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FALL 2020

The Official Guide to Golf in Texas

Lago Vista Golf Course Renovations Ahead of Schedule

Inside: North Texas Municipal Golf Great Options For Golfers

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5/28/20 4:05 PM

Cover Stories 6 WELCOME

HOW TO CONTACT US WITH GOLF NEWS AND STORIES

8 LANDA PARK GOLF COURSE EPITOMIZES GREAT MUNI GOLF

16 LAGO VISTA GOLF COURSE RENOVATIONS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

Landa Park Golf Course 16

CONTENTS 22 PLAYING GOLF WITH CORONA CHECK YOUR LOCAL RULES

29 CORONAVIRUS’ DARK CLOUD GET OUT IN THE SUN AND PLAY

38 ROBERT TRENT JONES GOLF TRAIL THE GRANDADDY OF ALL TRAILS

LagoVista Golf Course 22

RTJ Golf Trail 53

53 MUNICIPAL NORTH TEXAS GOLF

T G I Follow Us

North Texas Municipals

GREAT CHOICES FOR GOLFERS

64 HOUSTON OPEN 2020 RETURNS TO MEMORIAL PARK

DIRECTORIES CENTRAL TEXAS 44 GENERAL DIRECTORY 46 MAP 47 ADVERTISER’S DIRECTORY

DALLAS/FORT WORTH 51 GENERAL DIRECTORY

GREATER HOUSTON/TEXAS COAST 61 GENERAL DIRECTORY 62 MAP 63 ADVERTISER’S DIRECTORY

K & I and Associates Merrill Lynch Wealth Management 200 Concord Plaza Dr, Ste 100, San Antonio, TX 78216 www.fa.ml.com/ki.associates

Focused on helping you pursue your financial goals Clients come first at Merrill Lynch. It’s part of our tradition. It’s important to us to really get to know you and what matters most to you. That’s because once we understand your priorities, we focus on helping you pursue the financial goals you’ve set for yourself and your family.

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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: Joe Valentino, DFW Office: 940-735-1265 Editor: Ava Ratchman Contributing Writers: Steve Habel, Dave Daubert, Art Sticklin, Kevin Duke Contributing Photographers: Mark Lindsay, Steve Giles, Justin Becker, Office Manager/Social Media: Marcede Pullen Production: Pat Gondert 3 ANNUAL EDITIONS Copyright ©2020 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.

Publisher, Mike Ratchman I know I don’t have to tell you what a weird year it has been for golf, and everything else of course. Up until recently I have been a Stay-at-Home person and to not play golf was killing me. I’m sure it was for you as well. I was like most of you, not happy when we were told we were not able to play golf, but I do understand why it had to be done.We didn’t know much about this virus. Personally, I think Governor Abbott has done a hell of a job so far in handling this Pandemic, I don’t know how long this will last but I thank God I live inTexas where we are now free to play golf. With that being said, I have a few places that you might want to put on your list to play this summer. First on the list is Landa Park Golf Course in New Braunfels. I don’t think I’m sticking my neck too far out when I say this course has to be one of the best municipals to play in SouthTexas. It’s our feature story on page 8. Read all about it and I think you’ll be enticed into trying it out. Another one of our feature stories is a Hill Country Municipal Golf Course that you need to put on your list. LagoVista Golf Club in LagoVista is located just northwest of Austin. LogoVista presents some of the most beautiful views of the Hills and LakeTravis. Golfers will be challenged when they play this track.You can find their story on page 16. Make sure you visit your courses’ website before you make your tee time. It’s important to get all the information and restrictions each course has.This way you will know what to expect when you get there. Enjoy your summer and play safe. Publisher, Mike Ratchman

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

JoeValentino

A forty year veteran of the construction industry, he has marketed products all over the world. Golf is his passion and he has been fortunate enough to play top courses in seven countries. Currently living in Denton and loves calling on North Texas courses for TGI.

Top 100 Clubfitters in the Country Huge selection of new and used clubs 8,000 sq ft facility, with hitting bays and custom Club Fitting

Steve Habel

Contributing golf writer and correspondent for TGI, 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.

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.

Visit our Golf Shop to See Major Benefits from: -Monitors and fitting equipment -Fully stocked Golf Apparel -Fast and Reliable Repairs -Custom Refinishing and Stamping -Friendly Customer Service -Personlized Lessons

Kevin Duke

A former assistant and teaching golf professional, he has played the game for 41 years. He is a 25-yr sports editor and writer who has covered the PGA Tour, the Champions Tour, NCAA golf and more. Heâ€™s been published in more than 25 newspapers, a dozen regional magazines and nationally, including Golf Tips magazine.

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COVER STORY

Landa Park epitomizes great muni golf By Kevin Drake, Contributing Writer in New Braunfels Nestled in the heart of New Braunfels on the banks of the Comal River, Landa Park Golf Course at Comal Springs is thriving after a redesign some six years ago. “Since we reopened in October of 2014, rounds have increased about 10 to 15% every year,” said PGA golf manager Chad Donegan. “Last year, we did just under 44,000 rounds of golf. “I believe our customers are returning over and over due to the improved turf conditions which create an excellent playing experience.”

Donegan noted the consistency of the greens, overseeding of the fairways with rye in the winter and the efforts of the maintenance crew and GCSAA superintendent Brody Dillard as major contributors to the outstanding course conditions since the redesign. “We have a small crew of seven maintenance team members,” Donegan said. “Brody is a go getter who jumps in to assist with whatever needs to be done, he’s either going to lead it or be part of it when it’s getting fixed.

COVER STORY

“He brings expertise in turf health to our organization. Our grass is thriving and that keeps the outcome great for our customers. Outstanding conditions and outstanding customer service are our main focus for success.” The course is unusual in its location, just a quarter mile from downtown New Braunfels, a virtual oasis of nature smack dab in the middle of town. “We’re very blessed being right in the heart of the city,” Donegan said. “We’re

just three miles from I-35 and basically right in the middle of the San Antonio and Austin corridor.” The headwaters of the Comal River are just off the fifth tee box, the course is surrounded by the park, and wildlife have made a home of the golf course and park, including deer and geese. “We have a herd of deer that call the course home, the geese and all kinds of critters that golfers will see in a park setting,” Donegan said. “We have some nice

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COVER STORY

bucks out here, especially during the rutting season, there’s a herd of seven or eight of them that all hang together.” The Redesign The original nine holes were built and opened in 1938, with the property for the holes on the east side of the course acquired by the city in the 1970’s. “Those nine holes were built in 1973 and the original nine holes were reconfigured for the new 18 hole course,” Donegan said. “I got here in 2005, and from the soil tests we did, we had five or six strains of grass in the greens. At that point they were 40 years old, so it’s hard to have consistent putting surfaces when you have that many types of grass in them.” The

irrigation system was about the same age and needed to be replaced. “Luckily we had a good game plan for what we needed to do,” Donegan said. “We got through the downturn in the economy, got back with council in late 2012, and that’s when we got approval for a full renovation.” The course closed in October 2013 and with a one-year timetable reopened on October 8, 2014. “We were right at a year and right on budget,” Donegan said. “It turned out to be a great project and I really enjoyed the whole experience.” The course was redesigned working with the Texas Historic Commission, to preserve Indian artifacts discovered while construction was ongoing. U.S. Fish and Wildlife and Texas Parks and Wildlife Departments were also involved to protect endangered species in and around the Comal River. While the routing of the course remained basically the same, the distinct differences were switching of the ninth and 18th holes, and turning No. 10 into a par three.The course was completely stripped down to the dirt and rebuilt. “We rebuilt all tee boxes, all the fairways were restructured and contoured

COVER STORY

with new drainage and irrigation, and all the green complexes and bunkers were redone,” Donegan said. “It was basically leveled and started over.” Additionally, the cart paths were rebuilt, restrooms and pump stations for each side of the property were built and the clubhouse was renovated. The greens were redone with a miniverde Bermuda, providing smooth and consistent putting surfaces year round, without the need for a rye overseed in the winter. The project was designed by Baxter Spann of Finger, Dye, Spann Inc. out of Katy,Texas and constructed by Heritage Links from Houston.

