735 Birch Ln, Cottonwood Shores, TX 78657

Driftwood Golf Ranch Club is a Discovery Land Company community, which means it belongs to the same portfolio as Yellowstone Club in Montana, Kukio in Hawaii, and Baker's Bay in the Bahamas. That pedigree matters because Discovery Land does not simply build golf courses. They build private communities around outdoor experiences, and they do it on a scale and with a level of finish that is difficult to replicate. The 800-acre property in Driftwood, Texas, with its Tom Fazio-designed golf course, represents the only Discovery Land community in Central Texas. The community is located in unincorporated Hays County in the 78619 zip code, about 25 minutes southwest of downtown Austin via Highway 290 and Ranch Road 12. Dripping Springs, the small Hill Country town that has been growing rapidly, is about 10 minutes to the west. The Salt Lick BBQ, one of the most famous barbecue destinations in Texas, sits just down the road. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is roughly 30 minutes east. The location feels remote by design, with rolling hills and ranch land on all sides, but the drive into Austin proper is manageable for anyone who has lived in the city's traffic. The architecture draws on Hill Country traditions through a contemporary lens. About 35 percent of homes are Hill Country Contemporary designs using native limestone, weathered wood, and expansive glass to connect interior spaces with the terrain. Texas Ranch Modern homes account for another 25 percent, blending agricultural vernacular with high-end finishes. Discovery Land's own cabin and lodge designs make up roughly 20 percent, scaled for owners who use the property as a retreat. Custom estates on larger parcels fill the remaining inventory. Lot sizes range from one acre to ten or more, and home pricing starts in the low millions for smaller builds and extends well past $10 million for showcase properties with significant acreage. This is a members-only community, and the membership itself carries a significant cost separate from the real estate. Driftwood Golf Ranch Club is served by Dripping Springs ISD, which has grown alongside the rapid development of the Highway 290 corridor. The district operates several elementary campuses, Dripping Springs Middle School, and Dripping Springs High School. The high school has earned recognition for both academics and extracurriculars, and the district's relatively small size compared to Austin ISD means class sizes tend to stay manageable. Families in the community also have access to private school options in Austin, with the 25-minute commute making campuses like St. Andrew's, St. Stephen's, and Regents School of Austin realistic options. The lifestyle here centers on the club amenities and the Hill Country landscape. The Tom Fazio golf course is the headline feature, designed to work with the natural contours of the land rather than impose a manufactured look on it. Beyond golf, the community offers equestrian facilities, a family camp area, hiking and biking trails, and the kind of tailored outdoor programming that Discovery Land is known for across its portfolio. When you leave the gates, Trattoria Lisina offers Italian cuisine in a Hill Country farmhouse setting with a wine cave. Tillie's at Camp Lucy provides another upscale option in a restored historic property. Vista Brewing serves craft beer with panoramic Hill Country views. And Pieous, a small pizza and deli operation on Fitzhugh Road, has developed a following that extends well beyond the local population. Hamilton Pool Preserve, Jacob's Well Natural Area, and Pedernales Falls State Park are all within a 30-minute drive for swimming, hiking, and photography. In the Austin luxury market, Driftwood Golf Ranch Club occupies a category of its own. It does not compete with Westlake, Barton Creek, or Lake Austin because the product is fundamentally different. Those neighborhoods offer luxury homes with urban convenience. Driftwood offers a private club experience with real acreage and seclusion. The closest comparisons within Texas might be Cordillera Ranch near Boerne or Boot Ranch in Fredericksburg, though neither has Discovery Land's operational scale. The premium you pay is for the membership, the programming, and the guarantee that the community will be maintained to a specific standard indefinitely. Driftwood Golf Ranch Club is for buyers who have already lived in the high-end suburban neighborhoods and want something different. It works for families who want genuine outdoor access and space, for executives who need a retreat within striking distance of Austin's airport, and for golf-focused buyers who want a Tom Fazio course without a six-month tee time queue. The tradeoff is clear: you are 25 minutes from downtown, the membership cost is substantial, and you are buying into a specific vision of luxury living. For the right buyer, there is nothing else like it in Central Texas.