Cortez Golf Course

Cortez Golf Course is one of nine courses in Hot Springs Village, a large residential and resort community in the Ouachita Mountains of central Arkansas. Designed by Ed Ault and Tom Clark, the course opened in the mid-1980s as part of the village's extensive golf development program. Ault, known for his prolific work across the southern and midwestern United States, collaborated with Clark to create a layout that works with the area's rolling, forested terrain. The course plays through stands of pine and hardwood trees characteristic of the Ouachita foothills, with elevation changes that add variety to the routing. Water features appear on several holes, and the design incorporates natural contours rather than dramatic earthmoving. The layout offers a mix of risk-reward opportunities and straightforward holes, suitable for the community's resident membership and visiting guests. Cortez is generally considered among the more approachable courses in Hot Springs Village's collection, with generous fairways balanced by strategic bunkering and green complexes that reward accurate approach play. Hot Springs Village operates as a property owners' association, and the golf courses serve primarily members and their guests, though outside play is typically available. The community's golf infrastructure supports a range of skill levels, and Cortez fits into this spectrum as a solid daily-play option within a destination known more for quantity and accessibility than championship-level difficulty.