Services and Staff PGA Assistant Golf Professionals Quint Alexander and Cy Chapa help Donegan with the teaching duties at the course, and group lessons for adults and kids are available. “We offer junior lessons and programs through the NB Parks and Recreation Department,” Donegan said. “We’re also an affiliate with the First Tee of Greater San Antonio, and we do private lessons as well.” Adult continuing education classes are available through the Comal and New Braunfels Independent School Districts.

“Golf is one of the things the school districts offer and we partner with them here,” Donegan said. The classes are a cost effective way for new players to learn the game, ranging in the $85-$100 range for three sessions, and clubs are provided for the classes by the course. Private lessons are $75 per hour for adults and $65 per hour for juniors. Landa Park Golf Course hosts more than 100 tournaments a year, from high school to charity fundraisers and more, and is available and affordable for tournaments of all kinds. “Last year we hosted over 120 tournaments and fundraisers for many organizations,” Donegan said. “Those included civic groups, churches, schools and more.” The pro shop is fully stocked with equipment and clothing from most major manufacturers. Green fees are very reasonable by today’s standards, starting at $45 for weekdays (including cart), with discounts available for seniors and military and of course twilight rates are offered. For more information call the Landa Park Golf Course pro shop at 830-221-4340 or visit landaparkgolfcourse.com.

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

Hole 6

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For more info call 830-964-2152 or email Mike@thetexasgolfinsider.com

Longtime Texas Golf Wedge Expert Koehler Releases New Edison Forged Wedges After two years of development and testing, Edison Golf Company announced that they have begun crafting and shipping their revolutionary Edison Forged wedges, presenting golfers with a package of wedge technologies that significantly raise the bar for performance over conventional ‘tour design’ wedges. The Edison Forged wedges were designed by Edison Chairman and Director of Innovation Terry Koehler, a Texas golf wedge expert who has three decades of award-winning wedge design expertise. He also writes a popular blog as The Wedge Guy on GolfWRX and has built a 30-year track record of challenging traditional wedge design, as he points out how wedges have not evolved nearly as much as the clubs in every other category over the past 4-5 decades. All Edison Forged wedges will be custom-built to order for each customer from the Company’s assembly and shipping operations center in Fort Worth. Edison Forged Wedges were designed to address the major performance shortcomings of ‘tour design’ wedges, and have been proven through extensive robotic testing to deliver more penetrating trajectories and a level of forgiveness of mishits never before seen in the wedge

Terry Koehler

category. That performance superiority is achieved through a markedly different distribution of mass across the back of the clubhead, which equalizes the smash factor more evenly across the face. A significant increase in spin is a side benefit of the dramatically improved gear effect provided by the Edison Forged design. The wedges depart from the normal industry procedure of developing wedges with the help of tour professionals, who Koehler says have entirely different wants and needs than even the best amateur players. “Tour professionals spend thousands of hours honing their exquisite skills,” explained Koehler. “Essentially, they have learned how to mostly overcome and even leverage the shortcomings of their wedges. But robotic testing and live golfer research over the past 3o-plus years has proven to me that ‘tour design’ wedges are the most unforgiving clubs in our bags. Why should any golfer have to suffer with that kind of finicky performance?” Edison Golf’s extensive research indicates the vast majority of golfers fight ballooning trajectories, inconsistent launch angles and severe penalties for mishits, and that most are confused by all the different specialized sole grinds.

By focusing on these deficiencies of the basic ‘tour design’ that is common to nearly all wedges on the market, the Edison Forged wedges deliver extraordinary spin and more penetrating trajectories. But most importantly, they give any golfer a long/short dispersion pattern that is less than half the size of the leading ‘tour design’ wedges. Koehler’s 30-year history as a wedge designer began in the early 1990s with his patented sole design, which incorporated two distinct bounce angles in the sole of each wedge to deliver versatility for any lie and swing path. He pioneered raising the CG (center of mass) of wedges with Reid Lockhart®, and his EIDOLON® wedges of the early 2000s were the first to introduce CNCmilled grooves in mainstream wedges as well as a thicker upper section of the wedge clubhead. Koehler’s design philosophies were further advanced with his breakthrough progressive weighting in the SCOR™ wedges of 2011-2014 and the Ben Hogan® TK wedges of 2015-2017. All of his companies have been based in Texas, in honor of his roots as a fourthgeneration native Texan. The Edison Forged wedges are custom-crafted for each golfer, and are available with a wide range of shafts and grip options through the company’s website at www.EdisonWedges.com. By mid-summer, Edison Golf will introduce a program for golf professionals to become Certified Fitters for Edison Golf, so that they may bring this breakthrough performance to their golfers. The Edison Forged wedges are also backed by an unprecedented Performance Guarantee. The Company will let

you play your Edison Forged wedges for 60 days to see how they will improve your game; if you don’t agree, you can return them and the Edison Golf will replace them with any other wedges on the market you think you would like better. “Very simply, the Edison Forged wedges were designed to improve scoring range performance for golfers of any skill level,” proclaims Koehler “No other wedges come close to these in bringing forgiveness to a category not known for it.” About Edison Golf Company Edison Golf Company was formed in early 2018 to provide a platform for development of the Edison Forged wedges. Several rounds of prototypes were tested for nearly two years before the design was judged market ready. The prototypes and final production designs have been subjected to multiple rounds of independent robotic testing and live golfer reviews to prove every claim the Company makes about them. The company insists on the highest quality components and workmanship, and builds and ships all products from its facility in Fort Worth,Texas. For more information or interview requests, contact: Terry Koehler, Chairman/Director of Innovation TerryK@EdisonWedges.com 800-933-4395

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

FEATURE STORY

Lago Vista Golf Course

is ahead of schedule despite historic hurdles By Steve Habel, Contributing Writer

There was a three-year plan put in place for the resurgence and, renewal, if you will, of Lago Vista Golf Course and its amenities when Chris Godwin came aboard as the facility’s general manager in 2018. And despite facing historic hurdles, Godwin and his staff have Lago Vista GC ahead of schedule in establishing the course as a sense of pride for its hundreds of members and as a solid go-to option for prime daily-fee play for golfers in the northwest suburbs of the Austin area and beyond. There’s no way anyone could have predicted the 100-year flood that, literally, swamped the golf course in 2019 nor

the coronavirus pandemic of 2020 that’s forced everyone everywhere to adapt to a new day-to-day routine and shuttered golf courses for parts of March and April. Godwin is proud how his golfing customers have responded to the latest crisis and how his staff have been able to adhere to their customer-service goals with safeguards in place. “We’ve actually been able to weather this situation pretty well, and we have had steady play in the times we’ve been allowed to stay open,” Godwin said. “Our golfers have been very patient and happy for the opportunity to get out of the house and get on the golf course.” There’s no doubt that the city of Lago Vista is serious about golf and its golf course as it has continued to stoke a commitment to improvement and excellence at this municipal track that commands the better part of a peninsula into the north side of Lake Travis.

