Walnut Creek Country Club

The Pecan Course at Walnut Creek Country Club in Mansfield, Texas, was designed by Don January and Billy Martindale. January, a longtime PGA Tour professional who won ten times on tour and eight times on the Champions Tour, transitioned into course design work in Texas during the latter part of his career. Martindale, a Texas-based architect, collaborated with January on several projects in the region during the 1980s and 1990s. The course serves as one of two eighteen-hole layouts at Walnut Creek, a private club situated in the southern Dallas-Fort Worth suburbs. The routing takes advantage of the rolling terrain characteristic of north-central Texas, with elevation changes that provide strategic interest and variety in shot-making demands. Mature pecan and oak trees frame many holes, giving the course its name and contributing to the parkland character. Water features come into play on several holes, typical of courses built in this era in the region. The design emphasizes playability for members while still presenting challenges from the back tees, reflecting January's understanding of the game from a player's perspective. Walnut Creek functions primarily as a family-oriented private club, with the Pecan Course complementing the club's other golf course and amenities. The layout provides a traditional country club experience for members in the Mansfield area, which has grown considerably since the course opened. The design remains relatively unchanged from its original configuration, maintaining the character January and Martindale intended for everyday member play.