One of America’s most exclusive golf courses has opened its fairways to college players, as the $50 million Halbert National Golf Course in Texas hosts the inaugural Abilene Christian Intercollegiate from October 19–21, 2026.
The privately owned, Tom Fazio-designed venue has no conventional membership program, no public tee times and no ordinary guest-booking system.
Built by billionaire businessman David D. Halbert for his family and invited guests, the remarkable course is now welcoming 18 college teams for a nationally televised competition.
And after Monday’s opening round, Texas A&M leads the men’s tournament while Oregon holds first place in the women’s competition.
What Is Halbert National Golf Course?
Halbert National is a privately owned golf course in Granbury, Texas, approximately 40 miles southwest of Fort Worth.
The 18-hole layout was designed by renowned golf architect Tom Fazio and opened in 2025.
Unlike a conventional private club, Halbert National does not rely on member subscriptions or a paying membership base.
Instead, the entire property is owned and financed by David D. Halbert, the founder of Caris Life Sciences and an alumnus of Abilene Christian University.
The course was created primarily for his family and invited guests.
Forbes reported in October 2025 that Halbert spent approximately $50 million developing the course, making it one of the most unusual privately financed golf projects in the United States.
Why Did David Halbert Build a $50 Million Golf Course?
The story behind Halbert National began with a relatively modest request.
According to Forbes, Halbert’s wife Kathy wanted a private place where she could enjoy playing golf without feeling watched by other golfers.
She originally imagined something similar to a small three-hole practice course.
Her husband’s vision became considerably more ambitious.
Halbert enlisted Fazio to create a full championship-length golf course along Lake Granbury.
The project transformed former farmland into a carefully landscaped property with extensive bunkering, water features, mature trees and championship-standard playing surfaces.
For Halbert, the project was not designed to generate membership revenue or operate like a conventional golf resort.
It was intended to create a private golfing retreat.
The development also reflects the owner’s enthusiasm for golf architecture and his interest in shaping individual holes.
A Tom Fazio Design With Extraordinary Ambitions
Halbert National is a par-72 course originally listed at 7,542 yards from its championship tees.
Fazio’s design combines rolling fairways, strategically placed bunkers and water features along Lake Granbury.
The course has continued evolving since its original construction.
Golf Channel reports that additional tee boxes have been introduced, with Halbert hoping eventually to extend its maximum playing length to 7,777 yards.
That figure is an ambition rather than a verified completed tournament setup.
For the opening round of the 2026 Abilene Christian Intercollegiate, Texas A&M Athletics listed the men’s competition layout at 7,485 yards.
The distinction matters because the course’s advertised maximum yardage and the distance used in a specific tournament are not necessarily identical.
The property reportedly also has unusually high ongoing maintenance requirements.
Forbes estimated annual maintenance costs at roughly $3 million, based on a comparison Halbert made with the operating costs of his private aircraft.
That figure should be understood as a reported estimate, rather than an independently audited operating budget.
Why Is a Course With No Members Hosting College Golf?
Halbert’s relationship with Abilene Christian University helps explain why his privately owned course is welcoming collegiate players.
He graduated from the university in 1978 and has maintained a connection with the institution.
Abilene Christian, Golf Channel and HNS Sports Group announced a multi-year partnership in December 2025 to establish the Abilene Christian Intercollegiate.
The inaugural competition is being contested at Halbert National from Monday, October 19, through Wednesday, October 21.
The tournament features nine men’s and nine women’s teams, competing in separate 54-hole stroke-play events.
It also honors the late Johnny Perkins, a former Abilene Christian football standout and Granbury native.
The partnership gives college golfers an unusual opportunity to compete at a course that most recreational players would never have the chance to experience.
Golf Channel is broadcasting tournament action each day, bringing the otherwise inaccessible venue to a much wider audience.
Texas A&M Leads Men’s Tournament After Opening Round
Texas A&M made the strongest start to the men’s championship on Monday.
