Located along the Texas foothills about 90 minutes from both Houston and Austin, Big East Ranch was once Brown’s personal playground.
Brown, a Louisiana-born former oil and gas executive often entertained clients and welcomed friends to the property for off-the-charts hunting and fishing excursions.
After selling his company in 2014, Brown decided to transform his haven at Big Easy Ranch into a semiprivate hunting and sporting club, complete with golf practice facilities, luxury lodging and lodge that featured casual fine dining and selection of fine wines.
The Covey reels in the accolades
The Covey is worthy of all the kudos it’s received. The par-72 course is highlighted by rolling fairways lined by mature oak trees and tumbles past meandering creeks and several waterfalls. There is more than 80 feet of elevation change on the routing, which provides scores of dramatic views.
Native grasses planted throughout the routing provide a natural habitat for quail and pheasant.
The Covey plays at 7,511 yards from its back tees but is just as good and testing from the three other sets of teeing grounds. Zeon Zoysia fairways and rough and TifEagle greens allow the best playing and course conditions for this area, and the course is kept absolutely pristine.
“The ridges and valleys with the rolls and elevation change, creeks, ponds, and specimen trees all contribute to making The Covey a very special place.” Williams explained..
Williams, who worked with golf architect Jeffrey Brauer and then World Golf Hall of Famer Jack Nicklaus for more than three decades, continues his string of stirring solo design work at Big Easy Ranch. Williams also fashioned Whispering Pines Golf Club in Liberty, considered one of the best courses in Texas, as well as the Golf Courses at Houston Oaks. In 2023, Williams finished up his renovation of Corpus Christi Country Club on the Gulf Coast.
Williams also designed and oversaw the building of The Antler, the rollicking nine-hole, par-3 course at Big Easy Ranch. Of the 2,000 acres which make up Big Easy Ranch, Williams only used about 250 for golf.
“The property at The Covey is one of the best I have been able to work on,” he said. “It is blessed with many attractive natural features, and I believe we took the utmost advantage of all of them.”
The combination of Brown’s vision and deep pockets and Williams’ design expertise have created a must-play golf course at The Covey. Expect the course to quicky ascend the rankings of top courses in Texas, and rightly so.
If you get the invitation to play golf – or hunt or fish or just relax – at Big Easy Ranch, jump at the chance. This is a must for your destination bucket list and a great place to be a member.
