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OF THE STPGA MEDIA AWARD

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Contents 8

Cover Stories 6 WELCOME

HOW TO CONTACT US WITH GOLF NEWS AND STORIES

CENTRAL TEXAS 8 TEXAS GOLF INSIDER CELEBRATES PROMOTING GOLF TO TEXANS FOR 20 YEARS

16 LAGO VISTA GOLF COURSE GOLF’S GETTING BETTER EVERY DAY

TGI Celebrates 20th Anniversary 58 RIVER BEND RESORT & GOLF CLUB

T G I

UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR BORDER WALL

62 PALMILLA BEACH IN PORT A NEW GOLF & BEACH RESORT

LagoVista Golf Course

74 RENOVATIONS AT OMNI BARTON CREEK

DALLAS / FORT WORTH

$ 150 MILLION PROJECT NOW OPEN

GETTING GREAT REVIEWS

81 THE HIDEOUT GOLF CLUB & RESORT LIFE IS GOOD AND LIVING IS EASY 44 GENERAL DIRECTORY 46 MAP 47 ADVERTISER’S DIRECTORY

22 TEXAS RANGERS GOLF CLUB 38 PGA OF AMERICA - FRISCO MEGA-PROJECT AWARDED TO ARCHITECT GIL HANSE 42 GENERAL DIRECTORY

GREATER HOUSTON & TEXAS COAST 34 CBD HOUSTON LLC BRINGS HEMP PRODUCTS TO THE MASSES

72 SPRING CLASSIC WINNERS

LONNY ALEXANDER & RICKY ARNETT

Texas Rangers GC

69 GENERAL DIRECTORY 70 MAPS 71 ADVERTISER’S DIRECTORY

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FROM THE FROM THEPUBLISHER EDITOR

Letter From The Publisher Texas

GOLF INSIDER P.O. Box 310652 New Braunfels, TX 78130 830-964-2152 FAX 830-964-2153 thetexasgolfinsider.com Mike Ratchman Texas Publisher Office: 830-964-2152 mike@thetexasgolfinsider.com Director of Marketing: Tiffany Hobson, Houston Office: 505-331-3227 Joe Valentino, DFW Office: 940-735-1265 Editor: Ava Ratchman Contributing Writers: Steve Habel,Tom Bedell Gord Motgomery, Art Sticklin, Kevin Duke Contributing Photographers: Mark Lindsay, Steve Giles, Justin Becker, Connie Black Office Manager/Social Media: Marcede Pullen Production: Pat Gondert 3 ANNUAL EDITIONS Copyright ©2015 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.

In February, 1999, Centex Golfer’s Guide LLC, akThe Golfer,The Golfer’s Guide and nowTheTexas Golf Insider, began publishing its first magazine in CentralTexas with one simple mission: to connect our clients with consumers by creating a media that works for the golf industry.Two decades later,TheTexas Golf Insider (TGI) has developed into one of the largest and oldest marketing solution companies focusing on golf and travel inTexas. Our company has grown from a regional publication to a statewide distributed entity that now includes the magazine, a Live OnlineTV show, remote events, a morning drive radio show with ESPN, social media, and digital services that has created a following of hundreds of thousands of golfers annually who rely on us to deliver the best of the best in golf information inTexas and other travel destinations. Personally, I can’t believe it has been twenty years since we distributed our first publication.When our magazine first hit the stands, most people called it a brochure or a flyer. But all that has changed.Through years of hard work and dedication from our writers and marketing staff,TheTexas Golf Insider has become one of the most picked up guides to golf inTexas.The first twenty years has been a fun ride through all the ups and downs in our industry. I have been very lucky to hang around and have the opportunity to be part of the growth of golf inTexas. I want to thank all of our customers for their continued support year after year, and all of our readers and listeners who continue to pick up our magazine, tune in to the radio, and watch theTV show and play golf inTexas. Believe me, without your supportTGI would not have been able to accomplish the great success we’ve had over the past twenty years. As we celebrate our 20th Anniversary, our company looks to the future with an understanding of what brought us to the present, and will continue with an unshakable commitment to uphold the mission we started with twenty years ago. ThankYou,Texas and beyond, Mike Ratchman Publisher

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Steve Habel

A national correspondent for Cybergolf, managing editor for Texas CEO Magazine, contributing editor for Horns Illustrated Magazine, a publication focusing on University of Texas sports and staff writer for the San Antonio Spurs.

Tom Bedell

Award-winning writer Tom Bedell is the only member of both the Golf Writers Association of America and the North American Guild of Beer Writers. He has written extensively on both subjects in countless articles and in several books.

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.

TEXAS

Golf Insider

The Official Guide to Golf in Texas

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

COVER STORY

Promoting Great Golf to Texans for 20 Years 001 rive r crossing

Golf Insider TEXAS

San Antonio | Hill Country | Austin

cvr ss

10/11/05

CENT

8:40 AM

Page 1

GOLFER’S GUIDE 2005 ISSU E4

RAL T EXA

FRE E

The Official Guide to Golf in Texas

TO ARE A GOLF ,

LIFEST

YLE & REAL E STAT

River Cross ing Club

Announces Their 2006

Christmas

Golf Digest School Sched ules

Retail, Produc Shopping? ts and Gift Ce rtificates Ins ide

Lajitas Golf Resort at Big Bend “Golf in the Wild, Wild West” Plus Texas Summer Resorts

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

Summer 2013

AUSTIN,

SAN ANT ONIO, HILL COU NTRY

AND

WACO

Q & A with Founder and CEO Mike Ratchman By Art Stricklin, Contributing Writer

As a sports writer and golf enthusiast for over 20 years, I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Mike Ratchman introduce and grow a quality golf publication here in Texas. I took the opportunity to sit down with Mike and ask him about his 20 years of golf publishing.

How did you get started with golf publishing?

I was in the health care industry after moving down from Wisconsin, but I had a part-time job working at Rolling Oaks driving range on loop 1604 in San Antonio. I would get calls all the time asking where to play golf locally and I had a list of golf courses that I had torn out of a phone book to let them know where the closest course was to them. Finally a friend said, someone needs to put out some kind of golf magazine with all the courses listed.That kicked off the idea and I put together my first golf magazine in 1998. It failed miserably, I ran out of money and time but the idea still stuck with me. I went over to Houston and met with an investor who was very successful in real estate magazines. He liked

my idea and after several weeks of interviews I came back to San Antonio, gave my two week notice and relaunched the Golfer magazine in the Summer of 1999. This time it had my full attention and time.

What made you think Texas would support a golf publication?

Doing research back then wasn’t at your finger tips like it is now, so it took several months. I researched the number of courses in and around San Antonio at first. I did not feel that area alone would support a golf magazine, so I added in the Hill Country and Austin. I felt a different concept would catch the golfers attention.We had the first 4-color glossy golf magazine in Central Texas.We also made it digest size so it easily fit in a golf bag or back pocket. Back then there was a very popular golf-related newspaper at the time (Texas Golfer) and we figured if we put our magazine next to theirs at every location we would be successful. You read theirs to

COVER STORY

know about golf news.You picked up ours to know where to play golf.

From then to now, how has the magazine changed?

We have gone through a few name changes, but the quality and the message to the golfers has always remained the same. Our first book was scheduled to hit the stand June 1999 as The Golfer Magazine. It was 16 pages, but certainly grew from there. My passion for golf was undeniable. I would roll out of bed and start making phone calls. After a couple of years, we teamed up with a company out of Hilton, South Carolina called Golfers Guide who had 27 magazines in golf destinations scattered throughout the southern states. They were looking to dip into the Texas market and thought we would be a perfect fit to their expansion out west. After several months of negotiations, we reached an agreement and in late 1999 we became The Central Texas Golfers Guide. That was a huge help in getting started.We continued that relationship up until 2012, when I purchased the print contract for Texas and changed the name to The Texas Golf Insider that is delivered statewide.The whole concept of reaching

Jack Nicklaus and Mike Ratchman

golfers and travelers on a geographical basis has worked now for 20 years.

What are some of your favorite stories and memories ?

Well certainly interviewing Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus are at the top of my list. But in 2015, the Southern Texas chapter of the Professional Golfers Association named our company,Texas Golf Insider magazine and San Antonio-based radio show on ESPN, winner of one of its highest honors – the STPGA Media/ Public Relations Award. I was a little overwhelmed to have won this prestigious award. Just to be nominated was cool but to win was really amazing. Honestly, I

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Daughter, Marcede, with Mike & Ava Ratchman

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TheTexasGolfInsider.com

COVER STORY

Patrick Reed, 2018 Master’s Champion, and Mike Ratchman

didn’t know anyone was paying attention to anything we were doing. Right below that is having an opportunity to play golf with one of the greatest golf course designers and architects in the world, Robert Trent Jones JR., at The Max golf course he built in Laredo. To listen for 18 holes why he designed each one the way he did was truly a golf treat. I’ve also come to know Hal Sutton, who has been a guest several times on the radio show, along with Hale Irwin, Ben Crenshaw,Tom Watson, the funny and talented Chichi Rodrigus, Lee Trevino and Texas born and raised Justin Leonard who won the Texas Open three years in a row. The list of relationships we have developed over the past 20 years is amazing. And we continue stay focused on Texas golf and all the people who come here.

You have a great Arnold Palmer story, tell me about it. That’s a great story and shows you what a real man of the people he was. Mr. Palmer was in town for the grand opening of the Palmer course at LaCantera and there was a ton of media there. I had an opportunity to approach Mr. Palmer before he made his way to the media tent and explained that we were writing a story about his new course and was wondering if he could answer a few questions before he started his media day.

