Golf in Big Bend | Best Big Bend Golf Resort Course in Texas

Golf in Big Bend: Black Jack's Crossing at Lajitas Golf Resort

Looking to golf in Big Bend? Black Jack's Crossing, run by Lajitas Golf Resort, is the region's championship 18 hole golf course. It is set between Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park. Located about eight miles from The Summit, this Big Bend golf course in Texas is close enough that you can play a full round and still be back for stargazing in the night sky.

Ranked #1 in Texas by both Golfweek and the Dallas Morning News
Designed by Lanny Wadkins, a PGA Hall of Fame golfer, with four tee boxes for every skill level
Eight miles from The Summit, an easy drive out and back in a single day

Experience Black Jack’s Crossing: The Top Golf Course in Big Bend

Lanny Wadkins, a PGA Hall of Fame golfer, designed this 18-hole course, and the recognition has followed. Golfweek and the Dallas Morning News both rank Black Jack's Crossing the number one course you can play in Texas. Golfweek also places it at #38 among resort courses in the USA.

What makes the Black Jack's Crossing golf course stick with people who visit Big Bend, though, is the routing. The opening holes of this 18 hole championship course run along the Rio Grande valley. From there, the course climbs into the mountains and foothills, and the final stretch brings the river back into view. Every hole sits in a different pocket of rugged desert, so the scenery shifts as you go.

Planning Your Round of Golf in Big Bend

Black Jack's Crossing has four sets of tee boxes, running from roughly 5,400 yards up to over 7,400. That means a scratch player and a weekend golfer can play the same round together, with both of them having an enjoyable experience.

The pro shop is worth a look, too. It sits inside the old Lajitas Trading Post, built in 1899, which also houses the Longhorn Museum. Club storage is available for the resort guests.

A few practical things:

Book tee times directly through Lajitas Golf Resort
Confirm pro shop hours before you drive over
Fill up on fuel when you can, since services are spread thin in this part of West Texas
Give yourself buffer time on the drive, as the roads out here offer breathtaking views but are not fast

Black Jack's Crossing Golf Course Details

Website: lajitasgolfresort.com/golf/

Contact: 1-432-424-5000

Only 8 miles from The Summit

A round here pairs well with where you're staying. The Summit at Big Bend sits minutes from the first tee. Once the sun drops, the same open country that gives the course its scenic views turns into some of the darkest sky in the country, offering a rare opportunity to disconnect and immerse yourself in some of the best stargazing in the country.

Book your stay at The Summit

Frequently Asked Questions

Black Jack's Crossing at Lajitas Golf Resort in Texas is the closest championship course near Big Bend National Park. It sits between the national park and Big Bend Ranch State Park, roughly eight miles from The Summit at Big Bend.

The course was designed by PGA Hall of Fame golfer Lanny Wadkins. The layout reflects that background. It plays as a genuine challenge from the back tees while staying manageable from the forward sets.

Golfweek classifies it under courses you can play, meaning it takes non-member tee times. Booking and current access policies go through Lajitas Resort directly, so contact the pro shop to confirm availability and when it remains open before your trip.

Black Jack's Crossing is about eight miles from The Summit. That's a short drive on desert roads, close enough to fit a full 18 into your day without cutting into everything else you came out here for.

Bring more water than you think you need, sun protection, and a camera. Services are sparse across West Texas, so pack what you want on hand rather than counting on picking it up nearby.