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Golf Insider TEXAS

The Official Guide to Golf in Texas

Lajitas Golf Resort Voted # 1 Golf Course To Play In Texas Dallas Morning News

Visit Sealy Incredible Golf and More ... The Academy of Golf Dynamics, Austin, Texas “Top 25 Golf Schools in The Nation”

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Summer/Fall 2014

Major Renovations at Bayou Golf Course Course re-opens in the Fall – 2014

or more than 40 years Texas City’s wind swept Bayou Golf Course has been welcoming golfers of all skill levels in search of a fast and friendly round of golf. Originally designed by Houston – based Architect, Joe Finger, the 200 acre site on the banks of Moses Bayou boast a championship layout with elevated greens and tee boxes.

process of raising the fairways of holes #1 & 3 to eliminate salinity problems and expanding the width of the fairways. Other renovations will include raising hole #6’s fairway on the green side and also leveling fairways #15, 17 and 18. In addition, they will be adding a new, one of a kind, seven and one half acre Family Pitch & Putt golf course for walkers and installing a new 13,000 sq. ft. putting green adjacent to the club house. Mid-Americans construction superintendent, Adam Feltman and crew are hard at work and not wasting any time completing the project. So far they are right on schedule. For more information call Bayou Golf Course at 409-739-9622. Or follow their weekly updates at www.bayougc.com or on FaceBook. Schedule for completion is approximately October 2014.

Drains being installed This past April 2014, Bayou Golf Course began an 18 hole greens renovation which includes the putting green using Mini-Verde Ultra Dwarf. The golf course redesign Architect, Mike Nuzzo, plans to increase the average size per green to 5,000 sq.ft. In addition, Bayou GC is rebuilding all sand traps and adding new tee complexes on holes #5,7,10,13,16 & 17. They are in the

Raising fairways along the bayou

ayou

Contents 44

Cover Story

Lajitas Golf Resort. The perfect setting for your away-from-it-all adventure 6 FE ATURE COVER STORY Exceptional Golf in Sealy. A world of difference in this part of the country.

3 WELCOME

How to contact us, plus download the Texas Golf Insider Magazine to your iPhone using a special QR code tag FROM THE PUBLISHER Visit TheTexasGolfInsider.com to keep up with local news and events

11 FUN IN THE SUN

Cover:

The Lajitas Golf Resort in Big Bend. Voted #1 course to play in Texas by Dallas Morning News

Eagle Pointe Recreational facility offers fun for the whole family beyond golf.

18 JUNIOR GOLF

The game of golf is evolving, bringing many young players out on the course.

MAP & DIRECTORIES 20 GENERAL DIRECTORY 22 MAP 23 ADVERTISER’S DIRECTORY

REGIONS SAN ANTONIO, HILL COUNTRY & AUSTIN 34 44 80 82 83

JERSEY MEADOW- STAY, PLAY, SHOP & LIVE LAJITAS RESORT IS TEXAS’ #1 RESORT GENERAL DIRECTORY MAPS COURSE DIRECTORY

TEXAS

Golf Insider

The Official Guide to Golf in Texas TheTexasGolfInsider.com

FROMTHE THE EDITOR EDITOR FROM

Welcome to The Texas Golf Insider Magazine Texas

GOLF INSIDER P.O. Box 310652 New Braunfels, TX 78130 830-964-2152 FAX 830-964-2153 thetexasgolfinsider.com Mike Ratchman Texas Publisher Central Texas Area Office: 830-964-2152 mike@thetexasgolfinsider.com Editor: Ava Blair Contributing Writers: Art Stricklin, Steve Habel, Ava Blair Contributing Photographers: Gary Perkins, Mark Lindsay, matchlessphotography.com & HHPhoto.com Web Project Manager: Marcede Pullen CIRCULATION 300,000 per year reaching 750,000 readers. 3 ANNUAL EDITIONS DISTRIBUTION Throughout Central Texas, Dallas/Ft. Worth and Greater Houston at Golf Courses, Welcome Centers, Golf Shows, Golf Retail Stores and more.

The Texas Golf Scene

It’s summer and things are heating up on golf courses across Texas. Hot days and cool rates are here. As courses attempt to fill their tee sheets, they get very creative offering numerous incentives to come play their course or stay at their resort. The beneficiary is you, so take advantage of the great deals out there. This is the perfect time to travel and explore new courses, visit nearby cities and try something new. Now if you’re thinking about being adventurous put Lajitas Golf Resort at the very top of your list. Lajitas has just been voted the #1 Golf Course to play in Texas by the Dallas Morning News. Lajitas Golf Resort is located in The Big Bend Region of Texas, on the border of Mexico at the southwest corner of the Lone Star State. It is about 300 miles as the crow flies from El Paso, and is about as remote a place as there is in America, but is worth the trip. You’ll find a little bit of Heaven in Sealy, Texas, our feature story this issue. With a plethora of entertainment and relaxation in and around Sealy, you’ll find a variety of golf courses to play – 72 holes, Texas History overflowing at nearby San Felipe, a nearby golf resort, a variety of hotels, a state park, restaurants, hometown cafés, county fairs and more. Turn to page 6 for the story. Not only are there must play courses in quaint towns around Houston, but Houston has fabulous courses to play like Eagle Pointe (page 12) andTimber Creek (page 14). These two facilities are dedicated to customer service with an exceptional golf course. Bayou golf course will soon have a new look, turn to page 2 for the story. Enjoy your summer.We’ll catch up with you in the fall.

Copyright ©2014 Texas Golf Insider. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Golf course rates are subject to change at any time. Texas Golf Insider and its affiliates are not responsible or liable for any errors, omissions or changes in rates or information. Scan to your smart phone

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Mike Ratchman Texas Publisher

isher

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Art Stricklin

One of the foremost experts on golf history and travel in Texas, Stricklin has written a total of seven books and has personally played at a majority of the stateâ€™s 800 golf courses. Stricklin graduated from Baylor in 1983 and then spent more than a decade working for newspapers throughoutTexas, including three years as the golf writer for the SanAntonio ExpressNews.

Steve Habel

Steve Habel is a national correspondent for Cybergolf, managing editor for Texas CEO Magazine and works as a contributing editor for Horns Illustrated magazine, a publication focusing on University of Texas sports. Habel also writes two golf blogs and works as the media coordinator for Hall of Fame player and golf architect Tom Kite, architect Jeff Brauer and the City of Arlingtonâ€™s golf division. Habel is a member of the Golf Writers Association of America as well as the Texas Golf Writers Association. TEXAS

Golf Insider The Official Guide to Golf in Texas

DOWNLOAD OUR NEW APP TODAY TheTexasGolfInsider.com

TURNING REALTY TO REALITY We can help you find your country home, business or farm & ranch property west of Houston. Listings are centrally located between Houston, Austin and San Antonio.

Darrell Grafe, Realtor (979) 732-1850

darrell@TexasStarRealty.com 903 Walnut St., Columbus, Texas 78934

Fun in the Sun is more than Golf at Eagle Pointe Recreation Complex

s we welcome summer 2014, let’s make it a point to celebrate knowing this is THE summer for change. You will become more physically active, make new friends, increase your energy, and make healthier choices. There are many ways to accomplish these exciting intentions and we have the greatest tool of all, Eagle Pointe Recreation Complex. We invite you to come out for a visit so you can see for yourself the amazing programs we have to offer.

Summertime is upon us and it is an absolute must that we cool off from the hot, smoldering heat. What better place than the Wave Pool - it’s a great way to spend quality time with your family while sharing a few laughs and a treat from the snack bar. With its Beach Entry, a wide, shallow entrance that’s wider than the deepest part of the pool, the Wave Pool makes for

easy access for parents with toddlers and small children. Playing volleyball in the sand and relaxing next to the Wave Pool is definitely where we’ll be spending the summer season this year! Come join the fun and friendly atmosphere here at Eagle Pointe by participating in one of our Summer Tennis Camps, trying out a new GroupX class, or taking advantage of Group Swim Lessons. An active summer awaits you on the basketball courts, in the cycling studio, on our racquetball courts and in our indoor heated pool. In aquatics, we offer Aqua Fitness classes to blast calories and bad moods. From activities to getting ideas for healthy eating habits, Eagle Pointe is the place for you. Experience the amazing oasis that Eagle Pointe has to offer. Come and see it for yourself; there’s no other place like it. Make this summer one to remember and let us help you Change Your Life! If you would like to reserve the Wave Pool for a private party/event, call our Events office at (281)385-6668, ext. 234 or book online at www. eaglepointeonline.com/ pool-party. TheTexasGolfInsider.com

COURSES

GREATER HOUSTON | TEXAS COAST

Mont Belvieu, TX

(281) 385-6666 www.EaglePointeOnline.com RATES

Mon-Thur Friday Weekend Holiday

TWLIGHT*

$45 $32 $47 $40 $60 $40 $60 $40

*Twilight begins at 1 pm

STATISTICS Par: 71 Black Blue White Red

Yards Rating Slope 7077 73.2 128 6502 70.9 121 5927 68.0 116 5213 67.4 113

PERSONNEL

Architect............................... Rick Forester Director of Golf........................Jeff Strong Course Record.............. Justin McKay, 62

AMENITIES

• Online Tee Times • Meeting/Banquet Rooms • Outdoor Pavilion • Two Restaurants • Recreation Complex & Wave Pool • Fully Stocked Pro Shop • Memberships Available

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vid golfers in the Houston area yearning for a pure golf experience set apart from the city and brimming with secluded, natural surroundings can find that true, undisturbed feeling at Eagle Pointe Golf Club. The par-71 Rick Forester design located less than 35 minutes from downtown Houston off I-10 in Mont Belvieu, is equal parts peaceful, eye-catching and playable. The course’s distinguishable characteristics are its

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GREATER HOUSTON | TEXAS COAST

COURSES

Exceptional location to host your event

rolling fairways, stunningly tall pines, dramatic elevation changes and an abundance of water. With no homes on 17 of the 18 holes, golf is what you get at Eagle Pointe. The trademark of Eagle Pointe is its steeply tilted, undulating greens that will challenge even the most expert players. Strategically speaking, itâ€™s important to place your approach shots below the hole at Eagle Pointe because of the quickness of the putting surfaces. The facility also offers a state-of-the art fitness center and an 8,000-square-foot tournament pavilion that would be the perfect place for corporate outings, weddings or charity events.

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

COURSES

GREATER HOUSTON | TEXAS COAST

Timber Creek Golf Club A splendid layout 20 miles from downtown Houston

eneath the towering Oaks and sturdy Pines that permeate Timber Creek Golf Club, golfers are enjoying the game like never before. “People who play here frequently call this their club and have a sense of belonging,” general manager Mike Griswold said. “They don’t pay dues to get that.” The course’s culture is equaled if not surpassed by the design of Jay Riviere, who incorporated dense woodlands, winding creeks and rock outcroppings. “Our course isn’t target golf, but the fairways are really defined,” Griswold said. With its classic Clubhouse Pub atmosphere and an eclectic menu that appeals to virtually every taste, the TheTexasGolfInsider.com

Legends Grill at Timber Creek is the place to meet. The Golf Academy at Timber Creek can custom design a program for beginners, recreational players or highly skilled players who are in need of a tune-up. The Academy also offers Custom Club Fitting, the latest in high-end club-fitting technology. Bring your group to Timber Creek for an outing or a tournament that provides a country club experience at a public course price. From its outstanding course conditions to its food and beverage facilities, from its fully-stocked golf shop to its legendary service, Timber Creek Golf Club in Friendswood rivals any private club in Texas. Timber Creek Golf Club… Where You Belong.

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Public Course

COURSES

MAP #36

DIRECTIONS

I-45 S., exit and turn right on FM 2351, turn right at 2nd light.

