One of Texas' most anticipated new golf courses debuts outside of Austin

In the limestone folds west of Austin, a new private golf enclave is staking its claim along the Pedernales River — and doing so with intent.

Loraloma Championship Course, Courtesy of Loraloma

Loraloma Private Club & Estates has unveiled its 18-hole championship course, a 7,400-yard, par-72 routing designed by renowned architect David McLay Kidd. Known for projects like Bandon Dunes and the Castle Course at St Andrews, Kidd brings his signature vision to Texas for the first time. The course anchors a larger Hill Country community where landscape, design, and lifestyle converge, setting the tone for a distinctive private enclave in the heart of the region.

Loraloma Championship Course Hole 8, Courtesy of Loraloma

Set across 120 acres, more than half the holes trace the cliffs above the Pedernales River, while others climb to ridgelines overlooking the Balcones Escarpment. Rather than overpower the terrain, the routing works with it — ravines, elevation shifts, and natural corridors shaping shot values from tee to green.

Loraloma Championship Course Hole 4, courtesy of Loraloma

Loraloma’s layout balances scale and strategy, with wide fairways, dramatic cliffside holes, and memorable finishing stretches that highlight the natural Hill Country terrain. The course is the first in the nation to feature Zoysia grass wall-to-wall — and only the second in the U.S. to showcase Lazer Zoysia greens developed by Texas A&M University — creating a resilient, consistent playing surface built for year-round enjoyment.

Club House, Courtesy of Loraloma

Small, playful traditions give the experience a distinctly Texas character: a restored 1958 Bambi Airstream offers mid-round refreshments, and the historic Tipsy’s Wellhouse invites guests to leave a dollar and a note before teeing off.

Limestone Gulch at Loraloma, courtesy of Loraloma

Beyond the course, Loraloma is designed as a full lifestyle destination within the 2,200-acre Thomas Ranch masterplan. The private equestrian community will feature luxury residences, homesites, and a limited Private Residences Club offering fractional ownership in six fully furnished homes overlooking the 18th hole.

Visit loralomaclub.com for more information.