FEATURE STORY

For more than five decades, this bedroom community northwest of Austin has been a bit of a secret, its 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. And despite the coronavirus and its impact, 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. Lago Vista Golf Course, because of upgraded maintenance and conditioning and an attention to detail on the course, has

enjoyed renewed interest from golfers both in the city and from around the region.The track, long a hidden jewel that might have been lost in the shuffle of other area tracks, has spread its wings. The latest work to refresh the course is the total reconstruction of the putting surfaces on the fifth, sixth and seventh holes. The project adds better drainage to those greens complexes and returns them to USGA specifications. Godwin said the greens should be ready to accept shots and putts by the end of August. “We want so badly to see the work and effort we’ve put into the course come to ultimate fruition,” Godwin added. “But we

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FEATURE STORY

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.” “Like everyone else during the coronavirus, we can only control what we can control and are taking things day by day.” Lago Vista Golf Course’s 18-hole layout provides both challenge and plenty of fun – all amid rolling topography with so-closeyou-can-almost-reach-out-and-touch-it views of the lake.This course has been one of Texas’ best kept secrets over the years. It 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 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. The course’s two separate nines offer 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 the back-nine is narrower and, in this opinion, sports more of a test. All four of the par 3s at Lago Vista GC will need a tee shot of 199 yards or more to reach the putting surface, so a good long-iron or hybrid game is 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, needs three good shots to put yourself into position for a birdie.

FEATURE STORY

At 204 yards and playing downhill, the par 3 third might need one less club than you would normally take off the tee, 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 377yard ninth. After you favor the right side off the tee, you’ll have to walk up the fairway a bit to see 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 par 4 11th is his favorite hole because of its need for course management, two precise shots to reach the putting surface and a back-tofront undulating sloping green that can easily turn a birdie putt into bogey. Large trees and a concrete ditch running across the fairway can make navigating the hole, which is the No. 1 handicap at Lago Vista GC, a real challenge. “It’s a hole

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that demands that you hit two really good shots to score and, with all the trouble, a big number can easily come into play,” Godwin said. The par 4 14th is short but demanding, asking for a tee shot that carries across a pond onto a small fairway with plenty of trees and a well-placed bunker. Large trees and two more bunkers guard the putting surface, which is elevated. The round here ends with the 407-yard par 4 17th, with its elevated tee box and a wide fairway that crosses a shallow valley and slopes left to right, and the 204-yard par 3 18th, which plays over a stream and a residential street to an elevated green guarded by two large bunkers, all in the shadow of the clubhouse. The city spent more than $250,000 to expand and completely renovate the clubhouse, with the stated goal of making the building and its surroundings into a true community meeting place.That plan has been short-circuited, at least in the present, by the demand for social distancing caused by COVID 19. The practice facility at Lago Vista provides a relaxing atmosphere for honing your game with its beautiful view of the lake. Three tiers of natural grass teeing surface and a practice putting green are available. Lago Vista Golf Course is all that’s good about golf wrapped up in one neat package – and just a short trip from the hustle and bustle of Austin and its suburbs and well worth the trip. TheTexasGolfInsider.com

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Hole 12

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FEATURE STORY

Playing with Corona By Kevin Duke, ContributingWriter

Well … we’re back on the golf course in Central Texas. As all of you know by now – it was iffy there for a while. But as of this writing in May, courses have reopened and golfers are flocking to them, anxious to get outside after weeks of stay at home orders. While it’s the same game, golfers and courses are adjusting to the new rules around playing and hosting players. Prior to the shutdown, courses in the area did everything they could to stay open - encouraging social distancing, limiting touching of flagsticks, closing

or limiting access to pro shops, cancelling large tournaments, allowing just one rider on disinfected carts, removing rakes from bunkers and more. But in the middle of the COVID-19 peak in early April, the last courses in the area closed, after courses in San Antonio and Austin had closed a couple of weeks before. Finding somewhere to play I became aware of what was happening that afternoon and not knowing how long the closure would last, went out of my way to find a place to play.

FEATURE STORY

The Bandit Golf Course

I had taken a marshalling gig and applied to work at two courses west of New Braunfels, Rebecca Creek and River Crossing. Showing up to play that day â€“ I found both courses had been closed earlier that morning. After calling five different courses, all of which were closed, I called the Bandit east of New Braunfels. Thankfully, they were still open. I drove 45 minutes to get there, determined to get some golf in while I still could.

The place was packed - apparently many golfers were thinking the same thing. I waited two hours, as a single, before they were able to get me off on the back nine. It was an incredible evening, the temperature was in the low 80s as we made our way around and my partner and I lamented the fact that the courses were closing as we played. While we were playing, we heard that another course in Guadalupe County was to close the next day, and we figured that we had indeed played on the last day golf was going to be available in the area. We were right â€“ the Bandit closed the next day.

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FEATURE STORY

The lone holdout, as far as I know, was Plum Creek in Kyle, and the following week I made the hour-long drive to play there. Reopening Fortunately, the shutdowns didn’t last too long. Some of the courses reopened to walkers only at first, then phased the carts back in a week or two later. Rebecca Creek hired me to run carts, and I re-

sumed my starter duties at River Crossing about three weeks after they had shut down. At Rebecca Creek, most of my time is spent disinfecting carts, with a complete wash down and wipe down with bleach after every round played. Social distancing is still in effect, foam at the bottom of flagsticks prevents the ball from going down into the hole, and carts are one rider each unless golfers are cohabitating. It’s the same at River Crossing and Landa Park in New Braunfels, as courses are doing everything they can to allow for golf during the pandemic.

I spent some of my time the couple of weeks of the shutdown calling golf professionals I knew from my time as a sportswriter out West - in Arizona, New Mexico and Oregon. I was surprised to hear that in Oregon, which had shut down state parks, the golf courses somehow remained open throughout the last couple of months.

FEATURE STORY

New Mexico courses were shut down, but courses in Arizona remained open. The inconsistency from one state to the next, and in Texas from one county to the next, was confusing to golfers I’ve talked to. People I’ve played with are ecstatic to be out there, with much debate and discussion about the shutdowns. As a rule, folks considered the shut down of courses to be unnecessary, saying that there probably wasn’t a better sport where social distancing rules could be followed without too much difficulty. Now in May, everybody is just glad to be out of the house and on the course. As am I.