COURSE FACTS

Number of Holes: 18 Architect: Jay Riviere

RATES

Call the Pro Shop or visit our website for online specials

COURSE AMENITIES

• 27 hole golf course • Golf Academy • Legends Restaurant & Bar • Fully Stocked Pro Shop • 200-seat pavilion for tournaments and events • Online Specials and EClub

4554 FM 2351 Friendswood, TX 77546

281-993-1140

timbercreekgolfclub.com TheTexasGolfInsider.com

FEATURE STORY

National and State Golf Championships in Southern Texas in 2014 By Kelly Gilley, PGA

The Club at Carlton Woods

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Two Southern Texas PGA Golf Clubs will showcase the country’s premier junior golfers as they conduct national junior events in back to back weeks in 2014. The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas, will be the test for the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship July 21-26, 2014. The following week, Miramont Country Club in Bryan, Texas, will be the proud host of the Junior PGA Championship on July 29-August 1. According to Dallas Morning News, Carlton Woods and Miramont are ranked as the 8th and 14th best golf courses in Texas, respectively. According to PGA Director of Golf Mark Steinbauer, “The Club at Carlton Woods is proud to host such a prestigious event here in Texas. I hope this opens up other opportunities for major championships to consider Texas.” The Jack Nicklaus Course at Carlton Woods opened in 2001 to high acclaim. This will be the third USGA Championship held at Carlton Woods. Former winners of this prestigious event include Tiger Woods, Hunter Mahan, Jordan Spieth, Charlie Rymer and David Duval. Miramont Country Club, which opened in 2005, becomes the first

FEATURE STORY

facility in Texas to host the Junior PGA Championship. The par-72 layout, which is currently ranked No. 13 in Texas by Golf Digest’s “Best in State Rankings,” will provide a challenging test for participants in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions. The 2015 Junior PGA Championship will also be conducted at Miramont from August 3-6. The 2014 Junior PGA Championship will also serve as the final qualifying event to make the 2014 U.S. Junior Ryder Cup Team, which will be contested Sept. 22-23, at Blairgowrie Golf Club in Perthshire, Scotland. Brad Lardon, PGA Director of Golf at Miramont Country Club, said he is eager to host the Junior PGA Championship. “We have always wanted to support amateur and junior golf,” said Lardon. “Everyone associated with Miramont Country Club is thrilled to host the Junior PGA Championship over the next two years.” Former Junior PGA Champions include the likes of Sean O’Hair, Trevor Immelman, David Toms, Lexi Thompson, Cristie Kerr, In Bee Park, and Southern Texas’ own PGA Member Steve Termeer, General Manager at UT Golf Club in Austin. On a state level, Southern Texas PGA Members will test their skills in the STPGA Professional Championship in Houston at Royal Oaks Country Club September 15-17. With sponsorship support including The PGA Tour, Club Car, Omega, Mercedes, Titleist, Nike

and TaylorMade, this is the premier event on the Southern Texas PGA tournament calendar annually. Top finishers earn a chance to compete in the PGA Professional National Championship. Royal Oaks’ own Ryan Polzin finished as runner-up in the 2013 PGA Professional National Championship at Sunriver in Oregon, granting him the opportunity to play in the 2013 PGA Championship held at Oak Hills as well as the PGA Cup matches in England. For senior golfers, both professional and amateur, the Southern Texas PGA will host the Lone Star NGL Texas Senior Open at Eagle Pointe Golf Club in Mont Belvieu October 23-25. According to Eagle Pointe Head Professional Jeff Strong, “I am truly excited to bring top senior golfers from Texas and beyond to the Club and to showcase the community spirit in Mont Belvieu. With the support of a sponsor like Lone Star NGL, this year’s event is shaping up to be the best on record.” For more information on junior golf, professional and senior events in southern Texas, visit www.stpga.com, www.stpgajuniorgolf. com or call (832) 442-2404.

Miramont Country Club TheTexasGolfInsider.com

FEATURE STORY

The culture of T

he game is experiencing a change, an influx of a new generation. With the likes of Rickie Fowler’s vibrant apparel or Jordan Spieth’s steadfastness, the twenty-something professionals are appealing to a whole new demographic, the junior. The Southern Texas PGA is part of this transformation, breeding the next cohort of avid players through the five levels of its junior golf program. While the game may not have that dominant player everyone strives to emulate, golf is in fact growing in popularity and the STPGA Junior Golf Program is proof. With the number of kids participating in its program increasing daily (set to surpass 3,000 juniors), south Texas golf is flourishing. STPGA Director of Junior Golf, Thomas Hutton, is not surprised by the growth. “We’ve tried to implement a system where our events are fun yet competitive with a professional feel, but at the same time keeping them affordable for everyone,” said Hutton. The STPGA Junior Golf Program provides five different levels of play in all seven metro areas of southern Texas, offering competitions for both the beginner and the widely-talented… not to mention every golfer in between. The latest addition to the STPGA is the advent of Team Golf. Now in its second year, Team Golf provides a new twist on what is traditionally a single person sport. Built around the newcomer, the innovative program is two-fold. It provides high-level instruction from a PGA professional and valuable playing experience in a far less stressful team scramble. “We want this program to become TheTexasGolfInsider.com

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FEATURE STORY

golf is evolving. the perfect entry-level golf program at any type of facility in south Texas with hopes of having these kids go on to fulfill prominent junior golf careers, â€œHutton voiced. Team Golf sets the foundation for juniors to develop and progress through the ranks of the STPGA at their own pace. Forming lifelong golfers, the Southern Texas PGA creates opportunities for every junior by not only providing over 400 tournaments throughout the year, but more importantly, by generating exposure to the game at a young age.

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For more information and to get started visit www.stpgajuniorgolf.com

Summer Golf Camps for Kids! Brenham CC August 5th â€“ 8th 9 a.m.-12pm (979) 836-1733

Eagle Pointe GC July 9-11 July 22-24 August 11-13 8:00 a.m - 11:00 a.m. (281) 385-6666

Timber Creek GC July 7-9, 2014 8:30-11:30 a.m. (281) 993-1140

Stephen F. Austin GC June 9-12 (979) 885-2811

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DIRECTORY

GREATER HOUSTON | TEXAS COAST

Brenham Country Club Semi-Private Club

18 Holes $40 / 9 Holes $20 Free Cart Tues-Thurs Weekend Half Cart Fee $12.50 Open Tuesday - Sunday, Closed Monday Call Today For More Information Memberships Social $50, Swimming $60 / mo. (Initiation Fee $125) Golf $100 / mo. for a one year contract (No Initiation fee) Equity Golf Memberships Available

LOCATION

(979)-836-1733 Brenham, TX

PHONE RETAILER

LOCATION

PHONE

RETAIL

www.BrenhamCC.com

Magnolia Creek League City Northgate CC Houston Pebble Creek GC College Station Pecan Grove Plantation CC Richmond Raveneaux CC Spring River Plantation CC Conroe Riverbend CC Sugar Land Royal Oaks CC Houston Shadow Hawk GC Richmond Sugar Creek CC Sugar Land Sweetwater CC Sugar Land The Houstonian GC Richmond The Oaks & Panther Trail The Woodlands Traditions Club Bryan Walden on Lake Conroe Montgomery Walden on Lake Houston Humble Weston Lakes CC Fulshear Westwood GC Houston Whispering Pines GC Trinity Willow Creek GC Spring Willow Fork CC Katy

979-245-3990 281-488-9753 409-898-7011 979-776-1490 281-863-5820 281-444-6449 936-756-5222 281-360-1065 281-392-2582 281-342-8368 409-737-9830 281-863-1490 281-485-4550 281-463-2204 713-465-8381 713-888-0000 281-348-2217 281-259-2279 281-497-2228 361-729-7311 281-821-0220

Golfsmith Katy 281-398-4669 Golfsmith Spring 281-292-2288 GolfSmith Galleria Houston 713-993-9993 Golfsmith Westheimer Houston 713-334-3334 Golfsmith Woodlands 281-292-2288 GolfTec Katy 281-741-6778 GolfTec Houston-Upper Kirby 832-426-5650 GolfTec Westheimer Houston 713-339-2470 GolfTec Webster 281-557-0015 GolfTec Galleria Houston 713-850-7555 Impact Golf Houston 281-597-8008 Mulligan’s Golf Houston 281-890-6026 Sport Shoppe Houston 281-879-0929 Strictly Golf Houston 713-629-4653

ses

Bay City Houston Beaumont Bryan The Woodlands Houston Conroe Kingwood Katy Richmond Galveston The Woodlands Pearland Houston Houston Hockley Kingwood Magnolia Houston Rockport Houston

Cou

ivate

Bay City CC Bay Oaks CC Beaumont CC Briarcrest CC Carlton Woods Champions GC Conroe CC Deerwood Club Falcon Point Fort Bend CC Galveston CC Gary Player Sig. Cour. Golf Crest CC Hearthstone CC Houston CC Houston Oaks Kingwood CC Lake Windcrest Lakeside CC Live Oak CC Lochinvar GC

281-557-3300 979-776-4653 713-627-2411 409-866 -3883 281-764-1344 281-574-3232 713-436-5001 832-203-1518 832-478-1365 281-491-1888 832-585-0505 281-392-4653 281-443-2828 281-596-9090

League City Bryan Houston Beaumont Humble Katy Pearland Houston Houston Sugar Land The Woodlands Houston Houston Houston

Big O’s Golf D & J Golf Edwin Watts Golf Games People Play Golf Etc. Golf Etc. Golf Etc. Golf Galaxy Golf Galaxy Golf Galaxy Golf Galaxy Golf USA Golf Warehouse Golf Warehouse II

Golf Retaile

281-557-0555 281-440-1223 979-690-0990 281-342-9940 281-370-6370 936-273-2276 281-491-2500 281-899-3270 281-494-3533 281-494-9135 281-980-4653 281-494-4244 281-882-3000 979-779-1007 936-448-4668 281-852-3743 281-346-1227 713-774-3011 936-594-4980 281-376-1501 281-579-6611

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

ntonio

118

Alpine

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170

95 95 Lajitas

Terlingua

109

New Ulm

46 48 53

59 45 52

1458

Industry

Gore Rd.

109

Co. Rd. 2

Morris

St . 80

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Magnolia

Montgomery

28 56 55

Pasadena

Deer Park

5 5 Mont Belvieu

COURSES

Practice Fac. Food Rental Clubs Pro Shop Lessons Ad on Page

6496/71.7/117

• • • • • 2

Yardage /Rating /Slope

Par

Type: M=Municipal, PR=Private, P=Public, SP= Semi-Private.

Type Hole

Map Number

GREATER HOUSTON | TEXAS COAST

Bayou Golf Course (409) 739-9622 M 18 17 2800 Dudley Dr., Texas City, TX 77590 www.bayougc.com

Brenham Country Club (979) 836-1733 SP 18 72 62 4107 Hwy. 105, Brenham, TX 77833

6520/72.3/127 • • • • • 21

www.brenhamcc.com

Eagle Pointe Golf Club & Recreation Complex (281)385-6666 P 18 5 12440 Eagle Pointe Dr., Mont Belvieu, TX 77580

7077/73.1

• • • • • 12

6660/733/136

• • • • • 34

www.eaglepointeonline.com

Jersey Meadow Golf Course (713) 896-0900 M 18 71 41 8502 Rio Grande St., Jersey Village, TX 77040 www.jerseymeadow.com

River Ridge Golf Club (800) 553-7517 P 27 7 3133 Brazos Oak Lane, Sealy, TX 77474

3616

• • • • • 7

Stephen F. Austin Golf Club (979) 885-2811 P 18 8 Park Road 38, San Felipe, TX 77474

6017/69.7/123

• • • • • 10

The Falls Resort & Golf Course (979) 992-3123 SP/R 18 26 1750 North Falls Dr., New Ulm, TX 78950

6857/73.1/140

• • • • • 7

Timber Creek Golf Course (281) 993-1140 P 27 36 4554 FM 2351, Friendswood, TX 77546

36 36 35

www.evergreenpointgolf.com

www.sfaustingc.com

www.thefallsresort.com

www.timbercreekgolfclub.com

SHOPPING/SERVICES Conroe Visitor Guide | Map #66 | Ad Page 88

Conroe, TX | PlayinConroe.com | 877-426-6763

San Felipe De Austin State Historic Site | Ad Pg 68

3575/3418/3135 • • • • • 14

DINING Legends Grill | Map #36 | Ad Page 14

4554 FM 2351, Friendswood, TX | www.timbercreekgolfclub.com | 281-993-1140

15945 FM 1458, San Felipe,TX 77473 | www.visitsanfelipedeaustin.com | 979-885-2184

Maribelli Italian Ristorante | Map #52 | Ad Page 9

Sealy Visitor Bureau | Map #50 | Ad Page 6-10

Tony’s Family Restaurant | Map #51 | Ad Page 9

Sealy, TX | visitsealy.com | 979-885-3222

Texas Parks & Wildlife | Map #59 | Ad Page 8

Sealy, TX | www.tpwd.state.tx.us | 979-885-3616

ACCOMODATIONS America’s Best Value Inn | Map #45 | Ad Page 8 2107 Hwy. 36 South, Sealy, TX 77474 | www.bestwestern.com | 979-885-3707