He agreed and what I remember most is that he asked if I minded that we talk while walking. I thought to myself at the time, walk and talk with Arnold Palmer? No one would ever say no to that. After he answered several questions I asked him if he would put on a pair of ‘Blues Brothers’ like sunglasses so we could take a picture of him going the Palmer Course with a 2-thumbs up. He repeated my question and turned to his assistant and said what I wanted him to do. His assistant said, “Mr. Palmer you have an image to uphold and I recommend not doing that.” Arnie repeated “Image!” Arnie then turned to me, grabbed the glasses and said give me those. He put on the glasses, we took the cover photo and it was one of our most popular issues. That picture hangs on my office wall and everyone comments when they see that picture and wants to know how I got Mr. Palmer to pose for that. Several years later I caught up with Mr. Palmer at a Tournament at Oak Hills Country club in San Antonio. I pulled out that picture and we had a good chuckle and he remembered the pose.That day he put his signature to it and the rest is history. It’s a one-of-a-kind and, not surprisingly I have had many offers.

How has the growth of Central Texas from a vacation hub to a golf hub mirrored your growth?

COVER STORY

Dave Roberts and Mike, Radio hosts with attitude

Well, it was a struggle when we first started, like any new startup, but it certainly helped that the game of golf was booming at the time and new courses were popping up all over South and Central Texas. San Antonio was becoming nationally known as a golf destination. It meant for a lot of opportunities to create new relationships and growth.

golfers. I really luck out when I get to take my lovely wife on a working vacation. It is always enjoyable and educational to meet fellow publishers and golf enthusiasts when on a FAM (familiarization) trip.

Were you the first in Texas to have a digital magazine delivered by email?

We were! About seven years ago we

Publishing is not always an easy job. started sending our digital magazine to Any perks for your hard work? about 1,000 subscribers and now our You’re right, putting the golf book together does require some long days. It helps that I love the game of golf and because of the magazine I have been able to visit and play some great courses in order to highlight them for our Texas

digital magazine goes out to just over 50,000 e-boxes annually.When we first started this, we would have a list of all the courses, articles and services but now we have links from our on-line magazine to our customers as well. Our strength is still on-the-ground delivery. Believe it or not, people still like to hold something in their hand when reading, but our digital book really compliments our print magazine. So now we have people covered however they want to read The Texas FAM golf trip to Gaylord Michigan,“Shot of the Day” Golf Insider. TheTexasGolfInsider.com

COVER STORY

How did radio become part of the picture?

That one came out of the blue, An executive at a course in San Antonio was getting ready to launch a radio program in New Braunfels in 2004 with Sporting news radio, and said I would be a perfect fit for the show, along with local PGA Touring professional David Ogrin.We worked and practiced on our roles and we were near ready to launch our first show when I received the news that David found a sponsor and was going back on Tour. He wasn’t going to be available to do the show. I called up the station to give them the bad news, but they said they still had interest in doing a golf show and wanted me to head it up, but wanted me to find somebody to replace Ogrin.That wasn’t easy, but after months of searching I found (current cohost of 15 years) Golf Professional Dave Roberts, who had several years of experience in Radio. After 3 years with Sporting News Radio and running a pretty successful show, we had an oppertunity to take our show to the big city. In 2006, ESPN San Antonio was looking for a golf show and David and I decided to audition for it. After several months of auditions and interviews with ESPN, we received the word that David and I were the Golf Guys For San Antonio.The show was labeled “Golf with an Attitude”. 15 years later we are still going strong and now you can hear us locally, statewide and nationally on espnsa.com

Tell us about your latest innovation, the On-lineTV Show? Well, that was pretty interesting. In 2015, we were thinking about doing an hour long on-line Golf TV Show that would intertwine with our weekly radio podcast. It was something new that other people around the country were doing, called Radio on TV.You could produce right at the radio station but we needed the right equipment to accomplish that. So

we met with a group of people at Incarnate Word College in San Antonio and ran the idea by them. After listening to our radio show, they were convinced and were fully on-board that this was something they could get behind, which they did in a big way.We went from doing our show out of a small box with microphones at the station to a full blown studio with cameras, lighting and a full cast of technicians, produced by GA Media, a leader in marketing in San Antonio. It’s just another way that The Texas Golf Insider persevered through the first 20 years and will be here for many decades to come.

As a writer I need to ask this, what do you say to people nowadays who tell you print is dead?

I used to get that a lot when all the new digital services were starting to pop up but I don’t get much of that anymore.When I do though, I just tell them I’m living proof print is still pretty healthy. In all truth, new start-up targeted publications are on an upswing of nearly 4%. I understand social media, digital services,TV, Radio etc. is all part of messaging, and we are part of it, we offer all the services. But there is something special about picking up a magazine and flipping through the pages.

What do you see as the future for Texas golf? Texas has lost several courses in the past, but I think the game is growing back into itself. I think at one point,Texas was overbuilt, but now we’re starting to find the right mix.The game has certainly changed and become a more bottom line business, but I think it can be even better by keeping a major focus on recruiting more junior girls and boys to play the game, and creating new programs to get more adults involved in the game as well. I believe the game is counting on it now more than ever before. I am looking forward to seeing what the next 20 years brings for this great game of golf in Texas.

1250 AM / 94.5 FM

TEXAS

Golf Insider Radio on TV Golf with an Attitude

Make sure to follow us @texasgolfinsider on

Watch us LIVE Every Thursday 7-8 PM on Facebook.com/texasgolfinsider or LISTEN in Every Saturday 8-9 am on ESPNSA.com 1250 AM / 94.5 FM

Gateway Hills Golf 210-671-3466

Fort Sam Houston 210-222-9386

Randolph Oaks 210-652-4653

COVER STORY

Wanna Bet? Golf Side Games

As a golf professional, I’ve seen all kinds of ways that people keep score; from pluses and negatives, to circles and slashes, to numbers with shapes around them. Fortunately, in a true tournament you are only responsible for writing a number down for each hole because inevitably the addition is wrong on about 25% of scorecards that get turned in. The easiest way to keep score and then get the addition correct every time, and very quickly, is to write the numbers for each hole and when you’re adding them up just consider as if each hole was a par four. Keep a tally as to how many each hole is over/under par and at the end of each nine add them or subtract them from 36. This By Adam Grosch will give you the exact total score no matter what the actual par is for the course. I can promise that this will save you time and it’s a lot more accurate. (An even faster way is think about the fact that 3’s and 5’s wash each other out; and 2’s and 6’s wash each other out) Here’s an example: 3 -1

5 +1

4 =

6 +2

2 -2

7 +3

5 +1

4 =

7 +3

43 total +7 total

Now for the gambling side of this. In any game that you are playing where you accumulate dots, points, or X’s there is a quick way to calculate how much each player has won or lost rather than figuring out how much each player owes to each other player, and having money changing too many hands and getting confusing. At the end of the round you will add up how many points each player has and write their total down. Then, add up the points from each player to give you a Grand Total. Finally, you will multiply each player’s individual total by the number of golfers in your group and then subtract the Grand Total, which will leave you with a positive or negative amount for each player that ends up with a balanced equation. Here are a couple examples: Adam Mike Dave Lee Total

16 12 13 18 59

16x4=64; 64-59= 12x4=48; 48-59= 13x4=52; 52-59= 18x4=72; 72-59=

+$5 -$11 -$7 +$13

Adam Mike Dave Lee Mark Total

14 7 19 12 15 67

14x5=70; 70-67= +$3 7x5=35; 35-67= -$32 19x5=95; 95-67= +$28 12x5=60; 60-67= -$7 15x5=75; 75-67= +$8

FEATURE STORY

Lago Vista Golf Club Getting Better Every Day

By Steve Habel, Contributing Writer

The city of Lago Vista is serious about golf and its golf course and golfers can see that commitment to improvement and excellence in the offing at Lago Vista Golf Course. The municipal track commands the better part of a peninsula into the north side of Lake Travis in the beautiful Texas Hill Country. For more than five decades, this bedroom community northwest of Austin has been a bit of a secret, it winding streets, small commercial area and golf courses separated by tall hills and a switchback road from the urban sprawl of Central Texas that has grabbed a chokehold on many of the small towns in the region.

Lago Vista is growing too – a third stoplight in the city went online last August. Community leaders have been and are being proactive about their town and its assets, with a keen eye toward the quality of life for residents and the desire to drive tourism, on a limited scale, to the municipality. A prime example of that plan has taken shape at Lago Vista Golf Course, which – because of upgraded maintenance and conditioning and an attention to detail on the course – is enjoying renewed interest from golfers both in the city and from around the region.

FEATURE STORY

Under the direction of head golf professional Chris Godwin and his staff, Lago Vista Golf Course – long a hidden jewel that might have been lost in the shuffle of other area tracks – has spread its wings. And that’s a good thing, because we love golf and you do too. “We take a lot of pride in our golf course and the benefit it provides to our citizens and visitors,” Godwin said. “Our main focus is for our course to be an asset to the city of Lago Vista and to be a course that our members and golfers from the city and the surrounding areas enjoy playing.” “There’s no doubt that the past six months have been a challenge because of the weather and the fact that we want so badly to see the work and effort we’ve put into the course come to some fruition,” Godwin added. “But we have been patient and will continue to be so – things are so much better here than when we started, it’s hard to even compare the two.” Lago Vista Golf Course’s 18-hole layout provides both

challenge and plenty of fun – all amid rolling topography with so-close-youcan-almost-reachout-and-touch-it views of the lake. This course has been one of Texas’ best kept secrets over the years; Godwin and his staff are committed to providing a golf experience for their members and guests that is casual, memorable, and most importantly, fun. Lago Vista Golf Course plays to a par of 72 and at 6,544 yards from its back set of four tee boxes, which carry a rating of 72.6 and a slope of 134, plenty testing for any level of golfer. The course was designed by legendary Texan Leon Howard and originally opened as a nine-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 the course was renovated and expanded to 18 holes, and operated

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

FEATURE STORY

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. Expect a little bit of the unexpected Lago Vista Golf Courseâ€™s two separate nines offer two differing tests and a bit of a split personality. The front-nine is basically wide open and relatively flat (at least until you get to the ninth hole) and a back-nine is narrower and, from in my opinion, more of a test. All four of the par 3s at Lago Vista GC will need a teeshot of 199 yards or more to reach the putting surface, so a good longiron or hybrid game will be required here to succeed. After a relatively easy opener, the 562yard par 5 second, which plays to a wide landing area over native grass to a slope and then back up to an elevated putting surface, requires three good shots to put yourself into position for a birdie.

