Arlington at Hot Springs Country Club

Hot Springs Country Club's Arlington course sits in the Ouachita Mountains of central Arkansas, where the region's rolling, forested terrain provides natural movement and elevation change. The original layout was designed by Bill Diddel, a Kentucky-based architect active in the mid-twentieth century who routed courses throughout the South and Midwest. Diddel's work typically emphasized playability within the existing landforms, and Arlington reflects that approach with holes that follow the contours of the property.

In the 1990s, Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore renovated the course, bringing their characteristic philosophy of restoring strategic interest and ground-game options. The Crenshaw-Coore partnership is known for minimalist design that respects original routing while enhancing green complexes, bunker placement, and natural features. Their work at Arlington aimed to recapture classic design principles and integrate the course more seamlessly into its wooded, hilly setting.

The layout moves through stands of pine and hardwood, with fairways that bend around slopes and greens positioned to reward thoughtful approach play. Elevation changes create variety in shot requirements, and the natural topography influences both strategy and visual character. Hot Springs Country Club has served as a recreational and social center in the spa city for decades, and Arlington remains the club's primary championship course, hosting regional amateur events and providing a test that balances tradition with the refinements of contemporary design thinking.