Many courses have implemented new protocols with the objective of keeping players and workers safe during the coronavirus pandemic. • Leave the flagstick in. • Don’t pick up playing partners’ clubs. • Pass on the friendly post-round handshake (of course!). • Smooth the sand with your feet, most courses have removed rakes from bunkers. • Limit one person per cart, although some courses are allowing those that are related or cohabitate to ride together. • Many courses shut down their food and beverage options, but most have reopened in some capacity. • Some courses have turned cups upside down within the hole. Many have foam in the holes to keep players from reaching into it for the ball. TheTexasGolfInsider.com

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A silver lining amid Coronavirus’s dark cloud By Steve Habel, Contributing Writer

Get out in the sun and play golf! While that’s usually the mantra for those of us that love the game as the calendar turns to summer and courses are in prime condition, the edict has taken on a different tenor in the recent days of uncertainty. The coronavirus pandemic and the initiatives pointed toward shelter-athome orders and social distancing to help stop the spread of the microscopic, unseen, baffling threat are daunting. The virus and its affects have turned the world upside down and sent the whole globe’s economy reeling amid plummeting budgets.

Cedar Creek Golf Course - Hole 18

to combat COVID-19, and golf, and the relief provided by the game, its fellowship and traditions (albeit revised to define the times) has proven to be a godsend to players, both returning and those new to the links. Leading the way for the return to the game in south Texas has been its municipal facilities, managed by the cities that own them and working in concert with individual towns’ own demands for safety and awareness. Golf was officially the first sport to come back in full-swing following the coronavirus pandemic. Nearly all those golf courses in the United States that closed when the states enacted social

Golf courses provide relief, exercise and just plain fun for those racked by cabin fever caused by the ongoing pandemic The year 2020 is one we will never forget. It remains to be seen how our dayto-day lives will continue to be affected by the continuing impact of the virus. But if there has been a silver lining in the darkest health-related cloud of our lifetimes, it’s been the response of the golf course industry. Getting outside in the fresh air is one of the things recommended

distancing regulations, 95 percent of them in fact, have reopened, according to The National Golf Foundation. The golf industry will not return to normal without major adjustments once the pandemic is over because there is not going to be a “normal” to go back to. This is not just a case of surviving but of TheTexasGolfInsider.com

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Lions Municipal Golf Course - Hole 12

changing and establishing a whole new world order.When you’re in the middle of a crisis, it’s hard to see a way out, let alone predict what things will look like a year from now. Joe Beditz, chief executive officer of the National Golf Foundation, has a positive outlook about what the near-term future will bring for the game and its players. Instead of resignation to doomand-gloom forecasts about slashed cash flow and courses being unable to meet operating budgets and keep their staffs employed, Beditz is characteristically upbeat that the industry can adapt to what he calls “an inflection” point in the game’s history. “We have a rare opportunity,” Beditz said. “Nobody knows how to scale or restart the engines, or how this will work out in the long term. We’re in uncharted territory, but we’re already seeing the outlines of a different golf culture. Players are walking more, which is great exercise. And that gives us a chance to emphasize the healthy aspects of the game.”

Each municipal golf course has had its own challenges and answers to those hurdles. Doug Fipps, director of golf and PGA professional at Delaware Springs Golf Course in Burnet, said his facility was closed from midMarch until April 17 to non-members but has rebounded solidly since. Upon reopening, first for walking only and then for carts with one player riding each, Delaware Springs employed 16-minute intervals between tee times that were limited to four or fewer players and placed yellow balls behind the holes on the greens instead of using flagsticks. Delaware Springs also followed industry guidelines by not asking bunkers to be raked (there are no rakes on the course or on the golf carts), allowing players to consider the sand as ground under repair. Also gone are the course’s ball washers and water coolers, and restrooms are locked except in the clubhouse. Fipps said his course has fared well, perhaps better than expected and certainly better than the worse-case scenario.

Brackenridge Park Golf Course

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“When this began we submitted a budget to the Burnet City Council that showed we could lose as much as $275,000 if we were closed all of April and all of May,” Fipps said. “The fact that we were able to open when we did dropped the overall loss to less than half that.The most important aspect of this is to keep everyone safe.” Delaware Springs’ snack bar, famous for its burgers, was closed until May 11 and its employees were slotted in spots on the facility’s maintenance crew for the first week in May to help keep them on the payroll. In Austin, perhaps fittingly, things were a little weird at first.The city’s municipal courses were closed on March 15 but free

Delaware Springs Golf Course - Hole 13

play was allowed for the rest of the month. There were no flagsticks in the holes but the courses were maintained for play. Eventually that free ride came to an end as all the city’s courses were off limits from April 1-15.The city staff, according to Steve Hammond, the director of golf at the 36-hole Jimmy Clay/Roy Kizer complex and at Lions Municipal, used that time to develop a comprehensive plan for player safety and maximum fun on its courses.

Jimmy Clay Golf Course - Hole 4

“Really, when we allowed people to just play the courses for free, they were very good about policing themselves and adhering to the social media guidelines – but we still needed a plan,” Hammond said. “Once we reopened, we made the adjustments to keep golf great here. We have stressed that there are only four players and less allowed in a group, that two carts with individual riders are the maximum allowed and that people keep their distance.” Hammond also said that players are warned ahead of time to bring their own water – and that doing so could be a considerable added weight for those carrying their bag. “When it gets hot golfers need their water, especially in a situation where so many of them are walking,” Hammond explained. “We have set it up where someone coming to our courses never need touch anything they didn’t bring from home while they are out here.” Michael Skiba, the PGA professional and general manager at Bayou Golf Course in Texas City, said his facility has followed the basic guidelines as set up by the state to cope with the coronavirus situation. Bayou Golf Course was closed March 24 and reopened May 1. TheTexasGolfInsider.com

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Bayou Golf Course

“The City knew we were going to take a hit but they’ve put the safety of the citizens at the front of all that they’ve done,” Skiba said. “We’ve rebounded so well with our full tee sheet and busy play that our final numbers over this period will be comparable to if we were open during that stretch.” “Those 37 days did the course wonders. Everything is in immaculate shape – so much so that our members are suggesting we take some time off in the springs each year to let the course get into this condition.” There were some that doubted that players would return to golf until more was known about COVID-19 and how to control its spread. But Andrew Peterson, president and CEO of San Antonio’s cityowned Alamo Golf Trail, said his courses produced returns that far exceeded projections for the month of May despite reducing the number of available tee times on the trail by 15 percent.

“We never thought our return to play would have been so successful, but I give a lot of credit to our staff and our golfers for understanding what we are doing and finding the best way to get players on the course and keeping them safe,” Peterson said. “I have said this from the start – this situation has brought out the best in people and patience, fortitude and overall optimism that we’ve never had to call on before. “Golf on the Alamo Golf Trail is healthy and strong in these unprecedented times. Pace of play has never been better and people are enjoying golf as a release from the stresses caused by COVID-19.”