At 204 yards and playing downhill, the par 3 third might need one less club than you would normally take off the tee, as does the 202-yard par 3 sixth, which has trees on either side to snag an errant shot and a green that slopes hard right to left. I really liked the 339-yard par 4 seventh, a dogleg-left that starts atop a valley that bottoms out at the beginning of the fairway. On the right a rocky hillside and a fairway bunker help keep balls from going out of bounds. The hole ends on a putting surface that generally slopes right to left but can still be a very tricky read. The 529-yard par 5 eighth can be tricky, but is ultimately playable with three good shots, the second of which is blind over a hill. Par is a good score, but birdie is well within reach with proper execution. None of what you saw on the first eight holes prepare you for the 377-yard ninth. After you favor the right side off the tee, youâ€™ll have to walk up the fairway a bit to see

FEATURE STORY

the green, which is at the bottom of a three-tiered hill and sits up against the access street, with the clubhouse and the 18th green in the near-distance and Lake Travis plainly in view. You’ll notice a change in the course immediately on the 10th hole, a 495-yard par 5 with a short dogleg to the right. The fairway slopes left to right and large trees and a stream run down the right side. Three bunkers guard the green well. Godwin said the 372-yard Improvements have upped the ante par 4 11th is his favorite hole As much as the attention to conditioning because of its need for course management, have made Lago Vista Golf Course a desired two precise shots to reach the putting surplace to play, the apres golf amenities make face and a back-to-front undulating sloping the facility even better. The city spent more green that can easily turn a birdie putt into than $250,000 to expand and completely bogey. renovate the clubhouse, with the stated goal Large trees and a concrete ditch running of making the building and its surrounds into across the fairway can make navigating the a true community meeting place. hole, which is the No. 1 handicap at Lago There’s an expansive Vista GC, a real chalrestaurant and bar area lenge. “It’s a hole that dehere that rivals those mands that you hit two really of private clubs, with good shots to score and, with plenty of big screen TVs to all the trouble, a big number watch the big game after can easily come into play,” your round and a menu Godwin said. that will bring residents The par 4 14th is short back to the course for an but demanding, asking for a evening meal even if they tee shot that carries across didn’t play golf that day. a pond onto a small fairway The practice facility at Newly Remodeled Pro Shop with plenty of trees and a Lago Vista provides a relaxwell-placed bunker. Large ing atmosphere for honing trees and two more bunkers your game with its beautiful view of the lake. guard the putting surface, which is elevated. Three tiers of natural grass teeing surface and a The round here ends with the 407-yard practice putting green are available. par 4 17th, with its elevated tee and a wide Lago Vista Golf Course is all that’s good fairway that crosses a shallow valley and about golf wrapped up in one neat package – slopes left to right, and the 204-yard par 3 and just a short trip from the hustle and bustle 18th, which plays over a stream and a resiof Austin and its suburbs.The experience dential street to an elevated green guarded by two large bunkers, all in the shadow of the here fits the bill for a great round of the grand game, a nice meal and cold beer afterward, clubhouse. and a totally friendly Texas-style vibe. TheTexasGolfInsider.com

FEATURE STORY

Public Course

RATES

MAP #20

Twilight

Weekday $ 37 $32 $27 Weekend $43 $38 $33

Twilight rates apply after 2pm

COURSE FACTS

Number of Holes: 18 Par: 72 Architect: Leon Howard General Manager: Chris Godwin Superintendent: Diego Navarro Course Record: Chris Shive, 62

TEE INFORMATION

Yardage/Rating/Slope: Gold: 6544 / 72.6 / 134 Blue: 6170 / 70.8 / 129 White: 5807 / 69.0 / 124 Red: 5187 / 69.8 / 117 Silver: 5187 / 65.7 / 119

COURSE AMENITIES

• • • • •

Practice Facilities Golf Instructions Fully Stocked Pro Shop Online Specials Full Service Bar & Grill

Junior golfers play for free with paying adult (7 days a week, anytime)

Lago Vista

Lago Vista Golf Course Located in the Beautiful Texas Hill Country Lago Vista Golf Course was built in the early 1970’s by Leon Howard. It originally opened as a 9 hole facility and expanded to 18 holes shortly thereafter. Lago Vista Golf Course operated as a private county club until the mid 1990’s before opening to the public. The course experienced several ownership changes up until 2008 when it was purchased by the city of Lago Vista. To this day Lago Vista Golf Course is owned and operated by the city of Lago Vista. The course serves not only as a community amenity but as a tourist destination to golfers of all skill levels who wish to experience her hill country beauty and serenity. Today, all golfers are welcome to enjoy the undulating fairways, epic lake views, and abundant wildlife at Lago Vista Golf Course. The course features four sets of tees to provide a fun challenge for all ability levels and a practice facility with a spectacular view of Lake Travis. 4616 Rimrock Drive Lago Vista, TX 78645

512-267-1170

www.lagovistagc.com

FEATURE STORY

Texas Rangers Golf Club

By Art Stricklin, Contributing Writeror

You can never say North Texas doesn’t love its sports teams. They were the first to have a NFL-themed golf course, the Dallas Cowboys Golf Club in Grapevine. A few years later they followed with the NHL Dallas Stars at Stonebridge GC in McKinney. But the latest, the newly named and renovated Texas Rangers Golf Club in Arlington, might be the best of the bunch. That’s because Arlington based architect John Colligan and his longtime associate Trey Kemp poured out a labor of love on their hometown, city-owned public course

Hole 6

to make a huge positive difference in the former Chester Ditto Public Course, originally born in 1982. “Of course, I played Ditto Golf Course when it first opened, but this is so different,” Colligan said. “This is huge and open and wonderful.” “To be honest, I felt a lot of pressure doing this course in Arlington. I didn’t want to be walking around the streets of Arlington and people pointing me out and saying, ‘see there’s the guy who messed up the ole Ditto course’.” He didn’t need to worry.

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Hole 12

The Rangers Golf Club has opened for play in February, following a $24 million overhaul of the Ditto Golf Course, that transformed the property on the northwest corner of Collins St. and Brown Blvd. in North Arlington, from an outdated layout to an upscale, resort-style design from the Arlington-based course architects. “We do courses everywhere, but this was personal to us,” said Colligan at the recent city grand opening. The world’s only Major League Baseball-branded golf course is a par 72

that can stretch to 7,010 yards but features four sets of tees for golfers of all levels. The renovation included a complete rerouting of the former golf course, improved turf grasses and a 33,871 square-foot clubhouse that is set to open in early 2020. Plus there are plenty of large, deep bunkers which can sink many a round or a ball, much like the Rangers baseball team has done in its uneven 40-year history in Arlington. “I don’t think you will remember a single hole out here from the ole Ditto course,

Hole 3

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but we can still take advantage of the great elevation and good views here,” Colligan added. There are scenic water features throughout the course, with the pinnacle being the series of four ponds between No. 18’s green and the 10th tee box. The water features cascade down 15 feet in elevation before connecting on the left side of the No. 9 fairway, prior to emptying into the three-acre irrigation pond in front of the 5th tee. From beginning to end, the water travels 1,300 feet horizontally and 50 feet vertically to create movement.

Hole 4

Add the lakes, and plenty of mature trees and you have a championship golf course just miles away from where the Rangers baseball team has sought championships on the field. As one would expect, baseball themes are prevalent throughout the only golf course that is associated with a Major League Baseball team. The 18 holes are all individually named, such as the dog leg left 595-yard par 5 first hole being called “Lead Off ” and the closing 532-yard par 5 18th hole known as the “Walk Off.”

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Holes 16 & 17

The downhill par 4 5th hole features a split fairway and is aptly titled “Double Play.” Another fun note is that the yardage markers in the center of the lush fairways are all in the shape of a home plate. The double-ended practice facility is 13 acres and includes two separate levels on the practice tee on the south end. Allowing golfers to practice from either end gives them the option to hit golf balls in different wind conditions and gives the course ample room to host shotgun tournaments and group outings. Just to the west side of the driving range is a “practice hole” where teaching pros can

give lessons and work on specific shots and strategy with the golfers. There is also a massive short-game area for chipping and putting that is reminiscent of a setup for a PGA Tour event, which makes sense due to the fact the web.com Tour was recently at the course for a site visit. The Texas Rangers Golf Club will officially become the newest addition to the City of Arlington’s golf community, and the early returns say it could be huge for both the Rangers and Arlington. A golfing home run while the baseball namesake is working on doing the same just a few miles down the road.

Hole 1

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Landa Park Golf Course

A Great Place to Play & Stay in New Braunfels By Steve Habel, Contributing Writer If you like great golf that won’t beat you up in a nearby and picturesque locale then look no further than the finer-than-fine Landa Park Golf Course at Comal Springs in the heart of the central Texas, German-centric tourist berg of New Braunfels. The fun-factor here is off the charts, with plenty of chances to show off your game and use every club in the bag, all just steps from one of the Lone Star State’s top tourist attractions. Yes, we know the town is more famous for being the home of the original Schlitterbahn Water Park, for hosting the Wurstfest each November and for the huge Buc-ee’s convenience store up on Interstate 35, but the golf here is great too, and should be appreciated in its own right.