Holiday Inn Express | Map #48 | Ad Page 9 2370 Hwy. 36 South, Sealy, TX 77474 | www.HIExpress.com | 979-877-0700

SUPER 8 | Map #46 | Ad Page 7

Sealy, TX | www.Super8.com | 979-885-2121

DINING Cazadores Mexican Restaurant & Cantina | Ad Page 8 Sealy, TX | 979-885-3211 | Map # 53 Katy, Tx | 281-693-2122 | Map #54 Houston, TX | 713-465-9377 | Map # 55 Houston, TX | 713-682-2404 | Map # 56

2352 South Hwy. 36, Sealy, TX | 979-627-7665

1629 Meyer, Sealy, TX | www.tonysfamilyrestaurant.com | 979-885-4140

GOLF ACADEMY/INSTRUCTION Eagle Pointe Player Development | Map # 5, Ad Page 12 Jeff Strong, PGA | www.eaglepointeonline.com | 281-385-6666

Golf Academy at Timber Creek | Map #36 | Ad Page 14 David Pilsner, PGA | www.timbercreekgolfclub.com | 281-993-1140

STPGA Junior Golf | Ad Page 16-19 www.stpgajuniorgolf.com |

REAL ESTATE SERVICES Texas Star Realty | Map #75 | Ad Page 10 Columbus, TX | email: darrell@texasstarrealty.com | 979-732-1850

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Lajitas Golf Resort

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INSTRUCTION

Is It Time To Ask A Pro? Why Your Putter Should Swing At An Arc One of the most common questions asked in our golf schools is, “Should your putter swing straight back and straight through with the putter face staying square to the target line?” Think of it this way: When you clap your hands, do you swing your hands straight back and straight through with your palms facing each other while you clap? Of course not. It’s not natural. You would have to make an effort to do this that doesn’t come naturally. Your hands will naturally open going back and close back to square. They will also swing at a slight arc, not straight back and through.

Incorrect:

putter goes straight back and closed TheTexasGolfInsider.com

When you putt, the same principle applies. The natural way for your putter to swing is at an arc while your club opens and closes slightly. Here is the main reason:

Your Putter Shaft Sits At An Angle When you address the ball, the shaft of your putter sits at an angle. It sits at an angle because you stand to the side of the ball, not directly over it. Because of this reason, your putter will swing at a slight arc and the putter face will open and close. You will often hear some “shortgame experts” say that the putting stroke works like a pendulum. Well, when a pendulum swings back and forth, the object swinging is hanging directly below whatever is swinging

Correct:

putter swings at an arc and opens slightly

INSTRUCTION it. But the shaft of your putter sits at an angle, not straight up and down. For this reason, the path of your putting stroke will naturally swing at an arc, and open and close, if you let it. The only part of your putting stroke that should resemble a pendulum is the length and tempo of the stroke matching on both sides of the ball. Throughout the history of golf, there have been many different putting strokes that have produced great results. From the wristy and quicker putting strokes of players like Bobby Jones and Arnold Palmer to the more one-piece and fluid strokes of Ben Crenshaw, Loren Roberts and Tiger Woods. Jack Nicklaus’ hunched over posture brings a whole new meaning to the words “sore back”. Everyone has their own style. But was there ever a more clutch putter in the history of the game than Jack? Probably not until Tiger Woods came along. There is no one way to do anything in golf. Putting is no different. Some players swing the putter at more of an arc (Crenshaw, Woods) while others tend to swing the putter at less of an arc (Nicklaus, Steve Stricker) But most of the best putters don’t, “make the effort” to swing the putter straight back and through. None other than Tiger Woods has said he works on making sure his putter opens and closes. So the next time you hear a supposed “expert” on the short game talk about how

Incorrect:

putter swings straight through and open

you should swing the putter straight back and through, ask yourself if you feel like trying to do something that is not natural when you putt. Less thought is always better when it comes to golf. Fundamentals are fundamentals whether your name is Doug Sanders or Colonel Sanders. This instructional page brought to you by The Academy of GOLF DYNAMICS in Austin. They can be reached at 800-879-2008 or online at www.golfdynamics.com

Correct:

putter head releases and swings at an arc TheTexasGolfInsider.com

COURSES Open to The Public

SAN ANTONIO | HILL COUNTRY | AUSTIN San Antonio MAP #85

TEE INFORMATION

Yardage/Rating/Slope: Blue: 6819 / 70+8 / 124 White: 6412 / 68.3 / 117 Gold: 5552 / 72.0 / 118 Red: 5235 / 72+0 / 118

Fort Sam Houston Golf Club Salado Del Rio

COURSE FACTS

Number of Holes: 18 Par: 72 Architect: Kevin Tucker Director of Golf: Joseph Mendez Superintendent: Tim Blanchard

COURSE AMENITIES

• Open to the Public • Banquet Room seats 300 • Practice Area • Full Service Pro Shop • Grill • League Play Available • Tournaments Welcomed

Open to The Public

Salado Del Rio was lengthened to more than 6,500 yards, and thanks to additional mounding, renovated bunkering and an improved drainage system, it will be far more enjoyable to play more days of the year. Salado Del Rio is a scenic course with its tree-lined fairways, additional mounding around the greens and forced carries over hazards. Some you can play out of, some you can’t. The stretch of holes from the fourth through the eighth is particularly breathtaking as they play along and across Salado Creek, offering more pronounced doglegs and dramatic elevation changes. 1050 Harry Wurzbach Rd San Antonio, TX 78209-6443 210-222-9386 www.ftsammwr.com/recreation/golf.html

San Antonio MAP #85

TEE INFORMATION

Yardage/Rating/Slope: Blue: 6857 / 72.8 / 128 White: 6527 / 71.2 / 123 Gold: 5620 / 66.9 / 109 Red: 4989 / 68.6 / 113

Fort Sam Houston Golf Club La Loma Grande

COURSE FACTS

Number of Holes: 18 Par: 72 Architect: Kevin Tucker Director of Golf: Joseph Mendez Superintendent: Tim Blanchard

COURSE AMENITIES

• Open to the Public • Banquet Room seats 300 • Practice Area • Full Service Pro Shop • Grill • League Play Available • Tournaments Welcomed

The La Loma Grande Course, originally developed by the legendary A.W. Tillinghast, was built by the soldiers themselves in the early 1930s. It is the only military golf course to host a PGA Tour event — two Texas Opens that were won by hall of famers Arnold Palmer and Gene Littler. Now it has been returned to the dream of Tillinghast’s original design. La Loma Grande has always been the flatter of the two layouts, but most regular players also consider it the more difficult course with its pushed-up greens, particularly on the back nine, and its diabolical bunkering and mounding around the greens. 1050 Harry Wurzbach Rd | San Antonio, TX 78209-6443 210-222-9386 | www.ftsammwr.com/recreation/golf.html

Advertisements do not express or imply endorsement by any part of the Federal Government, and media involved are neither paid for nor sponsored by any part of the Federal Government

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6TH ANNUAL RUDY’S I-35 CUP AUSTIN VS SAN ANTONIO Presented by November 7-9, 2014 | Horseshoe Bay Resort

Rivalry Before the Match The “Rivalry Before The Match” kicks off the Rudy’s I-35 Cup Presented by Ameritas Group with a friendly rivalry competition open to corporate teams, individuals, businesses and entities. Challenge your counterpart or any business in Austin or San Antonio and play as a sixsome! The “Rivalry Before The Match” benefits The First Tee of Greater San Antonio and Africa New Life.

Benefiting Charities

For sponsorship information go to www.golfsanantonio.org You can also call Golf San Antonio at 210-736-8704 or email Janina@golfsanantonio.org

FEATURE STORY

Jersey Meadow

City Close, Country Quiet & 21st Century Contact Anywhere! By Art Stricklin

Think 21st Century golf-related technology meets dependable, popular, familiar, yet innovative local golf option and there you have Jersey Meadow Golf Club. Now available on the go and all over the world, with its own mobile app downloaded under Jersey Meadow Golf by coursetrends.com, it’s still the same public layout which has lived by the reliable and accurate motto, “City Close, Country Quiet” for years. Jersey Meadow Golf Club is a fine par 71 tract operated by the City of Jersey Village. It’s long been a popular green grass attraction since opening for business in 1956 and is still charming thousands of local residents, Houston visitors and out-of-town guests. It offers a superb collection of good food at the in-house BackYard Grill, solid golf and great nearby attractions when your day’s golfing battle is done. TheTexasGolfInsider.com

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Now you can take the course literally, wherever you go, through the computer app with the ability to view the layout, get rates, contact the club for tee times and even join the Jersey Meadow text club for the latest course updates, all from the palm of your hand and mobile device. With all of that involved, 21st century technology and local public golf charm, whatâ€™s not to like? In short, nothing.

Laidback charm

What has made Jersey Meadow so popular, the leading pick of the local golfing buffet if you will, is the easy going charm of the course and the surroundings. TheTexasGolfInsider.com

FEATURE STORY

The value per golfing dollar is easily seen by anyone playing the course for the first time, but the more time you spend at Jersey Meadow the more you’ll see the laidback nature of the course and the people who work there. But don’t think for a moment that laid back means easy or easily conquered. Part of the true genius of Jersey Meadow, completely redesigned by Texas architect Carlton Gipson in 1991, is that the course can be played in an exciting variety of ways. It can be a fun, casual outing with friends or family for a first time golfer or someone just returning to the game. It can also set up as a tough, exacting test, punishing any mistakes while rewarding good shots. The TheTexasGolfInsider.com

course can test every club and every shot making skill in your bag. “It’s tough enough, but not impossibly tough,” said head pro Lynn Parker.

Post-round adventures

Of course, when the round is done and you’re finished celebrating or commiserating at the Back Yard Grill, your Jersey Meadow and Jersey Village adventure is far from finished. As the course motto would suggest, once you leave the country quiet of the golf course and its pastoral surroundings, the city close is there with all of its enticing options. There is loads of great shopping nearby, including the massive Premium Outlet Mall and The

FEATURE STORY

The Galleria, perfect for replenishing your golf supplies or purchasing gifts for those who didn’t get to make the trip along with a variety of great restaurants and an outstanding assortment of hotels for those who want to make it an overnight or weekend visit.

Easy to find & play

Jersey Village is located just outside of the City of Houston city limits and while it enjoys all the benefits of being close to the country’s fourth largest city, it has its own charm and less frenzied atmosphere that makes golfers and visitors want to stop, linger, explore, play and repeat. Of course, all the fun and challenge has to be easy to get to and once again the city owned and operated course has that covered as well. Jersey Meadow is conveniently located near the intersection of Sam Houston Beltway 8, going either north or southbound or Highway 290 going either east or west. The course itself is located just off highway 290 on a beautiful tree-lined piece of West Houston property with dozens of mature oak trees lining the entire facility.

“Our aim is to provide a great golf value & an enjoyable experience for all who visit our course,” Parker said. “We don’t have a lot of huge course changes planned; we’re just working on doing many of the same things better and adding to our technology to make things easier.” You can even use the mobile app on your phone as a golf GPS telling you how far each hole is and what direction to aim away from trouble and forward to success.

Mission Statement Accomplished Wooded, Watery Challenge The mission statement for the complex is it provides a fiscally responsible resource that maximizes recreational opportunities and enhances the quality of life for all Jersey Village residents and the golfing public.

Right off the bat, you can tell getting off the tee is a key part of solving the Jersey Meadow puzzle. The first two holes, the par 5 first and par 4 second, are missing water, but are lined tee to green with trees and require accuracy off the tee if you are TheTexasGolfInsider.com

FEATURE STORY

going to have any success for the approach shot at the beginning of your round. “It’s a tough driving hole,” Parker said. “If you’re not driving it well, it will be a challenge.” The par 4 third has a pond which comes into play on the right side with plenty of water available all over Jersey Meadow. In fact, water comes into play on all but three of the remaining holes which remind you to play carefully, especially off the tee and around the green if you want to start the next hole with the same ball you used in the past. Among the biggest watery trouble spots are the par 5 13th hole and par 4 14th with water all along the left side, the par 3 17th with water forming a semicircle behind the green plus the par 4 18th with a large pond in the landing area and more water in front of the green. It’s a worthy finish to a worthy challenge at more than worthy value prices. If all the water and tree trouble makes you want to practice or just polish your game, Jersey Meadow has you covered there as well. There is a large driving range just left of the first tee with plenty of places to practice including practice bunkers for long or short shots. There is also a practice

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green between the first and 10th green with ample opportunity to practice on the Champion Bermuda greens which were installed here in 2004.

