Our Story

The dream began in 1998 when Jack Nicklaus was contracted to build the best golf course in Texas in the gated community of Carlton Woods.

Club memberships were sold based on Jack’s vision and by the end of 1998, 50 new members had already committed to a “reservation” for becoming a member of the Club. Because there was no clubhouse (or course), memberships were being sold in a double-wide trailer at the corner of Woodlands Parkway and Carlton Woods Drive.

On June 5, 2001, Jack Nicklaus played the Inaugural Round on his new course, the same day tropical storm Allison was headed our way. Despite the weather, Jack played all 18-holes and as players and spectators were coming up the 18th green, the rain began. Allison proceeded to drop 40 inches of rain on the state of Texas. Following it’s opening in 2001, the Carlton Woods’ Nicklaus course was ranked the #1 private course in the Greater Houston area by the Houston Chronicle, and “Best New Private Course in Texas” and #3 in the nation by Golf Digest.

As the course was under development, construction of a 5,000-square-foot tennis/fitness center commenced. Upon completion, membership sales and golf staff were relocated from the trailer to this new facility. A temporary cart barn was located in the space our tennis courts and pavilion now occupy.

On March 29, 2003, Carlton Woods celebrated the grand opening of the new clubhouse with an elegant black-tie affair. The 52,000-square-foot Italianate clubhouse offered mixed grill and dining restaurants, private dining rooms, fully appointed men’s, women’s and junior locker rooms, plus the 5,000-square-foot fitness center. Following completion of the Nicklaus clubhouse, staff was again relocated and the doors of the Nicklaus fitness center were officially opened on August 28, 2003. The temporary cart barn was relocated to agronomy and soon after construction of the six hard courts was completed.

In April 2003, development began on a 500-acre expansion of The Woodlands’ gated community of Carlton Woods, bordering the new Village of Creekside Park. This new enclave, Carlton Woods Creekside, would become home to a Tom Fazio designed 18-hole golf course. In June 2005, Tom Fazio visited The Woodlands for an exclusive preview of his new Championship golf course. In October 2005, a soft opening of the Fazio course was held. The following spring, five days of festivities from April 20 thru April 24, 2006 were planned to celebrate the grand opening. In 2006, the Tom Fazio Championship Course was ranked the “Best New Private Club in Texas” and “#3 Best New Private Course in the US” by Golf Digest.

As with Nicklaus, a temporary trailer was located in the Fazio parking area and housed members of the Fazio staff. During the grand opening celebration, members of the Club and a host of VIPs broke ground on the permanent Fazio clubhouse. The 20,000-square-foot clubhouse opened in September 2007, just in time to host the USGA Men’s and Ladies State Team Championships held September 15-20 at both courses and clubhouses.

The Club at Carlton Woods has the distinction of being one of only two private clubs in the US with the Nicklaus/Fazio combination. With courses designed by two of the best modern day golf course architects and two amazing clubhouses built to complement the courses and the Carlton Woods’ communities in which they reside, we are sure to continue as one of the finest private, family-oriented gated clubs and communities in the country for years to come.

Both golf courses continue to be ranked in the top ten in the state of Texas and the top 175 in the country. Since 2013, The Club at Carlton Woods has been honored with receiving the Distinguished Club of the World recognition. In 2016, The Club was recognized as a Platinum Club of America, as voted on by General Managers and Club Presidents from across the United States. The Club at Carlton Woods is very proud of it's short history and is humbled from all of the accolades it has received over the years.