The course is owned and operated by the City of New Braunfels and there has been golf on the site since 1938, when the city opened a nine-hole course on 61 acres. In 1972, the course added another nine holes after acquiring 52 adjacent acres. That track was completely renovated in 2013 by the noted Houston-based golf architecture firm of Finger, Dye, Spann, who used its $7 million budget to turn a tired and sometimes arduous course into one of the most surprising – and fun – places to play golf in the region. The renovation, which touched everything on the course, has created a layout that is fair but demanding, loaded with character and a little bit of everything that’s fun about the game. “Our course is better and better each day as it matures since the renovation,” said Chad Donegan, PGA golf manager at Landa Park. “We know how well our course is being received by the fact that we have a full

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tee sheet of players and events and from the feedback we are given by golfers, both from local areas and from outside the region.” Landa Park Golf Course will not overwhelm players with its length – it only plays at 6,205 from its back set of tee boxes. But the par 71 course can be a tester, with three of its par-3 holes carded a 182 yards or more, the tough 434-yard par 4 17th and the 571-yard fourth hole, which from the tips is a true three-shot challenge. Part of the experience at Landa Park Golf Course is the fauna (ducks, egrets, and more) and all of the deer grazing in the rough and in the shade.The course is scenic with trees and native areas and ponds plus the clear water of the Comal River, which comes into play on some holes.There are spots here where golfers can watch tubers riding the rapids; on the back nine, you’ll hear a lot of whooping and hollering at Schlitterbahn. Landa Park Golf Course has an interesting routing, featuring one par 3, six par 4s and a pair of back-to-back par 5s on the front (which plays to a par of 37).The back nine is short at 2,851 yards, but plays much longer than that because of subtle elevation changes and

constant doglegs and is carded as a par 34 with 3 par 3s, a lone par 5, and 5 par 4s. The greens at Landa Park Golf Course are well-guarded, with slope, undulation, tiers, ridges, or swales. All those aspects have produced a membership of more than 120 players and myriad leagues and options to get out and enjoy the game. “Our staff appreciates our members and players and works hard for them,” Donegan said. “We feel like the people who play here are our family and we are grateful to be a part of their lives.” The course offers stay-and-play options with nearby Gruene Mansion Inn, starting at $549.95, two nights accommodations include rounds of golf for two, breakfast and same day replay. For more information go to LandaParkGolfCourse.com

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Landa Park Golf & Gruene Mansion Inn This award-winning golf course and bed & breakfast make for a picture perfect getaway into Texas history

Located at the confluence of the Guadalupe and Comal Rivers, New Braunfels offers something for everyone in the familyâ€”from great golf, to Texasâ€™ best live music venue at Gruene Hall, to tubing down the river or shopping for one of a kind items while leisurely strolling down our historic streets.

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n $549.95 + tax includes: 2-night accommodations for 2 at Gruene Mansion Inn (Sun-Thurs only) for best available room n Breakfast each morning for 2 at Gruene Mansion Inn n Round of golf for 2 with cart at Landa Park GC including lunch after play n Same day-replay rates just $25 / player n Additional rounds can be booked at the course

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Landa Park Golf & Gruene Mansion Inn This award-winning golf course and bed & breakfast make for a picture perfect getaway into Texas history

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CBD Houston LLC brings hemp products to the masses, helps golfers enjoy life. By Steve Habel, Contributing Writer

It’s almost impossible to open your email or watch television without hearing about the benefits of CBD, which can be applied or consumed in everything from lotion to sports drinks, and is all the rage. Aaron Petersen, president and founder of CBD Houston, is at the forefront of the initiative. He was raised around hemp in Nebraska when it wasn’t considered a cash crop, and turned to its medicinal benefits after an injury to help him control his pain and enjoy a better quality of life. Athletes, including the likes of PGA Tour players Bubba Watson and Scott Piercy and PGA Champions Tour golfer Scott McCarron, have begun using CBD to assist with muscle recovery and pain management.The product is also said to help regulate the immune system and suppress inflammatory responses, which can both help prevent and treat injuries. Petersen grew up in the Midwest, spending summers with his grandparents on their farm in eastern Nebraska. In the garden were sunflowers, sweet corn, potatoes and tomatoes.They had cattle & some horses as well. Rhubarb grew out back. Rabbits, deer and many types of fowl were always around him and his family. There, he learned food preservation, canning and winter stores. Hemp grew tall and fragrant behind the family tractor shed and Petersen asked about it. “It was explained to me that the hemp was hard to cut down and, since it was contained and wasn’t allowed to spread anywhere in a cropped field, it was allowed to grow wild,” he said. “I remember borrowing the pickup to explore the countryside. Around those county dirt

roads hemp grew wild everywhere.” Petersen wondered why, if hemp grew so easily, wasn’t it farmed or used like the other crops? He always knew it would be useful one day but had no idea the potential it contained. Years later, Petersen was the victim of an automobile accident and his life was forever changed. An immediate reduction in quality of life was established and, while his ensuing CT scan didn’t show damage, three subsequent MRIs revealed nine herniated discs, including two that were pushing on the dural sac and two on the spinal cord. “The pain was debilitating. I suffered from a pinched nerve and inflammation all over which led to sleepless nights,” Petersen said. “I was told my condition would only last a few months but the pain persisted for more than three years.” Then Petersen found Cannabidiol, more commonly known as CBD, which came from those same plants that grew all over his grandparents’ farms that he remembered from childhood. And it helped him, a lot. Petersen tried some free samples at the 2016 Cannabis World Congress and Business Expo in Los Angeles.They had him moving around like he hadn’t in years. “By the third day of eating plenty of different samples I had already experienced more restful sleep and improved mobility,” Petersen said. But what really is CBD? For starters, rest easy: CBD does not get you “high.” It has been shown to help relaxation, relieve pain, and assist in postworkout recovery. And – here’s the most important part, at least for our purposes

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– CBD might even help your golf game. Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a property of cannabis known for its healing properties. CBD is extracted from the cannabis plant and is just one of the several chemical compounds in the plant. Petersen began doing more research and came across a presentation by Thomas Carter, Co-founder of Shakti Seed Corporation CannaKids which highlighted their CBD oil is of the best quality. Currently, efforts.What he saw and learned left him Shakti Seed and CBD Houston co-sponsor speechless. He finally had the answer to his the ‘Stemp Project’, a growth rate research question from so many years back. He was project through the University of Colorado moved to action and began persuing this as at Colorado Springs. CBD Houston a business, a commodity that helps people. employs a full time research biologist, Erin “I learned about the 2014 Farm Bill Council. Her research is used by CBD from the website ProjectCBD.org and met Houston’s 10 member advisory board to some industry professionals who I could combine patient centricity and industry believe,” Petersen explained. “Researching know how. Members of our advisory board the bigger companies and requirements include James Boland, M.D., Alan D.Tran, to buy and sell over state lines led me to M.D., P.A., Jenny Vargas-Ha, Lic. Ac., a simple idea – I would go straight to the MAOM, Jo Nell Norcini, L.Ac., Cody farms and give them fair market price for Robbins, PMA-CPT, DMI-MPT, ACE-PT, what they could offer.” Eileen Van Vulpen, Ph.D., Marylyn Harris, “Much of the hemp grown previously MBA, Joyce Ulrich of Pilates Treehouse, was mainly for the nutrition derived Lisa McKelvey, LMT, and Stephanie from the seed while some still grew it Bennett, CPDT-KSA.” for its high CBD content. This biomass is “The genetics Shakti Seed has easily farmed with traditional irrigation developed will be used for the production and grows prolifically with organic of CBD oil that passes all testing farming practices. Today, we grow hemp requirements.We expect the USDA to for a multitude of reasons that include mandate testing of all domestic hemp production of textiles and nutritional production.Third party testing will also be supplements.” required to ensure accurate potency and “CBD Houston strives to connect with the absence of pesticides, heavy metals, the scientific community to ensure that our residual solvents, and mycotoxins. Each TheTexasGolfInsider.com

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through the National Institute of Health. Here, you will find research papers, clinical trials, and scientific data.” “After three years of daily CBD use, I’ve seen a dramatic improvement in my quality of life, sleep, drive, focus, mobility and overall attitude. Hemp has given me back my life. Adding CBD to a healthy

Early in the season growth

year there are better, safer seed options because of proper hybridization and natural selection. Hopefully, standardization of labeling on all edible hemp products will be required nationwide, including country of origin and genetic modifications.” “Our research shows preclinical and Late in the season about a month before harvest. clinical studies that demonstrate CBD’s This produced 4 million seeds in a half acre. ability to reduce pain, inflammation, anxiety, and sleep disorders to name a few. diet and moderate exercise has given me More studies are underway. Pain specific a pep in my step and longer drives.Thank trials include: Osteoarthritis, Multiple you for your time and interest. May you Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia, Lower Back continue to drive right down the middle Pain, Neuropathy, Rheumatoid Arthritis, for a birdie.” and Migraines. Estimates indicate that 20% of the U.S. population suffers from 1. Donvito, G., S. Nass, J.Wilkerson, chronic pain (Treede 3). Chronic pain Z. Curry, L. Schurman, S. Kinsey, and is nociceptive or neuropathic pain that A. Lichtman (2018) The Endogenous persists for three or more months and Cannabinoid System: A Budding affects the quality of life (Donvito 1,Treede Source of Targets for Treating 3). CBD has the ability to reduce pain Inflammatory and Neuropathic Pain. by suppressing inflammatory responses Neuropsychopharmacology 43: 52-79. that can cause hyperexcitability in pain receptors while inhibiting the transmission 2. Lagard, C., L. Chevillard, K. of pain signals by interacting with Guillemyn, P. Risède, J. Laplanche, cannabinoid receptors (Donvito 1, Lagard M. Spetea, … B. Mégarbane (2017) 2).” Bifunctional peptide-based opioid “Collectively, CBD Houston has agonist/nociceptin antagonist ligand positioned itself and has quickly grown into for dual treatment of nociceptive and a well-funded, researched, and regulated neuropathic pain. Pain 158(3): 505–515. CBD distribution company. ” “We encourage folks to view www. 3.Treede, R.,W. Rief, A. Barke, Q. Aziz, ProjectCBD.org and www.Healer.com M. Bennett, R. Benoliel,… S.Wang for information on CBD. More in depth (2015). A classification of chronic pain research may be found at www.PubMed.gov for ICD-11. Pain 156(6): 1003–1007.

