The readers have spoken, and they apparently like their Texas with a side of Tom Fazio. Omni Barton Creek Resort and Spa just ranked number 4 among the Top Resorts in Texas and the Southwest in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards. Only 12 properties made the list, which in a region stuffed with desert spas and dude ranches is no small trick.
It is also not a one-hit wonder. Barton Creek finished third in the Southwest in 2024 and has been a regular on this list for years. When a resort keeps showing up in a ranking voted on by people who actually paid for the room, it is worth paying attention.
The Golf Is the Headliner
Golfers who make the trip will find 72 holes and three of the biggest names in the architecture business. Here is the lineup.
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Fazio Canyons is the one everybody talks about. It stretches to 7,153 yards and got a $5 million renovation in 2022, along with a Toptracer range so you can blame the technology instead of your swing. It is generally the highest-rated course on property, so book it first.
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Fazio Foothills is the original Fazio, with creeks and ponds in play on as many as seven holes and a 16th hole framed by a waterfall that will end up on your Instagram whether you par it or not.
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Coore Crenshaw Cliffside comes from Bill Coore and Austin’s own Ben Crenshaw, the two-time Masters champion who grew up a few miles from here. It plays shorter at 6,630 yards but the greens will humble you with zero remorse. This is the one to play if you think putting is a sport.
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Palmer Lakeside sits about 26 miles away near Lake Travis, and its par 3 11th with a cascading waterfall is the signature shot. You will want to plan transportation, since the resort shuttle covers Canyons but not Lakeside.
My advice for a buddy trip: play Canyons and Cliffside, then let the group vote on whether a third round beats a long lunch and a nap. The nap usually wins.
Where to Stay
The main resort has 502 rooms, but the new headline act is the Resort Homes. These are private 2,500-square-foot residences that sleep 10 to 12, with a chef’s kitchen and your own golf cart, plus full access to everything at the resort.
For a golf group, this solves the eternal problem of who gets stuck with the snorer. Everyone gets a real bed, and the kitchen means somebody can finally prove they make the best breakfast tacos in the group. For family reunions or a small corporate retreat, it is the same deal with fewer arguments about tee times.
Off the Course
Nine dining options on property means you never have to leave, although Austin is only 20 minutes away and frankly you should go at least once for the barbecue and live music.
The Mokara Spa is the move for couples where one person plays 36 and the other has wisely decided not to. Three pools, including an adults-only pool, round out the afternoon options.
Holiday in the Hills
If you are planning a December escape, the timing works in your favor. Starting in late November, the resort rolls out Holiday in the Hills, which includes an outdoor snow show (in Texas, so enjoy the novelty), visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and Santa Landing suites decked out in full North Pole mode.
The grown-ups have Blitzen’s, a holiday pop-up bar, which is where I would be spending most of my time after the kids are tucked in.
The Bottom Line
Barton Creek is the rare resort that can handle a serious golf trip and a family holiday without either one feeling like an afterthought. Four courses, three marquee architects, a spa, a holiday bar named after a reindeer, and now a house big enough for your entire foursome plus spares.
Condé Nast readers put it in the top five for a reason. Go find out why, and bring extra balls for Cliffside.
