Luling Sport Club is developing two private courses by Kyle Franz and OCM on 1,100 acres. Here’s why the Central Texas project matters.
Luling is known for oil history, barbecue and a small municipal golf course shaded by pecan trees. It may soon be known nationally for something very different: a private 36-hole club on more than 1,100 acres, with one course by Kyle Franz and another by the Australian firm OCM.
That combination makes Luling Sport Club one of the most important course developments in Texas. TGN is interested for a practical reason, not just an architectural one. Two distinct courses on the same property create a rare chance to compare design philosophies on the same land. The honest qualifier is access: this is planned as a small, private, walking-focused club.
Two Courses, Two Design Teams
The project has been operating under the working name Luling Sport Club. Kyle Franz is responsible for the first course, while Geoff Ogilvy, Mike Cocking and Ashley Mead of OCM are designing the second. The Texas Golf Association reported a target of early 2026 for the Franz course and late 2026 for the OCM course, although construction and grow-in schedules can move with weather and agronomic conditions.
Franz is known for restoration work at classic American courses and for new designs influenced by Golden Age strategy. Early descriptions of Luling emphasize firm turf, walking and a layout that uses native meadows, barrancas and arroyos. OCM’s course is expected to provide a different interpretation of the same broad property, with inspiration drawn from British links.
Why the Land Has Architects Talking
The site sits between Austin and San Antonio in a transition zone where the Hill Country, Blackland Prairie and Post Oak Savannah meet. It includes rolling meadows and a network of natural ravines, some of them substantial. Those landforms can separate holes, create bold carries and give architects natural green sites without excessive earthmoving.
Firm golf depends on more than design. Construction, drainage, turf selection and daily maintenance determine whether the ball can bounce and run. The project has used experienced Texas golf builders, and its walking-only direction suggests that ground contour and short distances between greens and tees are central to the experience.
Private Access and the Luling Context
Luling Sport Club is not the same facility as the historic nine-hole Luling Municipal Golf Course. The municipal course remains a separate public community asset near the San Marcos River. The new development is a private retreat with a limited membership.
That distinction matters because search results can easily blur the names. A golfer looking for an affordable public round in Luling should still contact the municipal course. A golfer looking for the new Franz or OCM designs should expect private-club access and should verify membership or guest arrangements directly with the development.
What It Could Mean for Central Texas
Central Texas already has a strong private golf market, but Luling changes the map by putting destination-level architecture outside the Austin and San Antonio suburbs. The location is roughly an hour from both cities, making it plausible for members from either metro while giving the club room to create a secluded identity.
If both courses deliver, Luling could attract architecture enthusiasts from across the country and bring new attention to a small Texas city. Local impact should still be judged by durable measures: jobs, vendor spending, responsible water use and a respectful relationship with the surrounding community. A high ranking is useful publicity; consistent stewardship is more important.
The TGN Bottom Line
Luling Sport Club is one of the most architecturally ambitious projects underway in Texas. The pairing of Franz and OCM, the natural ravines and the 36-hole scale make it more than another residential amenity. It is being built as golf for golfers.
Timelines remain worth watching, and access will be limited. TGN will treat projected opening dates as targets until the club confirms full member play. Even with those caveats, the project is a major signal that world-class golf development in Texas is spreading well beyond the largest metros.