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Golf ‘s Hottest Architect, Gil Hanse, Coming to North Texas for PGA America Mega-Project By Art Sticklin, Contributing Writer

Late last year the PGA of America announced it would be moving its headquarters from south Florida to Frisco, Texas, and bringing with it the promise of the 2027 and 2034 PGA Championships. “Our move to Frisco will be transcendent for the PGA of America,” said PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh in a statement. “Everything great starts with a dream. This is the beginning of a bold, new journey as we bring together worldclass partners in a world-class location — to deliver innovative and differentiated experiences for our nearly 29,000 PGA Golf Professionals, golfers of all abilities and our staff.”

Seth Waugh , CEO of PGA America,

Part of the excitement that comes with the move will be golf’s hottest architect, Gil Hanse, applying his skills to one of the new courses. While famed golf architect Perry Maxwell did very few courses in Texas during his considerable career, if Gil Hanse gets his way, there will be a strong Maxwell influence to the new championship course Hanse is designing here, he said during a recent welcome event for the new PGA of America headquarters and the PGA Frisco, Texas golf complex. The two public golf courses, one by Hanse, now known as the East Course, and a West course designed by Beau Welling,

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will be open for play by 2022 with an official groundbreaking later this fall. The East Course, measuring 7,603 yards from the back tees with a par of 72, has already been tabbed to host two PGA Championships, the first in 2027 and then 2034, along with a tentative Ryder Cup in 2040. Hanse, who crafted the first Olympic Golf Course in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has recently redone courses at Pinehurst, No. 4 and is currently working on a complete renovation at Oakland Hills GC outside Detroit. But his recent redo of the Maxwell classic at Southern Hills CC in Tulsa, OK, has motivated him for the PGA Frisco project. Speaking at a PGA of America welcome event for its new headquarters in Frisco, Hanse said he was thrilled with his completed work at Southern Hills, which will be unveiled in early June and hopes to use some of the Perry Maxwell themes in the new PGA course.

As for his East Course at the new PGA facility in Frisco, which has already been tabbed to host 26 PGA Championship events in the next 14 years, Hanse said it will be tough and fair. He has already found some surprises in his trips to the Frisco, Texas site. “The elevation was a surprise to me and Beau as we walked the land. I was expecting something pretty flat, but my eyes keep going up and up on the holes.” Another less pleasant surprise was the hundreds of acres of thick clay which covered the golf course land. “All you had to do was look at your boots after you walked on the property. We will have to move more dirt than we would like to, but we will also move the course in different directions to take advantage of the winds.” While the world’s best players will get the headlines for their play here, the majority of the golf will be played by resort guests, staying in an adjacent Omni Hotel,

Retail Village and Academy

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360 x 100’

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Par

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4 3 4 4 4 3 5 3 5 35 71

420 190 450 410 470 210 530 200 590 3470 7076

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564 395 180 422 162 602 352 443 486 3606

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5 4 3 4 3 5 4 4 4 36

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

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Raldolph Oaks Golf Course

Yards

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14 13

432 419 479 277 576 340 506 150 611 3790 7603

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100

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Frisco, Texas aPril 2019

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and those who live in the North Texas area. “You’ve got to challenge the players, but the majority of play will be those looking to break 100 here so you have to have the correct level, the correct tee boxes and precision for every player,” said Hanse. Hanse rocketed to fame when he crafted the Olympic Golf Course in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2016. He has also drawn a routing plan to do some work at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, another Maxwell co-design To make sure his dreams come closer to reality, Hanse announced he will be moving to Frisco after the Christmas holidays along with his wife, Tracey, from his home outside Philadelphia to personally supervise the work and begin shaping the championship East Course in the first part of 2020.

Bob Rawlins explains the plan breakdown

“We’re empty nesters now and that’s our thing to move closer to important projects. We did it in Rio for the Olympic Course and did it in Pinehurst for No. 4 and the Cradle Par 3. I will still fly in and out to other projects, but I will be close here. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the PGA.” He plans large amphitheater mounds around the greens at holes 16 and 17, a long par 4 and short 3, respectively, before a bruising par 5 finisher. It’s currently scheduled for 611 yards, where Panther Creek can come into play on three different shots including the finishing approach as the water tightly guards the green. “You may not hear the roars you heard last week at the Masters, but I can promise you some pretty good noise as you’re coming down the home stretch of the course,” Hanse added. Media Day at PGA for announcement of new Frisco headquarters

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CAT E D

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In total, 26 PGA of America events be more user friendly and host mainly O M N I P GA T E P L A N Bover R E A K D OW N public golf play. are scheduled for the twoS Icourses the next 13 years, not including the “It will be a rustic course, but we Ryder Cup which has not been officially want it to be fun,” Welling said. “I want awarded. to bring my mother who may not be as The West Course, which Welling is good as I am, but who will still have a fun doing along with a short course par 3, will time on the golf course.” 03 / 1 9/2 01 9

Bill Eschenbrenner, Lee Trevino and David Marr III

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DIRECTORY DALLAS | FORT WORTH

ARLINGTON: Chester W. Ditto Golf Course Lake Arlington Golf Course Texas Rangers Golf Club Tierra Verde Golf Club AZLE: Cross Timbers Golf Course BROWNWOOD: The Hideout Golf Club

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(817) 275-5941 (817) 451-6101 (817) 275-5941 (817) 478-8500

Public

(817) 444-4940

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(325) 784-4653

BURLESON: Hidden Creek Golf Course Southern Oaks Golf Club

Public Public

CARROLTON: Maridoe Golf Club Indian Creek Golf Course

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DALLAS: Bear Creak Golf Club Buffalo Creek GC Cedar Crest Golf Course Keeton Park Golf Course Luna Vista Golf Course Preston Trail Golf Club Steven Parks Golf Course Tension Glen Golf Club The Golf Club of Dallas Trinity Forest Golf Club

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(972) 296-2146

EULESS: Texas Star Golf Course

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(817) 685-7888

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FERRIS: Old Brickyard Golf Course Tour 18

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FLOWER MOUND: Bridlewood Golf Club

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FORT WORTH: Hawks Creek Golf Course Public Jm Mclean Golf Center Public Meadowbrook Golf Course Municipal Pecan Valley Golf Course Municipal Rockwood Golf Course Municipal Saddle Hills Park Public Sycamore Creek Golf Course Municipal The Golf Club at Champion Circle Semi-Private The Golf Club at the Resort Public Whitestone Golf Club Semi-Private FRANKSTON: Pine Dunes Resort and Golf Club Public

FRISCO: Frisco Lakes Golf Club Trails of Frisco Golf Club

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(972) 292-3089 (972) 668-4653

GARLAND: Duck Creek Golf Course Firewheel Golf Park

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GLEN ROSE: Squaw Valley Golf Club

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(800) 831-8259

GORDONVILLE: Rock Creek Resort Golf Club

Private

(903) 523-5357

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(972) 264-6161 (972) 237-4156 (817) 640-7800 (214) 331-8057 (972) 299-6837

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(817) 439-4653

(817) 447-4444 GRAND PRAIRIE: (817) 426-2400 Grand Oaks Golf Club Prairie Lakes Golf Club (972) 416-2131 Riverside Golf Club (800) 369-4137 Sunset Golf Course Tangle Ridge Golf Club

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(972) 717-2525 (972) 717-2525 (972) 438-4340

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Public

(817) 498-1414

LANCASTER: Country View Golf Course

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(972) 227-0995

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Public Public Public Public

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LIPAN: Sugar Tree Golf Course

MUENSTER: (800) 579-3089 Turtle Hill Golf Club PLANO: (972) 355-4800 Pecan Hollow Golf Course (817) 430-2000 Ridgeview Ranch GC The Club at Los Rios The Course at Watters Creek (972) 355-4800 RICHARDSON: Sherrill Park #1 (817) 738-8402 (800) 723-6725 WAXAHACHIE: (817) 457-4616 Country View Golf Course (817) 249-1845 Waxahachie Country Club (817) 624-1771 WEATHERFORD: (817) 246-5012 (817) 535-7241 Canyon West Golf Course (817) 497-2582 Oeste Ranch Golf Course (817) 750-2178 WYLIE: (817) 249-9996 Woodbridge Golf Course (903) 876-4336

NOW OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Randolph Oaks Golf Course

Bldg 1300, Golf Course Rd, Randolph AFB, TX 78150 (210) 652-4653 - 18 Hole Golf Course, All Courses Use Gallus Golf App Designed By: Perry Maxwell

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Gateway Hills Golf Course

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1800 Dimsted Pl, Lackland AFB, TX 78236 (210) 671-3466 - 18 Hole Golf Course, All Courses Use Gallus Golf App l�llll�llllllll�l�ll��l�ll�lll l�llllll llllllllll�l�l�llll�ll�ll�lll�l l�l�l Steven.Griﬃth.8@us.af.mil