Value for play & memberships

True to its value added nature, the course offers the premier Star Membership program. It allows you a variety of benefits for an $80 annual fee including a free round of golf and a variety of other discounts for green fees and clubhouse merchandise. There is also a very active men’s golf association, women’s golf association and senior’s golf association for plenty of tournament competition and chances to build lasting friendships and partnerships. Add outstanding value, convenience, plenty of pre- and post-round non-golf options, service, practice facilities and a true city service you can actually enjoy rather than just endure and you have the complete package of Jersey Village’s Jersey Meadow Golf Club. From right in the palm of your hand anywhere in the world to right on the first tee at Jersey Meadow, new golf technology has made an old favorite seem that much closer and more inviting than ever before.

COURSES

SAN ANTONIO | HILL COUNTRY | AUSTIN

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SAN ANTONIO | HILL COUNTRY | AUSTIN

COURSES

Enjoy Championship Golf in the San Antonio Area!!! A Premier San Antonio Golf Course & Event Center! Olympia Hills Golf and Event Center is ideal for weddings, quincenearas, corporate outings, meetings and golf tournaments.

Whether you’re searching for a top of the line golf course with knowledgable staff, or a beautiful location to host your wedding or special event, Olympia Hills offers everything you need to make your visit memorable. Olympia Hills Golf and Event Center in Universal City, Texas, was rated #1 “Best New Affordable Public Golf Course” in Texas and No. 4 in America for 2001 After golfing one of the best courses around, stop in our pro shop for a great selection of equipment and accessories, then grab a bite to eat or a cold drink in our clubhouse bar & grill.

For Weddings, Tournaments, Banquets & Tee Times Call…

(210) 945-4653

www.olympiahillsgolf.com

REVIEW

The Revitalization of Northcliffe

On your next trip up I-35 North take a look to the right, at exit 178, and you will see the transformation of one of the area’s most unique golf courses. Originally designed in 1979 by golf architect Joe Finger, Northcliffe Golf Club incorporates a link style design that winds through the local neighborhood, with generous fairways and slight elevation changes. With five par 5s and five par 3s, Northcliffe is a fun challenge to those of all skill levels. To encourage player growth, we offer a very unique membership. Our Player Development Program (PDP) allows players unlimited use of the range and a waiver of green fees after 2pm daily. And while memberships are a vital part of Northcliffe’s growth, we also cater to the senior citizens, military, and youths by offering a variety of discounts and programs. We also offer twilight rates starting at noon, 7 days a week. During the last three years, Northcliffe has escaped golf’s recession by Dave Roberts / Head Professional

reinventing itself through a series of long term commitments from the ownership group including Darsen Chen. Chen along with head professional, Dave Roberts, has taken Northcliffe to the next level by establishing a first class affordable course. Their commitment to revitalizing Northcliffe has included the purchasing of 70 new golf carts, new Toro equipment, a 1000sf deck, and America’s first drift fry restaurant, Shifu’s 41.

Shifu’s 41 Restaurant Whether you want to practice, play, or enjoy a bite at Shifu’s 41, the new pride of I-35 will leave you believing it’s just “another day in paradise!” For more information on Northcliffe Golf Club or Shifu’s 41, please call 830-606-7351 or logon to www.northcliffegolfcourse.com.

SAN ANTONIO | HILL COUNTRY | AUSTIN

Public Course

MAP #29

RATES

Monday-Friday $32 Seniors and Military $26 Saturday, Sunday and $38 Holidays Twilight at noon everyday (Green Fee, Cart & Tax Included)

COURSE FACTS

Number of Holes: 18 Par: 72 Director of Golf: Dave Roberts Superindendent: James Fillpot

TEE INFORMATION

Yardage/Rating/Slope: Blue: 6550 / 71.0 / 125 White: 6080 / 65.5 / 119 Gold: 5339 / 66.4 / 118 Red: 4815 / 64.0 / 113

DIRECTIONS

From I-35 north, take Exit 178 and turn right onto Country Club Drive. The entrance to the course is on the right side of the street.

COURSES

Cibolo

Northcliffe Golf Club Home of the Noon Twilight Rate - Mon-Fri Just $22 Northcliffe Golf Club is one of the most beautiful and well-maintained golf courses in the San Antonio and New Braunfels area. The par 72 course is enjoyable for the average golfer, yet a challenge to the low-handicap players. Our rates are hands-down some of the most competitive around as we offer a great value to locals and visiting players alike. Northcliffe Golf Club is the the Home of “Twilight at Noon Seven Days A Week” Originally designed in 1979 by Joe Finger, the links-style design features generous fairways and leaves the golfer several options to play each hole. Northcliffe also has the unique design with 5 par 5’s and 5 par 3’s that wind through the course with no major elevation changes. Now open at Northcliffe Golf Club is the New “America’s first drift fry restaurant” Shifu’s 41 and a 1000 s.f. deck surrounding the pro shop. With a friendly informal atmosphere and customer service that is dedicated to making your golf experience exciting and enjoyable, Northcliffe is easily one of the “best kept secrets” around. We invite you to come relax, take it easy, and have a great round. 5301 Country Club Blvd. Cibolo, TX 77546

830-606-7351

www.northcliffegolfcourse.com

COVER STORY

Lajitas Golf Resort and its Black Jack’s Crossing Golf Club keeps piling up the awards

By Steve Habel Contributing Writer

The Big Bend Region of Texas is a wildly beautiful natural region, with a complex and enthralling history. More than one million acres of public land, including Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park, lie here in the prominent northward bend in the Rio Grande as it passes through the gap between the Chisos Mountains in Texas and the Sierra Madre Oriental in Mexico. It’s about as remote a place as there is in America, set on the southwest corner of the Lone Star State about 300 miles as the crow files from El Paso. It’s also the site for one of the most secluded – and, recently, most decorated – golf resorts anywhere in the world: the Lajitas Golf Resort and its awe-inspiring Lanny Watkins-designed Black Jack’s Crossing Golf Course. The Dallas Morning News recently lauded Black Jack’s Crossing with the top spot in its listing of “Best Places to Play” in Texas, elevating the course from previous years as more golfers have had a chance to make the trek to the Big Bend. TheTexasGolfInsider.com

In past years, Golfweek magazine declared that Black Jack’s Crossing is the “Best New Course in Texas.” And since opening in 2012, the course also has garnered kudos as the No. 5 “Best Course to Play in Texas,” also by Golfweek. Black Jack’s Crossing was designed by Watkins, who won the 1977 PGA Championship, was an eight-time member of the United States Ryder Cup team (as well as captain of the team in 1995) and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. The course, the Lone Star State’s only true mountain track, takes advantage of both the natural beauty and rugged surroundings of the rugged Texas Badlands 400 miles west of San Antonio. Playing through the Rio Grande River plateau and presenting inspired views of the Big Bend Mountains, the course winds through foothills and canyons, over cliffs and across high-plains desert. It challenges golfers with elevated tees, steeply sloping lies and strategically located bunkers.

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A choice of four tees allows the course to stretch as long as 7,413 yards (at sea level!) and down to 5,442. Par is 72. There’s also a complete practice facility with putting green and chipping area. Expertly maintained, the Platinum Paspalum grass is always lush, allowing the vibrant green hues of the fairways and putting surfaces to glisten in stark contrast to the black buttes and mesas in the distance. The course is nothing less than an oasis in the Texas Desert.

Sweet isolation There is a reason the sprawling 27,000-acre resort and its course are so isolated.The landscape in the Big Bend is glaring and severe and not for the faint of heart or the thin-skinned. Here, in the few places flat enough to pitch a tent, build an adobe house or eventually a grand resort, the land rolls away on both sides of the Rio Grande. It takes a different attitude to exist, more less thrive. Comanche once meandered through these passes that separate the Chisos and Davis Mountains. It’s a place where General “Black Jack” Pershing forded the river in search of the infamous Pancho Villa, who led raids across the Rio Grande. The old Lajitas Trading Post dating back to the 1800s on

the site has been converted to a Longhorn museum and the golf course’s pro shop. The Lajitas Golf Resort has a storied past as well, with past lives as a luxury cowboy hotel and an insulated getaway for the uber-rich before the economy clanged to a virtual standstill in 2008. Well-known Texas businessmen Kelcy Warren and John McReynolds now own Lajitas Golf Resort, which is operated by WSB Resorts and Clubs, LLC. All involved have taken a refreshing new direction, opening the property to visitors from far and wide.

A rocky good time Watkins’ golf course calls out to anyone with enough nerve to tackle its rocky elevation changes, its numerous carries over desert washes and a set of holes that require the best golf game a player can muster. The track combines the historical features of the region, its demanding terrain and the exquisite setting among the Big Bend National and State Parks. After a devastating flood wiped out a previous Lajitas design that was set on the river’s bank in 2008,Watkins was chosen from an “A” list of architects to fashion the new course on land in the mountain valleys and foothills, away from the chance of repeat disaster.

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COVER STORY

This is a place where mountains, buttes, mesas and other rock formations (lajitas means flat stones) will wow players of all abilities. The routing takes advantage of the dramatic drops from tee to fairways and vistas that stretch as far as the eye can see. There are no less than seven elevated tee boxes and on a clear day you feel as if you can see the edge of the world in almost every direction. The tee shots are exhilarating – several drop as much as 180 feet from tee to green. “Kelcy (Warren) and I went hiking in the area around Lajitas, and we were knocked out by some of the views we saw from the mountains,” Watkins said. “We had enough land to do two courses because there was so much to work with, but it was just a matter of getting all the holes to fit together for a spectacular sight that gets better as you go from hole to hole.” Watkins was given plenty leeway to fashion the land as he felt best to get the look

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and feel he wanted. “I like to see what’s in front of me off the tee and not have to guess where I am,” he said. “With the great view corridors at Lajitas, that wasn’t a problem.” Watkins was here, in early 2009, standing on the steps of the resort’s Thirsty Goat saloon, when he got the word of his election into the World Golf Hall of Fame. The fairways at Black Jack’s Crossing are generous but sometimes seem small due to the elevation changes and the multiple forced carries. The greens are medium in size but challenging and fast with great undulation. The first three holes of Black Jack’s Crossing play in the Rio Grande valley and then the routing climbs into the mountains and foothills. Five holes bring the river back into view, and each seems to offer another interesting and unique geological formation or a different color into the spectrum. No two holes are same at Black Jack’s Crossing. Players need to manage huge elevation changes, forced carries, strategically placed bunkers, narrow fairways, water, deep arroyos, rolling fairways and uneven lies, tough approach shots, doglegs and blind shots.

The trip is part of the adventure Lajitas is not exactly around the corner from anywhere but getting there is half the fun. To make a trip like this worthwhile, the golf course and other amenities have to be special – and they are.

COVER STORY

The resort is a revived ghost town converted into an Old West-style resort community alongside the Rio Grande which has The Old West Cowboy charm. Most of the resort is centered around or adjoining the resort square which includes

Boardwalk Suites or to the Cowboy bordello interiors of the Badlands Hotel. “Lajitas and the golf course are memorable because don’t think there’s another site like this anywhere in the state,”Watkins said.

Getting hitched takes on new meaning at Lajitas The land that makes up Lajitas is naturally romantic, which makes getting married at the resort seem tres apropos (so appropriate). The resort offers six different

the Badlands Hotel, Boardwalk Suites, Candellilla Cafe, shops, the bakery, meeting rooms, the Agave Spa,Thirsty Goat Saloon, and the Flat Rock Theater Company, an open-air amphitheater for movies. Four unique buildings offer several lodging choices and a range of prices. The resort offers 103 distinct and unique rooms featuring the cowboy chic of the Cavalry Post or Officers Quarters to the new

sites for weddings large and small, each with its own charms and individual ambiance. Perhaps the most striking is the Lajitas Chapel, a beautiful 19th Century historic TheTexasGolfInsider.com

COVER STORY

landmark with white adobe walls, Saltillo tile and beautiful hand painted artistry. For outside weddings, there are five great choices – the vine-covered Fireplace Gazebo (set in a landscaped courtyard), the Stargazer Mesa (located in the shadow of the Chisos Mountains),The Ocotillo (with its beautiful fountain and a view of fabulous sunsets and the Rio Grande), the Bell Tower in the center of the resort with close access to the Pavilion Ballroom and at the golf course’s driving range and putting clock, the largest space at the resort. For weddings and group outings, contact Cathy Jones at 407-421-0687 or email cjones@lajitasgolfresort.com

Reckless Kelly, Alejandro Escovedo, Buster Jiggs, Ghost along the Brazos, Butch Hancock and many others have played the Big Bend Amphitheater at Lajitas and the Thirsty Goat Saloon, and even at the Old Trading Post Porch, where the musicians are nearly always within an arm’s reach.