Riverside Golf Course

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Thomas Hutton, Executive Director of STPGA

Thomas Hutton, the executive director of the Southern Texas PGA, added that its membership of golf pros have taken the lead in getting people back to the courses and getting golf back in the swing again in the southern part of the Lone Star State. “Our professionals have gone above and beyond at their courses to assure that safety is at the forefront and that players and staff are as protected as much as possible,” Hutton said. “By following Governor (Greg) Abbott’s guidelines, Texas is at the forefront of the movement to make sure people can safely enjoy recreation while adhering to social distancing.

Hutton said that courses in southern Texas, likely buoyed by temperate weather and cabin fever created by sheltering at home orders, have had plenty of play, even more than what was expected when measures to limit the spreading of COVID-19 were enacted. “We strongly believe that golf can be a respite for people dealing with the stresses and day-to-day challenges that this situation brings,” he said. “We encourage people to get out and golf; with the guidelines in place, it’s an excellent way to exercise and enjoy the outdoors.”

Grey Rock Golf Course - Hole 13

Are you on the golf course? Well, you should be.

Willow Springs Golf Course

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Take A Tour Today & Receive 2 FREE Rounds of Golf at Vaaler Creek Golf Club

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Wanna Bet? Golf Side Games

By Adam Grosch

I have recently been introduced to a great new game called The Train. I’ve played it a few times and the pressure that it adds is a lot of fun and different from other games. To get on The Train, you have to make 2 net pars in a row. Once you are on The Train, you receive one X for every net par you make, two X’s for net birdies and three X’s for net eagles. If you make a net bogey (or worse) you do not get any X’s for that hole. Here’s where it gets interesting: if you follow that net bogey (or worse) with another net bogey (or worse), you get de-railed and you lose all the X’s that you have accumulated up to that point. Now, you would need to make 2 net pars in a row again before you get back on The Train.

I’ve witnessed, and definitely been active on, some very cautious and stressful tee shots following bogies. Not to wish poorly on anyone, but it sure is a lot of fun to watch someone bogey #17 and then have to make par or better on #18 in order to keep a bunch of X’s. Another fun game that we’ve been playing in a lot of our rounds lately is

The Chip Game. I purchased a set of chips from www.VegasGolfGame.com. The set has a bunch of poker chips with positive and negative points like making a birdie or hitting the trees. The set that I got has 26 different chips and you pass the chips around to each other throughout the round. If you hit a tree on #1, but someone else hits a tree any other time during the round, you would give that chip to him/her. At the end of the round each person counts up how many positive chips they have and how many negative chips they have and you pay the difference between your number and

each other player’s number. One of the first times we played this, we watched one of our players get 6 negative chips on the last hole!! My favorite chip is called the Beer Chip. On each par 3, the furthest from the pin on the opening drive gets the BEER CHIP. If it is in your pocket when the Bev Cart comes you must buy a round for the group! The only way you get rid of it is having a better shot on the next Par 3. What happens if the Beer Cart comes by again before the next Par 3? Answer:You buy another round :( We also play that if you have the chip when we make the turn or when we finish, you are buying a round.

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You Can’t Beat Summer on Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail

It seems every state has some sort of golf trail, but the granddaddy and the very best in the USA is the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama, a collection of 26 jaw-dropping beautiful courses at 11 different sites from Muscle Shoals in the north to the Gulf Coast in the south. The Trail was the final project for Robert Trent Jones Sr., one of America’s most renowned golf course architects and father of Robert Trent Jones Jr. and Rees Jones, both accomplished architects in their own right. It was probably the largest single undertaking in the history of golf

Hampton Cove, Short Course # 1

Hampton Cove, Highlands Course # 5

course architecture, and I am sure, that is what lured Senior, well into his 80’s, out of retirement.The project included simultaneously building golf complexes each with at least 36 holes at seven locations throughout the state.The first four, each with two championship courses and one short course, opened in 1992; three more sites opened the next year. Since then, three additional facilities have been built and one existing club near the Gulf of Mexico has been added. I recently took a whirlwind tour of some of the locations and was over-

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whelmed by the sheer beauty and diversity of the courses, the hospitality of everyone associated with the trail and the incredible value for so much memorable golf. In its 28 years, the Trail has dramatically increased its national and international profile. “By the end of the first quarter this year, golfers from all 50 states and over 30 countries will have visited and played the Trail,” says John Cannon, President of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Dr. David Bronner, head of the Retirement Systems of Alabama, came up with the Trail concept - wooed Senior out of retirement - as a way to boost tourism in Alabama while funding the state’s pension plan. About 15 million rounds have been played so far.When the Trail opened, Alabama was attracting about $2 billion annually from tourism; that number is now close to $15 billion. I began my Trail experience at Hampton Cove in Huntsville, a 54 hole facility with two drastically different championship-caliber courses and an 18 hole par 3 course.The Highlands course is a Scottish links-style design complete with flowing fescue bordering the fairways with two dynamic finishing holes. Highlands stretches

Hampton Cove, River Course # 17

out to 7,428 yards and has four sets of tees to make your links experience both enjoyable and memorable. An old mule barn was saved from destruction and adorns the 5th hole, a perfect photo-op. In complete contrast, the River course laid out on a former soybean farm in the flood plain of the Flint River has 16 holes with water that comes into play. It’s saving grace-zero bunkersnada, nix, not a spec of sand.The River is a throwback to the bygone days when very little dirt was moved to construct a golf course.The short course is 18 par 3s with just as much thought and design from the RTJ team as its big brothers. “Short” is not the right word- “Captivating” is better. My next stop was the Shoals Golf Club in Florence, tucked away in the remote

The Shoals, Schoolmaster Course # 18

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The Shoals, Fighting Joe Course # 18

northwest corner of the state with two monster golf courses, the Schoolmaster and Fighting Joe.The 7,971 yards Schoolmaster, named for President Woodrow Wilson, has narrow but receptive treelined fairways.With little water in play, the course seemed to blend into the countryside perfectly playing among soft elevation changes. Driving into the open side of the fairways provides good shots into the large contoured greens, and with a little study, you can master this one.The scenic finishing 18th is one of those Kodak moments. This uphill par 4 has a grand view of Lake Wilson with the beautiful clubhouse next to it. Fighting Joe was named after a Confederate General, who after the Civil War, became a General in the United States The Spa at the Marriott Muscle Shoals

Army named Joe Wheeler.The golf course is one of the longest in the world at 8,092 yards, virtually timeless with water on 14 holes bordered by 3 feet long prairie grass rough. Play the right tee to make your experience an enjoyable round and if you play for safety rather than length, you can score well.The par 3,18th is probably the most scenic on the Trail.The downhill green overlooks the Tennessee River with the stately plantation-style clubhouse set high on a bluff above- another Kodak moment. I stayed at the Marriott Muscle Shoals

Resort & Spa, overlooking the Wilson Dam on the Tennessee River.The 200 room resort features Alabamaâ€™s tallest attraction, the Renaissance Tower connected to the hotel with a rotating restaurant, the Four

