Dallas gets another municipal gem with the redo of Stevens Park Golf Course

The Dallas-Ft. Worth area has one of the best collections of municipal golf courses in the country, and it just got better with the reopening of Stevens Park Golf Course, which is just five minutes from downtown Dallas.

Colligan Golf Design, which also did the wonderful renovation at the A.W. Tillinghast-designed Brackenridge Park in San Antonio, recently completed a multi-million dollar redo at Stevens Park, a Jack Burke Sr. design that first opened in 1922.

You might be more familiar with Burke’s son, Jack Burke Jr., one of the founders and owner of Champions Golf Club in Houston. Junior also won the Masters and PGA Championship in 1956. But Jack Burke Sr., born in 1890, was an accomplished player and club pro in his own right, and he designed two courses with the other being Tenison Park in Dallas. (Tenison Park underwent a similar renovation 10 years ago).

Now the popular, but formerly rundown Stevens Park has a new look with a grand old feel. Dallas’ own John Colligan and his associate, Trey Kemp reconfigured the old 5,700-yard course into a layout that now measures 6,300 yards from the tips. The upgrades of the par-70 course, which now has a 600-yard-plus par 5, include a new irrigation system that uses effluent water, modern Bermudagrasses (Miniverde on the greens) and 38 new bunkers. Using old aerial photographs, Colligan also reintroduced the old odd-shaped putting surfaces. More than 800 trees were also planted.

It’s no wonder that the tee sheets have been full since it reopened in mid-October. It’s affordable with $24 and $31 green fees during the week and weekends respectively, it’s in great condition, and the weather is perfect right now.