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Golf Insider TEXAS

Fall/Winter 2019

The Official Guide to Golf in Texas

Foresight Golf Providing World Class Golf

Inside: Vaaler Creek Golf Club Always Improving

Landa Park Golf Course Providing Perfect Stay & Play CBD Houston, LLC Golferâ€™s Advantage

Cypresswood Golf Club - Spring, TX

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FUN

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Contents 8

Cover Stories 6 WELCOME

HOW TO CONTACT US WITH GOLF NEWS AND STORIES

8 VAALER CREEK GOLF CLUB

MORE IMPROVEMENTS ON THE WAY

13 ROCKIN’ J RANCH

OVER 1,000 ACRES OF ROLLING HILL COUNTRY LAND

Vaaler Creek GC, Blanco TX 18 FORESIGHT GOLF MANAGEMENT

T G I

EXCEPTIONAL GOLF, REMARKABLE VALUE

26 LANDA PARK GC & GRUENE MANSION INN STAY & PLAY AT IT’S BEST

30 JUNIOR GOLFER TY ROBERTS REACHES OVER 100 WINS

36 EDWIN WATTS GOLF GET A JUMP ON CHRISTMAS 44 GENERAL DIRECTORY 46 MAP 47 ADVERTISER’S DIRECTORY

Cypresswood GC, Spring,TX

DALLAS/FORT WORTH 66 JACK NICKLAUS COURSE DALLAS ATHLETIC CLUB COURSE RENOVATIONS COMPLETE 42 GENERAL DIRECTORY

GREATER HOUSTON/TEXAS COAST 38 CBD HOUSTON LLC GOLFER’S ADVANTAGE

50 BAYOU GOLF COURSE A LITTLE SLICE OF HEAVEN 61 GENERAL DIRECTORY 62 MAPS 63 ADVERTISER’S DIRECTORY

Bayou GC,Texas City,TX

All Inclusive Golf Package Green Fee, Cart, Range Balls and Complimentary Hot Breakfast & Lunch Buffets

For Reservations:

(512) 252-Golf (4653) Book Online at :

www.Starranchgolf.com Located just north of Austin off the 130 Toll Road. â€“ 2500 FM 685 Hutto, TX 78634 Now Booking 2020 Golf Outings Call 252-4653 ext. 2 for details.

Call About Our 2020 Group Specials

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 National Sales: Tiffany Hobson Office: 505-331-3227 Director of Marketing: 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 Golden Nugget- Lake Charles 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.

WelcomeTexas visitors to one of the most enjoyable places on earth to play golf... Our courses inTexas are in spectacular condition and are ready for you to tee it up. I’m going to highlight just a few I think you need to put on your list to play this winter. I know you will enjoy your days inTexas on the links and thank you for using theTexas Golf Insider Magazine as your resource for the best golfing experience in the Lone Star State. For over a decadeVaaler Creek Golf Course at Rockin J Ranch in Blanco has been evolving and every year it keeps getting better. Do not pass up playingVaaler on your visit or winter stay, because if you do you will be passing up one of the most unique golf experiences in theTexas Hill Country. You’ll drive through Rockin J Ranch Community to get there. If you’re looking to make a move to the Hill Country or maybe interested in a second home, stop and take the tour. By doing so, you get 2-free rounds of golf to playVaaler Creek. How can you pass that up! To continue your golf journey, Foresight Golf Management has a family of golf courses in San Antonio,The Hill Country and Houston that you’ll want to put on your play list. I have played them all and each of them offer a phenomenal product at an affordable price. Make sure you page through our magazine and play the collection of several premier golf courses Foresight has to offer. Located just north of Galveston liesThe Bayou Golf Course inTexas City.This legendary course, designed byTexan Joe Finger, was built for golfers to have fun. The Bayou is one of the finest economical golf courses in southTexas. Not only is this course priced right but it’s a true coastal golf experience. So make sure you ink inThe Bayou to play a round before you make your way to the Bay. Publishers Special Note: I recently played Landa Park Municipal Golf Course in New Braunfels,TX. Wow! After spending nearly 7 million dollars in renovations several years ago it blossomed in to one of the most pristine golf courses in CentralTexas. Landa Park is a must play. Happy Holiday Golfing Mike Ratchman

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

Laid-back vibe, real golf challenge are the norms at

Vaaler Creek Golf Club

By Steve Habel, Contributing Writer

The late Penn State football coach Joe Paterno was fond of saying “If you’re not getting better you’re getting worse.” And while it’s doubtful that the folks that run the always great Vaaler Creek Golf Club here on the edge of the Texas Hill Country ever met Paterno, they’ve sure taken the refusal to stand pat practiced by the coach as a mantra. Vaaler Creek GC, the centerpiece of the expansive and secluded Rockin’ J Ranch community five miles south

Now, adhering to the mantra of always improving, Vaaler Creek has stepped up its game. Over the past year the course has lined the expansive pond that fronts the par 3 12th hole to ensure its always filled with water – a move more for aesthetics than playability. Next up will be the lining of the pond that separates the fairway from the devilish putting surface on the short par 4 second hole and filling it with water, and keeping it filled on a constant basis.

The course, one of the area’s best, gets better by not resting on its considerable laurels of Blanco, remains a place for excellent golf and a solid option that integrates challenge and fun in an isolated setting. The track was voted the nation’s No. 19 Best New Course for 2010-11 by Golf Digest, and the word has continued to spread about its playability and excellent conditioning, bringing players from as far away as the DallasFort Worth Metroplex and Houston to give it a try.

“It’s always been a part of our plan to make sure those ponds have water in them,” said Adam Grosch,Vaaler Creek’s Director of Golf and head professional. “It’s just another way we are working to create a second-tonone experience at our course for our members and our guests.” Opening the back nine in 2007, Vaaler Creek expanded to a full 18 two years later.The course was the first signature design by Michael Lowry,

COVER STORY

who fashioned a much-tougher-thanits-carded 6,874-yard, par-72 track among live oak and cactus. Lowry routed the layout along the rolling, scrub brush-filled prairies and worked in all sorts of cool features: ponds, sand hazards of sundry sizes, elevated tee shots and wavy, tree-lined fairways. The original marketing push for Vaaler Creek Golf Club employed a Texas football legend – none other than former Dallas Cowboys’ Hall of Famer Bob Lilly – to turn drivers’ heads toward billboards across the state. Now that the course is grown up, word of mouth and a bushelful of great reviews are enough to entice them to the property. “We were lucky that our owners had a solid plan to bring along the course and its amenities bit by bit; it’s a strategy that

allowed us to develop a following of golfers as we added to the things they would experience,” Grosch explained. Both nines at Vaaler Creek offer far-reaching views of the surrounding region and the generous homesite setbacks mean that the houses near the course are mostly out of sight and unobtrusive, adding to the course’s isolated feel. Given its length, golfers might think they can overpower Vaaler Creek, but finding success here is not that simple. The course has a variety