Fort Sam Houston Golf Course

FREE GREEN FEE when you sign up for pass

1050 Harry Wurzbach Rd, San Antonio, TX 78209 (210) 222-9386 - 36 Hole Golf Course, All Courses Use Gallus Golf App Catering Available

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DIRECTORY SAN ANTONIO | HILL COUNTRY | AUSTIN

COURSE TYPE PHONE COURSE TYPE PHONE AUSTIN: Avery Ranch Semi-Private Falconhead Semi-Private Grey Rock Golf Club Semi-Private Hancock Park Golf Course Public Jimmy Clay/Roy Kizer GC Public Lions Municipal Golf Course Public Morris Williams Golf Course Public Riverside Golf Club Public BANDERA: Flying L Ranch Golf Course Resort BASTROP: Colovista Golf Club Semi-Private Hyatt, Wolfdancer Resort Pine Forest Golf Club Public BLANCO: Vaaler Creek Golf Club Semi-Private BOERNE: Tapatio Springs Resort BURNET: Delaware Springs Golf Course Public CANYON LAKE: Lakeside Golf Club Public CASTROVILLE: Alsatian Golf Course Public CIBOLO: Northcliffe Golf Club Semi-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 Public 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 HUTTO: Golf Club at Star Ranch Semi-Private KERRVILLE: Scott Schreiner Municipal GC Public KINGSLAND: Legends Golf Course Public KYLE: Plum Creek Golf Course Public LAGO VISTA: Lago Vista Semi-Private LAMPASAS: Hancock Park Golf Course Public LEANDER: The Golf Club at Crystal Falls Public

(512) 248-2442 (512) 402-1558 (512) 288-4297 (512) 978-2330 (512) 974-4653 (512) 477-6963 (512) 974-8333 (512) 223-6677 (800) 646-5407 (512) 629-4585 (512) 308-9653 (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) 948-7580 (512) 948-7560 (512) 948-7570 (830) 598-8600 (830) 598-8600 (830) 598-8600 (830) 598-8600 (512) 252-4653 (830) 257-4982 (325) 388-8888 (512) 262-5555 (512) 267-1170 (512) 556-3202 (512) 259-5855

LLANO: Llano Golf Club Public MANOR: Shadow Glen Semi-Private MARBLE FALLS: Hidden Falls Golf Club Semi-Private NEW BRAUNFELS: The Bandit Golf Club Public Landa Park Golf Course Public 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: Kissing Tree Semi-Private Quail Creek Country Club Semi-Private SAN SABA: San Saba River GC Public SEGUIN: Starcke Park Golf Course Public 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 Public Canyon Springs Golf Course Public Cedar Creek Golf Course Public Gateway Hills Golf Course Public Golf Club of Texas Public Hyatt Hill Country Resort Resort La Cantera Golf Club Public La Loma Grande Public Mission Del Lago Golf Course Public Northern Hills Public Olmos Basin Golf Course Public Randolf Oaks Golf Course Public Riverside Golf Course Public Salado Del Rio Public San Pedro Range & Par 3 Public Silverhorn Public The Palmer Course Public The Quarry Golf Club Semi-private The Republic Golf Course Public TPC San Antonio Resort Windcrest Golf Course Semi-private Willow Springs Golf Course Public UNIVERSAL CITY: Olympia Hills Golf & Conference Ctr Public UTOPIA: Utopia Golf Course Public WIMBERLEY: Quicksand at Woodcreek Public

(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) 749-1031 (512) 353-1665 (325) 372-3212 (830) 401-2490 (512) 264-1489 (830) 904-4653 (830) 885-5168 (210) 696-4000 (210) 226-5612 (210) 497-1770 (210) 695-5050 (210) 671-3466 (210) 504-2550 (210) 647-1234 (210) 558-4653 (210) 222-9386 (210) 627-2522 (210) 655-4148 (210) 826-4041 (210) 652-4570 (210) 533-8371 (210) 222-9386 (210) 349-5113 (210) 545-5300 (210) 558-2365 (210) 824-4500 (210) 359-0000 (210) 491-5800 (210) 655-1421 (210) 226-6721 (210) 945-4653 (830) 966-5577 (512) 847-9700

SAN ANTONIO | HILL COUNTRY | AUSTIN DIRECTORY

THE COAST COURSE TYPE PHONE Alice Municipal Golf Course Public Brownsville Golf Center Public Buccaneer Bay Public GC Public Colony Creek Country Club Semi-Private Corpus Christi Country Club Private Cottonwood Creek Golf Course Public Edinburg Municipal Golf Course Public El Campo County Club Private Fort Brown Municipal Golf Course Public Ganado Golf and Country Club Public Goliad Country Recreation Assoc. Public Grande Caribbean at Dune Crest Public Harlingen Country Club Private L.E. Ramey Golf Course Public Lozano Golf Center Public Oso Beach Municipal GC Public Northshore Golf Course Public Padre Isles Country Club Private Palm View Golf Course Public Palmilla Beach Golf Club Semi-Private Rio Colorado Golf Course Public South Padre Island Golf Club Public The Victoria Country Club Semi-Private Tierra Del Sol Golf Club Public Tierra Santa Golf Club Public Treasure Hills Country Club Semi-Private Village Executive Golf Course Public Valley International Country Club Semi-Private

(361) 664-7033 (956) 541-2582 (361) 790-7513 (361) 576-0018 (361) 991-2811 (956) 428-7758 (956) 381-1244 (409) 543-6592 (956) 542-9861 (361) 771-2424 (361) 645-2144 (361) 749-1974 (956) 412-4110 (361) 592-1101 (361) 826-8016 (361) 826-8010 (361) 643-2798 (361) 949-8056 (956) 687-9591 (361) 749-4653 (979) 244-2955 (956) 943-5678 (361) 573-3712 (956) 702-2320 (956) 973-1811 (956) 365-3100 (956) 968-5331 (956) 546-5331

RIO GRANDE VALLEY 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 The MAX Golf Course Tony Butler Municiapal GC

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 Public

(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) 726-2000 (956) 216-5970

PLAY THEM ALL

• LIONS • HANCOCK • MORRIS WILLIAMS • JIMMY CLAY • ROY KIZER • GREY ROCK

Laredo

127

ConCan

Harper

Utopia

Castroville

1604

Comfort 46

1604

725

Spring Brand

1431

39 52 54

Kyle

620

Marble Falls Leander

12 9 46 3 10 6 13 26 85 11

473

87 87

2342

Kingsland

130 84

55 53 50

1825

40 40

Practice Fac. Restaurant Banquet Fac. Pro Shop Instructions Ad on Page

Par

Yardage /Rating /Slope

Type Hole

Map Number

SAN ANTONIO |HILL COUNTRY | AUSTIN COURSES

(210) 226-5612

P 18

6234/70.3/126 • • • • 15

(210) 695-5050

P 18

7150/74.1/131

• •

• • 15

P 18

7050/68.8/118

•

• • 26

(210) 671-3466 P 18

6917/73.1/125

•

• • 43

(512) 288-4297 M 18

6909/74.6/141 • • • • • 45

(512) 978-2330 M 9

2633/32.6/112 •

• • 45

(512) 974-4653 M 18

6914/73.8/124 • •

• • 45

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

6774/72.5/124 • • • • • 43

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

6579/70.0/118 • • • • • 16

Landa Park Golf Course (830) 420-0417 M 18 73 180 Golf Course Rd., New Braunfels, TX 78130

6205/68.9/112 • • • • • 30

Legacy Hills Golf Course (512) 948-7560 P 18 7 301 Del Webb Blvd., Georgetown, TX 78633

7088/68.8/118 • •

(512) 477-6963 M 18

6001/69.2/124 • • • • • 45

(210) 627-2522 P 18

7044/73.4/132 • •

• • 15

(512) 974-8333 M 18

7023/73.0/124 • •

• • 45

Northern Hills Golf Course (210) 655-4148 P 18 9 13202 Scarsdale, San Antonio, TX 78217

6602/71.9/123 • • • • • 15

Olmos Basin Golf Course 10 7022 McCullough, San Antonio, TX 78216

(210) 826-4041 P 18

6847/71.8/131 • •

• • 15

Randolph Oaks Golf Course (210) 652-4653 P 18 75 Bldg. 1300 Golf Course Rd, Randolph AFB, TX 78150

7172/74.5/125 •

• • 43

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

Brackenridge Park Golf Course 6 2315 Avenue B, San Antonio, TX 78215 www.alamocitygolftrail.com

Cedar Creek Golf Course

37 8250 Vista Colina, San Antonio, TX 78255 www.alamocitygolftrail.com

Cowan Creek Golf Club

(512) 948-7580

7 1433 Cool Spring Way, Georgetown, TX 78633 www.cowancreek.com

Gateway Hills Golf Course 26 1800 Dimsted Pl., Lackland AFB, TX 78236 www.myjbsa-fss-mwr.co

Grey Rock Golf Course

51 7401 TX-45, Austin, TX 78739 www.austintexas.gov

Hancock Golf Course

54 811 E 41st St. , Austin, TX 78751 www.austintexas.gov

Jimmy Clay Golf Course

53 5400 Jimmy Clay Dr., Austin, TX 78744 www.austintexas.gov

www.ftsammwr.com /recreation/golf.html

www.lagovistagc.com

www.landaparkgolfcourse.com

• • 26

www.legacyhillsgolf.com

Lions Municipal Golf Course

52 2901 Enfield Road, Austin, TX 78703 www.austintexas.gov

Mission Del Lago Golf Course

58 1250 Mission Grande, San Antonio, TX 78221 www.alamocitygolftrail.com

Morris Williams Golf Course

55 3851 Manor Road, Austin, TX 78723 www.austintexas.gov

www.alamocitygolftrail.com

www.myjbsa-fss-mwr.com

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

River Bend Resort & Golf (956) 465-1141 P 18 40 4541 Military Hwy. 281, Brownsville, TX 78520

