Great land isn’t necessary to create great golf, but it can certainly help get architects moving in the right direction. At The Covey, situated amid a 2,000-acre hunting preserve 75 miles west of Houston, designer Chet Williams draped holes across rustic backcountry slopes with 50 to 60 foot elevation changes.

It is Williams’ masterful use of land and creative set of greens that earned The Covey our Best New Private Course award. In a year of strong competition, including other top clubs like Old Barnwell and The Free Farm, The Covey’s victory might be a surprise. Yet our architecture editor explains why the honor shouldn’t be a shock at all.