Alejandro Escovedo For those with RVs, Lajitas offers its Maverick Ranch RV Park. Set near Big Bend National Park, the 101-slot park sports full hook-ups, wireless Internet access, clean bathrooms with private showers, laundry facilities, a general store and a swimming pool. Additionally a community center is available for group gatherings and pool parties.

Plenty to do outside golf at Lajitas Plan on spending a few days because you will want to play this course twice and there are lots of other fun things to do like: hiking in Big Bend National park, mountain biking, rafting and canoeing the Rio Grande, horseback riding, hunting and shooting and more. Lajitas also is the area’s choice of lodging for several music festivals, including the Big Bend Music Fest and the Viva Terlinqua Festival. Artists such as Willie Nelson,

In addition, 18 “primitive wilderness campsites” are available for those interested in a true tent-camping experience. photographer: matchlessphotography.com

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FEATURE STORY

Lone Star State golf resorts serve up summer fun by the bucketful

By Steve Habel/Contributing Writer

ummer is prime time for golf vacations in the Lone Star State, and Texas is stacked with great options for the grand game in three of its major metropolises – Houston, San Antonio and Austin. It’s easy to pack the clubs in the SUV along with the kids and head to one of these excellent golf resorts. Each one of the resorts listed below has a lot more to offer than just golf for those that long to just relax and enjoy the summer (but why would anybody really want to do anything else), and the cities themselves also have attractions aplenty (for those adventurous types). Two tips before you head out: check in advance (if you can) for the best deals and bring along your sunscreen. Remember that it can get pretty hot down here during the summer season. La Cantera Resort

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San Antonio

La Cantera Resort

Any talk about golf in San Antonio must begin with the La Cantera Hill Country Resort, a 1,600-acre master-planned development that includes two championship 18-hole courses, a gorgeous hotel built in 1999 and modeled after famous King Ranch’s “Big House”, two stunning clubhouses and an academy of golf to help hone the golfer’s game. La Cantera has consistently been ranked one of the best resorts in America by Golf Magazine. The digs are nice at La Cantera, but it’s the golf courses that are the resort’s biggest draw and they are supreme in every sense of the word. La Cantera features two courses – the Resort Course, designed as the final work of the team of Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, and the Palmer Course, fashioned by (you guessed it) Arnold Palmer with help from longtime collaborator Ed Seay.

FEATURE STORY

Players never forget the thrill of teeing it up at the Resort Course’s seventh hole – a severe downhill par-4 whose green seems to lie just beneath that main rollercoaster of the aforementioned theme park and is perhaps the city’s most famous individual golf hole. Located just down the street from the hotel, the Palmer Course was built and added to the La Cantera family in 2001 and features a variety of holes touched with dramatic waterfalls, beautiful views and mind-blowing landscape.

JW Marriott San Antonio JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa has firmly established itself as the Alamo City’s premier luxury destination. The massive, 1,002-room resort TPC San Antonio features 36 holes The Oaks of golf at the dual course of TPC San Antonio (home of the Valero Texas Open), as well as the Lantana Spa, the six-acre River Bluff water park, seven distinctive restaurants and 265,000-square feet of state-of-the-art meeting and event space. The courses – one each designed by Greg Norman (the Oaks) and Pete Dye (the Canyons) – are challenging and relentless. The Oaks hosts the Valero Texas Open each March and is known for its demanding greens complexes. The Canyons is definitely the friendlier of the two but is still hearty enough to conduct the AT&T Championship on the PGA Champions Tour each October. Though the Oaks and Canyons play right next to each other in the Texas Hill Country, their topographies are a stark contrast.

The Oaks gently meanders through oak and mesquite trees, and most holes are tree-lined on both sides. It’s very walker friendly with less than 100 feet of differential between the highest and lowest points. The Canyons, as the name implies, rolls up and down more severe terrain. Many green settings overlook expansive backdrops of a nearby 700-acre nature preserve. As a private resort, TPC San Antonio is only accessible to club members and guests of the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa. There’s even a 23-acre practice facility with two putting and short game practice areas, as well as the best in golf instruction at the TOUR Academy. It’s a golf smorgasbord.

Austin

Barton Creek Resort and Spa Barton Creek Resort and Spa has, since its opening in 1987, been oftrecognized as one of the United States’ top destinations for golf and getting away. Recently purchased by Omni Resorts, Barton Creek is a hybrid resort/country club, sporting an AAA Four-Diamond luxury hotel and conference center along with a private club that has hundreds of members. For decades, this is where the Texas and Austin area’s well-heeled have come to call home and to play, as the development that surrounds Barton Creek Resort and Spa boasts a 4,000-acre envelope in the heart of the Texas Hill Country and some of the region’s most breathtaking views. For golfers, the real draw of Barton Creek is its quartet of golf courses. Designed by the masters of the game TheTexasGolfInsider.com

FEATURE STORY

Barton Creek Resort

(read: Tom Fazio, Arnold Palmer and Bill experience in Texas, especially for those Coore/Ben Crenshaw), Barton Creek’s four visitors to the Austin area. tracks are a tribute to the game and the rugged beauty of the options of the Hill Country. Houston Area Barton Creek also is home for Texas’s The Woodlands Resort first Callaway Performance Center, which A mere thirty minutes from downtown provides a state-of-the-art environment Houston, The Woodlands Resort is where for golfers to achieve a perfect fit paired a world of natural beauty meets high-tech with ideal equipment for their game. At the convenience. It’s an ideal destination for CPC, golfers can have their swing evalufamilies and couples to relax and refresh – ated with the same cutting-edge fitting close to home, but worlds away. technology used by Callaway’s Tour Staff Two championship golf courses (The Professionals from the PGA, LPGA, EuroOaks and Panther Trail) provide all the inpean and Champions Tours. gredients for exceptional golf: deep woods, The hotel and resort offers 312 guest shining waters, exceptional fairways and rooms and suites furnished in an elegant pristine greens. Lone Star State style. It is home to one of The senior of the two, The Oaks, was Austin’s most luxurious spas, a full-service opened in 1975. It was designed originally fitness center, indoor and outdoor pools, by Joe Lee and the team of Bruce Devlin a miniature golf course, a fully-supervised children’s program and four exceptional restaurants. Barton Creek offers the most bang for the buck and The Woodlands Resort the best four-day overall TheTexasGolfInsider.com

FEATURE STORY

and Robert von Hagge and was renovated in and its growing roster of top lodging options 1999 by Jay Morrish. The current configura- and impressive restaurants. And golf, too. tion offers a test for golfers of all skill levels, No trip to the island is complete without playing at 7,044 yards from the back tees. a round at Moody Gardens Golf Course. It won’t take golfers long to understand The course debuted with its new layout where The Oaks got its name; in addition to after a two-year, $17 million renovation by the towering oaks, some of which are covered Jacobsen/Hardy just three months before with draping gray moss, players will find Ike rolled across the island. Since then, the excellent conditions from tee to cup, water on 6,816-yard windswept track has enjoyed 10 holes, large undulating greens, huge green- continual recognition as one of the best side bunkers and generous fairways. coastal tracks anywhere. The Woodlands’ other course is Panther Jacobsen and Hardy created a design Trail, which is also a Lee and von Hagge on which the track’s fairways curl around design renovated in 2002 by Roy Case. inlets and lakes edged with wispy grasses. Described as both demanding and scenic, There are even small elevation changes, the track is highlighted by its island-green rare on a site so close to sea level. 18th hole, which received praise as the “best Moody Gardens Golf Course plays par-4 in Houston.” Additionally, Panther around Sydnor Bayou and as such you’ll find Trail has been recently ranked one of the upland and lowland native areas, shorebird top 5 courses to play in the Houston area. Moody Gardens Golf Course The redo gave the course new contours and water features (a dozen holes asks golfers to deal with ponds or streams), plenty of doglegs and immaculate conditions. There are also 47 sand bunkers to navigate past. Even though it plays at habitat and water coming into play on 17 the exact yardage (7,044 from the back tee) holes. The course takes advantage of the as its sister course at The Oaks, it is more natural landscape of water, brush and sand. challenging and demands the golfer’s full Its colorful landscaping, the bay views and attention from first tee to final green. more than 500 palm trees swaying in the gentle Gulf breeze make for a very scenic Moody Gardens and peaceful round. About an hour’s drive south of Houston, And if you’re playing at Moody Gardens Galveston reigns again as the place to be GC, it would be silly to stay anywhere else in the summer time. The city and island but the Moody Gardens Hotel and Conferhave been rejuvenated and rebuilt after the ence Center, located just on the other side damages caused by Hurricane Ike in 2008. of the Galveston airport along with the Galveston’s appeal is rooted in its grassy property’s three landmark pyramids (one dunes and off-white sand, its calm warm wa- is an aquarium, one is a rainforest and the ter, its Seawall, the Strand historical district third a museum and theater). TheTexasGolfInsider.com

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FEATURE STORY

Landa Park Golf Course at Comal Springs Everything Old is New Again

Rebirth of Landa Park Golf Course holds Texas-sized interest for locals and visitors alike. Chad Donegan has been with Landa Park Golf Course for nine years, long enough to see the good and the bad of the storied City of New Braunfels golfing facility. But now he is overseeing a remarkable transformation of the longtime city golf course, first opened in 1938, with a $6.9 million dollar total renovation which will add lakes and trees, increase the challenge and golfer enjoyment, cure long-festering drainage issues and even bestow the layout with a new name --Landa Park Golf Course at Comal Springs. All because Donegan and others were able to convince the city leaders of a basic, if not radical, concept. Landa Park will be a true city service enjoyed by locals but also taking advantage of a growing tourism market. “New Braunfels is the heart of Central Texas and we know we have close to a million people come to float on our rivers. It was a matter of bringing the golf course up to a higher standard for both the locals and the visitors to enjoy,” he said. “We have regular groups who play here every day, but what we were missing was the visitor market. We wanted to renovate the course so people from everywhere will enjoy our TheTexasGolfInsider.com

little piece of the world.” The course will reopen in October as a par 71 gem, with pristine course conditions, certainly something which couldn’t ever be said in the past, new water features, bunkers and even a few routing changes as holes 9 and 18 will switch numbers. When drainage and maintenance problems got to be too much to ignore in 2007, the city first did a master plan for the golf course and found overlooked or long delayed maintenance had created major problems. It left greens that were often bare as a result of an antique or often broken irrigation system which produced vast brown areas or muddy patches in heavy rain. Fixing one of the problems, even a major one, would just lead to the need to fix another in the near future, while fixing everything at one time would give the city a virtually brand new golf course which should last for decades. “We decided to bite the bullet, shut it down, do all the work at one time and not have to go back any time soon,” Donegan said. The course was closed last October and all greens and fairways were stripped to ready them for their new life.

FEATURE STORY

The holes were given new tee complexes with as many as 4-5 new teeing options on most of the holes. Over 200 new trees were added, 36 new bunkers, and the tees and fairways were grassed with 419 bermuda. The putting greens are getting premium mini-verde grass, taking away generations of excuses for missed putts at Landa Park. While the course is not yet open for play, the staff has taken regular tours with longtime members and guests and the results have been hugely favorable. “The majority of the regulars I’ve taken on a tour of the new course can’t believe it because it’s such a different sight. We have course undulations, we have lakes and trees and with our new irrigation we have the chance to have good course conditions almost all of the time.” One of the most important features of the new Landa Park Golf Course at

system broke down, which happened often, the course could go for an extended period with no irrigation. Also, leaks or heavy rain could result in multiple muddy spots or extended down time for golfers looking to play certain holes. The new system, which is fully automated, has pump stations on both the front and back nine. It can be controlled

Comal Springs will also be one of the most unseen. The new computerized irrigation system will be a huge upgrade. The old system served the entire layout from its pump system on the 13th hole which meant any irrigation outside the single line system would result in dirt or brown patches outside its coverage area. Also, if the

from a course laptop or even a smart phone with different irrigation for different zones and the chance to water the entire course if one of the pump houses goes down. Other positive changes will include a brand new putting, chipping and bunker practice area for people to use before their round or just for practice. Also, the Landa

Chad Donegan has seen the good and the bad.

