Staff WriterWelcome to Maridoe Golf Club, where everything’s a bit bigger, a bit brasher, and a bit bonkers—just the way Texans like it.
Out on these rolling plains north of Dallas, billionaire Albert Huddleston didn’t just build a golf course; he built a Texas monument to ambition—complete with a croquet court, because why not?
For LIV Golf’s ninth stop of the 2025 season, Maridoe is a fitting host. It’s an audacious blend of Old West grit and new-school swagger, and it’ll take no prisoners.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t your granddad’s club championship. It’s a showdown where drives soar, egos clash, and every blade of grass seems ready to slap you back in line.
Course Carved from the Prairie
Maridoe isn’t shy about its challenge. Designed by Steve Smyers to put even the boldest pros on notice, this course throws down the gauntlet right from the first swing.
Forget gentle handshakes—Maridoe prefers a firm Texas howdy: “You ready, partner?” The course heaves and dips with natural drama, framed by those endless Blackland prairie vistas.
The 10th hole? Forget bunkers—it’s all about the “valley of death,” where one mis-hit can see your Pro V1 sink like a stone in the lake.
The 18th? A frontier justice par-4 that’s part cowboy showdown, part 480-yard gantlet. It’s the kind of hole that separates the cowboys from the cattle—no fancy tricks, just pure nerve and execution.
There’s no pretence here. Miss a fairway by a whisker, and you’ll be hacking from wiry native rough or facing an approach that’ll rattle your teeth. In an era of manicured, play-it-safe layouts, Maridoe stands proud: honest, tough, and dripping with authenticity.
Highlight Holes: Maridoe’s Wild West
Every hole’s got a personality—some downright mean.
- 2nd Hole—“Go Big or Go Home”: A 655-yard behemoth that could make Bryson blush. Big hitters can let it rip, but the second shot needs brains and brawn to avoid a watery grave.
- 10th Hole—“Valley of Death”: A devilish 388-yard par-4 with no sand, just a lake and a green that demands precision. Play it safe? Face a 200-yard approach over water. Bite off too much? Watch your ball make like a stone in a pond.
- 11th Hole—“Iron Gauntlet”: A 248-yard par-3 where even your 3-wood might come up short. Par here is like finding gold at the bottom of a dry well—rare and worth a celebration.
- 13th Hole—“Lucky or Unlucky”: A 597-yard par-5 that tempts eagles but punishes greed. Expect to see risk takers soar—or sink—right here.
- 18th Hole—“Frontier Justice”: This closing test is all swagger and sweat, with the big lake waiting for anything less than perfection. Miss a drive and you’ll be muttering curses to the Texas wind.
Maridoe doesn’t care about reputations. Power alone won’t cut it—find your swing or find yourself cursing this track.
In a world of bomb-and-gouge, it’s refreshing to see a course that demands both might and mettle.
Bryson’s Backyard Battle
And who better to test this Texas brute than Bryson DeChambeau? Dallas is his second home—he’s an SMU alum and local hero—but Maridoe didn’t roll out the red carpet for him last year.
He had one of those days when even his 200-mph missiles couldn’t find fairways, and wedges went wandering like a lost calf. This week? Redemption’s on his mind.
On paper, Maridoe is a perfect fit for Bryson’s game—long and demanding. But this place doesn’t play favourites.
His showdown here will be watched by fans and rivals alike: can the big man finally conquer the Big D’s biggest stage?
The Team Tussle: No Place to Hide
This year, LIV’s team battle has teeth. All 13 squads—plus two wild cards—are in play, with every score counting. No more tossing out a bad round. If you blow up, your team pays for it.
“There’s no hiding now,” said RangeGoats GC captain Bubba Watson. Every shot matters, and every miscue could cost hundreds of thousands in prize money.
Sunday pressure is now Friday-to-Sunday pressure, with every putt weighed like a gold coin on a frontier scale.
The LIV Experience: Golf, Grit, and a Texas Hoedown
Sure, the golf’s serious, but this is LIV—there’s a party humming underneath the surface. From the Birdie Shack’s cocktail-fuelled cheers to DJs spinning under the Texas sun, it’s a scene unlike any other in the sport.
Maridoe’s layout means fans will be everywhere, from lakeside vistas to shady oases.
And if you’re coming out, wear your walking boots—this place is big enough to host a cattle drive.
For those of us watching from afar, the action kicks off on FOX Sports and LIV Golf+.
The $25 million purse is reason enough for fireworks, but it’s the course that’ll be the star of the show.
Bryson, Cam Smith, Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm—it’s a lineup that’s as good as you’ll find anywhere in the world. Maridoe will test every club in the bag and every nerve in the body.
So as the Texas sun bakes down and the final putts drop, one thing’s certain: this week at Maridoe will be a classic mix of old-school challenge and new-age thrill.
And if there’s one thing this course promises, it’s that nothing will come easy. In golf—and in Texas—that’s the way it ought to be.
