Golf Courses in Waco: A Baylor Student's Guide to Cottonwood Creek, Bear Ridge & More
Waco is not the first city that comes to mind when you think about golf, but there are three real 18-hole courses within 25 minutes of campus — plus an indoor simulator you can walk to from Baylor's front gates. Whether you're a scratch golfer looking for a legitimate test, a beginner who wants to spend a Sunday outside without embarrassing yourself, or a group of friends who want to try something different, the options are better than you'd expect.
This guide covers everything: what each course costs, how far it is from 19Eleven Apartments, which one is best for beginners, and when to book the $6 twilight walk-on rate that makes golf genuinely affordable for students.
Waco Golf at a Glance
| Course | Distance from 19Eleven | Weekday 18-hole (walk) | Weekend 18-hole (walk) | Twilight Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cottonwood Creek | ~4 miles | $33 | $44 | After 4pm |
| Bear Ridge | ~8 miles | $32 | $47 | — |
| Lake Waco Golf Club | ~10-12 miles | $19 | $25 | $6 after 3:30pm |
| ReadyGolf (indoor) | ~0.8 miles | Per bay/hour | Per bay/hour | — |
Cottonwood Creek Golf Course: The Smart First Pick
Address: 5200 Bagby Ave, Waco TX 76711 — about 4 miles from 19Eleven (15-minute drive) Phone: (254) 745-6009
Cottonwood Creek is Waco's city-owned public golf course, and it's the one most students end up playing first. The course is a legitimate 18-hole, par-72 layout at 7,140 yards — designed by Joseph Finger in 1985 — with a course rating of 74.2 and a slope of 125. That's not a pitch-and-putt. It's a real championship course that will test your game, but the city keeps prices reasonable enough that it doesn't feel like a splurge.
Pricing:
- Weekday 18 holes: $33 walking / $54 with cart
- Weekend 18 holes: $44 walking / $65 with cart
- Twilight rates available after 4pm (call for current pricing)
- 9-hole par-3 practice course: $5 (a great option for beginners)
- Cart rental: $21 per person
The course has a full lighted driving range, large putting green, short-game practice area, and a pro shop that offers club rentals if you don't have your own set. Student and group rates are available — call the pro shop directly to ask. Baylor's club golf team uses Cottonwood Creek for tryouts, which tells you something about the quality.
Best for: Students who want a full 18-hole experience on a budget, or anyone who wants to practice at the range before committing to a round.
Bear Ridge Golf Club: Where Baylor's Varsity Teams Play
Address: 1000 Bear Ridge Dr, Waco TX 76712 — about 8 miles from 19Eleven (20-25 minute drive) Phone: (254) 848-7800 Website: bearridgewaco.com
Bear Ridge is Waco's premier course and the official home course for Baylor University's varsity golf teams. If you've seen the Baylor Bears compete at home, they're playing here. The Peter Jacobsen/Jim Hardy design opened in 2001, measures 7,478 yards from the championship tees, and plays along the South Bosque River with rolling terrain that rewards shot-shaping and penalizes mistakes. Course rating is 76.1 with a slope of 131 — this is not a casual afternoon course.
Pricing:
- Weekday 18 holes: $32 walking / $54 riding
- Friday 18 holes: $37 walking / $59 riding
- Saturday, Sunday, and holidays: $47 walking / $69 riding
- Senior/junior discount: $5 off Mon–Fri
- Cart rental: $22 per rider
Bear Ridge has a lighted driving range and requires proper golf attire (no jeans, no tank tops — collared shirts required). The semi-private status means public play is welcome, but the course has higher expectations for pace and conduct than Cottonwood Creek.
Best for: Golfers who want to play the same course as Baylor's Division I athletes, or anyone looking for the most challenging 18-hole test in the Waco area.
Lake Waco Golf Club: The Best Twilight Value
Address: 5608 Flat Rock Rd, Waco TX 76708 — about 10-12 miles from 19Eleven (25-minute drive) Phone: (254) 756-2161 Website: lakewacogc.com
Lake Waco Golf Club has been around since 1964 — making it the oldest golf facility in the area — and it offers something the other two courses don't: two separate 18-hole courses (a regulation course and an executive par-3 layout). The regulation course is the primary draw for students, but the executive course is excellent for beginners who want to play a complete round without worrying about long iron shots.
