For homebuyers who choose to make Austin, Texas their home, outdoor activities typically hold a significant importance. Golfers especially have many Austin-area locations to satisfy their need for engaging tee times—and serious golf enthusiasts can even purchase homes located in communities specifically oriented around courses and country clubs.

These four master-planned communities in the Austin area all feature easy commutes to Downtown Austin, on-site golf courses and amenities, and attractive home options.

Spanish Oaks

An exclusive master-planned community with PGA-standard golf infrastructure and a location within Austin city limits, Spanish Oaks is an excellent choice for golf lovers and active families. Spanish Oaks features top-notch amenities and social events, making this a vibrant community to live in. 

Amenities

The Spanish Oaks Golf Club boasts a private 18-hole course designed by PGA Tour architect Bobby Weed. The layout consists of ravines, hills, creeks, and ponds, and golfers of all ages and skill levels are encouraged to tee off. If you’re in need of some golf instruction, professional PGA trainers regularly host clinics and offer private lessons to club members. 

The Golf Clubhouse is open to residents for dining and cocktails, and the club calendar includes events like wine tastings, poker nights, holiday BBQs, and kid-centric clubs and activities.

Spanish Oaks also provides community amenities such as a multi-level swimming pool with cabanas as well as food and drink service, a “Fish Camp” for kids and adults eager to hook a solid catch, and an extensive system of hiking trails and parks perfect for leisurely strolls or athletic hikes. 

Housing Prices

Spanish Oaks contains an assortment of single-family homes, and due to the community’s abundant amenities and convenient location, pricing tends to be on the higher end of the area’s value spectrum. The current median sale price for a house in Spanish Oaks is over $1.6 million, and current home prices start in the high $900s, according to Neighborhoods.com listings. 

Location

A straight shot on the Southwest Parkway will get residents from Spanish Oaks to Downtown Austin in about 30-40 minutes, and Bee Cave is just a two-minute drive away. Residents can also quickly reach the Barton Creek Nature Preserve and the Austin Zoo for additional outdoor recreation and family-friendly attractions.

Barton Creek

An Austin master-planned development characterized by high-value homes and four expertly designed golf courses, Barton Creek is a strong choice for buyers with generous budgets who seek an easy downtown commute, well-appointed golf amenities, and excellent recreational options.

Amenities

The Barton Creek Country Club offers some of the best golf courses in the country. Its four championship courses each bear the name of the golf masters who designed them: Tom Fazio, Ben Crenshaw, Bill Coore, and Arnold Palmer. Barton Creek also offers members top-notch golf amenities such as driving ranges, six putting greens, four short game areas, and the Barton Creek Golf Academy for additional training. Barton Creek’s social environment also includes the Women’s Golf Association, the Men’s Golf Association, and other golf groups. 

In addition to golf amenities, tennis aficionados will also find plenty to love in Barton Creek; the country club features premium hard courts with LED lighting and plenty of clinics, doubles tournaments, and training opportunities.

Barton Creek is also currently constructing a new fitness center, which will include the latest cardio and weight equipment, punching bags, outdoor tracks, regular classes, and personal training services. 

Housing Prices

Barton Creek’s housing inventory predominantly consists of single-family homes, although buyers seeking a smaller property can purchase an attached home instead. Most homes in Barton Creek sit on one-and-a-half-acre lots and have at least four bedrooms and four bathrooms. The median sale price in this neighborhood stands at $1.1 million. 

Location

Located on the west side of the Austin, Barton Creek offers residents a beautiful Texas Hill Country setting. Residents can reach Downtown Austin in just under 30 minutes via the Southwest Parkway or Bee Caves Road, making it convenient for commuters to reach their downtown offices quickly by car. 

The Hills of Lakeway

A sizable master-planned community located 40 minutes northwest of Austin proper, The Hills of Lakeway features two top-rated golf clubs within its boundaries: The Hills Country Club and the Lakeway Country Club. These golf clubs offer impressive courses designed by championship golf pros, and member-residents can also make use of the community’s numerous fitness and social amenities.

Amenities

The Hills of Lakeway’s first golf club, The Hills Country Club, includes two championship golf courses: The Hills and Flintlock Falls. Both courses were designed by renowned golf legend Jack Nicklaus, and The Hills Country Club also features the Academy of Golf, a three-hole training center with practice greens.

The second golf club is the Lakeway Country Club, which is split into two courses: Live Oak and Yaupon. Between the two, golfers can play a total of 36 holes, and the courses give players a variety of challenging terrains, from rolling hills and valleys to tree-lined fairways and pond crossings. 

Residents of The Hills of Lakeway also have access to 18 competition-worthy tennis courts; a year-round swimming pool; a fitness center equipped with a cycle studio, a Pilates and yoga room, and free weights; as well as restaurants and pubs within the clubhouses. The community also offers private lessons or sports camps for children.

Housing Prices

Homes in The Hills of Lakeway range from attached homes to large custom estates. The median sale price currently stands in the mid $500s, with a few attached and small single-family homes starting in the high $400s and larger homes topping out in the $1 millions.

Location

The Hills of Lakeway can be found in The Hills, the largest village in Texas with approximately 2,500 residents. Commuters travel east on the Southwest Parkway to reach the city center, and the drive time takes about 40-55 minutes each way, depending on traffic. Residents of The Hills of Lakeway can also easily access the boating and swimming activities at Lake Travis, which is only a 20-minute drive from the community.

Crystal Falls

Found in the charming Hill Country town of Leander, Crystal Falls takes great pride in its picturesque golf course which is considered one of the most scenic public golf courses in Central Texas. This community features homes designed by local architects, and the community’s striking natural beauty and direct access to Leander’s shopping and dining options render it a popular place for homebuyers seeking a reasonably priced home with golf course perks.

Amenities

The Crystal Falls Golf Club offers community residents and club members 18 challenging holes, spread out across a scenic Hill Country landscape with water hazards built into 12 of the 18 holes. The club also encompasses a pro shop, golf practice facilities, and an on-site restaurant.

In addition to Crystal Falls’ golf amenities, the community provides playgrounds for children as well as fun social events like book clubs and holiday picnics. Other desirable features include a fishing lake, a sand volleyball court, a disc golf complex, two swimming centers, tennis courts, picnic areas, and a network of hiking trails. 

Housing Prices

The majority of homes in this community fall into the single-family home category, and the median sale price stands in the mid $400s. Home sizes vary, ranging from just over 1,300 to 8,300 square feet with some custom homes having up to seven bedrooms.

Location

Crystal Falls benefits from its central location within Leander, a suburb less than 30 miles northwest of Austin. Motorists can commute to Downtown Austin in 30-40 minutes or to the tech hub of Round Rock in 20-30 minutes.