Ongoing renovation of Riverside Golf Course is the talk of the Alamo City Golf Trail

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Things have never been better at the courses of San Antonio’s Alamo City Golf Trail, with play at the group’s seven open facilities at an all-time high and the courses in their best overall condition in recent memory.

The increase in rounds can be tied to the courses’ overall fun and playability and an uptick in interest in golf during and since the pandemic. Golfers can thank Mother Nature and plenty of rain for the lush turf and the steadfast work of the Trail’s golf superintendents for keeping the courses in prime shape.

The Municipal Golf Association of San Antonio (MGASA), also known as the Alamo City Golf Trail, is a non-profit corporation that has partnered with the City of San Antonio to operate the City’s eight golf facilities and be stewards of municipal golf. MGASA constantly improves the municipal golf courses so that San Antonio golfers will enjoy playing on premier courses at affordable prices.

If you’ve read this far you have seen that we said only seven courses are enjoying the fruits of the golf uptick and the increase in precipitation.

An eighth course, the venerable Riverside Golf Course on the city’s Southside, is closed and undergoing a complete renovation as marshalled by the Trail’s management and agronomists and is being conducted under the watchful eye of golf architect Jeff Blume. Blume most recently directed the renovation of the Trail’s Olmos Basin GC, which has received much acclaim.

Riverside GC’s 18- and nine-hole courses are in the midst of a complete redesign that will touch every aspect of the facility.

Originally opened in 1929, Riverside GC has long been a staple of the San Antonio golfing community, welcoming golfers of all ages and abilities. Located just four miles south of downtown San Antonio, Riverside GC is split by the San Antonio River, which separates the front and back nines.

Riverside’s front nine opened in 1929. In 1968 11 holes were added to make a full 18 holes, and the existing back nine was added in 1974.

Because the two sides were built at different times they offer differing experiences. The front features treelined fairways that penalize errant tee shots, while the back nine opens up with less trees and provides more birdie opportunities.

“The aim is to modernize the infrastructure of both the 18 and ninehole courses at Riverside while keeping them fun and inviting,” said Andrew Peterson, the president and CEO of the Alamo City Golf Trail. “It’s the latest move made by the Trail to improve the city’s municipal facilities and keep golf in San Antonio great and affordable. Things are going really well across the board here.”

The work at Riverside began at the end of November 2022 and is expected to be completed by this October, two months later than originally planned because of weather delays caused by rain. The redesign will including tees, greens, fairways, and bunkers; add new water features and refurbish others, some irrigation improvements as needed; repairs to cart paths; parking lot and landscape enhancements; an updated clubhouse and new clubhouse restrooms; new maintenance and golf cart storage buildings; and updated and new on-course restrooms.

While the routing itself won’t change, some holes will be lengthened and others made shorter. Go to www.alamocitygolftrail. com/2022-2023-riversiderenovation/ to see pictures of the process and get an idea of some of the changes being made.

The Alamo City Golf Trail is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that operates the City of San Antonio's golf facilities. We offer EIGHT unique golf experiences for you to enjoy.

Be sure to play Historic Brackenridge Park, the original site the Texas Open and the oldest municipal golf course in Texas.

Brackenridge Park - Est 1916

Cedar Creek - Est 1989

Mission del Lago - Est 1989

Northern Hills - Est 1969

Olmos Basin - Est 1963

Riverside - Est 1929

San Pedro - Est 1950

Willow Springs - Est 1923

by Art Stricklin, Contributing Writer