Childress Hall has transformed 2,400 acres of former ranchland in Childress, Texas, into a private 36-hole golf facility. The Upper Course by Tom Doak opened in fall 2024 and the Lower Course by Gil Hanse debuted in late 2025. A permanent clubhouse and lodge are scheduled to open in fall 2026.
Howard Head sold the Rocking Chair Ranch in 2023 after owning it for 28 years. The property now features walking-only courses with local caddies and about 50 members, with a cap of 125.
Doak described the sandy landscape and varied topography as ideal for his design, noting similarities to Ballyneal in Colorado. Hanse highlighted the dramatic setting along the Red River and the routing in three six-hole loops.
The site is a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Dallas and near a former World War II bomber base now used for private aircraft. Head said the sale brought his family seven figures but required careful consideration after nearly three decades on the land.
A temporary clubhouse operates in the downtown Childress Hotel while construction continues on the permanent facilities.