The Aggies recorded a five-under-par 283, establishing a three-stroke advantage over Missouri.
Houston finished the opening round third at one-over 289, while Arizona and Tulsa shared fourth place at two-over.
Men’s Team Standings After Round 1
| Position | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas A&M | 283 (-5) |
| 2 | Missouri | 286 (-2) |
| 3 | Houston | 289 (+1) |
| T4 | Arizona | 290 (+2) |
| T4 | Tulsa | 290 (+2) |
| 6 | Michigan | 296 (+8) |
| 7 | SMU | 297 (+9) |
| 8 | Rice | 298 (+10) |
| 9 | Abilene Christian | 308 (+20) |
Texas A&M’s Kris Kuvaas leads the individual competition after shooting a four-under-par 68.
He made six birdies during his opening round, including two on the back nine.
Teammate Aaron Pounds is tied for second following a three-under 69.
Their performances gave the Aggies an early advantage heading into Tuesday’s second round.
Oregon Takes Control of Women’s Championship
Oregon produced an even more impressive opening performance in the women’s tournament.
The sixth-ranked Ducks finished Monday at 12-under-par 276, giving them a three-stroke lead over Tennessee.
The standout individual performance came from Oregon junior Tong An.
An delivered a bogey-free eight-under-par 64, including eight birdies, to establish a four-stroke advantage in the individual standings.
Her score tied for the third-lowest individual round in Oregon women’s golf history.
Women’s Team Standings After Round 1
| Position | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | 276 (-12) |
| 2 | Tennessee | 279 (-9) |
| T3 | Arizona State | 288 (E) |
| T3 | Louisville | 288 (E) |
| 5 | Cincinnati | 293 (+5) |
| T6 | Purdue | 294 (+6) |
| T6 | Baylor | 294 (+6) |
| 8 | Arizona | 297 (+9) |
| 9 | Abilene Christian | 308 (+20) |
Tennessee also made a strong start, with Sophie Christopher and Madison Messimer both posting four-under-par 68s.
That leaves the women’s competition finely balanced entering the second round.
Has Jordan Spieth Played Halbert National?
Although the course does not accept ordinary membership applications, selected professional golfers have received invitations to play.
Among them is three-time major champion Jordan Spieth.
Golf Channel reported that the Dallas native has visited the property and recently appeared in a commercial filmed there for Caris Life Sciences, Halbert’s company.
His appearance reflects the course’s growing profile within professional golf circles despite its highly restricted access.
However, Spieth is not competing in this week’s college tournament.
Abilene Christian Intercollegiate 2026: Schedule and Broadcast
The inaugural tournament runs for three days at Halbert National.
| Round | Date |
|---|---|
| Round 1 | Monday, October 19 |
| Round 2 | Tuesday, October 20 |
| Final round | Wednesday, October 21 |
Golf Channel has scheduled live tournament coverage from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Time each day.
The men’s and women’s competitions are separate events, with each team competing for its respective championship.
Fans can follow the tournament through Abilene Christian University’s official event page and the competition’s live scoring service.
The next major development will be the second-round standings, followed by Wednesday’s final results.
What Makes Halbert National So Unusual?
Private golf clubs are common in the United States.
But Halbert National is different because its exclusivity is based on private ownership rather than a restricted membership system.
There is no ordinary waiting list for golfers seeking to join.
There are no conventional public tee times.
Access depends on an invitation from the owner or arrangements made for a special event.
That is why the Abilene Christian Intercollegiate represents a notable moment in the course’s short history.
For three days, student-athletes from leading university programs have an opportunity to compete on a property that was never designed as a traditional tournament venue.
With Texas A&M and Oregon leading after the opening round, the competition has already added a sporting storyline to one of the most extraordinary golf-course stories of 2026.
Editorial note: First-round scores are from October 19, 2026. The second round and final round may change the standings. Construction and maintenance cost figures are attributed to Forbes reporting and have not been independently audited by MadKnows.