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

COVER STORY

of long and short holes, with shots involving strategically-placed bunkers and several carries over water. The course’s true last line of defense is its lightning-quick, mounded and segmented putting surfaces, which can make even the most aggressive players timid and prone to secondguessing. The 435-yard par-4 third is Vaaler Creek’s No. 1 handicap hole. It heads

downhill to a tapered landing area before rising slightly to the green.The fourth, a dogleg-right, 587-yard par-5, is played across a narrow creek that enters play on the second-shot lay-up or for big hitters who take a go at its back-to-front-sloping putting surface. You’ll be tempted to swing for the pin at the 355-yard par-4 seventh, but beware of trees on the right of the green and a newly constructed pond in front. Grosch said the change to a pond near the green actually makes the seventh more of a scoring opportunity, as golfers are more apt to play for position off the tee and hit wedges into the hole location rather than half-shots. If you get a little momentum from No. 7, take a chance at glory on the 520-yard eighth, which can be shortened by cutting the dogleg right; just don’t cut off too much.

COVER STORY

No. 9, a 163-yard par-3, has a huge back-to-front tilted green that demands precision. Its back-left flag may be one of the course’s least accessible as a shot five yards too long will bound off the green into a deep, collection area that almost assures a bogey or worse. The back-nine at Vaaler Creek is a bit more mature and not as severe as the newer outward half, but nevertheless just as much fun. No. 10 is a manageable par-5 with a split fairway off the tee and a huge green protected left by one of the course’s biggest bunkers.The aforementioned 195-yard 12th is Vaaler Creek’s longest one-shotter and involves a massive (now water-filled) lake, especially when the hole is cut on the left side of the green. It’s hard to find a better three-hole finish than at Vaaler Creek.The 515yard, par-5 16th races downhill past a pond along the right before ascending to a green guarded front-left by a cavernous bunker.The green slopes

back toward you from the fairway and, if the pin is at the right-front, there’s a backstop that might redirect your shot toward the hole. The par-4 17th rolls downhill and plays much shorter than its 425 yards. The second is over a babbling stream to an undulating and elevated green lined laterally by trees. Though the first 17 holes provide their share of thrills and chills, nothing prepares you for the 405-yard, par-4 closer.The drive here is best played long and downhill along the left side, but too far to the port side brings a lake into play.The approach is all carry and downhill over the water hazard, finishing at a putting surface in the shadow of the golf shop. Vaaler Creek has become a real favorite for Hill Country golfers and continually draws players from the region’s bigger cities.What makes the round here stand apart is its laid-back, friendly vibe that permeates from the folks in the pro shop, to those at the halfway house, and to the course itself.

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

Vaaler Creek Golf Club Escape to the Hill Country

228 Jeï¬€ Vaughn Blanco, TX 78606 www.vaalercreekgolfclub.com

For more information call 830-833-0706

COVER STORY

Rockin’ J Ranch – Texas Hill Country Living on a Handshake, Well Almost By Steve Habel, Contributing Writer

If you’re on the hunt for a community that epitomizes laid-back Texas Hill Country living, then look no further that Rockin’ J Ranch, an expansive private neighborhood five miles south of Blanco. Rockin’ J is just far enough away from the city to be remote and close enough to be convenient. Rockin’ J Ranch offers a little something of everything and is made special by the serenity and isolation that’s becoming just a bit too scarce these days. The appeal is illustrated more every day by the influx of new residents from San Antonio, from Austin, and from even the just-downthe-road town of Bulverde. “We see families in our office every day that live in Bulverde but are looking to move here because their neighborhoods have been swallowed up

by the urban sprawl from San Antonio” said Ryan Brubaker, Rockin’ J Ranch’s long-time sales manager. “Here, we offer the chance to get away from it all in a community that has amenities like those found in city communities.” Those amenities, first and foremost, include one of the most affordable tax rates in the Hill Country, a central water and sewer system – no septic tanks or wells here – and community perks that include a clubhouse and a pool, ponds for canoeing and fishing, and – perhaps most notably, one of the region’s most enjoyable golf courses – Vaaler Creek Golf Club. Rockin’ J Ranch is a 1,064-acre neighborhood of luxury homesites amongst rolling fields of flowers and stands of oak and cedar trees. It’s less than an hour north of San Antonio and just a short drive further from Austin, and is surrounded by TheTexasGolfInsider.com

COVER STORY

delicate Hill Country lifestyle with amenities that families desire for comfort and convenience. So far, so good, as the community continues to produce record sales year after year. The Colonel still offers in-house financing for his lots (he can still do business on a handshake) and still lives on the same ranch he originally developed. Roper still comes sprawling family ranches that provide a into the office to meet and greet with sense of one-ness with the land. potential customers. The development that’s become The original ranch presence has Rockin’ J Ranch is the brainchild been preserved with a handful of of Colonel Lee Roper, an El Paso businessman and 24-year Army veteran. 150-year old homes and landmarks being incorporated into the golf course Roper was entranced by the land here from the minute he set eyes on the sprawling tract more than 30 years ago. Roper has helped bring families to the Texas Hill Country via dozens of successful projects through his company, Rinco of Texas, a firm that has been ultimately responsible for developing more than 30 properties across the Hill Country. clubhouse as well as the track’s design. “We’ve developed and sold more All the street names in the community than 8,000 tracts of land over the past are named after Texas Rangers. 30-plus years,” Roper said. “I don’t The community also offers condos think anybody else has done that.” for rentals off the 10th tee of the One of the earmarks of Roper’s golf course, along with a nature park communities – including Rockin’ with hike and bike trails, an 80-acre J Ranch – is its use of a centralized equestrian center and a pavilion near water and sewer system rather than the community pool for after-golf the well water and septic fields used dining, entertaining and special events. in the majority of other Hill Country Rockin’ J Ranch has become a developments.That matters because melting pot of residents from across water is a precious resource and is so Texas and from coast to coast. “They scarce in the region – even more so are coming because of the beauty of the now than when Rockin’ J Ranch first Hill Country,” Roper said. “Everyone came on line. Roper’s ultimate vision for the future wants a little piece of the heaven we have here, and we try to help them.” and Rockin’ J Ranch is a balance of the

