What's the best golf course in the valley?

Hard to pin down a "best" course in the RGV but here is my list of favorites, in no particular order:

SPI Golf Club
Rancho Viejo (private)
Tierra Santa
Champion Lakes

TY - which one is the most exclusive?

Exclusivity and the RGV don't really go hand in hand. LOL

If you put some parameters around what you mean by "best" and "exclusive" you might get better feedback. By their nature, private clubs will be more exclusive, so Rancho Viejo, McAllen CC and Harlingen CC would be the "most exclusive" courses. Each of them have their deficiencies and MCC is about to be closed down for 9-12 months while they redo their greens and revamp several holes. I was told HCC had some issues with their greens that they are recovering from and they are suffering like the rest of the Valley from a lack of water. Last time I played Rancho (January '26) it was in great shape.

They're all average courses regardless of private/public. It's the RGV we're talking about where a mobile home can be on land next to a fully fenced in mansion followed by an average home followed by another mansion ending with another trailer and a barn. All on the same street within a 1/4 mile from each other end to end.

Hey, those narcos have to keep their foot soldiers somewhere! Right next door has its advantages.

But, your point stands. Throw in all those Yankee and Canuck hacks that descend on the Valley every year from November through March and some of those courses take an absolute beating.

I play a lot of golf here in the Valley.

Harlingen CC is my home course. We had greens issues last year but we're well past that. Greens are in very good condition right now. We replaced 3 greens with paspalum last year, and are going to do the remaining 15 sometime in the next 6 months or so. Schedule TBD. Fairways are suffering from lack of rain and the fact we can't get enough irrigation water. Private, so need a member to play with or arrange.

SPI in Laguna Vista is always a fun course to play. A few holes on the bay with a view of SPI. They're in a greens replacement cycle with 2 or 3 temp greens at a time.

Rancho Viejo did a lot of work the last couple of years and is in good condition. Private, so need a member to play with or arrange.

Tierra Santa in Weslaco is another good course down here. Usually in good condition, except for the traps. Long rounds on the weekends.

Treasure Hills in Harlingen is the best layout in the Valley. Some terrain that other Valley courses don't have because of its location near the Arroyo Colorado. Conditions are usually pretty good.

McAllen CC about to close down for the remainder of the year for renovations.

If you're looking for high end, immaculately manicured resort-type courses, the Valley is not your destination. But the ones I have mentioned are the ones my group play when we want to venture out. Usually in pretty good condition. Every course is suffering a little down here due to the lack of any mentionable rainfall since last September/October.

Feel free to reach out if you have any specific questions. I'll be happy to play at HCC some time.

Good write-up with more in-depth reporting.

I omitted Treasure Hills from my list, even though I play it the most, due to the condition it is currently in, which is pretty rough. The greens are okay but the fairways have lots of burned out areas due to either lack of water or poor drainage. I agree that it is one of the more interesting tracks in the Valley.

Here is the better question.

When are we going to have a golf outing?? The Aggie Tournament isn't until June at Los Lagos.

I live in Mission, so I play Shary most days. I don't need much luxury as long as I am playing with some good company. Considering the current conditions in South Texas and lack of rain most of our courses are not in bad shape except Tierra del Sol (LOL). I've played Los Lagos, Champions, Tierra Santa, Tierra del Sol, and Shary the last two months I'd rank Champions on top plus they just added a nice chipping green along with a putting green upgrade thanks to a generous donation by Abraham Ancer. I am hearing Monte Christo is in really good shape I just haven't been out there to play yet.

Do NOT play Monte Cristo! LOL I played there about a year or so ago and vowed never to play that course again. Its on par with Llano Grande in Mercedes.