Granada Golf Course

Granada: Arkansas Golf with Heart and Flow

Some courses just feel good to play — the kind that welcome you from the first tee and invite you to settle into their rhythm. That’s exactly what you get at Granada Golf Course in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas.

Designed by my friend Tom Clark and opened in 1987, Balboa is one of those layouts where everything just fits — the routing, the pace, the views. It’s a walkable course with gentle movement through forest, rolling terrain, and classic Arkansas beauty. It’s not flashy, but it’s endlessly enjoyable. And that’s exactly what Tom was going for.

Clark is a craftsman — thoughtful, measured, and deeply tuned in to the land. With Granada, he created a course that feels natural and fair but still keeps you on your toes. The fairways are generous, the greens are subtle, and the bunkering is smart without being punitive. For residents and visitors alike, it’s the kind of course you could play every day and never get tired of.

Photographing Balboa was a bit of a homecoming. There’s a kind of comfort in Arkansas landscapes — the soft morning light, the stillness of the trees, the smell of dew lifting off the fairways. I caught one of those classic Ozark mornings where mist clung to the valleys and the pines cast long, quiet shadows across the grass. It reminded me that sometimes the best golf experiences don’t need ocean views or dramatic elevation changes. Sometimes, they just need to be well made, well loved, and thoughtfully played. The photo above is of hole #15 which is my favorite on the course.

Balboa may not have the name recognition of bigger resort courses, but for those who know it — and those lucky enough to call it their home course — it’s as good as golf gets.

#BalboaGolfCourse #HotSpringsVillageGolf #TomClarkDesign #ArkansasGolf #GolfAsLife #GolfPhotography #OzarkGolf #HiddenGemGolf #GolfInNature #SouthernGolfCharm #EverydayGolfJoy #ThoughtfulDesign