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

FEATURE STORY

Lake Charles Championship added to Korn Ferry Tour schedule for 2020

By Steve Habel, Contributing Writer

The Korn Ferry Tour will have its own Southwest Louisiana Swing beginning in 2020 with the inaugural staging of the Lake Charles Championship March 22-29 at The Country Club at Golden Nugget, the PGA Tour announced in August. The Lake Charles Championship is one of the newest tournaments on the PGA Tour’s developmental circuit and will join the Chitmacha Louisiana Open, which is held in Brossard, Louisiana about an hour to the east, as events in back-to-back weeks in Southwest Louisiana. Louisiana joins Tennessee, Missouri, and Illinois as the only U.S. states to host two Korn Ferry Tour events annually. “We are excited to partner with the Lake Charles/SWLA CVB to bring

Alex Balwin, Korn Ferry Tour President

Korn Ferry Tour golf to this region of Louisiana,” said Alex Baldwin, the president of the Korn Ferry Tour. “I am confident our players will enjoy a tremendous week of competition at the Golden Nugget while providing local golf fans a glimpse into the future stars of the PGA Tour.” The Lake Charles Championship will have a field of 156 players competing for a $600,000 purse. A five-year agreement is in place to keep the event in Lake Charles and at The Country Club at Golden Nugget through 2024. “We are proud to join the long list of successful destinations that are part of the Korn Ferry Tour” said Kyle Edmiston, president and CEO of the Lake Charles/SWLA Convention and Visitors Bureau. “I am positive that the Korn Ferry Tour players and staff will enjoy the wonderful hospitality provided by our community.” The Country Club at Golden Nugget opened in 2015 and was named to the list of Top Ten New Courses by Golf Digest and was honored as the No. 2 course in Louisiana in Golfweek’s Best of 2018 issue. With open fairways, immaculatelykept Bermuda greens, challenging holes, and unmatched scenery,The Country Club at Golden Nugget offers an exceptional resort golf experience.

FEATURE STORY

The $600,000 event on the PGA Tour’s development tour set to be contested at The Country Club at Golden Nugget March 23-29 The 18-hole, par 72 golf course on the bayou was designed by California-based architect Todd Eckenrode-Origins Golf Designs and offers 7,000 yards of challenging golf surrounded by native marsh landscaping. Golden Nugget Lake Charles will serve as host hotel and casino for tournament week. The property is a 242acre waterfront casino resort, featuring a 22-story tower, 30,000 square feet of meeting space, more than a dozen dining and bar options, a private beach, marina, spa & salon, retail corridor and expansive 24-hour casino floor. The tournament will be operated by Alabama-based Bruno Event Team with Steve Nieman serving as its tournament director. In addition to the Korn Ferry Tour, the company manages tournaments on the PGA Tour, PGA Tour Champions and LPGA Tour. With 50 available PGA Tour cards for the following season (since 2013), the Korn Ferry Tour is the path to the PGA Tour.Twentyfive Tour cards are reserved for the leading points earners at the end of the 24-event Regular Season.

Another 25 are up for grabs at the three-event Korn Ferry Tour Finals that follow the Regular Season in August and September. During the PGA Tour’s 2018-19 season, five players from the Korn Ferry Tour’s Class of 2018 have won titles, including Cameron Champ (Sanderson Farms Championship), Adam Long (The Desert Classic), Martin Trainer (Puerto Rico Open), Max Homa (Wells Fargo Championship) and Dylan Frittelli (John Deere Classic). Other notable PGA TOUR players who got their start on the Korn Ferry Tour include major champions Justin Thomas, Jason Day, Bubba Watson and Zach Johnson.

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

COURSES

Public Course

SAN ANTONIO | HILL COUNTRY | AUSTIN

MAP #66

Comfor t COURSE FACTS Number of Holes: 18 Par: 71 Architect: Art Schaupeter, ASGCA General Mgr: John Westly Superintendent: Ismael Toca Course Record: Tim Hobby, 61 Cooper New, 61

TEE INFORMATION Yardage/Rating/Slope: Forest: 6648 / 72.0 / 126 Blue: 6155 / 69.8 / 124 Stone: 5561 / 67.1 / 114 Copper: 4616 / 67.5 / 113

COURSE AMENITIES • • • • • •

Beverage Cart Service Beer & Wine, Snack Bar Email Specials Reward Program Banquet Hall Practice Facilities

The Buckhorn Golf Course

estled in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, The Buckhorn is one of Foresight’s most loved and lauded golf courses. Well known as a really fun golf course that is always in exceptional condition, The Buckhorn exceeds every golfer’s expectation. Just north of San Antonio, The Buckhorn is also an easy drive from Fredericksburg, Kerrville and Boerne with plenty of activities to enjoy after a great round. The championship layout utilizes a natural 100 foot elevation change, pristine creeks and valleys make for great vistas and drama for golf! The generous fairways and large smooth greens make for a friendly bogey or par, but to make a birdie or better you will need to land your ball on the correct section of the green. Friendly and fun, yet not easy, The Buckhorn may be the most memorable course you’ll play.

36 FM 473 Comfort, TX 78013

830-995-5351

www.buckhorngolfcourse.com

SAN ANTONIO | HILL COUNTRY | AUSTIN

Public Course

MAP #98

COURSE FACTS Number of Holes: 18 Par: 71 Architect: Roy Bechtol General Mgr: Ken Holubec, PGA Dir of Better Golf: Brian Marini Superintendent: Cortney Brown Course Record: Brian Marini, 63 Alistar Jones, 63

TEE INFORMATION

Yardage/Rating/Slope: Gold: 6913 / 73.0 / 136 Forest: 6387 /70.3 / 126 Blue: 6101 /69.3 / 123 Stone: 5447 /66.7 / 113 Copper: 4274 /65.2 / 101

COURSE AMENITIES • Email Specials • Reward Program • Banquet Hall • Full Bar & Grill • Practice Facilities • Beverage Cart Service

COURSES

Kyle

Plum Creek Golf Course

A Texas Course Like No Other

f it weren’t for the great golf and spectacular views, Plum Creek Golf Course would be loved for its wildflowers, natural beauty of live oaks, rolling hills and gorgeous area lakes. But with the great golf, Plum Creek is 18 holes of championship golf just south of Austin in the heart of Kyle Texas. Designed so that no two fairways touch, Plum Creek creates a unique sense of playing your own private golf course. With 5 sets of tees, you’ll find the perfect course yardage to challenge your game. At Plum Creek, you will enjoy unrivaled greens, a tranquil setting, and superb turf conditions. Come try us out and after your round, we invite you to stay for a cold drink and bite to eat in our recently remodeled Glenn’s Bar & Grill.

