Kissing Tree becomes first Texas public golf course to open in 6 years

During an unsuccessful Texas gubernatorial campaign in 1857, Sam Houston notified the town of San Marcos he would be stopping by on July 24 to give a stump speech.

Excited by the news, the local sewing club hand-stitched Houston a Texas flag and presented it to the former general following his speech. As a sign of appreciation, Houston gave each of the women, who were married, a kiss on the cheek under a great oak tree -- scandalous at the time.

Though the event happened about five miles northeast of the site, it became the inspiration behind the name of the Kissing Tree community and golf club.

“So yes, we are named after a political scandal,” general manager Scott Turner said.

Found right off Hunter and Centerpoint Road, Kissing Tree is a 3,200-home community for residents 55 and older developed by Brookefield Residential. In addition to the homes, Kissing Tree also includes an activity center called “The Mix,” complete with billiard tables, pickleball courts and an 18-hole golf course.

While the golf course was mainly built for the community, Kissing Tree has made it available to the public for daily-fee play, making it the first public course to open in Texas in six years.

“We tried to make it really enjoyable for the resident,” Turner said. “And as a byproduct of that, it really just became enjoyable for everybody.”

Architect Gary Stephenson tried to incorporate as much of the Texas hill country landscape into the course as possible, giving it a unique feel.

“A lot of golf courses are trying to be long and strong,” Turner said. “The more people that come out, they realize it’s a little bit shorter of a course, so you don’t have to just muscle your way through it. It’s about finesse and accuracy.”

Players looking to reserve a tee time at Kissing Tree can do so online.

“It’s a fun course,” Turner said. “And that’s what this whole place is about, is just enjoying yourself.”