Best for: The group's best golfers and anyone who appreciates dramatic course design. This is Fazio at his most creative, using Hill Country terrain for cinematic golf.

Insider tip: The Foothills has more elevation change than any course in Central Texas. Club selection is critical — a 150-yard shot with a 50-foot drop plays closer to 130. The caddie or yardage book is essential, not optional. Play it on your second day after calibrating on the Canyons.

Best for: Groups who want a challenging Fazio experience with slightly more forgiving landing areas than the Foothills. Excellent warm-up for the Foothills round.

Insider tip: The Canyons Course was the second Fazio design built at Barton Creek and plays through more open terrain than the Foothills. The greens are large and undulating — you can be on the green in regulation and still three-putt easily. Focus on being on the correct tier.

Best for: Golf architecture enthusiasts and groups who appreciate a more natural, strategic design. Ben Crenshaw is an Austin native — this is his home course design with Bill Coore.

Insider tip: This course was originally called the Crenshaw & Coore Course and was renovated and renamed. The design philosophy is the opposite of Fazio — minimal earth-moving, natural features, strategic options off every tee. If you love Bandon Dunes or Pinehurst, this course will speak to you. Play it with thought, not power.

Best for: Mid-handicappers and groups who want a more relaxed round with lake views. The most playable of the four Barton Creek courses.

Insider tip: Palmer Lakeside is the overlooked gem of the Barton Creek collection. It is the most accessible for higher-handicap players and the lake setting is gorgeous. The 30-minute drive from the main resort keeps crowds down. Book it as your relaxation day between Fazio rounds.

Best for: Groups who want to play something different from the Barton Creek courses. The Lost Pines setting — mature loblolly pines and the Colorado River — is a completely different ecosystem from the Hill Country.

Insider tip: Wolfdancer was designed by Arthur Hills through old-growth pine forest that survived the devastating 2011 Bastrop Complex Fire. Some burned areas have been incorporated into the course as dramatic waste areas. The Hyatt Lost Pines resort itself is excellent — spa, river activities, horseback riding. A strong option for couples or mixed-interest groups.

Best for: Groups who want a quality public option without resort pricing. Good for an extra round when the Barton Creek budget is maxed out.

Insider tip: Join the Falconhead Text Club for weekly deals — you'll get discounted tee times texted on Mondays and Thursdays. The course is in Lakeway, about 20 minutes from Barton Creek, and plays through rolling Hill Country terrain with surprising elevation changes for a daily-fee course.