just one spot where you ll likely be reaching to take a photo on this memorable layout. The middle of the round (holes 6-13) clusters all four of the par 5s, including back-to-back three-shot holes at 9 and 10. Tempest Golf Club features five sets of tee markers that enable players to take it on from as short as 4,512 yards and as long as 7,229 yards. Brauer s design does not let you just mindlessly bomb your driver. Narrow fairways, elevation changes, and some severe side slopes make keeping your ball in play a challenge. Putting is an adventure at Tempest Golf Club. The large greens, with their heaving undulations, lead to many three putts. Wind is also often a factor. Tempest Golf Club's practice facilities include a driving range, three practice greens, a chipping green, and two sand bunkers. The clubhouse features a pro shop, ample space for special events, and a bar and grille with a chef-driven menu. Tempest Golf Club is a challenging test and a hidden gem in Gladewater that provides plenty of bang for your buck. No wonder many golfers regularly make the drive from the Dallas Metroplex to play it.