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

FEATURE STORY

Park clubhouse is being totally renovated and enlarged to 5,500 square feet and includes a new Sports Bar which will feature televised sports action, plus a room for weddings and reunions, another possible revenue source which didn’t exist in the past. There will also be a new fleet of EZ-Go TXT Golf Carts for golfers when play gets underway this fall. “We took a look at other cities and other courses and saw how they improved their municipal golf facilities and how they attracted more business. Purely from a business

course construction was led by Heritage Links. Landa Park course superintendent Jason Wiedeman and his staff will grow in the new grasses and take care of the course once it re-opens. The final touch was the recent purchase of new mowing and landscaping equipment to continue the upkeep once the renovated course opens. “It definitely won’t look the same, that’s for sure,” Donegan said. For that, Landa Park locals and thousands of new and returning golfers will forever be grateful.

standpoint, we were missing a lot of chances for improvements. This will help fix a lot of issues in a good way,” Donegan said. Terra Design Group formulated the master plan, renowned golf architect Baxter Spann designed the new layout, and

Landa Park Golf Course at Comal Springs will be a shining example of city service done just right. For more information on the newly renovated course and its upcoming opening date visit www. landaparkgolfcourse.com or follow them on Facebook for weekly updates.

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

Welcome to

Texas Hill Country Golf Trail Deep in the heart of Texas

Vaaler Creek Golf Club

Lady Bird Johnson Golf Course

Lighthouse Country CLub

Delaware Springs Golf Course

.......and more

REVIEW

Lighthouse CC in Kingsland is a secret worth sharing By Steve Habel

Golfers looking for the ideal place for an unhurried weekday round or all the trappings of a dead-solidperfect weekend getaway should pencil in the Lighthouse Country Club in Kingsland, where an underrated course and first-rate amenities combine for great fun and a bushel-load of memories. Lighthouse CC is just 15 minutes west of Marble Falls near where the Colorado River widens to form the massive Lake LBJ in the fringes of the Texas Hill Country and in the shadow of the Packsaddle Mountains. First opened as Packsaddle Country Club in 1968, the golf course was completely renovated and rerouted in 2006 by a team led by legendary golf architect Leon Howard. It has a unique routing that brings granite outcroppings, water and high native grasses into play on a course that is carded at 6,485 yards from its back set of four tee boxes. Lighthouse CC’s course has always been known as a track that could be spectacular if given the right amount of attention and care. That was assured when the property was bought in September 2011 by Rick and Mercy Howe. The Howes changed the club’s name (which reflects back to their Midland-based company, Lighthouse Energy Solutions), its logo and its outlook and injected just the right amount of a little bit of everything to make the Lighthouse experience fabulous. “We felt like the course and the club just needed a little tender loving care and to refine its rough edges,” Rick Howe said. “It was a jewel that we’ve been able to polish enough to bring out the best features. We have had our second home here near the course for many years and realized that the course and the properties could, and should, be an asset to the community.” Lighthouse CC offers all levels of golfers an opportunity to enjoy themselves. There are 29 sand bunkers on the track, the greens vary from 4,000-6,400-square feet and TheTexasGolfInsider.com

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REVIEW

have beautiful undulations that will challenge all comers, especially those seeing the course for the first time. With multiple teeing areas and contoured fairways, Lighthouse CC offers golfers of all skill levels the opportunity to have an enjoyable experience. A good short game and the ability to lag putts well are important as a player navigates the putting surface’s subtle trials. The course’s best stretch of holes is on its front-nine, which has seven par-4s and just one par-5 and par-3. Both the 362-yard par-4 second and the 293-yard par-4 third ask the golfer for stout game maintenance and some prudence. The aforementioned granite outcropping comes into play on the 534-yard par-5 sixth (which features a split fairway) and the 143-yard par-3 No. 7, which requires precise accuracy and a deft putting touch. But the encounter with rocks really sets the table for the frontnine’s toughest two holes: two demanding two-shotters – the 421-yard eighth and the 443yard ninth. No. 8 is played over a pond to a fairway that widens as the player takes the most chance across the water. Long hitters challenging the water down the right side will find more room in the landing area while those playing more conservative to the left and will have a narrow fairway and a long approach to a green surrounded by bunkers. The ninth plays downhill to a landing area guarded on the right by a tree and then uphill to a green flanked on both sides by sand. The back-nine has its share of quaint holes and is generally more open than the front-nine.

Players love the look from the tee at the 133-yard par-3 12th, which plays downhill. Three of the par-4s on the back are carded at 378 or less, but because of the course’s rolling hills, the holes are not as easy as one would expect. The bunkerless 412-yard 15th is the longest and most demanding par-4 on the back-nine. The round ends with two tough, and varied, tests. The par-5 17th, at 549 yards, is the longest hole at Lighthouse CC and ends with one of the track’s smallest putting surfaces. The closing hole is a 172-yard par-3 that features a two-tiered green and bunkers

on both sides. It may be the hardest hole on the course, especially if a match is on the line, because of its requirement for a high, soft shot. Lighthouse CC, which actually sports a 40 ft.-tall lighthouse on property, also offers a charming clubhouse and adjacent bar and grill and has become a popular area destination for a great evening meal or a night out of music and dancing at those times when the club brings in a live band. Staying and playing at the Lighthouse CC is the best way to enjoy the facility. The Howes TheTexasGolfInsider.com

REVIEW

have constructed a new row of luxury condos, called the Lighthouse Landing, just behind the 17th green that raise the quality of golf getaways to another level. Each of the condos feature a full kitchen and a generous living area with flatscreen TV and has a two-car garage, a grill on the back patio, a washer and dryer and hi-speed wireless internet. They even have a pair of golf carts at the ready in the garage for personal use while on the property. Lighthouse CC has also recently opened its onsite RV park, with full concrete pads that include water, sewer, 50-amp electric hookups and wireless internet access. The facility is located to the left of the 13th green on a site that provides a spectacular view of Packsaddle Mountain. The RV park’s pavilion, with restroom, shower and

laundry facilities and a large covered patio, will be ready for use this fall. I spent a night in one of the condos in June with my two sons, one who is college aged and the other a high-school senior, and we had a blast. We rolled out on the course for a quick twilight nine holes – we played until we couldn’t see our golf balls in the air anymore – then grilled some steaks out back and later relaxed in front of the big screen. The next morning, the three of us played the entire course and then had a sumptuous lunch at the grill in the company of the owner. It was an excellent father-sons trip that provided memories that will never fade. A trip to and a stay at Lighthouse CC is about as fine as you can get anywhere. It’s so good it’s almost like a secret that you don’t want to tell anyone about.

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

We invite you to participate in the 2014 AT&T Championship presented by Alcatel at TCP San Antonio - AT&T Canyons Course. For information on our corporate hospitality packages, pro-am playing opportunities, charity program, tickets and volunteering, please call (210) 698-3582. We hope you join us this October as some of the finest players in the world compete in San Antonio.

2014 Schedule of Events Monday, October 20TH

Monday Pro-Am – 1:30 PM Shotgun (Awards Ceremony immediately following play) FREE ADMISSION

Tuesday, October 21ST

Professional Practice Rounds – 8:00 AM GENCO Junior Pro-Am - Back 9 Only- 1:00 PM Champions Tour Open QualifyingThe Club at Sonterra Championship Pro-Am Pairings Party – J.W. Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa 5:30 PM Cocktails 6:30-8:00 PM Dinner 8:00 PM Pairings (Invitation Only) Casual Attire FREE ADMISSION

Wednesday, October 22ND

Championship Pro-Am – 8:00 AM & 1:30 PM Shotgun Starts FREE ADMISSION

Thursday, October 23RD

Championship Pro-Am – 8:00 AM & 1:30 PM Shotgun Starts FREE ADMISSION

Friday, October 24TH

Championship Competition, Round One – One Tee Start (1st tee time 8:00AM) Coverage on Golf Channel

Saturday, October 25TH

Championship Competition, Round Two –One Tee Start (1st tee time 8:00AM) Coverage on Golf Channel

Sunday, October 26TH

Championship Competition, Final Round –One Tee Start (1st tee time 8:00AM) Coverage on Golf Channel AT&T Championship Awards Ceremony – 18th Green (immediately following play)

228 Jeff Vaughn Blanco, TX 78606

830-833-0706

www.vaalercreekgolfclub.com RATES

TWILIGHT

Mon-Thur $55 $45 Fri-Sun $65 $55 *Twilight begins at 3:00 pm

STATISTICS Par: 72 Gold Blue White Red

Yards 6864 6299 5692 4577

Rating 73.0 70.6 68.6 64.1

Slope 140 129 121 111

PERSONNEL Architect: Director of Golf:

Michael Lowry Adam Grosh, PGA

AMENITIES • Online Tee Times • Stay & Play Packages • Golf Instruction • Practice Facilities • Fully-Stocked Pro Shop • Golf Carts have GPS

H I L L C O U N T R Y R V P A R K S

Beachcomber Park 800-379-3083 lakebuchananrv.com

Galloway-Hammond Parks and Recreation Center 512-756-6180

Big Chief RV Resort 866-922-4433 bigchiefrvresort.com

Granite Rock RV Park 325-388-8900 graniterockrvpark.com

Blanco Settlement Country Cabins & RV Park 830-833-5115 blancosettlement.com

Heart of Texas Lake Resort 512-756-7766 heartoftexaslakeresort.com

Canyon of the Eagles Lodge & Nature Park 800-977-0081 canyonoftheeagles.com Cedar Lodge Waterfront Resort 512-793-2820 cedarlodge.info Dos Rios RV Park 325-347-1713 dosriosrvpark.com Edgewate Resort 512-793-2818 the-edgewater.com Fort Mason City Park 325-347-2064

Hidden Falls Adventure Park 830-798-9820 hiddenfallsadventurepark.com Hi-Line Lake Resort 325-379-1065 hilinelakesresort.com Hofbrau RV Park 830-596-2073 hofbrau-rvpark.com Inks Lake State Park 512-389-8900 tpwd.state.tx.us Krause Springs 830-693-4181 krausesprings.net Llanorado Lodge 325-388-4823 tpwd.state.tx.us Llano River RV Park 325-247-5100 llanoriverrvpark.com Miller Creek RV Park 877-868-2622 millercreekrvresort.com

118 Club Circle Kingsland, TX

325-388-6660

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Northpoint Landing RV Park NOW OPEN

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Poppyâ€™s Pointe Resort 512-793-3922 poppyspointe.net Rio Vista Resort 325-388-6331 rio-vista-resort.com Riverview RV Park 830-693-3910 Roadrunner RV Park 830-868-7449 roadrunnerrvparktexas.com Shady Oaks RV Park 512-793-2718 campingfriend.com/shadyoaksrv Sunset Point on Lake LBJ 830-798-8199 sunsetpointlbj.com

Savor The Hill Country Taste

Alamosa Wine Cellars 325-628-3313 alamosawinecellars.com Becker Vineyards 830-644-2681 beckervineyard.com Bell Mountain Vineyards 830-685-3297 bellmountainwine.com Chisholm Trail Winery 830-990-CORK chisholmtrailwinery.com Duchman Family Winery 512-858-1470 duchmanwines.com Driftwood Estate Winery 512-858-9667 driftwoodwinery.com Dry Comal Creek Vineyards 830-885-4121 drycomalcreek.com Fall Creek Vineyards 325-379-5361 fcv.com Flat Creek Estate Winery 512-267-6310 flatcreekstate.com Fredericksburg Winery 830-990-8747 fbgwinery.com Grape Creek Vineyards 830-990-2710 grapecreek.com McReynolds Winery 830-825-3544 mcreynoldswines.com Pedernales Cellars 830-644-2037 pedernalescellars.com Perissos Vineyards 512-656-8419 perissosvineyards.com Pillar bluff Vineyard 512-556-4078 pillarbluff.com Rancho Ponte Vineyard 830-324-6704 ranchoponte.com

Sister Creek Vineyards 830-990-8555 sistercreekvineyards.com Spicewood Vineyards 830-693-5328 spicewoodvineyards.com Stone House Vineryard 512-264-3630 stonehousevineyard.com Texas Hill Vineyard 830-868-2321 texashillsvineyards.com Texas Legato Winery 512-556-9600 texasslegato.com Torre Di Pietra Vineyards 830-644-2829 texashillcountrywine.com Woodrose Winery 830-644-2539 woodrosewinery.com