6828/71.9/113

Practice Fac. Restaurant Banquet Fac. Pro Shop Instructions Ad on Page

Yardage /Rating /Slope

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

Par

COURSES SAN ANTONIO | HILL COUNTRY | AUSTIN

Type Hole

Map Number

•

• • 58

(210) 533-8371 P 18 72 6694/71.2/114

• • 15

50 5400 Jimmy Clay Dr., Austin, TX 78744

(512) 974-4653 M 18

• • • • • 43

San Pedro Range & Par 3 12 6102 San Pedro, San Antonio, TX 78216

(210) 349-5113 P 9

www.riverbendresort.us

Riverside Golf Course 11 203 McDonald, San Antonio, TX 78210 www.alamocitygolftrail.com

Roy Kizer Golf Course www.austintexas.gov

www.alamocitygolftrail.com

6819/72.2/125

•

• • 15

Salado Del Rio Golf Course (210) 222-9386 P 18 72 6819/70.8/124 • • • • • 43 85 1050 Harry Wurzbach, San Antonio, TX 78209 www.ftsammwr.com/recreation/golf.html

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

71 7030/71.0/117

• • • • 5

The Hideout (325) 313-0904 P 18 44 185 Hideout Lane, Brownwood, TX 76801

6211/72.1/137 • • • • • 81

The Max (956) 726-2000 P 18 99 27700 FM 1472, Laredo, TX 78045

6211/72/125

• • • • • 21

Vaaler Creek Golf Club (830) 833-0706 SP 18 87 228 Jeff Vaughn, Blanco, TX 78155

72 6864/73.0/140

• • • • 28

White Wing Golf Club (512) 948-7570 P 18 7 151 Dove Hollow Trail, Georgetown, TX 78633

71 6650/69.6/127

•

Willow Springs Golf Club (210) 226-6721 P 18 13 202 AT&T Parkway, San Antonio, TX 78219

7221/74.6/130 • • • • 15

Texas Rangers Golf Club (817) 275-5941 SP 18 33 701 Brown Blvd, Arlington, TX 76011

7010/73.7/132

www.starranchgolf.com

www.thehideouttexas.com

www.themaxlaredo.com

www.vcgc.golf

• • 26

www.whitewinggolf.com

www.alamocitygolftrail.com

• •

• • 22

www.arlingtongolf.com/texas-rangers-golf-club

Golf

Dining

Accommodations

SAN ANTONIO | HILL COUNTRY | AUSTIN DIRECTORY

SHOPPING/SERVICES EpoxyMaster | Ad Page 48 www.epoxymaster.com | 888-376-9954

REAL ESTATE

Rockin J Ranch | Map# 2 | Ad Page 29 228 Jeff Vaughn, Blanco, TX 78606 | www.RoncoTX.com | 830-833-0706

Rockin J Ranch | Map# 2 | Ad Page 29 288 John Price, Blanco, TX 78606 | www.RincoTX.com | 830-833-2266

The Hideout Golf Club | Map# 44 | Ad Page 81 185 Hideout Lane, Brownwood, TX 76801 www.thehideouttexas.com | 325-208-1937

Sun City Texas | Map# 7 | Ad Page 26 1501 Sun City Blvd., Georgetown, TX 78633 | www.delwebb.com/Sun-City-Texas/New-Homes | 877-627-9700

The Art of Golf Travel Services

TRIPS INCLUDE: Premium Golf Riding/Walking with Caddies On-Site Transportation Hotel and Food Final Evening Celebration Dinner Course History and Stories Plus Trip Surprises!

About Art

Go With Someone Who Has Been There ... ART STRICKLIN! Art's connections in the golf world will make your trip not only fun but will put you on a course you may never be able to play on your own!

Call: 972-989-2310 or Email: art@theartofgolftravel.com

For more information go to:

www.theartofgolftravel.com

FEATURE STORY

Healthy Golfing Crop Down on Pursell Farm

By Tom Bedell, Contributing Writer

Rarely has a hole been more aptly named than “Hang Time,” the par-3 fifth hole at the FarmLinks course at Pursell Farms in Sylacauga, Alabama. The dazzling view from the tee, with a backdrop of the Appalachian foothills, peers down more than 170 feet to what looks like a tiny dot of dance floor.

Hole No. 6

Hole No. 5

First task—once you put your camera away—try to choose the right club from five tee options that stretch the hole from 136 to 210 yards. Next, hit ball. Then, marvel indeed at the hang time of your soaring shot before it hits, one hopes, that seemingly shrinking spot below. Which, when you arrive at it,

FEATURE STORY

actually turns out to be the largest green on the course. It took a certain amount of nerve for designers Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry to place so striking a hole so early in the round, lest the rest pale in comparison. Thatâ€™s not a problem at FarmLinks, where there are pleasures galore to be had out on the course, though thereâ€™s no question the quartet of par-3s stand out. Reviewing my card from an early June visit to the resort, I was a little startled to see that I had managed to par all four. It took a couple of one-putts for my own little impregnable quadrilateral, but it was still a feat, as each hole is a potential round-killer. Actually, Hang Time was almost a literal killer during the course construction in 2002 when the resort patriarch Jimmy Pursell, then 72, lost his footing and pitched down the precipice, punctured a lung and broke several ribs and fingers. Alone, Pursell managed to crawl back up to his truck, drove about a mile home where his wife, Chris, took over the wheel to the local hospital. Pursell was choppered to the UAB hospital in Birmingham and spent ten days in intensive care. Pursell is still going strong at 88, though it is his son, David, and varied

Hole No. 17

offspring and in-laws who have really transformed Pursell Farms into the sporting oasis it is today. Golf may be the centerpiece, but thanks to an Orvis Shooting Center on site the resort also offers sporting clays, fishing and hunting, and with 3,200 acres on hand, extensive UTV rides. There are three miles of hiking and biking trails, an opulent and photogenic wedding facility, and the TheTexasGolfInsider.com

FEATURE STORY

lavish 40-room Inn at Pursell Farms, newly opened in March. The Inn brought the total number of rooms to 81 at Pursell Farms, as 41 rooms in cottages and cabins were already in service for groups of visiting golfers, complete with putting greens steps away from verandas, allowing early morning practice or evening settle-thebets competitions. Perhaps such fecundity shouldnâ€™t be

The Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club

surprising, since the roots of the present day operation are grounded in the family fertilizer business that began in 1914, then mainly serving local cotton farmers. But over time the company developed specialized fertilizers and extended its reach internationally. The course opened in 2003, and it was different from the start, intended in large part as an agronomic research course, planted with a variety of grasses

FEATURE STORY

as it meandered among mountains, meadows, woodlands. Over the years regular seminars were held on the grounds for superintendents and industry professionals. The fertilizer aspect of the business was sold in 2006, and the family turned to the work of making Pursell Farms more of a destination resort. There are still about 26 different grasses out on the course (noted to some degree in the yardage book), and outside firms like John Deere still bring in groups who need to know more about growing or maintaining Diamond, Meyer, Geo, Zorro or Cavalier Zoysia, Tifsport, T1 Bentgrass, Tifway 419 or the like. Granted, I was probably more interested in the variety of craft beers in the Inn’s new Old Tom’s Pub (expansive) than in varieties of turf out on the course. Still, it’s a neat concept, and naturally no great surprise that FarmLinks is always in superlative condition. Sylacauga is about 45 minutes southeast of Birmingham. Jimmy Pursell’s herd of Longhorn steers still roam at the entrance gate to the resort (and give rise to the logo, a golfing steer in shirt and tie). There’s plenty of history in the area, dating back to Andrew Jackson

and the Civil War, much of it noted with plaques out on the course—including one about Jimmy’s fall on the fifth hole. Maybe the Pursells should install a YouTube player on Hang Time. There’s one clip that shows a woman falling down at the hole after her tee shot, but that’s only because she turns around to

see her boyfriend on one knee, with a ring in his hand, proposing, and she plops to the ground in surprise. He helps her up, they kiss and embrace. No clue as to how her shot turned out, but it’s nice to presume the couple is now living and playing golf happily ever after. When not making mincemeat out of par-3s,Tom Bedell is a sucker for romance.

Old Tom’s Pub TheTexasGolfInsider.com

COURSES

Public Course

GREATER HOUSTON | TEXAS COAST

MAP #17

RATES Monday-Thursday $33 Seniors (65+) M-Th $28 Friday-Sunday and $39 Holidays Seniors (62+) Wknd $36 (Green Fee, Cart & Tax Included)

9-Hole Par 3 Course -Walking- $10

COURSE FACTS

Number of Holes: 18 Architect: Joe Finger; Mike Nuzzo

COURSE AMENITIES • Snack Bar • Driving Range • Family Pitch & Putt Course • New 13,000 sq. ft. Putting Green • Fully Stocked Pro Shop • Online Specials

Texas City

Bayou Golf Club A Little Piece of Heaven Near Houston Golfers can now experience the newly renovated Bayou Golf Course in Texas City. It features a new 13,000 sq. foot putting green and just recently opened the new 9-Hole Par 3 Course for walking, a great way to spend quality time with friends and family. The golf course redesign architect, Mike Nuzzo, increased the average size per green to 5,000 sq. ft., rebuilt sand traps and added new tee complexes. The 200-acre site on the bank of Moses Bayou boasts a championship layout with elevated greens and tee boxes. Amidst the blue skies and palm trees, with a tropic-like climate, Bayou Golf Course offers golfers year round play. Only 15 miles from Galveston, the convenient location, and spacious clubhouse makes Bayou Golf Course an ideal choice to host your next golf tournament.

