Golfers can swing to many Valley courses

The Rio Grande Valley is an area welcoming to many this time of year. Its climate, though cool for many from this area, can be a toasty relief for folks from chillier, more northerly climes.

Not surprisingly, one favored pastime for many Winter Texans is golf.

The sport’s leisurely pace and challenging nature, combined with more than 15 quality courses, mean there is no shortage of options for any Winter Texan looking to play a round, regardless of what part of the Valley they choose to visit over the next few months. From South Padre Island to La Joya, it seems like there is a nine- or 18-hole course every few miles.

And that’s because there is.

The Upper Valley is peppered with choices for players of varying levels of ambition and competitiveness. Two of the area’s featured courses are Los Lagos Golf Club in Edinburg and the Shary Municipal Golf Course in Mission. Both include many amenities for players, such as cart access on fairways.

The Mid-Valley also is full of solid choices. Among them are Llano Grande Golf Course in Mercedes, Tierra Santa Golf Club in Weslaco and Tony Butler Golf Course in Harlingen. Tony Butler is a 27-hole course and allows carts on fairways, making the day easier for players even if they’re struggling with their game.

Finally, in the Lower Valley, courses include Laguna Vista’s South Padre Island Golf Club. The 18-hole course’s length ranges from a challenging 6,931 yards on the gold tees to a more attainable 5,406 on the red. Other courses in the Brownsville area include Valley International Golf Club in Brownsville, River Bend Resort & Country Club and the Brownsville Golf & Recreation Center.

Brian Sandalow is a sports writer for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4436.