H I L L C O U N T R Y

W I N E R I E S

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

COURSES

Public Course

RATES

SAN ANTONIO | HILL COUNTRY | AUSTIN

MAP #41

18 9 Twilight

Weekday $ 37 $22 $25 Weekend $47 $27 $33

COURSE FACTS

Number of Holes: 18 Par: 72 Architect: Bunker Hill General Manager: Doug Fipps Superindendent: Jason Kelly Course Record: Kyle Jerome,62

TEE INFORMATION

Yardage/Rating/Slope: Black: 6891 / 72.0 / 127 Blue: 6329 / 70.3 / 121 White: 5829 / 68.2 / 110 Red: 4931 / 66.8 / 106

COURSE AMENITIES

• • • • •

Practice Facilities Golf Academy Bar & Grill Fully Stocked Pro Shop Online Specials

Burnet

Delaware Springs Golf Course One of Golf Digest’s “Best Places to Play”

ated four out of five stars on Golf Digest’s “Best Places to Play” list, Delaware Springs Golf Course is a Hill Country classic cradled by a variety of native trees and accented by charming scenery. The beautiful 6,891-yard par-72 track unfolds onto gently rolling hills and offers golfers scenic vistas at every turn, making it as picturesque as it is challenging. The aesthetic value is just one reason why Delaware Springs has become a Hill Country favorite. Visitors are often impressed by the attitude of the golf course staff, a friendly and courteous crew that makes strangers feel right at home. In addition to the 18-hole championship course, the facility features a well-stocked pro shop, driving range, putting green, snack bar and dining room overlooking the 18th green. To enjoy Hill Country golf at its finest, come visit Delaware Springs Golf Course, owned and operated by the city of Burnet. Course designers Dave Akland and Dan Procter named each hole after a local feature, such “Mountain View” and “Roon the Bend” because of it’s sharp dogleg right. Few homes line the holes. 600 Delaware Springs Blvd. Burnet, TX 78611

512-756-8471

www.delawaresprings.com

25-T

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Play A Round. Then Play Around.

Alles in Fredericksburg! Serious golfers will find it “all in Fredericksburg.” At Lady Bird Johnson Golf Course, you’ll play on contoured fairways built to USGA standards with 48 challenging bunkers, water in-play on over half the holes, lush Champion Ultra Dwarf underfoot and spectacular Hill Country views. Your fleet of new electric “chariots” await at the clubhouse, featuring the Red Bird Grill and Golf Shop. Plus, your 19th hole is historic Fredericksburg—where you’ll find wineries, spas, gourmet cuisine, shopping, live music and so much more! As far as getaways go, it’s your ace in the hole.

VisitFredericksburgTX.com 25-Texas Golf Insider-June2014-4.875x7.75.indd 1

866 997 3600 4/28/14 4:30 PM

Tournament Schedule July 19--20 2-Person Scramble July 19--20 2-Person Scramble August 16--17 3-Person Shamble August 16--17 3-Person Shamble August 23--24 Club Championship August 23--24 Club Championship September 13--14 2-Person Low Ball September 13--14 2-Person Low Ball October 18--19 Individual Stroke Play October 18--19 Individual Stroke Play

$ 20.00

Includes Green Fee & Cart. Good Anytime coupon required.

Expires 10-31-2014

SAN ANTONIO | HILL COUNTRY | AUSTIN

COURSES

Lago Vista G o l f

C o u r s e s

Lago Vista • 512.267.1170

Lago Vista Golf Course is a par 72 18-hole championship golf course that offers over 6500 yards of fun and challenging play. The course originally opened as a 9-hole facility in 1971 to help promote lot sales in the young, unincorporated neighborhoods that make up the city of Lago Vista today. Shortly thereafter, under the guidance of course designer Leon Howard, the course was renovated and expanded to 18 holes, and operated as a private country club until the mid 1990s. Today, all golfers are welcome to enjoy the undulating fairways, epic lake views, and abundant wildlife at Lago Vista Golf Course.

Highland Lakes • 512.382.6529 Highland Lakes Golf Course, designed by Leon and Charles Howard and built in 1978, has been newly acquired and improved by the City of Lago Vista. The multilevel, sloping tifdwarf greens provide a demanding, yet uniquely challenging golf experience. Originally known in the 1970s and 1980s as World of Resorts Country Club, Highland Lakes Golf Course is generally considered the more challenging of the two courses.

Same Day Special! 36 Holes – $52 • $2 Beers

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Call 210-804-0390 for Special Online Pricing

Plant Tours available!

5,000 postcards $149 10,000 flyers $349 1,000 magazines $995 (16 pages, 60# paper)

Visit us at www.shweiki.com CONTACT US TO SCHEDULE YOUR PLANT TOUR 210-804-0390 • Email samples@shweiki for a FREE quote or call 512-480-0860

Northern California’s Ritz Carlton’s Half Moon Bay: Overlooked Gem, Not to be Missed

By Art Stricklin

ith its location less than 90 minutes from the Northern California golf mecca of Carmel and Pebble Beach, it’s easy to overlook the five-star resort, Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay, located just 30 minutes southwest of San Francisco. But with its two Oceanside golf courses, dramatic Pacific Coast location, stunning rooms, outdoor fire pits and indoor dining that would be a mistake. When the masses head further south fueling the crowds at Carmel, you can find your own little golf oasis, close to the scenic city, but far enough away so you’ll feel you’re alone in the Northern California surf and sun. One of the reasons the resort often gets overlooked is the true embarrassment of riches of prime golf courses in the area. The historic Olympic Club and public Harding Park plus The Presidio are in San Francisco with Pebble Beach further south and even the Alister Mackenzie- designed gem Pasatiempo in nearby Santa Cruz. But take the small two-lane road off of Highway One to Miramontes Point and at the end of the short journey, you’ll find the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay waiting. TheTexasGolfInsider.com

There are 262 rooms, including 22 suites, many with a direct ocean view and balconies to overlook the scenic surroundings. You can see the multiple fire pits near the main building which are handy at night as the brisk winds come off the ocean or during the day when you want a spot to watch the golfers or beach walkers, often with a drink or the wonderfully unique hot chocolate bar nearby. Of course, the golf doesn’t take a backseat to any of the more recognizable courses in the area. The Old Course was opened in 1973, designed by Arnold Palmer and Francis Duane. Its primary route through the large trees and homes in the area is a classic America par 72 parkland style. Somewhat surprisingly, its final hole, the par 4 405-yard 18th sits the closest to the ocean of any of the 36 at Half Moon Bay. You get a small preview as the par 3 17th green is close enough to the churning water to hear it and feel it, but the finishing hole is all ocean all the time. The Pacific water runs all along the right side of the layout with your nearest drop point in Hawaii. The left side is out of bounds, meaning a straight shot

ay:

slightly downhill is the best, perhaps the only, safe option. The constant watery roar and the wonderful scenery is enough to distract any golfer with the hole finishing with a small, greatly undulated green right next to the hotel. That means you’ll usually have plenty of witnesses when you finish off your round with your score or your match having a chance to sink or swim, sometimes literally, in the heroic finisher. The Ocean Course was opened in 1997 by famed architect Arthur Hills and as the name suggests features beach or ocean views on almost every hole. The layout is perched high above the cliffs with the ocean and beach down below and most misplaced shots playable from the sand, assuming you want to scale the cliffs to find your ball.

Hills’ par 72 layout features a Scottish links style design with the fairway playing firm and fast thanks to the nearly constant wind along with the wispy native grass and the lack of trees on the entire couse. While the ocean is in clear sight, it’s not in play other than a pleasant visual distraction. The par 5 18th finishes on the other side of the hotel from the Old Course, but both are only steps away from the dining and watering holes to celebrate or commiserate your round at Half Moon Bay.

Of course, all of that work and on-course sightseeing can make you pretty hungry, so there is the resort’s showcase Navio restaurant featuring seafood, Italian and steaks, while sitting in front of large plate glass windows overlooking the ocean. For a nightcap, there is ENO, featuring Wine, Cheese and Chocolate, something almost everyone can agree on for at least one item. The golf pro shop features a close-in breakfast and lunch spot with TVs, usually tuned to golf or some other sport. There is a downstairs spa and fitness center, but for many the best entertainment is just sitting outside or on your balcony and gazing at the ocean. When you tire of that there is always walking the beach and exploring the local sights including the still working Pigeon Point lighthouse and state park or the family-owned Joe’s Restaurant at Half Moon Bay. For many, especially landlocked Texans, the best and most scenic items are also the most easily overlooked, but sure to be remembered. Don’t let the glut of great Northern California golf overlook one of the most hidden and spectacular resorts on the left coast. For more information, go to www. ritzcarlton.com/halfmoonbay or call 650-712-7040. TheTexasGolfInsider.com

GENERAL DIRECTORY

COURSE TYPE PHONE COURSE TYPE PHONE AUSTIN: Avery Ranch Semi-Private Bluebonnet Hill Golf Course Public Falconhead Semi-Private Hancock Park Golf Course Municipal Jimmy Clay/Roy Kizer Golf Course Municipal Lions Municipal Golf Course Municipal Morris Williams Golf Course Municipal Riverside Golf Club Public BANDERA: Flying L Ranch Golf Course Resort BASTROP: Colovista Golf Club Semi-Private Hyatt, Wolfdancer Resort Lost Pines Golf Course Public Pine Forest Golf Club Public BLANCO: Vaaler Creek Golf Club Semi-Private BOERNE: Tapatio Springs Resort BURNET: Delaware Springs Golf Course Municipal CANYON LAKE: Canyon Lake Golf Club Public CASTROVILLE: Alsatian Golf Course Public CIBOLO: Northcliffe Golf & Country Club S emi-Private COMFORT: Buckhorn Golf Course Public CONCAN: Club at ConCan Resort DEVINE: Devine Golf Course Public FLORESVILLE: River Bend Golf Club Public FREDERICKSBURG: Lady Bird Johnson Golf Course Municipal GEORGETOWN: Cowan Creek Golf Club Semi-Private Legacy Hill Golf Club Semi-Private White Wing Golf Club Semi-Private HORSESHOE BAY: Horseshoe Bay Resort Resort Apple Rock Resort Ram Rock Resort Slick Rock Resort KERRVILLE: Scott Schreiner Municipal GC Municipal KINGSLAND: Legends Golf Course Public Lighthouse Country Club Public KYLE: Plum Creek Golf Course Public LAGO VISTA: Lago Vista Semi-Private Highland Lakes Public LAMPASAS: Hancock Park Golf Course Public

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(512) 248-2442 (512) 272-4228 (512) 402-1558 (512) 453-0276 (512) 444-0999 (512) 477-6963 (512) 926-1298 (512) 386-7077 (800) 646-5407 (512) 629-4585 (512) 308-9653 (512) 321-2327 (512) 321-1181 (830) 833-0706 (830) 537-4197 (512) 756-8471 (830) 899-3301 (830) 931-3100 (830) 606-7351 (830) 995-5351 (830) 232-4471 (830) 665-9943 (830) 216-2800 (830) 997-4010 (512) 864-1244 (512) 864-1222 (512) 864-1244 (830) 598-8600 (830) 598-8600 (830) 598-8600 (830) 598-8600 (830) 257-4982 (325) 388-8888 (325) 388-6660 (512) 262-5555 (512) 267-1170 (512) 267-1170 (512) 556-3202

LEANDER: The Golf Club at Crystal Falls Municipal LLANO: Llano Golf Club Municipal MANOR: Shadow Glen Semi-Private MARBLE FALLS: Hidden Falls Golf Club Semi-Private NEW BRAUNFELS: The Bandit Golf Course Public Landa Park Golf Course Municipal PLEASANTON: Pleasanton Country Club Semi-Private PFLUGERVILLE: Blackhawk Golf Club Public ROUND ROCK: Forest Creek Golf Club Public The Golf Club of Star Ranch Semi-Private TeraVista Golf Club Semi-Private SALADO: Mill Creek Inn & Country Club Semi-Private SAN MARCOS: Quail Creek Country Club Semi-Private SAN SABA: San Saba River GC Municipal SEGUIN: Golf Club of Seguin Semi-Private Starcke Park Golf Course Municipal SPICEWOOD: Pedernales Golf Course Public SPRING BRANCH: River Crossing Club Private The Club at Rebecca Creek Semi-Private SAN ANTONIO: Alamo Golf Club Public Brackenridge Park Golf Course Municipal Canyon Springs Golf Course Public Cedar Creek Golf Course Municipal Golf Club of Texas Public Hyatt Hill Country Resort Resort La Cantera Golf Club Public La Loma Grande Public Mission Del Lago Golf Course Municipal Olmos Basin Golf Course Municipal Riverside Golf Course Municipal Salado Del Rio Public Silverhorn Public The Palmer Course Public The Republic Golf Course Public TPC San Antonio Resort Windcrest Golf Course Semi-private Willow Springs Golf Course Municipal UNIVERSAL CITY: Olympia Hills Golf & Conference Center Public UTOPIA: Utopia Golf Course Public WIMBERLEY: Quicksand at Woodcreek Public