To Book a Tournament call 409-739-9622 Golf Gift Certificates are now available

Azalea Course at Lakewood Club

Mont Belvieu, TX

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

Twilight

Mon-Thur $48 $35* Friday $48 $40 Weekend $62 $40 Holiday $62 $40 *Twilight begins at 2 pm - Mar13-Nov 6 All rates include cart fee Range balls included on weekends & holidays untill 10:59 am

STATISTICS Par: 71 Black Blue White Red

Yards Rating 7077 73.2 6502 70.9 5927 68.0 5213 67.4

Slope 128 121 116 113

PERSONNEL

Architect......................... Rick Forester General Manager.............. Jeff Strong Course Record.........Justin McKay, 62

AMENITIES

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

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

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.

FEATURE STORY

River Bend Resort & Golf Club

is under consideration for potential border wall construction By Steve Habel, Contributing Writer

On the border between Texas and Mexico is a hotbed of activity for international crossings, and political controversy lies a fun and super-playable golf course at the River Bend Resort & Golf Club, regulars, vacationers and winter Texans have a really good option to enjoy the grand game on the United States’ southernmost boundary. River Bend’s golf course is one of the best in the Rio Grande Valley, offering 6,825 yards of play on the river and excellent conditions befitting a track

Clubhouse

located in a warm and temperate region and cared for with a hand for detail. It’s been a favorite of golfers since its opening in 1983, after its expansion to 18 holes just two years later and especially since 2015, when the course was purchased by the Barnard family, who took River Bend to lofty heights while keeping its green fees affordable. “We are very proud of the conditioning of our course and always go the extra mile to make sure our guests and members get the best value when they play here,” said Jeremy Barnard, part owner and general manager of River Bend Resort & Golf Club. “When we took over here, the course was getting maybe 15,000 rounds of play a year – we’ve almost doubled that over the past four years.”

FEATURE STORY

Lately, River Bend Resort has been in the news for a different reason.The resort has land used for the golf course which has been targeted for a section of the border wall. A section of the course is across the levee but still on U.S. soil. That portion of their land includes about 200 homes and 15 holes that the golf course occupies. That could mean a major disruption of play on the golf course and disturbing hundreds of the residents. And “could”

is the operative word here, since no one knows if the wall will ever be constructed. The Barnard family is taking precautions, for either scenario, to make sure that it’s treated fairly during the process if plans for the wall come to fruition. Since acquiring in 2015, the family has shown its willingness to help control illegal crossings along the golf course, clearing the banks of the river of the thick, quick-growing underbrush, as well as round the clock security.

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

FEATURE STORY

“We are working with the government for other solutions rather than putting a wall through the golf course and displacing our friends and families near the river,” Barnard said. The Barnard family has been a part of the Rio Grande Valley for many years as the owners of Coastal Realty, the largest volume, full-service commercial real

estate firm serving Cameron County. If anybody can get the course and the property south of the proposed wall saved, it’s them. Green fees for golf at River Bend are under $40 for 18 holes with a cart, and annual memberships are less than $4,000. RV rental spots on site make the resort near South Padre Island an affordable vacation destination for everyone. The best bet is to head south to Brownsville and play a round on the Rio as soon as you can, before the mechanizations of the government puts its indelible stamp on one of the Valley’s true gems for golf.

Rivv Bend Resst & GGf Club Come Play a Round on the Rio!

Open to the Public 4541 Military Highway 281 Brownsville, TX 78520 956.465.1141 www.riverbendresort.us

FEATURE STORY

Palmilla Beach in Port A sets the bar high for the “new” golf and beach resort combo

By Steve Habel, Contributing Writer There’s nothing quite like a day at the beach or a few hours on the golf course. Palmilla Beach Resort & Golf Club, an award-winning, upscale coastal destination and fledgling community set on the dunes at this popular Texas Gulf Coast vacation mecca, has combined two of our favorite things, added a dash of exclusivity and opulence, and put a unique spin on the package.

Following extensive damage across the island in 2017 by Hurricane Harvey and a different take on the whole vacation paradigm, the golf course at Palmilla Beach has been re-invented to broaden its appeal to a new generation of golfers of all ages and skill levels. Developer McCombs Properties decided to transform Palmilla Beach’s Arnold Palmer-designed links-style course into

FEATURE STORY

12 holes of links-style play, including nine “traditional” holes, plus The Loop – a three-hole, par 3 course. The transformation has turned the resort into a diverse, national tourism destination for avid, new, novice and non-golfers. When the changes are completed (which is expected in early 2020), Palmilla Beach will offer multiple experiences that intersect golf with entertainment, dining and socializing with friends and family, all with the famous “Port A” vibe. I have to be honest with you – when I first heard about the reduction of the course, I was more than a little skeptical about things because I really liked what Palmer and design associate Ed Seay had created at Palmilla Beach.The memory of playing the course (then known as Newport Dunes) with Mr. Palmer when it first opened also had me squarely on the fence about the changes. Yes, the track, which played 6,821 windswept yards, and to a par of 71, was tough and unforgiving, but the course was also one of the few “real” links courses in America, and the thought of changing didn’t really sit well with me. But after seeing and playing the nine-hole course on a windy morning and finishing almost before my wife and four-year-old son were up for the day, I’ve come to appreciate the idea that McCombs and his people have adopted. The fact that the course is still a test despite consisting of four par 3s and five par 4s (two of which are short enough to

be reached off the tee by big hitters) and that it took an hour and 15 minutes to go around has me being a believer. When it comes to going to a beach and golf destination, the last thing most people want to do is spend four or five hours on the links. Palmilla Beach’s model gives you just enough golf (and good golf, which is important) and leaves plenty of time on the beach and at the pool with your family and friends. McCombs and crew did their legwork Among the many factors considered in the change at Palmilla Beach is the multiyear decline in golf rounds nationwide.The National Golf Foundation and other published reports indicate that golf course closings have outpaced openings in each of the past 10 years. Plus golf can be costly, time-consuming and not exactly conducive to family-friendly vacations. Golf in the United States began with nine hole courses and was especially noted during the first U.S. Open in 1895. As recently as 30 years ago, half of the America’s golf courses were nine-hole TheTexasGolfInsider.com

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tracks.Today, more than 4,000 nine hole courses can be found in North America out of a total of 15,000. In the fast-paced, time-strapped modern world there has been a move to return to nine-hole courses.What Palmilla Beach has developed is a course that’s the best of both worlds, a fun and friendly experience for vacationers, yet still challenging for serious golfers. Palmilla Beach’s course is routed over and through huge Mustang Island dunes and features the only golf holes in Texas lying directly on the coast (holes 4, 5 and 6), producing a true links experience in the Scottish/Irish tradition. With the renovations, a foursome playing at Palmilla Beach can complete their round in 90 minutes to two hours: get on,

get around, get back to the water and your family and friends – and it works as good as it sounds. The facility is managed by Troon, whose agronomic team redesigned and built the course that is now carded at just 2,431 yards from the back tees and to a par of 32.The three-hole par 3 course, with holes that range from 80 yards to 115 yards, is also a lot of fun; the two tracks can be played separately or together. Palmilla Beach’s course has three sets of tees.The middle “Beach” tees shorten the yardage to holes ranging from 127 to 287 yards.The forward box, with holes 81 yards to 256 yards, are called the “Fun” tees, and, that they are. There’s a laid-back beach vibe here – golf shirts and golf shoes, both sold in the golf shop, aren’t required.You can play barefoot – and some folks were when we visited – or even rent a golf board to fly around the course. There will be two big additions to Palmilla Beach golf for the spring of 2020: the new 18-hole natural grass putting course and the opening of The PlayGround, an open-air restaurant and lounge with

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an events lawn (integrated into the golf course) for family games and fun. Palmilla Beach is all the best of Port A in one big uncompromising package Palmilla Beach, which is on the other side of the bay from the booming city of Corpus Christi, boasts some of the most spectacular beach views in the area, as well as concierge-style services and luxury resort amenities, best-in-class pools, world-class dining and – this is really cool – pedestrian-friendly walkways and private, direct access to the beach over the longest dune bridge in the Lone Star State. If you call ahead, the folks here will even set up a chair and umbrella on the beach for you, and roll out the air-conditioned restroom facility that’s available only to Palmilla Beach’s residents and guests. The main dining option at the resort is called the Black Marlin Grill, a fine-diningin-a-beachy-kind-of-way establishment that was one of the first restaurants to reopen in Port Aransas, even before grocery stores, after Harvey inflicted its considerable, and lasting toll on the community. Chef Gail Huesmann has been to the finals of the World Food Championships three years in a row and offers a menu

full of local seafood dishes, salads, steaks and desserts that are both sumptuous and plentiful. Huesmann and her crew even whipped up an off-the-menu heaping bowl of spaghetti on the fly for my boy, which made his day (and, believe me, ours too). While the island recovered, the Black Marlin helped feed its 3,000 residents and those who came to help rebuilt the town, who had few other options to eat, even reducing its menu prices to help out. It remains popular with locals, who’ve not forgotten the kindness, and visitors to the resort. There’s plenty of construction going on around the property, and its new townhomes and stand-alone cottages have been selling as fast as they’re being build. More than 30 have already been constructed since the hurricane and most are available to rent, with rates staring at $700 per night. Many of the homes are spacious and include four bedrooms, a full kitchen, multiple living areas and a third floor with plenty of bunk beds for children, with plenty of room to move around and stretch out after a day on the course, the sun and the sand. After a few days at Palmilla Beach, I’m a believer – and I think you will be, too.

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