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Diamond 360 American Grill.The surrounding views and fine dining experience were a real treat.The lively Swampers Bar & Grill in the hotel celebrates the region’s rich musical heritage with live entertainment from great musicians. The Spa at the Marriott Muscle Shoals is a 6,000 square foot complete pampering facilGrand National, Links # 18 ity with makeup, hair and nail services along with numerous Guests have use of a steam room, sauna and personal treatments. I took full advantage huge whirlpool while relaxing in the quiet of their services with a soothing pedicure lounge.The Trail currently has 6 locations and foot rub and finished off with a deep with full-service spas. tissue massage.What a perfect delight after All the Trail clubhouses I visited were fighting with Joe. After the service, guests alike.They are spacious brick plantationcan use the steam room and whirlpool and style buildings with a leisure sitting area, enjoy some serenity in the quiet room. comfortable bar and grill with very good The next day I traveled to Opelika/ service and well-stocked pro shop.They Auburn to play at Grand National, another all had outdoor seating usually overlooking 54 hole complex and my personal favorite. the closing holes.The impeccable service With 12 holes hugging the shores of 600 from the player staff made me feel right at acre Lake Saugahatchee, the 7,149 yards home. Lake Course has got to be the most scenic Five days and eight courses made for with a quartet of par threes as good as any a busy week. My next trip I will allow for in the country.The 230 yards, 15th is cona little more down time to make my RTJ sidered the prettiest hole on the Trail. Trail play less exhausting. The cornerstone is the Links Course at If what I played is an example of the 7,311 yards, which is the toughest of the other 8 locations and 18 courses, you have duo without a single weakness.The par four got to check out the Robert Trent Jones finishing hole is considered the strongest Golf Trail. where your drive must carry a corner of the SETTLE FOR NOTHING LESS. Lake and your approach is played to a shalThere is golf, and then there is Alabama low pedestal green shored up by boulders. golf. 11 spectacular locations, 26 uniquely The 18 hole short course is a hybrid of its big brothers, beautiful and demanding, and challenging courses, and more than 400 one of the best par 3 courses in the country. championship holes make up Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. It is the elite I chose the adjacent Auburn Marriott and it is yours to challenge. Opelika Resort & Spa with 221 guest rooms including 19 luxury suites(perfect Reserve a tee time today. Call for those Auburn football games) and 1.800.949.4444 or request a quote. named the #1 location for public golf in Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail the U.S. by GolfWorld readers. I needed / 800.949.4444 / RTJGolf.com further pampering, so I chose a heavenly message in the 3 story, 20,000 square foot Spa and Fitness Center.What a treat. TheTexasGolfInsider.com

DIRECTORY SAN ANTONIO | HILL COUNTRY | AUSTIN

COURSE TYPE PHONE COURSE TYPE PHONE AUSTIN: Avery Ranch Golf Club Semi-Private Falconhead Golf Club 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 Resort BURNET: Delaware Springs Golf Course Public CANYON LAKE: Lakeside Golf Club Public CASTROVILLE: Alsatian Golf Course Public 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 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 Golf Course Semi-Private LAMPASAS: Hancock Park Golf Course Public LEANDER: The Golf Club at Crystal Falls Public LLANO: Llano Golf Club Public MANOR: Shadow Glen GC Semi-Private MARBLE FALLS: Hidden Falls Golf Club Semi-Private

NEW BRAUNFELS: (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

The Bandit Golf Club

Public

(830) 609-4665

Landa Park Golf Course

Public

(830) 221-4340

Semi-Private

(830) 281-3486

Public

(512) 251-9000

PLEASANTON: Pleasanton Country Club PFLUGERVILLE: Blackhawk Golf Club ROUND ROCK: Forest Creek Golf Club

Public

(512) 388-2874

The Golf Club of Star Ranch Semi-Private

(512) 252-GOLF

Semi-Private (512) 629-4585 TeraVista Golf Club (512) 308-9653 SALADO: (512) 321-1181 Mill Creek Inn & Country Club Semi-Private

(512) 651-9850

(830) 833-0706

Kissing Tree Golf Club

(830) 537-4197 SAN SABA: San Saba River GC (512) 756-8471 SEGUIN: (830) 899-3301

Starcke Park Golf Course

(830) 665-9943 (830) 216-2800 (830) 997-4010 (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) 749-1031

Public

(325) 372-3212

Public

(830) 401-2490

Public

(512) 264-1489

Private

(830) 904-4653

Semi-Private

(830) 885-5168

SAN ANTONIO: 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 GC Public Mission Del Lago Golf Course Public Northern Hills Golf Club Public Olmos Basin Golf Course Public Randolf Oaks Golf Course Public Riverside Golf Course Public Salado Del Rio GC Public San Pedro Range & Par 3 Public Silverhorn Golf CLub 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

(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

The Club at Rebecca Creek

Willow Springs Golf Course (512) 259-5855 UNIVERSAL CITY: (325) 247-5100

Semi-Private

SPICEWOOD:

(830) 931-3100 Pedernales Golf Course SPRING BRANCH: (830) 995-5351 River Crossing Club (830) 232-4471

(254) 947-5698

SAN MARCOS:

Public

(210) 226-6721

Olympia Hills Golf & Conference Ctr Public

(210) 945-4653

UTOPIA:

(512) 278-1304 Utopia Golf Course WIMBERLEY:

Public

(830) 966-5577

(830) 693-3300 Quicksand at Woodcreek

Public

(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 Cottonwood Creek Golf Course Public Ebony Hills Municipal Golf Course Public El Campo County Club Private Ganado Golf and Country Club Public Goliad Golf Club Public Harlingen Country Club Private L.E. Ramey Golf Course Public Los Lagos Municipal 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 (956) 428-7758 (956) 292-2144 (409) 543-6592 (361) 771-2424 (361) 645-8322 (956) 412-4110 (361) 592-1101 (956) 316-0444 (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) 968-5616 (956) 546-5331

PLAY THEM ALL • LIONS • HANCOCK • MORRIS WILLIAMS • JIMMY CLAY • ROY KIZER • GREY ROCK

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 Municipal 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

Golf ATX offers challenging courses at affordable prices, right in the middle of Austin. Play a round for yourself. Book a tee time on-line today.