4301 Benner Kyle, TX 78640

512-262-5555

www.plumcreekgolf.com

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COURSES

Open to The Public

SAN ANTONIO | HILL COUNTRY | AUSTIN Corpus Christi MAP #96

Lozano Golf Center

TEE INFORMATION

Yardage/Rating/Slope: Black: 7027 / 74.3 / 123 Forest: 6612 / 72.5 / 119 Blue: 6085 / 69.8 / 114 Stone: 5388 / 71.0 / 117 Gold: 4524 / 66.2 / 107

COURSE FACTS Number of Holes: 18 Par: 72 Architect: Finger, Dye, Spann Gen. Manager: Lawrence Vera Superintendent: Javier Martinez Head Pro: Jay Monte Dir of Better Golf: Tiana Jones PGA

COURSE AMENITIES

• Email Specials • Reward Program • Executive 9 hole course • Practice Facility w/ lighted range, putting and chipping green • Bar & Grill • Beverage Cart Service

Open to The Public

The Lozano Golf Center, coined a golf gem on the Gulf Coast, is just minutes away from downtown and a must for your next golf trip.Working on your game?The Lozano Golf Center boasts the best practice facility in the Coastal Bend, complete with three hitting decks, a chipping green, putting green and quality range balls. Afterwards stop by the clubhouse which offers extensive and tasty menus to please your palate. Lozano Golf Center is the course Coastal Bend golfers go to when they want to have fun on the links! 4401 Old Brownsville Rd. Corpus Christi, TX 78405 361-826-8016 www.lozanogolfcenter.com

Corpus Christi MAP #97

Oso Beach Municipal GC

TEE INFORMATION

Yardage/Rating/Slope: Blue: 6223 / 69.9 / 119 White: 5728 / 67.1 / 112 Copper: 4967 / 68.3 / 114

COURSE FACTS Number of Holes: 18 Par: 70 Architect: John Beredemus Gen. Manager: Lawrence Vera Superintendent: Lewis Fry Head Pro: Jay Monte Course Record: Terry Yarbarough 62

COURSE AMENITIES • • • • •

Email Specials Reward Program Beverage Cart Service Practice Putting Green Bar & Grill

Oso Beach Golf Course, where you can walk in the footsteps of legends like Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson, features beautiful Seashore Paspalum greens and newly designed and renovated bunkers. After your round, cool off, relax and enjoy the clubhouse amenities providing a variety of relaxing beverages and home to the 16oz.Texas Size beer. Fun and friendly staff, exceptional course conditions and one of the best burgers in town is why golfers choose Oso Beach for fun on the links!

5601 S Alameda Corpus Christi, TX 78412 361-826-8010 www.osobeachgolf.com

SAN ANTONIO | HILL COUNTRY | AUSTIN

Public Course

MAP #64

COURSE FACTS Number of Holes: 18 Par: 71 Architect: Art Schaupeter, ASGCA General Mgr: Shane Pearson Head Pro: Ryan Munas Superintendent: Danny Holt Dir of Better Golf: KC Lim

TEE INFORMATION Yardage/Rating/Slope: Gold: 7007 / 74.3 / 128 Forest: 6622 / 72.3 / 126 Blue: 6147 / 71.4 / 123 Stone: 5540 / 65.5 / 109 Copper: 4683 / 67.2 / 114

COURSE AMENITIES • • • • • •

Email Specials Reward Program Banquet Hall Beverage Cart Service Full Bar & Grill Practice Facilities

COURSES

San Antonio

The Republic Golf Club Voted # 1 Course in town by Express News

elcome to the #1 course in San Antonio! The golf course design is fantastic, fun to play, and is home to the best collection of par-5’s for risk/ reward in the city. Located less than ten minutes South of San Antonio’s world famous Riverwalk, The Republic Golf Club offers exceptional golf conditions on all tees, fairways, and greens. Built along scenic Salado creek, the large stands of glorious oak trees, sculpted fairways and spectacular course conditions all mean that you will have an exceptional golf experience, day in and day out, whether you’re a weekend warrior or a scratch player. For golf outings and special events, The Republic’s adjoining banquet and event center can accommodate up to 200 guests and first-class service will be provided by our local, 5-star rated catering and events partner Got It Covered.

4226 S. E. Military Drive San Antonio, TX 78222

210-359-0000

www.republicgolfclub.com

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COURSES

Public Course

SAN ANTONIO | HILL COUNTRY | AUSTIN

MAP #65

COURSE FACTS

Number of Holes: 18 Par: 71 Architect: Keith Foster General Mgr: Bill Durbin Dir of Better Golf: JC Casarez Superintendent: Michael Thomas Course Record: Mike Carnes, 62

TEE INFORMATION

Yardage/Rating/Slope: Gold: 6909 / 73.7 / 134 Forest: 6368 / 70.9 / 128 Blue: 5847 / 68.6 / 124 Stone: Mens: 5204 / 65.4 / 110 Ladies: 5204 / 70.2 / 121 Copper: Mens: 4408 / 62.7 / 105 Ladies: 4408 / 66.0 / 113

N e w B r aunfel s

The Bandit Golf Club

culpted into the rolling terrain along Long Creek and the shores of Lake McQueeney, The Bandit Golf Club is an award-winning, championship golf course, open to public play. Just 5 minutes from downtown New Braunfels and 30 minutes from downtown San Antonio, freeway access to Austin or Houston make the Bandit a must play destination course for Texans. Recent improvements for warming up prior to your round include our new 12 thousand square foot practice green, which is part of The Bandit’s expansive practice facility. And if you’re from out of town or just need a long weekend away, ask about our stay and play packages at The Bandit Lodges, a relaxing way to complete your perfect golf vacation.

