The Complete Guide to Austin's Elite Private Clubs & Luxury Real Estate

Membership in Austin's private clubs offers unparalleled access to world-class golf, exclusive social networks, high-end dining, and comprehensive wellness facilities. These clubs function as lifestyle enablers, providing curated experiences and fostering a profound sense of community for discerning individuals and families.

At The Keenan Group at Compass Real Estate, we specialize in helping clients navigate both the complex world of private club membership and the luxury real estate opportunities within these prestigious communities. Here's our comprehensive guide to Austin's most distinguished private clubs.

Austin Country Club: Historic Crown Jewel on Lake Austin

Austin Country Club stands as Texas golf royalty and one of the oldest existing clubs in Texas. This enduring presence and continuous evolution contribute significantly to the club's substantial brand equity and perceived stability, positioning it as a highly desirable and trusted institution for generations of members. Located along the banks of Lake Austin with the iconic Pennybacker Bridge as backdrop, ACC represents the pinnacle of exclusivity in private club membership.

The Pete Dye Golf Masterpiece

The championship 18-hole course, designed by Pete Dye (recognized by Golfweek as one of the world's top architects), spans 180 acres of dramatic Hill Country terrain. Characterized as a "complex and guileful challenge," the course features deep pot bunkers, undulating turf, and the dramatic 18th-hole fairway fall. The course incorporates massive limestone slabs quarried on-site, creating a distinctly Texas accent reminiscent of Scottish classics.

Golf Course Highlights:

• Host to PGA Tour's WGC-Dell Match Play championship since 2016
• Harvey Penick Learning Center (honoring the legendary instructor)
• Comprehensive practice facilities with driving range and multiple putting greens
• Strategic "lowlands" and "highlands" design requiring precision shot-making
• Varied terrain with holes three through seven nearest the lake

Exclusive Amenities & White-Glove Service

Membership: The Ultimate Exclusivity

Austin Country Club is widely recognized for its long-standing waitlist and the quality of its membership. The presence of such a significant waitlist is a powerful indicator of high demand and perceived exclusivity, reinforcing the club's elite status.

Real Estate Opportunities

Property ownership is not required for membership, but many members choose to live in surrounding prestigious neighborhoods. Davenport Ranch properties range from $3 million condominiums to estates exceeding $10 million, all within the highly acclaimed Eanes Independent School District.

Omni Barton Creek Resort & Country Club: Resort Luxury with Four Championship Courses

Barton Creek Country Club presents a unique hybrid model, combining private club amenities with the luxury of the Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa. This integration creates an unparalleled array of amenities that extends far beyond traditional country club offerings, providing members with both private club exclusivity and extensive resort services within a single membership.

Four Legendary Golf Courses

The club is renowned for its four award-winning golf courses designed by legendary architects including Tom Fazio, Ben Crenshaw, Bill Coore, and Arnold Palmer. This multi-course offering is a significant competitive advantage, allowing the club to cater to a wide spectrum of golfers and preferences while preventing monotony for regular players.

Comprehensive Resort Amenities

Membership Categories & Accessibility

Real Estate Integration

Property ownership not required, but automatic Social Membership included with property purchases in twenty surrounding neighborhoods. Properties range from $400,000 townhomes to $20+ million estates, with median prices of $2-3 million. The resort's scale and amenities significantly enhance surrounding property values.

Driftwood Golf and Ranch Club: Discovery Land Company's Texas Masterpiece

Driftwood represents Austin's newest ultra-exclusive club—a Discovery Land Company development redefining the private club experience. This 800-acre property combines working ranch elements with luxury amenities in an authentic Hill Country setting, emphasizing a fun-loving culture with music playing, gourmet "comfort stations" on the golf course, and a focus on family recreation and laid-back luxury.

Tom Fazio's Latest Masterpiece

The championship 18-hole course, designed by Tom Fazio and opened in May 2022, has already been ranked as the best new course in Texas. Fazio's design philosophy involved mindfully harmonizing the course's centerlines with the existing landscape, creating a "pure representation" of the Texas Hill Country environment. The layout plays up to 7,662 yards through century-old live oaks, limestone outcroppings, and natural water features.

Revolutionary Ranch Amenities

The Urban Extension Innovation

Membership: Property Ownership Required

Structure: "Buy land, build a house, join the club" model with mandatory property ownership. Membership exclusively for property owners with "vertical memberships" covering entire families and access to Discovery Land Company's global network of clubs.

Real Estate: The Ultimate Investment

Early members claimed 75% of initial properties, with a limited second release of 48 exceptional homesites now available. The community offers estate lots (roughly 3/4 acre and up) and bespoke homes with prices reflecting the exclusivity and luxury amenities.

Spanish Oaks Golf Club: Ultra-Exclusive Bee Cave Sanctuary

Spanish Oaks represents the epitome of exclusivity—an invitation-only, gated community with only 450 total members. Recently recognized as more expensive than even UT Golf Club, Spanish Oaks has cemented its position among Texas's most elite clubs, emphasizing extreme privacy, concierge-style service, and a meticulously curated membership.

Bobby Weed's Environmental Masterpiece

The 18-hole course, designed by PGA Tour architect Bobby Weed, is consistently ranked among the top in Texas. Weed's design philosophy focused on creating exceptional golf while revering, restoring, and sustaining the natural environment. The course layout skillfully incorporates existing topography, requiring shots up and down slopes, over ravines, creeks, and ponds.

Concierge-Style Service & Upscale Amenities

Spanish Oaks prides itself on providing concierge-style service, ensuring an exceptional and attentive experience that extends beyond mere facility access to anticipating and fulfilling members' needs both on and off-site.

