If you live in Irving and love golf, the environment is quite nice.

At first, I only thought of the airport and the companies in Las Colinas when I thought of Irving, but I found that there are quite a few golf courses nearby. One of the advantages of Texas golf is that, with the right weather, you can play almost year-round.

The first place that comes to mind by name is TPC Las Colinas at the Las Colinas Resort.

This course has been famous since the days of the Four Seasons Resort Dallas and was the site of the PGA TOUR's Byron Nelson tournament. It's not just any famous golf course.

The course was designed by Jay Morrish, with contributions from Byron Nelson and Ben Crenshaw. It measures 7,166 yards from the championship tees and has a par of 70. Just looking at the numbers, you might think, "A par 70 should be a bit easy," but once you play it, you won't say that. The fairways have a lot of undulations, and the bunkers and mounds keep you on your toes. If you don't pay attention around the greens, you can easily lose a stroke.

Particularly memorable is the 17th hole. With a par 3 that exceeds 200 yards and water in play, it's easy to lose a ball. On this course, it's more important to think about where to land the ball than to hit it far with the driver.

The problem is that it's not a typical public course where anyone can just pay the green fee and play. Currently, TPC Las Colinas operates as a private golf club within the Las Colinas Resort. For general visitors, checking the resort's golf packages or conditions for staying guests is the realistic approach.

Don't expect to pay the same $50-$60 as you would at a local public golf course. The cost for resort guests varies depending on the date, season, and package, so you need to check directly when making a reservation. While bundling with accommodation can make the cost quite high, experiencing a course that has been used by the PGA TOUR for a long time is worth it at least once.

There's also the nearby Cottonwood Valley Course. This par 71 course measures about 7,100 yards and is not an easy course either. However, it differs from a typical municipal golf course in that anyone can't freely book tee times.

If you want to play without too much pressure, it's better to expand your search to public courses around Irving. The Irving Golf Club, operated by the city, is particularly accessible. The general green fees for 18 holes vary depending on the day, time, and whether a cart is included, but you can often play for around $40-$60. If you time it right for twilight hours, you can lower the cost even more.

Ultimately, the advantage of golfing in Irving is the variety of options. If you want to spend money and experience a good course, head to Las Colinas, and for regular play, you can enjoy rounds at public courses without pressure.

Plus, DFW Airport is right next door, making it convenient for golf trips. It's possible to play a round in the afternoon after a friend arrives on a morning flight.

While not many people will move to Irving just for golf, if someone who loves golf ends up living in Irving, this is definitely a pleasant advantage they might not have expected.