COURSE AMENITIES

• • • • • •

Banquet Hall Email Specials Reward Program Beverage Cart Service Full Bar & Grill Practice Facilities

6019 FM 725 New Braunfels, TX 78130

830-609-4665

www.banditgolfclub.com

FEATURE STORY

Public Course

MAP # 38

COURSE FACTS

Number of Holes: 36 Par: 72 General Mgr: Jonathan Roberson PGA Dir of Agronomy Collins Bean Dir of Better Golf: Tirrel Baymon PGA

TEE INFORMATION Yardage/Rating/Slope: Tradition Course Black: 7220 / 74.7 / 136 Blue: 6638 / 71.8 / 130 White: Mens: 6162 / 69.4 / 118 Ladies: 6162 / 75.5 / 134 Silver: Mens: 5441 / 66.1 / 116 Ladies: 5441 / 71.7 / 125 Cypress Course Blue: 6908 / 73.0 / 134 Forest: 6168 / 69.8 / 122 Silver: 5624 / 67.6 / 111

Spring

Cypresswood Golf Club

Two Unique Golf Experiences

magine not hearing the hum of a highway, imagine not having a single home flanking the fairways, imagine just you and a golf course that designer Keith Foster calls the best piece of ground in the piney woods of East Texas. Sculpted into the rolling terrain along the Spring Creek, Cypresswood Golf Club is 36 holes of award-winning, championship golf, open to public play. The Tradition course and the Cypress course are consistently rated as the top public play courses in the Houston area. Boasting an expansive practice facility and conveniently located just minutes from George Bush Intercontinental Airport, you will enjoy unrivaled greens, a tranquil setting, and superb turf conditions.You will enjoy perfect golf. Each hole is a masterpiece.You can play it again and again, never tiring of the identity that is delivered on every hole. Imagine a course Avid Golfer ranks top in its category. Welcome to Cypresswood Golf Club.

COURSE AMENITIES • • • •

Golf Academy Fully Stocked Pro Shop Online Specials Tournaments Welcome

21602 Cypresswood Drive Spring, TX 78222

281-821-6300

www.cypresswood.com

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FEATURE STORY

Wanna Bet? Golf Side Games

By Adam Grosch

If you ever get tired of the same old money game with your buddies, there are plenty of options out there to compete with other players. I can only touch the tip of the iceberg, but here are some different groups from around the state that are available for anyone to play with. One group that I recently joined is the Pan-American Golf Assoc. (PAGA). They have 32 chapters just in Texas, so no matter where you live you can join the organization. The annual dues are very reasonable and they host multiple tournaments throughout the state every week. Once you join a chapter you are eligible to play with any chapter, so your options are wide open. Each tournament is slightly different, but they have gross and net medal play as well as skins games. I’ve only played in a couple of tournaments so far, but they are a great group of guys and they love to gamble. Find a chapter near you at www.nationalpaga. org For more localized groups, here are a few options: Austin/San Antonio Austin Skins Game League—weekly games on Saturday’s and/or Sunday’s at multiple courses. They have options for skins, gross, net, and eagle pots. Green fees range from $33-$75 and the cash

game buy-ins range from $35-$100. They typically have 20-35 players each event. Find out more at www.austinskins.com and see their schedule at https://bit.ly/2lnwNUx Vaaler Creek Golf Club—weekly skins games on Friday and Sunday starting at 12:00 throughout the winter and 2:00 during Daylight Saving. Green fee with cart is $35 and $20 cash for the skins game, which is gross skins and CTP’s. For more information call 830833-0706. Houston Houston Amateur Golf Assoc.—individual stroke play events held on Sundays throughout the year at various courses around Houston.There is an annual membership fee, and you only have to pay for tournaments that you elect to play. They host around 25 events each year with up to 60 players each time. Each event has options for skins games, flighted net and gross score, “deuces wild”, and a hole-inone club. They also have a season long “player of the year”. For more information go to www.HAGA.org Cypresswood Golf Club—weekly skins game on Saturday starting at 12:00. Green fee is $40 and $20 cash for the skins game, which is gross skins, CTP’s and an aggregate par 3 game. For more information call 281-821-6300. In a skins game, the lowest score on each hole wins that hole. If two or more people tie for the lowest score, there is no winner for that hole. Depending on the size of the group there might only be a few holes won each round. Most skins games are based on gross score only, but there are a few out there that also incorporate net scores on each hole. If you know of any other weekly games or great groups that the public can join please email me at adamgrosch@pga.com and I will compile a list throughout the state.

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FEATURE STORY

New Braunfels’ Roberts reaches 100 junior wins By Kevin Duke, Contributing Writer

Ty Roberts has already had a golf career most of us can only dream of. And he’s just 16 years old. Roberts, a junior at Canyon High School where he is the No. 1 player on the team, recently won his 100th tournament as a junior golfer. His first official win came when he was just nine years old. Golf grabbed him at an early age, when he became enraptured with the challenge of the game. “It’s different than any other sport I’ve ever played, no sport is like golf,” Roberts said. “It’s the only sport that you can practice for years and still not be satisfied. There are people who have played golf for 30 years or more, and they are celebrating when they break 90.” Of course, that doesn’t really apply to Roberts, who regularly shoots under par. But he still struggles with the game in his own way. “One day you can go out and shoot 72, and the next you are holding on to an 85,” he said. “Every day is different.” Even with his 100 wins, he knows that it’s a game you never master. “I’m far from mastering it, I don’t believe anybody ever really masters it,” Roberts said. Ty Roberts -9 yrs old

Ty Roberts

The Wins Most of Roberts’ wins have come on various junior tours in Central Texas and throughout the state. Wins have come on the South Texas Junior PGA tour, the Prestige Tour and others. The only tours he has yet to win on are the AJGA and Legends tours. “I’ve played on pretty much every tour around the state,” Roberts said. “The AJ and Legends tours are the only ones I haven’t won on yet, but I’ve only played a couple of each.” “The AJGA tournaments are very competitive, it’s always double digits under par. They are definitely the best of the best.” Roberts low tournament round was a 65, his low personal round, an amazing 61.