Pricing (regulation course):
- Weekday 18 holes: $19 walking / $31 with cart
- Weekend 18 holes: $25 walking / $36 with cart
- Twilight rate after 3:30pm: $6 walking / $14 with cart — the best deal in Waco
- 9-hole weekday: $10 walking / $16 with cart
- Pro shop hours: 7am–5pm daily (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas)
The twilight rate is genuinely exceptional. Six dollars to walk 18 holes on a full course on a Waco weekday afternoon is something you'd have a hard time beating. If you can get to the course by 3:30pm, there's usually time to complete 12-14 holes before dark — especially from April through October when daylight lasts until 8pm or later.
Best for: Anyone who wants the best value-per-dollar golf experience in Waco. The $6 twilight walk-on is the deal of the year for students who want real golf on a student budget.
ReadyGolf: Indoor Golf Near Baylor (On S 5th St)
Address: 1700 S 5th St, Waco TX 76706 — about 0.8 miles from 19Eleven (walkable from campus) Phone: (254) 301-7062 Website: readygolftx.com
ReadyGolf is a different category from the outdoor courses above, but it deserves mention because it's the closest golf option to campus by a wide margin. The facility uses Foresight Falcon simulator technology to let you play digital recreations of famous courses in 6-player bays. A full 18-hole round takes under an hour — no walking, no weather, no waiting for slow groups ahead of you.
ReadyGolf was founded by a Baylor graduate and has become popular with Baylor Baseball players who use it for off-season practice. It's not a substitute for real course experience, but it's useful for bad weather days, groups who want a competitive game without four hours of commitment, or complete beginners who want to practice the basics before going outside.
Call or check the website for current bay rates and availability — it books up on evenings and weekends.
Best for: Groups who want golf as an activity without the full course commitment, beginners practicing their swing, or anyone looking for golf when it's 98°F outside.
How Does This Compare to TopGolf?
The blog already has a complete guide to TopGolf Waco, but here's the short version: TopGolf and traditional golf courses serve completely different purposes. TopGolf is a social experience — you're in a climate-controlled bay, hitting balls at targets, ordering food and drinks, and likely not keeping score the traditional way. It's a great group activity. But it won't teach you to play golf, and it's typically more expensive per hour than walking 18 holes at Cottonwood Creek or Lake Waco.
If you want to actually learn to play, or want to compete on a real course, go to Cottonwood Creek, Bear Ridge, or Lake Waco. If you want a date night or group activity that doesn't require any athletic background, TopGolf is fine.
First-Timer Tips for Playing Golf in Waco
You don't need to be a golfer to show up at a Waco course, but a few things will make the experience less intimidating:
- Call ahead. Weekends fill up. Walk-ons are easier on weekdays or during twilight.
- Wear appropriate shoes. Soft spike or spikeless golf shoes are preferred; metal spikes are not allowed. Athletic shoes work fine for beginners.
- Bear Ridge requires a collared shirt. Cottonwood Creek and Lake Waco are more relaxed.
- Club rentals are available at all three courses. Call the pro shop to confirm availability and pricing.
- Nine holes is a completely valid option. All three courses offer 9-hole rates. Two hours is much more manageable than four for a first experience.
- Go during twilight. The Lake Waco $6 twilight rate is the single best intro-to-golf value in Waco.
From 19Eleven Apartments at 1911 S 8th Street, you're less than 15 minutes from Cottonwood Creek, 25 minutes from Bear Ridge and Lake Waco, and walking distance from ReadyGolf. Waco's golf options are better than most college towns, and the pricing — especially the Lake Waco twilight rate — keeps it accessible without needing to spend big.
Get Outside This Semester
Waco's outdoor scene is underrated for a college town, and golf is one of the better ways to spend an afternoon that isn't just sitting indoors. Even if you've never played before, the par-3 practice course at Cottonwood Creek ($5) or a ReadyGolf simulator bay gives you a no-pressure entry point.
If you're looking for other outdoor activities near campus, check out the disc golf guide, the Lake Waco guide, or the full list of things to do in Waco. And when you're ready to figure out where to live while you're enjoying all of it — 19Eleven is at 1911 S 8th Street, right in the south campus corridor. Schedule a tour or explore our floor plans to see what's available.