Signature Social Events:

• Annual Easter egg hunt in Pecan Grove
• Ladies' poker nights and Father's Day BBQ
• Special-occasion parties and golf tournaments
• Wine tastings and cooking classes
• Kids' summer camps and family programs

Membership: Invitation-Only Elite

Real Estate: Gated Community Living

Buying a home in the Spanish Oaks community does not automatically include club membership, but it can facilitate the invitation process. The majority of club members are residents, creating a tight-knit community where your home and club become a sanctuary of Hill Country luxury.

Escondido Golf and Lake Club: Hidden Gem on Lake LBJ

Escondido ("hidden" in Spanish) offers a unique proposition: Tom Fazio-designed championship golf combined with full marina access on constant-level Lake LBJ. This member-owned private club provides three distinct arrival options—by road, boat, or private aircraft—and presents itself as a timeless hamlet of Mediterranean-style charm in the heart of Texas Hill Country.

Tom Fazio's Lake Country Design

The par-71, 7,165-yard course winds through 427 acres of Mediterranean-themed architecture, featuring dramatic elevation changes and Fazio's signature bunkering. Designed in 2006, the layout is crafted to challenge golfers while seamlessly blending with rolling hills, towering oak trees, and meandering Pecan Creek. Consistently ranked among the "Top 10" golf courses in Texas.

Course Excellence:

• Champion TifEagle Bermuda greens with sub-air systems
• Lush Zoysia fairways ensuring optimal ball position
• Mature oak trees and gentle rolling terrain
• Final four holes create dramatic climax with water elements
• Impeccable maintenance and world-class conditioning

Lake-Centric Lifestyle

What sets Escondido apart is its Lake LBJ access. Unlike many Texas lakes that experience significant water level fluctuations, this constant-level lake ensures consistent usability for boating, fishing, and other water sports year-round—a critical advantage for waterfront properties and lake clubs.

Membership Model: Property-Based Integration

Escondido began as a property-based membership club where every lot owner automatically became a member. Today, membership is still generally tied to owning property in the community, and the club is member-owned, giving members control and financial transparency. When you buy a lot or home, you have the option to activate membership.

Real Estate: Lakefront Luxury

The development offers villa homes, casitas, and estate home lots (many with lake or golf course views). The integration of real estate and membership helps protect property values and ensures a tight-knit community where virtually all neighbors are fellow club members.

The Hills Country Club: Austin's Most Comprehensive Club

The Hills Country Club stands as Austin's most extensive private country club, featuring four championship golf courses across multiple properties. Recent multimillion-dollar renovations have elevated facilities to resort quality, driving a surge in membership demand and transforming it from a relatively affordable club to a high-end destination.

Four Distinctive Golf Experiences

Recent reconstruction of the Signature Course by The Nicklaus Group in 2021 created what many consider the Austin market's crown jewel. A single membership grants access to all four courses, offering incredible variety and capacity.

Comprehensive Sports & Recreation

Dining Excellence

Across its "five culinary destinations," The Hills gives members a range of dining experiences, from upscale to casual, all enhanced by recent renovations and expanded offerings.

• The Hills Signature Chophouse - Fine dining in the main clubhouse
• The Den at Flintrock Falls - Casual grill atmosphere
• Smoked at the Oak - BBQ and live music venue
• Yaupon Icehouse - Relaxed dining and drinks
• The Overlook at Hills Sports Complex - Poolside dining and sunset cocktails

Membership Categories & Transformation

Real Estate Integration

Properties within The Hills and Flintrock Falls gated communities often include golf cart access to courses. The Lakeway area offers diverse housing from $800,000 condominiums to $8+ million estates, with The Hills membership adding significant value to area properties.

University of Texas Golf Club: Longhorn Legacy Meets Luxury

The University of Texas Golf Club uniquely blends university spirit with upscale country club amenities. As the home club for UT's golf teams, it celebrates Longhorn sports history while providing first-class facilities for all members (not just alumni). Over 20 years, UTGC has grown into one of Austin's most popular private clubs, recently reaching capacity with a waitlist to join.

Golf Excellence with Longhorn Pride

Comprehensive Club Amenities

Membership Structure & Value

Real Estate: Steiner Ranch Integration

While not mandatory, living in Steiner Ranch greatly complements UTGC membership. Steiner is a large community with homes from the $600s to $3M+, developed in conjunction with the club. Some streets wind right by fairways, and lucky homes have golf cart access to the clubhouse.

Additional Premier Austin Clubs

Travis Club: Austin's Newest Lakefront Vision

Travis Club represents Austin's newest private club vision—a rare development combining championship golf with extensive lake access just 15 miles from downtown Austin. This represents the last opportunity for premium lakefront club property in the Austin area.

Championship Golf with Lake Drama

The planned 18-hole course will wind through Texas Hill Country with panoramic vistas and lake integration. The signature 5th hole promises to be a thrilling par 3 with a 240-yard carry across a shimmering finger of the lake.

Planned Golf Features:

• Championship course with dramatic lake holes
• Extensive practice facilities
• Golf course routing through preserved oak groves
• Environmental sensitivity with Hill Country integration

Lake & Community Amenities

Founding Member Opportunity

Hill Country Destinations: Boot Ranch & Cordillera Ranch

Making Your Strategic Club & Real Estate Decision

Austin's private club landscape offers unprecedented diversity, each serving different lifestyle preferences and investment goals. Here's how to choose the right club for your needs:

Investment Considerations & Market Trends

Current Market Dynamics

Financial Investment Ranges

Partner with The Keenan Group: Your Private Club Real Estate Experts

At The Keenan Group at Compass Real Estate, we specialize in the complex intersection of luxury real estate and private club membership across Central Texas. Our deep relationships within these exclusive communities—from the historic corridors of Austin Country Club to the innovative developments at Driftwood and Travis Club—ensure you receive insider knowledge and professional guidance.