FEATURE STORY

Getting the ball in the hole early in the round is a key when he’s playing his best, he said. “What gets me into my zone is when I start making putts early on,” Roberts said. “Its one of the major things I work on. If the putting goes good, the confidence in every other aspect of the game starts to increase as you’re playing.” The 7-under-par, 65, came at a tournament at the La Loma course at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio – Roberts won the tournament by 13 shots. Roberts wasn’t really sure how many wins he had until he and his father and coach, Dave Roberts, figured it out a couple of years ago. “One day we sat down and count-

Ty Roberts with dad, Dave Roberts, holding Trophy for STPGA Spring/Summer Championship

ed and we got to the number 60,” Roberts said. “In the past two years I’ve accumulated 40 wins, because that was our goal, to get to 100 before the start of my junior year.” In the last two years, Roberts got to those 40 wins with a couple of impressive winning runs. “Last year at one point I was 13 of 16,” he said. “A couple of good patches like that helped me to reach that goal a little quicker.” Even though he has pretty much dedicated his summers to golf since he was nine, Roberts has played other sports in school, including basketball and track. He realizes that while golf is an individual sport, it’s also a team sport in high school and college. “I’ve always believed that playing other sports helps build the team aspect in golf,” he said. “It’s not just all about you, and that applies to collegiate golf as well.” Roberts has collected “five or six” of his wins while playing for the team at Canyon High School, and TheTexasGolfInsider.com

FEATURE STORY

qualified for regionals last year after winning district. “I missed regionals my freshman year due to a lack of preparation on my part,” Roberts said. “I just wasn’t ready and made some poor decisions. But I learned from that and won district last year, proving that I could learn and bounce back.” Roberts shot a 68 in the first round of district last year at Plum Creek in Kyle, and finished the twoday event 1-over-par to win. “I advanced to regionals, but unfortunately didn’t have my best stuff there,” he said. “It was thunderstorms and lightning, I couldn’t quite catch a groove and fell a couple shots short.” He hopes to improve on that for his junior season. “My goals for this year are to win district again, and I definitely want a

Showing off his 68 from the first round of districts at Plum Creek

top three at regionals,” Roberts said. “But my personal goal is to win regionals and compete at the state championship and give it a good run for first.” “I know winning is tough in 6A, but I want to give it a shot and be there for the final day.” His dad and coach, Dave Roberts, has been his biggest supporter. “Champions do what others won’t, is what I learned from dad” said Roberts. “I try not to take anything for granted. He taught me whether it is school, golf or anything else, give it your all, not when it is convenient, but give it all the time.” It isn’t just about succeeding in golf for Roberts but also about succeeding in life. Not only a dedicated player and teammate, he portrays his integrity and honesty for the game in everything he does. He stays active in his school and community. Roberts is a two time

FEATURE STORY

in several fund raising projects for his school, helped raise money for Sutherland Springs victims and assists with Junior Clinics in the summer, always eager to share his love of the game. With an infectious smile and great work ethic he approaches each day with a great attitude and respect for his goals. He has recently been nominated for 2019 Junior Golfer of the Year.

Receiving medal from National Honors Society

Canyon High School varsity team captain, a member of the National Honor Society as well as the National Thespian Society, and recently appeared in the school play Titanic. He maintains an impressive academic record, an extensive volunteer schedule and has several athletic accomplishments. Roberts has participated

Red carpets and hopefully a Green Jacket in his future

Ty as J.P. Morgan in school play,Titanic

It is easy to imagine he will be as successful in life as he has been on the golf course. He is as well rounded as the golf balls he hits. We look forward to hearing about Ty Roberts in the future and look forward to cheering him on for many years and championships to come. TheTexasGolfInsider.com

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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

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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

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FEATURE STORY

The Grass Is Greener On The Other Side By Aaron Petersen

In a recent trip to Colorado, Aaron Petersen, Founder and President of CBD Houston LLC, secured a firsthand account of the 2019 crop report from the state. Upon arriving to Shakti Seed farm, Petersen was greeted by glistening fall colors and a wonderful aroma of sweet cotton candy. These photos from Petersen’s trip show a nearly matured crop inspected by the Colorado Department of Agriculture. This isolated hemp farm, registered with the Colorado Department of Agriculture and Shakti Bioscience Limited, is popular for its high-demand feminized seeds. These seeds are registered and legal, stable and top performers for CBD and minor cannabinoids. In 2019 the farm’s top-ranked plants for density were “T-1” and “Sweetgrass” followed closely by the “Chardonnay” and “Cobbler” varieties. These plant varieties can produce a feminized seed with high concentrations of CBD and above average minor cannabinoids. When founding his company, Petersen made it a priority to control each ingredient in his company’s products. Now, after three

Aaron Petersen

years working with reliable genetics, organic farming practices, solventless extraction methods, GMP Certified manufacturing and third party testing, CBD Houston LLC has a reliable and safe product to offer the masses. In his second year of operations Petersen privately funded several research projects and advocacy campaigns for the education of cannabis science. Contributions from 2017 to present date include donations to the National Hemp Association, Texas Cannabis Industries Association, and the Foundation for an Informed Texas to name a few. Having worked for not for profit political canvasses (501(c)3) in the 90’s, Petersen knows the value of proper research and education when working with our elected officials. In 2019 Petersen began devoting as much as 30% of monthly income for new

FEATURE STORY

research. Erin Council, head of research for CBD Houston, stated: “With a significant background in biology and chemistry and extensive time spent in a lab, I have developed a passion for research. Since working with CBD Houston, I have developed a new, deeper passion for cannabidiol research. Because some prescription medications produce adverse effects and even dependency, I aspire to educate individuals on safe medicine alternatives such as cannabidiol. I believe scientific data is difficult to understand for some individuals, so I have designed my work to provide clear

Erin Council, B.S. Research Biologist for CBD Houston, LLC

explanations of scientific data pertaining to cannabidiol’s role as an antipsychotic, antinociceptive, anticonvulsant, and anxiolytic agent. My research currently involves the therapeutic benefits of CBD in chronic pain management and CBD as an opioid-sparing medication.” At the same time the United States Department of Health and Human Services is advancing CBD research, the National Institutes of Health is investigating minor cannabinoids and terpenes for potential pain-relieving properties. The United States Department of Health and Human Services website stated: “Now, nine new research awards totaling approximately $3 million will investigate the potential pain relieving properties and mechanisms of action of the diverse phytochemicals in cannabis, including both minor cannabinoids and terpenes. These awards, funded by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), will strengthen the evidence regarding cannabis components and whether they have potential roles in pain management.” As a user of CBD Houston products this news made Aaron Petersen very happy. This year CBD Houston hopes to see the SAFE Banking Act pass. This bill will bar federal regulators from taking punitive measures against any depository TheTexasGolfInsider.com

FEATURE STORY

institutions that provide banking services to legitimate cannabis-related businesses and ancillary businesses. The legislation also includes language specific to hemp. This will clear the way for hemp stakeholders to get loans, open bank accounts and use credit card services, all of which have been difficult for hemp companies to obtain despite full legalization of hemp brought on by the 2018 FARM BILL. Bob Hoban has sponsored and presented many conventions around the U.S. to date. Aaron Petersen had the wonderful fortune to hear Bob speak at one of the 2017 Cannabis World Congress and Business Expos and later sought brief counsel as to how to operate in Texas. With services offered in Texas as well as other states, the European Union, Latin America and beyond, more info can be found at HOBAN.LAW. On state level you may visit: DSHS.TEXAS.GOV/CONSUMER PROTECTION/HEMP-PROGRAM. According to the website, â€œOn June 10 2019 Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1325 into law, to allow for the production, manufacture, retail sale, and inspection of industrial hemp crops and products in Texas. This includes products

for human consumption that may contain cannabidiol, also known as CBD, as well as certain other parts of the hemp plant.â€? The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) will be working with the Texas Department of Agriculture and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to implement H.B. 1325. In the meantime Texas allows for products to be sold that