Laredo

127

ConCan

Harper

Utopia

Castroville

1604

Comfort

Kingsland

473

1431

1604

725

130

55 53 50

52 54

Kyle

620

Marble Falls Leander

Spring Brand

6 13 10 85 46 11

9 12 3

87 87

2342

1825

Pharr

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Par

Yardage /Rating /Slope

Type Hole

Map Number

SAN ANTONIO |HILL COUNTRY | AUSTIN COURSES

(210) 226-5612

P 18

6234/70.3/126 • • • • 28

(210) 695-5050

P 18

7150/74.1/131

• •

• • 28

Gateway Hills Golf Course (210) 671-3466 26 1800 Dimsted Pl., Lackland AFB, TX 78236

P 18

6917/73.1/125

•

• • 50

(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 • • • • • 50

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) 221-4340 M 18 73 180 Golf Course Rd., New Braunfels, TX 78130

6205/68.9/112 • • • • • 8

(512) 477-6963 M 18

6001/69.2/124 • • • • • 45

Llano River Golf Course (325) 247-5100 M 18 78 2835 West Ranch Road 152, Llano, TX 78643

6094/69.1/123 •

• • 43

(210) 627-2522 P 18

7044/73.4/132 • •

• • 28

(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 • • • • • 28

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

(210) 826-4041 P 18

6847/71.8/131 • •

• • 28

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

7172/74.5/125 •

• • 50

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

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

Lions Municipal Golf Course

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

www.cityofllano.com

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

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Riverside Golf Course 11 203 McDonald, San Antonio, TX 78210

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

(210) 533-8371 P 18

72 6694/71.2/114

50 5400 Jimmy Clay Dr., Austin, TX 78744

(512) 974-4653 M 18

6819/72.2/125

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

(210) 349-5113 P

www.alamocitygolftrail.com

Roy Kizer Golf Course www.austintexas.gov

www.alamocitygolftrail.com

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

• • 28

• • • • • 45 •

• • 28

6819/70.8/124 • • • • • 50

www.ftsammwr.com/recreation/golf.html

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

7030/71.0/117

• • • • 2

www.starranchgolf.com

The Hideout

(866) 575-0259 P 18

6211/72.1/137 • • • • • 67

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

6211/72/125

Tierra Del Sol Golf Club 35 700 E. Hall Acres, Pharr, TX 78577

(956) 402-4545 P 18

6266/69.9/128

• •

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

6864/73.0/140

• • • • 34

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

7221/74.6/130 • • • • 28

44 185 Hideout Lane, Brownwood, TX 76801 www.thehideouttexas.com

• • • • • 42

www.themaxlaredo.com

www.golf.pharr-tx.gov

• • 21

www.vcgc.golf

www.alamocitygolftrail.com

SAN ANTONIO | HILL COUNTRY | AUSTIN DIRECTORY

Houston Open 2020 | Ad Page 64-65 501 Crawford St. Houston, TX 77002 www.houstonopengolf.com | 832-560-2567

Coushatta Casino | Ad Page 68 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder, LA | www.CoushattaCasinoResort.com | 800-584-7263

UIW-Professional Golf Mangement Program | Ad Pg 26 4301 Broadway, San Antonio, TX | Map #46 email: graybeal@uiwtx.edu | 210-805-5839

Vaaler Creek Golf Club | Map #87 | Ad Page 34 Golf Lessons with Adam Grosch & Edwin Dickens | 228 Jeff Vaughn, Blanco, TX 78606 www.vcgc.golf | 830-833-0706

REAL ESTATE Rockin J Ranch | Map# 2 | Ad Page 35 288 John Price, Blanco, TX 78606 | www.RincoTX.com | 830-833-2266

SHOPPING/SERVICES Edison Golf Company | Ad Page 14 Made in Texas www.EdisonWedges.com | 800-933-4395

Bash in the Box

Edwin Watts | Map # 3 | Ad Page 3 1050 N,.E. Loop 410, San Antonio, TX www.worldwidegolfshops.com | 210-822-4060

www.bashinthebox.com

Bash in the Box | Ad Page 49 www.bashinthebox.com

Boutique style Party Supplies

www.bashinthebox.com

DALLAS | FORT WORTH DIRECTORY ARLINGTON: Lake Arlington Golf Course Texas Rangers Golf Club Tierra Verde Golf Club

Semi-Private Semi-Private Semi-Private

AZLE: Cross Timbers Golf Course

Public

BROWNWOOD: The Hideout Golf Club

Semi-Private

GARLAND: (817) 451-6101 Duck Creek Golf Course (817) 275-5941 Firewheel Golf Park (817) 478-8500 GLEN ROSE: Squaw Valley Golf Club (817) 444-4940 GORDONVILLE: (325) 784-4653 Rock Creek Resort Golf Club

BURLESON: Hidden Creek Golf Course Southern Oaks Golf Club

Public Public

(817) 447-4444 (817) 426-2400

CARROLTON: Maridoe Golf Club Indian Creek Golf Course

Public Public

(972) 416-2131 (800) 369-4137

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

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

(972) 456-3200 (972) 771-4003 (214) 670-7615 (214) 670-8784 (214) 670-6322 (972) 248-8448 (214) 670-7506 (214) 670-1402 (214) 333-3595 (214) 646-3570

DESOTO: Thorntree Country Club

Public

EULESS: Texas Star Golf Course

Semi-Private

FAIRVIEW: Heritage Ranch Golf Course

Public

FERRIS: Old Brickyard Golf Course Tour 18

Public Public

FLOWER MOUND: Bridlewood Golf Club

Public

Public Public

(214) 440-2229 (972) 205-2765

Public

(800) 831-8259

Private

(903) 523-5357

GRAND PRAIRIE: Grand Oaks Golf Club Prairie Lakes Golf Club Riverside Golf Club Sunset Golf Course Tangle Ridge Golf Club

Semi-Private Public Semi-Private Pubic Public

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

HASLET: Willow Springs Golf Course

Semi-Private

(817) 439-4653

IRVING: Cottonwood Valley Golf Course Public TPC Las Conlinas Course Public Twin Wells Golf Course Municipal

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

KELLER: Sky Creek Ranch Golf Club

Public

(817) 498-1414

Public

(972) 227-0995

LANCASTER: (972) 296-2146 Country View Golf Course LIPAN: (817) 685-7888 Sugar Tree Golf Course

Semi-Private

(817) 341-1111

MUENSTER: (800) 579-3089 Turtle Hill Golf Club

Public

(940) 759-4896

PLANO: (972) 355-4800 Pecan Hollow Golf Course (817) 430-2000 Ridgeview Ranch GC The Club at Los Rios (972) 355-4800 The Course at Watters Creek

Public Public Public Public

(972) 941-7600 (972) 390-1036 (972) 422-8068 (214) 509-4653

RICHARDSON: Sherrill Park #1

Public

(972) 234-1416

WAXAHACHIE: Country View Golf Course Waxahachie Country Club

Public Public

(972) 227-0995 (972) 937-3521

Public Public

(817) 596-4653 (817) 441-1044

Public

(972) 429-5100

FORT WORTH: Hawks Creek Golf Course Public Meadowbrook Golf Course Municipal Pecan Valley Golf Course Municipal Rockwood Golf Course Municipal Saddle Hills Park Public The Golf Club at Champion Circle Semi-Private The Golf Club at the Resort Public Whitestone Golf Club Semi-Private

(817) 738-8402 (817) 457-4616 (817) 249-1845 (817) 624-1771 (817) 246-5012 (817) 497-2582 (817) 750-2178 (817) 249-9996

FRANKSTON: Pine Dunes Resort and Golf Club Public

(903) 876-4336

FRISCO: Frisco Lakes Golf Club The Bridges Trails of Frisco Golf Club

WYLIE: (972) 292-3089 Woodbridge Golf Course (903) 696-0022 (972) 668-4653

Public Semi-Private Public

WEATHERFORD: Canyon West Golf Course Oeste Ranch Golf Course

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

Squawvalleygc.com

254-897-7956

History * Heart * Hospitality

Hole 12

Hole 3

Glenroseexpo.org 254-897-4509

Somervell.co 254-897-3750

FEATURE STORY

Municipal Courses in North Texas are a great choice for golfers By Art Stricklin, Contributing Writer

