Cedar Crest is a City of Dallas golf course in Oak Cliff designed by A.W. Tillinghast and opened in 1919. It hosted the 1927 PGA Championship, won by Walter Hagen, and today it's an 18-hole, par 70 public course with views of the downtown Dallas skyline. It plays 6,726 yards from the back tees.
Cedar Crest at a glance
- Address: 1800 Southerland Ave, Dallas, TX 75203
- Phone: 214-670-7615
- Holes: 18, par 70
- Yardage: 6,726 from the back tees (course rating 73.8, slope 134), per the GolfPass scorecard
- Practice: natural grass driving range
- Owner: City of Dallas
- Tee times: book online at golfcedarcrest.com, by phone or in the pro shop. City courses take bookings up to 7 days ahead.
What is the history of Cedar Crest?
According to the Texas Golf Hall of Fame, Cedar Crest opened as a private club in 1919 on a Tillinghast design. In 1927 it hosted the PGA Championship, when match play was the format, and Walter Hagen won his fourth straight PGA title. The course also hosted the 1926 Dallas Open and, in 1954, both the UGA Negro National Open and the USGA Public Links. Tour great Harry Cooper learned the game here. The private club closed in 1929, and the city bought the course in 1946. D.A. Weibring renovated it in 2004.
In 2024, D Magazine reported that a recreated copy of the course's original topographic map was presented to Cedar Crest. The originals were lost in a clubhouse fire in the 1980s.
What is Cedar Crest like to play?
The Dallas Observer named Cedar Crest a co-winner of Best Public Golf Course in 2025, pointing to rolling terrain, greenside bunkers, tree-lined fairways and skyline views. At par 70 it's not long, but the bunkering and elevation keep it interesting. It's one of the best ways to play a piece of golf history in Texas without a membership.
Tips for playing Cedar Crest
- Check the City of Dallas course page before you go. In fall 2026 the city noted greens maintenance that may affect play.
- Warm up on the grass range.
- Bring a camera for the skyline views.
FAQ
Is Cedar Crest open to the public?
Yes. It's owned by the City of Dallas and anyone can book a tee time.
Who designed Cedar Crest?
A.W. Tillinghast, who also designed Winged Foot, Baltusrol and Bethpage Black.
Did Cedar Crest host a major?
Yes, the 1927 PGA Championship.
More places to play: best public golf courses in Dallas-Fort Worth and best driving ranges in DFW. Need gear or a regrip before your round? Visit our Farmers Branch showroom.
By Benjamin Stromberg, Co-Founder, GolfRoots. Sources: City of Dallas Parks, Texas Golf Hall of Fame, D Magazine, Dallas Observer, GolfPass, NBC DFW. Checked October 2026.