Aaron Petersen kneeling at Pilates Treehouse

FEATURE STORY

are finished goods made in the state where the hemp was grown per that states’ laws. With quality products, advancing research, and progressive laws, CBD Houston LLC has a great outlook for the future of the industry. Enough so to launch a product line specifically for golf enthusiasts. Through innovation, quality and a belief in trust as the cornerstone of a strong, sustainable consumer brand, Aaron Petersen of CBD Houston along with the Texas Golf Insider will pursue test marketing of “Golfer’s Advantage”, a topical lotion designed for use on the go. Put Golfer’s Advantage in your bag for when you need it! Marketing will begin in early November in select pro shops in Texas. These products are designed and manufactured by a licensed esthetician and have been proven through third party testing to be a safe and reliable option. This topical lotion with quick absorption, pleasant scent and fast action will keep you in the game and ready for more! Aaron Petersen, Founder & President CBD Houston, LLC

Cannabidiol and Chronic Pain Chronic pain is nociceptive or neuropathic pain that persists for three or more months and affects the quality of life. While chronic pain is a burden in itself, it displays comorbidity with mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. Chronic pain arises as a result of pain receptors becoming caught in a state of hyperexcitability that leads to dramatic functional changes in peripheral and central neurons. The most common prescription for chronic pain, opioid drugs, are highly addictive with harmful side effects including respiratory depression. To no surprise, most individuals undergoing chronic pain treatment are not happy with their current treatment plan.

Cannabidiol is a safe, effective treatment option for chronic pain. Cannabidiol is a non-psychotropic phytocannabinoid that interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system to produce multiple therapeutic effects. Studies show, cannabidiol provides anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, neuroprotective, and analgesic effects without the risk of harmful side effects, dependence, or tolerance. Cannabidiol provides analgesic effects by modulating the activation of receptors expressed on neurons and immune cells that play a large role in chronic pain. Cannabidiol is proven to suppress inflammatory responses that cause hyperexcitability in pain receptors. In addition, cannabidiol suppresses the transmission of pain signals. Because cannabidiol is a multi-target drug, it may interact with more than one receptor at a time. Therefore, cannabidiol can simultaneously suppress inflammation and the transmission of pain signals while providing anxiolytic effects. Altogether, cannabidiol can attenuate chronic pain and symptoms of comorbid mood disorders. This information was gathered from “The Role of Cannabidiol in Chronic Pain Management: A Narrative Review”. For more information see: Council, E. (2019) The Role of Cannabidiol in Chronic Pain Management: A Narrative Review. Manuscript Submitted for Publication.

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

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

Semi-Private Semi-Private Semi-Private Semi-Private

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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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DESOTO: Thorntree Country Club

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EULESS: Texas Star Golf Course

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FAIRVIEW: Heritage Ranch Golf Course

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FERRIS: Old Brickyard Golf Course Tour 18

Public Public

FLOWER MOUND: Bridlewood Golf Club

Public

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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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

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(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

HASLET: Willow Springs Golf Course

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

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KELLER: Sky Creek Ranch Golf Club

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LANCASTER: Country View Golf Course

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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

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Gateway Hills Golf Course

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Fort Sam Houston Golf Course

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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 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 (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 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

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

PLAY THEM ALL

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

Laredo

127

ConCan

Harper

Utopia

Castroville

1604

Comfort

1604

725

Spring Brand

1431

52 54

Kyle

620

Marble Falls Leander

12 9 46 3 10 6 13 64 26 85 11

473

87 87

2342

Kingsland

55 53 50

130 84 1825

40 40

96 97

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 • • • • 25

(210) 695-5050

P 18

7150/74.1/131

• •

• • 25

72 6917/73.1/125

•

• • 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

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

P 18

www.myjbsa-fss-mwr.co

Grey Rock Golf Course

(512) 288-4297 M 18

(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 • • • • • 34

Landa Park Golf Course (830) 221-4340 M 18 73 180 Golf Course Rd., New Braunfels, TX 78130

6205/68.9/112 • • • • • 28

Lozano Golf Center (361) 826-8016 P 18 96 4401 Old Brownsville, Corpus Christi, TX 78405

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

6909/74.6/141 • • • • • 45

www.ftsammwr.com /recreation/golf.html

www.lagovistagc.com

www.landaparkgolfcourse.com

7027/73.9

• •

• • 20

www.lozanogolfcenter.com

Lions Municipal Golf Course

(512) 477-6963 M 18

6001/69.2/124 • • • • • 45

(210) 627-2522 P 18

7044/73.4/132 • •

• • 25

(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 • • • • • 25

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

(210) 826-4041 P 18

6847/71.8/131 • •

Oso Beach Municipal Golf Course (361) 826-8010 M 18 97 5601 S. Alameda St., Corpus Christi, TX 78412

6223/70

• • • • • 20

Plum Creek Golf Course (512) 262-5555 SP 18 98 4301 Benner Road, Kyle, TX 78640

6210/71

• • • • • 19

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

• • 25

www.osobeachgolf.com

www.plumcreekgolf.com

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

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

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

72 7172/74.5/125

•

• • 43

(956) 465-1141 P 18

•

• • 60

(210) 533-8371 P 18

72 6694/71.2/114

• • 25

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.myjbsa-fss-mwr.com

River Bend Resort & Golf

40 4541 Military Hwy. 281, Brownsville, TX 78520 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

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

6828/71.9/113

• • • • • 45 •

• • 25

6819/70.8/124 • • • • • 43

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

• • • • 5

The Bandit Golf Club 65 6019 FM 725, New Braunfels, TX 78130

(830) 609-4665 SP 18 www.

5905/67.6/

• • • • • 22

The Buckhorn Golf Course (830) 995-5351 P 18 66 36 FM 473, Comfort, TX 78013

6155/71

• • • • • 18

72 6211/72.1/137

• • • • • 71

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

• • • • • 55

The Republic Golf Club (210) 359-0000 P 18 64 4226 S.E. Military Dr., San Antonio, TX 78222 www.