Ronnie Glanton has been a Dallas-area golf professional for nearly three decades, the last 20 as the head pro at City of Richardson Sherrill Park Golf Course, but he has never seen North Texas golf in the situation it currently finds itself in. Buffeted by the Coronavirus as most people have been, locally and nationally, Glanton has seen city run golf emerge the clear winner as the DFW outdoor recreation choice with a chance to capture a new golf market. “It’s the first time in a very long time golf has been in high demand,” Glanton,

Sherrill Park Golf Course

the Northern Texas Golf Professional of the Year, said. “This spring you’ve had two options, go to the grocery store or Lowe’s hardware or go outside and go play golf.” “I think most people know that golf is safer, healthier and more fun than going to the grocery store. The $40-$50 you might spend at the bar after work, a lot of people are spending that at the golf course now.” Don Kennedy, the Director of Golf at the 63 holes at Firewheel Golf Course in Garland has found much the same thing.

Sherrill Park Golf Course

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

FEATURE STORY

The Champion at Firewheel Golf

“We are solidly booked with people who haven’t played for a while. They are working from home, they want to be outside where it’s safe and they don’t want to sit home. Maybe they’ve played golf 1-2 times a year and now they’re playing 3 times a week.” “We’re seeing a lot of new faces, for sure, along with the regulars.” All the courses in North Texas are following whatever guidelines are in place for golf in these challenging Pandemic times. All golf is either walking only or one person to a cart.There are no walk up times, all golf must be pre-reserved and paid either in advance or via precleaned credit card terminals.There is no 19th hole and limited food service.

Watters Creek Golf Course

On the course, no one can touch a flag stick, players must be six feet apart, there are no rakes in the bunkers, no ball washers and various measures to stop the ball from going in the hole or making it easier to pick it up. In short, pure golf with no frills with golfers still coming in droves. “We got this figured out,” said Plano’s Pecan Hollow head professional Steve Heildberg, standing outside the office and carrying a clipboard. “We’ve got the single rider carts and we got ½ of the tee times because of spacing, but we’re still full.”

Pecan Hollow Golf Course

The biggest winners in North Texas’ golf’s new normal is push carts, single riders in carts and, gasp, walking!

FEATURE STORY

Rockwood Golf Course

“When we started out as walking only, I was concerned, because I thought it would eliminate 50% percent of our regular crowd , but we have just as many walkers and new golfers who had never been here before,” said Jeff Holt who runs the City of Allen 27-hole golf course, Watters Creek. “I think this has shown people golf is a good sport to get out of the house and get some outside exercise,” he said. “We have different groups of people coming, but in the long run I think local golf is going to be better and stronger.” Indeed, walking with a push cart or with your own clubs in a carry bag has

Meadowbrook Golf Course

taken a huge step, no pun intended, forward in the North Texas spring. But there were none to be found lo-

PecanValley Golf Course

cally or via the internet and Dallas Golf is reporting a 1-2 month backlog in orders. “If I was in manufacturing, I’d be looking at some ways to build some single rider carts now for the future,” said Kennedy. “We all have to take precautions now, but people want to get out and play.” While Firewheel in Garland was shut down for more than a month before reopening the courses in early May, city-owned golf courses in Arlington and Fort Worth never shut down. “We have a mayor in Fort Worth who said we needed to get some TheTexasGolfInsider.com

FEATURE STORY

Arlington Golf, TierraVerde - 17th hole

outside exercise which included golf,” said David Lewis, Director of the Fort Worth golf courses, Rockwood, Pecan Valley and Meadowbrook. “We never shut down, but we went to single rider carts and 15 minute tee time intervals, with the proper distancing to make our courses go and get people out here.” Dallas golf pro Mickey Piersall, of Luna Vista Golf Course City of Dallas said “I think you are seeing some new interest in the game in Dallas and elsewhere. People are tired of TV and want to be outside and get some recreation.” “We had some people come out for the first time and just want to hit balls on the range and chip and putt and some people who haven’t been here in a while.

Texas Rangers Golf Course - Hole 10

There is no bad in that.” Piersall went on to say “We have had the cups raised up an inch, so you don’t have to pick up the ball and we’ve already had 2 Covid Hole in Ones. That’s what we’re calling them.You can still buy drinks for that.” In Arlington, city courses Tierra Verde, Lake Arlington and Meadowbrook as well as the new Texas Rangers Golf Club remained open during the Pandemic. They have been following the guidelines and procedures outlined by the

Arlington Golf, Lake Arlington - 14th hole

CDC, WHO and regulatory agencies, in addition to taking extra steps to provide a safe environment for all patrons and staff.

FEATURE STORY

Arlington Golf, Meadowbrook - 8th hole

“There are far less things for people to do outside the house, so they wanted to come to the golf course,” said City of Arlington golf director Greg Durante. “On the golf course, it’s pretty easy to social distance from six feet away.” Most golfers had no issues with the changes or regulations. They are happy to be able to play a round, some driving over an hour to find an open course. Grand Prairie’s two city golf courses,Tangle Ridge and Prairie Lakes were only shut down for 10 days in March, but city golf director Chip Nami, said most importantly, the famous BBQ served in the clubhouse stayed operational during the lockdown, even on a takeout basis. “We have the driving range back open now and six tee times an hour, which means we’re as full as we can be on half capacity. “18 holes at both Grand Prairie courses, Tangleridge and Prairie Lakes, are either walking or riding, but at the 9-hole course at Prairie Lakes, city golf officials

Tangle Ridge Golf Course

have offered a special deal. Golfers can walk only on the 9-hole course and can take advantage of an all-day rate to play it multiple times. Surprisingly, a lot of people like to walk, which I think is great for golf ” Free from pro sports on TV and kids sports leagues on the weekends, Allen’s Holt is seeing another positive feature. “We’re seeing a lot of parents with kids out here and that’s a perfect combination with us.” “We’re taking the virus seriously and we’re doing what we need to be doing, but I hope people are realizing that golf is a fun and safe activity and the newbies will be back,” Kennedy added. Holt said while the Corona Pandemic has hurt many industries, golf in North Texas and elsewhere has something to learn from this crisis.

Prairie Lakes Golf Course

“We’re going to be better and stronger for this. Sometimes you take things for granted and when we finally have them back we are more appreciative. That’s what I feel about golf.” For more information on North Texas Municipal run golf courses, check out their individual websites. www.sherrillparkgolf.com www.golffirewheel.com www.pecanhollowgc.com www.watterscreekgolf.com www.arlingtongolf.com www.fortworthgolf.org www.tangleridge.com www.prairielakesgolf.com TheTexasGolfInsider.com

Mont Belvieu, TX

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

Twilight

Mon-Thur $49 $36* Friday $49 $41 Weekend $63 $41 Holiday $63 $41 *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.

2800 Ted Dudley Dr Texas City, Texas 77592 www.bayougc.com

Call Today! 409-739-9622

GREATER HOUSTON | TEXAS COAST