It was 9 p.m. when we walked off The Swing, a fully lit short course at Omni PGA Frisco, but aside from the stars you would think it was mid-afternoon with golfers still strolling to the first tee. Nearby at the massive two-acre putting course known as The Dance Floor, die-hards removed leather covers and compared expensive flat sticks. Meanwhile, business at the putter rental was brisk as formerly non-golfing significant others joined in for the stress-free fun of after-dinner putting contests. Did I mention this was a Wednesday night?
There are plenty of things that stand out about a golf trip to one of America's newer premier golf destinations, but the fact Omni PGA Frisco does not turn into a ghost town at 9 p.m. is certainly worth mentioning. The golf world is full of great spots that fill you with wonder while the sun is up, only to leave you with little more than a row of empty bottles and dreams of a morning tee time once night settles in.
The New Home of the PGA of America
The new home of the PGA of America impressively ticks all the boxes for golfers looking for a modern destination, to the point that it seems like they have taken best practices of top golf spots and combined them into one resort. At the heart of any great resort is the golf, and PGA Frisco's Field Ranch offers something for all players. Aside from all the non-traditional fun, there are two 18-hole courses onsite with the major championship Fields Ranch East capable of testing the world's best players, and then there is Field Ranch West to maybe remind you what making a birdie feels like.
Located a little more than half an hour north of Dallas, Frisco is a fast-growing suburb where you will find the headquarters of both the PGA of America and the Dallas Cowboys. Omni PGA Frisco opened to the public in 2023, the same year it hosted the Senior PGA Championship.
Golf-Adjacent Activities
Any recent golf traveller has seen the trend of golf-adjacent activities popping up at popular destinations. Maybe a resort adds a top-tracer range, or indoor hitting bays, or a putting course, or a short course, or some simulators. Or maybe a new destination like PGA Frisco just builds all of these from the beginning and drops it on a somewhat unexpecting golf world. This is not to say this came out of nowhere. Construction began in 2020 and word of the resort had been trickling through the golf community for years before that. But for buddy trip enthusiasts who have already hit many of the top venues and are looking to come up with their next landing spot, this Texas gem might still fly under the radar.
That likely will not be the case for very long with the resort set to host the 2027 PGA Championship, the 2029 Senior PGA Championship, and the 2031 KPMG Women's PGA Championship. But for now, Omni PGA Frisco is still very much a spot you can raise some eyebrows with among your golf pals.
Resort Amenities
In total, the resort has the two 18-hole courses, one 10-hole fully lit short course, one of the largest real-grass putting courses in the world, 13 restaurants, plenty of shops, and a 500-room hotel with plenty of conference space if you are planning on making it a working golf trip. Of course, it would not be Texas if you did not have opportunity for some barbecue. The first night of our trip we dined at the Ice House where platters of perfectly smoked meats and heaping sides left little room for plates or elbows on the outdoor picnic tables. If you can still move after eating, inside the Ice House are six hitting bays where you launch balls onto the Fields Ranch practice facility with Toptracer technology showing off your ball flight.
Fields Ranch East
As for the centerpiece of PGA Frisco, you better bring your A-game to the championship Fields Ranch East as it has been designed by Gil Hanse to offer a stern test every single day, and a diabolical one if the Texas wind is blowing. With championship tees that stretch to nearly 8,000 yards, the starter kindly told us to enjoy our day and expect to shoot five shots above our handicap. For all its challenges that will thrill strong players, as long as you play the correct tees for your skill level the East course is great fun for all. There is almost nowhere to lose golf balls off the tee, which removes the constant digging into your bag that has been known to derail the positive energy of a round. The greens are small and the course is big, but challenging yourself is what this game is about. Fields Ranch East is walking-only except for medical exceptions and requires a caddy, who will come in handy all day as you navigate the exposed Texas terrain.
Fields Ranch West
Over at Fields Ranch West, there is plenty more reward to go with your risk, and plenty more square footage of greens to aim for. The West course works its way along Frisco's Panther Creek, and with more than 75 feet of elevation changes it is more protected from the wind. The birdie opportunities at the Beau Welling designed West course pair quite nicely with its menacing big brother East course.
A Sneak Preview of Golf History
With major championships already scheduled and seemingly inevitable Ryder Cups being teased, there is a feeling when visiting that you are getting a sneak preview of future moments in sports history. One interesting thing about Omni PGA Frisco resort is that its success as a destination was not a simple two-foot putt. Yes, it had the backing and strength of the PGA of America, but it is not on the ocean or in the mountains. Nor is it links land, and it did not have an historic name to lean on. This resort was built from the ground up with a big vision that had to be imagined from a blank canvas. Impressively, the result is more than a collection of the latest golf trends. There is a sense of place and great energy at this somewhat unlikely venue. For all its future plans, Omni PGA Frisco already works as an incredibly well-thought out and beautifully executed resort for the modern golfer.