71 7007/74.3/128

• • • • • 21

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

6864/73.0/140

• • • • 12

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

7221/74.6/130 • • • • 25

www.starranchgolf.com

banditgolfclub.com

www.buckhorngolfcourse.com

The Hideout

(325) 313-0904 P 18

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

6211/72/125

www.themaxlaredo.com

republicgolfclub.com

www.vcgc.golf

www.alamocitygolftrail.com

Find it all in the Texas Golf Insider

Golf

Dining

Accommodations

SAN ANTONIO | HILL COUNTRY | AUSTIN DIRECTORY

REAL ESTATE Rockin J Ranch | Map# 2 | Ad Page 13 288 John Price, Blanco, TX 78606 | www.RincoTX.com | 830-833-2266

Bash in the Box Boutique style Party Supplies

www.bashinthebox.com

www.bashinthebox.com

FEATURE STORY

Bayou Golf Course

Great Golf on the Gulf Coast

By Steve Habel, Contributing Writer

Golf is about enjoying the game, about the fellowship of competition, about being outside in the sun and the winds, and…ultimately, about memories made with friends and family. If there’s one golf facility on the Texas Gulf Coast that most epitomizes those ideals, it’s Texas City’s iconic Bayou Golf Course, one of the region’s friendliest and most playable places to tee it up and roll it in. Those notions are expanded on by the people who run and serve the customers of the golf course – there’s something to be said, especially in these days and this age, about a warm greeting, a friendly

smile and attention to detail from goodhearted folk. Bayou Golf Course has those bases covered in a big way. As for the course itself, the Bayou’s 6,596-yard par-72 track has a little bit of everything, with plenty of challenges for every level of golfer. The hybrid links/parkland-style course was originally designed by legendary Texan Joe Finger back in 1974, and was restored in 2014 by Houstonian Mike Nuzzo. Nuzzo was tasked with creating consistency on the putting surfaces in order to add hole placement options and to be able to really challenge the golfer when severity is called for.

FEATURE STORY

“When things are right with this course, we can get the greens rolling to 13 on the Stimpmeter and, with the undulations added in, can create as challenging a round of golf as you would ever want,” said Michael Skiba, the head professional and director of golf at Bayou Golf Course. “But for the most part, our course is a place where you can have fun playing golf with friends – and that, to me, is what golf is all about.” Bayou Golf Course is just a short 14 miles shy of the Galveston city limits and is located in Galveston County on the outskirts of Texas City.The track is carved out of about 200 acres along Moses Bayou which skirts the property as the tributary makes its way to Galveston Bay and the

Gulf of Mexico, with the routing bringing water into play on 12 of the holes. There are also 18 sand bunkers scattered about to form a formidable combination with the course’s slightly elevated tees and greens. Winds off the bay and the tides constantly affect this open course, making it play longer than the yardage on the scorecard and more difficult that its 71.1 rating and 123 slope. From the tips, every par 5 plays at more than 500 yards and four of the par 4s are carded at over 400 yards.

Nuzzo’s renovation (bankrolled by Texas City to the tune of $870,000) increased the size of the putting surfaces – most notably on Bayou’s first eight holes – by an average of 5,000-square feet. The greens were turfed with Mini-Verde Bermuda, chosen for its hardiness and overall quality, and those putting surfaces have never been better than they are right now. The renovation did not add any length to Finger’s original course – none was needed thanks to the winds – but it was returned to the playability level originally envisioned by Finger. “We were not trying to make the course harder,” Nuzzo said. “We just wanted to create a consistent experience from hole to hole.” Bayou Golf Course’s scorecard features a great mix of holes, including the ending stretches to both the front- and back-nines that help determine a successful round here.

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

FEATURE STORY

After two relatively benign holes to start the round, the 414-yard par 4 third hits you like a cold slap in the face. It plays into the prevailing Easterly wind, with water all along the left on the approach and trees along the right aside the optimum landing area.The bayou also skirts behind the smallish and undulating putting surface at the back-left. Par here is like having a prayer answered. The 414-yard par 4 No. 6 is tough because the drive must be short of the bayou, some 225 yards off the tee, and the approach asks for another wind-affected long iron to another tiny green. The postage stamp, par 3 seventh – playing at just 134 yards from the back set

of tees – was one of the holes most affected by the renovation. It’s followed by the 502-yard par 5 eighth, which can be reached in two under the correct execution from the golfer and the perfect wind conditions, and the 423-yard ninth, which is the longest twoshotter on the outward nine. No. 10 involves a lake off the tee and on the approach and out of bounds on the left, but, as a 481yard par 5, birdie or better is within the grasp of the daring and talented golfer. The back-nine concludes with a demanding four-hole test.The 573-yard par 5 15th is the longest hole at the Bayou that features a double dogleg, and is followed by the deadly and long 191-yard par 3 16th. The 17th, at 457 yards, is a doglegleft with a stout carry across the turn to the fairway and the longest par 4 on the course.Trees also guard the left side, which if taken on successfully, can shorten the approach, but if not achieved can lead to bogey or worse. Master that hole with its challenges and elevated green and you’ve really done something, pal. The round wraps up with a 393-yard par-4 that’s considered one of the best finishing holes in the area and features water along the left side and a deep bunker that guards the tournament hole placement back-left.

FEATURE STORY

Bayou Golf Course also sports a 13,000-square foot putting green adjacent to the clubhouse. One of the best parts of the facility is its five-and-a-half acre walking family pitch-and-putt course that helps grow the game by benefitting both the skilled golfer looking to hone his or her short-game skills (and who isn’t) as well as the beginners just learning about how great golf can be. “We love to see families and beginners to golf out on the pitch and putt course, which has holes that play from 60 to 90 yards,” Skiba said. “That’s our future right

there, and when we see how much fun they are having we know we will do all we can to continue to provide that experience

to them as they decide take on our regulation course.” Some of the Bayou’s best features might be the area’s blue skies and the course’s radiant palm trees that seem to light up and highlight each hole along the links. “I’ve worked at every level of golf course and truly love what we are able to do here, from the course itself, to the family pitch-and-putt, to our efforts with our First Tee program, which helps our younger players and is run entirely by volunteers,” Skiba said. For parts of five decades, this course has welcomed golfers of all skill types and has never been better; it still the best option for budget-conscious golfers or those looking to escape the intensity of other competitive courses.

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.

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

GREATER HOUSTON | TEXAS COAST