(512) 259-5855 (325) 247-5100 (512) 278-1304 (830) 693-3300 (830) 609-4665 (830) 221-4340 (830) 281-3486 (512) 251-9000 (512) 388-2874 (512) 252-GOLF (512) 651-9850 (254) 947-5698 (512) 353-1665 (325) 372-3212 (830) 303-0669 (830) 401-2490 (512) 264-1489 (830) 904-4653 (830) 885-5816 (210) 696-4000 (210) 226-5612 (210) 497-1770 (210) 695-5050 (210) 677-0027 (210) 647-1234 (210) 558-4653 (210) 222-9386 (210) 627-2522 (210) 826-4041 (210) 533-8371 (210) 222-9386 (210) 545-5300 (210) 558-2365 (210) 359-0000 (210) 491-5800 (210) 655-1421 (210) 226-6721 (210) 945-4653 (830) 966-5577 (512) 847-9700

THE PERFECT DRIVE

THE COAST

COURSE TYPE PHONE (361) 664-7033

Public

Alice Municipal Golf Course

(956) 541-2582

Public

Brownsville Golf Center Colony Creek Country Club

Semi-Private

(361) 790-7513

Corpus Christi Country Club

Private

Cottonwood Creek Golf Course

Public

(361) 576-0018 (361) 991-2811

Public

Buccaneer Bay Public GC

(956) 428-7758

El Campo County Club

Private

(956) 381-1244 (409) 543-6592

Public

Edinburg Municipal Golf Course

(956) 542-9861 (361) 771-2424

Public

Ganado Golf and Country Club

Fort Brown Municipal Golf Course Public

(361) 645-2144

Goliad Country Recreation Assoc. Public

(361) 749-1974

Grande Caribbean at Dune Crest Public

(956) 412-4110

Private

Harlingen Country Club

(361) 592-1101

Public

L.E. Ramey Golf Course

(361) 749-4653

Semi-Private

Newport Dunes

(361) 949-8056

Private

Padre Isles Country Club Rio Colorado Golf Course

Public

(956) 687-9591

Public

(979) 244-2955

Palm View Golf Course

(956) 943-5678

Public

South Padre Island Golf Club

(361) 573-3712

Semi-Private

The Victoria Country Club

(956) 702-2320

Public

Tierra Del Sol Golf Club Treasure Hills Country Club

Semi-Private

Village Executive Golf Course

Public

(956) 973-1811

Public

(956) 365-3100

Tierra Santa Golf Club

(956) 968-5331

Valley International Country Club Semi-Private

(956) 546-5331

RIO GRANDE VALLEY

Private Private Public Private Semi-Private Public Public Public Private Public Public Public Public Private Public Semi-Private Public Semi-Private Public Semi-Private Public Public Public

COURSE TYPE PHONE Adobe Wells Country Club Alamo Country Club Brownsville Municipal GC Cimarron Cottonwood 21 Ebony Hills Golf Course Fair Winds G.C & Practice Range Fort Brown Memorial GC Harlingen Country Club Jim Paul Golf Course Llano Grande Golf Course Los Lagos Golf Club Martin Valley Ranches Golf Course McAllen Country Club Meadow Creek Golf Club Palacio Real Golf Course Palm View Golf Course Rancho Viejo Country Club Raymondville Municipal Course River Bend Resort Shary Municipal Golf Course South Padre Island Golf Club Tony Butler Municiapal GC

(956) 686-8801 (956) 787-0910 (956) 541-2582 (956) 581-7408 (956) 428-0766 (956) 381-1244 (956) 423-2010 (956) 541-0394 (956) 412-4110 (956) 943-7520 (956) 565-3351 (956) 316-0444 (956) 585-6330 (956) 928-0440 (956) 581-6267 (956) 381-0964 (956) 687-9591 (956) 350-4000 (956) 689-9904 (956) 548-0191 (956) 580-8770 (956) 943-5678 (956) 216-5970

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

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Alpine

170

127

ConCan

95 Lajitas 95

Terlingua

Harper

Utopia

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1604

473

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Comfort

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Castroville

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Marble Falls Leander

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Yardage /Rating /Slope

Par

Type: M=Municipal, PR=Private, P=Public, SP= Semi-Private.

Type Hole

Map Number

SAN ANTONIO |HILL COUNTRY | AUSTIN COURSES

Black Jack’s Crossing 95 72 Clay Henry Blvd., Lajitas, TX 79852

(432) 424-5080 SP 18

7413/74.3/131 • • • • • 44

Delaware Springs Golf Course (512) 756-8471 SP 18 41 600 Delaware Springs Blvd., Burnet, TX 78611

6891/72/127

Highland Lakes Golf Course (512) 382-6529 P 18 20 20552 Highland Lake Dr., Lago Vista, TX 78645

6529/72.2/137 • • • • • 75

Jersey Meadow Golf Course (713) 896-0900 P 18 2 8502 Rio Grande, Jersey Village, TX 77040

6357/73.3/ 136 • • • • • 34

Lady Bird Johnson Golf Course (830) 997-4010 M 18 53 341 Golfers Loop, Fredericksburg, TX 78624

LaLoma Grande Golf Club (210) 222-9386 P 18 85 1050 Harry Wurzbach, San Antonio, TX 78209

6774/72.5/124 • • • • • 32

Lago Vista Golf Course (512) 267-1170 M 18 20 4616 Rimrock Dr., Lago Vista, TX 78645

6579/70.0/118 • • • • • 75

Lajitas Golf Resort & Spa (432) 424-5000 SP 18 95 100 Main Street, Lajitas, TX 79852

7413/74.3/131 • • • • 44

Landa Park Golf Course at Comal Springs (830) 608-2174 M 18 73 180 Golf Course Rd., New Braunfels, TX 78130

5665/71

• • • • • 56

Lighthouse Country Club (325) 388-6660 P 18 68 118 Club Circle, Kingsland, TX 78639

6855

• • • • • 60

Northcliffe Golf Club (830) 606-7351 SP 36 29 5301 Country Club Blvd., Cibolo, TX 77546

6550/72/125

• • • • • 42

Olympia Hills Golf and Conference Center (210) 945-4653 P 18 35 12900 Mount Olympus, Universal City, TX 78148

6923/72

• • • • • 41

www.blackjackscrossing.com

• • • • • 72

www.delawaresprings.com

www.lagovistagc.com/highland-lakes.html

www.jerseymeadow.com

6432

• • • • • 73

www.golffredericksburg.com

www.ftsammwr.com /recreation/golf.html

www.lagovistagc.com

www.lajitasgolfresort.com

www.landaparkgolfcourse.com

www.lighthousecountryclub.com

www.northcliffegolfcourse.com

www.olympiahillsgolf.com

Salado Del Rio Golf Course (210) 222-9386 P 18 72 85 1050 Harry Wurzbach, San Antonio, TX 78209

6819/70.8/124 • • • • • 32

San Saba River Golf Course (325) 372-3212 SP 18 91 723 County Rd. 102, San Saba, TX 76877

6904/72.5/ 119 • • • • • 74

Star Ranch Golf Club (512) 252-4653 SP 18 3 2500 FM 685, Hutto, TX 78634

7030/71.0/117 • • • • 40

Vaaler Creek Golf Club (830) 833-0706 SP 18 87 228 Jeff Vaughn, Blanco, TX 78606

6864/73.0/140 • • • • 66

www.ftsammwr.com/recreation/golf.html

www.golfsansaba.com

www.starranchgolf.com

www.vaalercreekgolfclub.com

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

DIRECTORY SAN ANTONIO | HILL COUNTRY | AUSTIN

SHOPPING/SERVICES | ACCOMODATIONS/DINING | TOURNAMENTS/INSTRUCTION ACCOMODATIONS/ DINING Boerne CVB | Map# 47 | Ad Page 69

SHOPPING/SERVICES Edwin Watts Golf | Map # 3 | Ad Pages 29 1050 NE Loop 410, San Antonio,TX | www.edwinwattsgolf.com | 210-822-4060

Mac Wylie Golf | Map # 7 | Ad Page 81 24200 IH 10 West #114, San Antonio, TX 78257| www.macwyliegolf.com | 210-698-2244

Southwest Greens | Ad Page 54 San Antonio, TX | www.southwestgreens.com | 512-618-0030

The Academy of Golf Dynamics | Map # 25 | Ad Pg 30 45 Club Estates Parkway, Austin, TX | www.golfdynamics.com | 800-879-2008

The Golf Club | Map #80 | Ad Page 87 1315 W. Ben White Blvd., Austin, TX 78704 | www.teegolfclub.com | 512-916-GOLF(4653)

The Golf Ranch | Map #84 | Ad Page 5 Wolf Ranch Shopping Center, Georgetown, TX | www.golfranchshop.com | 512-863-4573

TOURNAMENTS AT&T Championship | Map #17 | Ad Page 64 AT&T Canyons Course, TCP San Antonio | www.attchamp.com | October 20-26, 2014

Cash fore Cancer | Map #87 | Ad Page 26 Vaaler Creek Golf Club, Blanco, TX | www.cashforecancer.org | 830-833-0706

On Course Fore a Cure | Map #68 | Ad Page 63 Lighthouse Country Club, Kingsland, TX | www.lighthousecountryclub.com | 325-388-6660

Rudy’s I-35 Cup | Map #56 | Ad Page 33 Horseshoe Bay Resort, TX | www.golfsanantonio.org | 210-736-8704

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

t ’s new, TaylorMade t t are all he rage a he golf club.

t hinner

SLDR irons

By Steve Habel Special to the Golfers Guide

www.teegolfclub.com

Thanks to The Golf Club, the only Austin-area retailer south of the Colorado River dedicated strictly to golf, there’s never a question about where the best golfers find the finest deals on the top equipment and accessories and the greatest selection of gently used drivers, hybrids, irons, wedges and putters. The Golf Club is the place to try out and pick up the latest innovation from TaylorMade – it’s newly released SLDR irons – which have been the talk of the industry and every level of golfer. The SLDR irons aim to improve on TaylorMade’s previous models to provide faster swing speeds, higher ball flight and more consistent gapping between clubs. A 2-millimeter opening in the SLDR iron, what the company calls the “speed pocket,” cuts up behind the thin face in an effort to produce greater ballspeeds, particularly on shots low on the face. The opening, featured specifically in the 3- through 7-irons, is designed to result in a face flexibility that matches the USGA’s limit for spring-like effect. But unlike its predecessors, the sole slot is cut all the way through the sole so that it is open from bottom to top of the cavity. To go provide a faster swing speed,TaylorMade had to redefine the iron’s mechanism.The SLDR’s cut-through design represents the next step in changing the entire structure of an iron. It’s very metalwood-like in how it improves how the face flexes, and it’s opened up a lot more options in design. Hitting these irons in The Golf Club’s practice bays gives the player a feeling of attacking the ball with a ninja sword. You feel like can whip the club through the air and produce shots that rocket off the clubface in a flash, leave on a high trajectory and land softly. The Golf Club is well-equipped to make sure players get the most from the SLDR irons’ playability.The store has two dedicated hitting bays encompassing nearly 1,000-square feet and featuring the nFlight golf club fitting system to optimize the golfer’s game to the nth degree. Located in its convenient stand-alone facility on Ben White Blvd. nearly equidistant between MoPac and IH-35, The Golf Club maintains the unmatched attention to detail and fair pricing that have drawn area golfers to the store for the past decade. “These SLDR irons are just the latest example of how we provide our customers the cutting-edge products that they need to improve their games and make the game more fun,” said John Rowsey, The Golf Club’s founder and owner. “We’ve been doing things the right way since 2003 and we’re able to pass our savings along to our customers.” For more information on The Golf Club call (888) 453-0102 or log on to www.teegolfclub.com.

Scan for Special Offers

1315 W. Ben White Blvd. Austin, TX 78704 512-916-GOLF (4653)

NEW & USED Find us online @ www.teegolfclub.com

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