Golf Destination: San Antonio, TX
With a history rich in tradition and culture, San Antonio stands as one of the truly great American cities. The city offers an aesthetically appealing blend of traditional, Spanish-influenced style, and 21st century architectural lines to offer a diverse and interesting metropolitan area.
Sites
such as the Alamo, River Walk and the Trail of Spanish Missions most certainly
are among the finest examples of United States historical reference. Add to that
an eclectic mix of arts, fine cuisine and entertainment, and you begin to
understand what makes this city so attractive.
The game of golf has been a tradition in San Antonio for many years. The first 18-hole public course, Brackenridge Park, was opened in 1915, and the course hosted the first Texas Open — one of the oldest running events on the PGA Tour — in 1922. The Texas Open (now played on the resort course at La Cantera Resort) is still one of the premier events on the PGA Tour. The city also hosts the SBC Championship — a high profile event on the Champions Tour (formerly known as the Senior PGA Tour). In 1968, the 50th PGA Championship was held at Pecan Valley Golf Club in San Antonio.
In recent years, San Antonio has recognized the marketability of the area’s wide variety of golfing options for area visitors, and is now promoting itself as a golf destination.
The metropolitan area, which is home to some 1.6 million people, has a wonderful array of traditional older courses, resort courses, and modern gems to satisfy any golf enthusiast’s needs.
A key factor in making the area an attractive golf destination is the climate. In San Antonio, golf is played year round, with the prime months being March, April, November and December. The average daily temperature in March is 73 degrees, and in December it is 64 degrees, so for golfers who live in a climate like Kansas City, it’s quite comfortable. The temperature rarely drops below freezing even on the coldest of days, and the area averages 300 days of sunshine per year, thus offering unlimited golfing opportunities.
Without a doubt, the varied terrain surrounding this beautiful city also adds to its allure as a golf destination.
Within the city limits, you will find everything from tight tree-lined municipal courses and wide open public courses, to beautiful private courses (which you might be able to play if you are a member at another private club) and even a course built in an old quarry site.
As you travel north out of the city, you begin to navigate the beautiful Texas Hill Country which lends itself magnificently to golf course architecture. There you will find the spectacular resort courses that San Antonio is noted for.
In all, there are 22 public access golf courses within an easy drive from downtown San Antonio. Add to that three outstanding golf resorts, plus several military and private courses which may be available for play, and your options are plenty.
Although opinions may vary on which courses are the best, there are certain facilities that seem to speak for themselves. Listed below (in alphabetical order) are some of my favorites. Play any of these and you’ll have a unique experience that will be firmly seated in your memory bank.
Municipal and Daily Fee
Brackenridge Park Golf Course - Designed by A.W. Tillinghast (yes, the same A.W. Tillinghast who designed Kansas City’s historic Swope Memorial), Brackenridge is located just minutes from downtown. A true shotmaker’s course, massive oak and pecan trees are abundant on the front nine while the back nine is more open and forgiving.
From a historical standpoint, a visit is a must. This is also the course where legendary Kansas City golfer Harold "Jug" McSpaden fired a record setting 59 in a practice round with Byron Nelson prior to the 1939 Texas Open. The scorecard still hangs on the wall in the pro shop.
Cedar Creek Golf Course - Located about 30 miles northwest of downtown, Cedar Creek is situated where the beauty of the Texas Hill Country begins.
Texans rank this as one of the top municipal courses in the state — and for good reason. The natural beauty of the limestone outcroppings, oak thickets and flowing creeks are a wonderful compliment to an outstanding golf course. The multi-tiered target greens will test your short game and your putting stroke.
Golf Club of Texas - Designed by Lee Trevino, The Golf Club of Texas opened in 2000. The course winds through the ranchland about 30 minutes west of downtown. The clubhouse is a massive, traditional-style, Texas ranchhouse structure and the golf course is fun to play. The greens roll fast and true, and the fairways are wide open and forgiving. However, if you hit the ball in the brush just off the fairway, watch out for rattlesnakes.
Olympia Hills Golf Club - Designed by the Finger, Dye and Spann Group, this stunning layout is operated by KemperSports Management (who also manage Falcon Ridge and several other courses in the Kansas City area). The 18-hole layout made its debut in February of 2000 and has received high praise from golfers and critics alike.
The course, located northeast of downtown San Antonio, measures 6,923 from the championship tees and features Bermuda grass and four sets of tees. The undulating layout boasts native South Texas vegetation and wildlife that can be seen throughout.
Pecan Valley Golf Club - This is a must play course. Pecan Valley is always ranked as one of the top public courses in the United States and is deserving of the many accolades it receives.
A true championship layout in a park-like setting, the course features huge hardwood trees which line the fairways and frame the greens. Playing this course is the proverbial "stroll in the park." This is your chance to play a truly historic course that will test your mettle. The par 71 course plays at just over 7,000 yards from the tips. In 1968, Julius Boros edged Arnold Palmer on the 18th hole to win the PGA Championship here.
Silverhorn Golf Club - This gently rolling, fun-to-play golf course is located just a couple of miles due north of the airport and would make a great choice for your first or last round in the San Antonio area. Lots of water (on 12 of the 18 holes) and dense oak thickets add to the challenge. A good value and great course conditions make this Randy Hackenkemper (with assistance from PGA Tour pros Willie Wood and Scott Verplank) design worth a visit.
The Quarry Golf Club - Very interesting — to say the least. The Quarry is a wonderful 18-hole championship design by Keith Foster that offers a wide-open links-style front nine, and an amazing back nine built within the 100-foot-tall limestone walls around its perimeter.
The 86-acre former quarry which contains the back nine provides quite a challenge. A large pond on the quarry floor guards par on the 10th through 16th holes, and 17 and 18 play along a ledge which winds back up to the beautiful clubhouse. You’ll need to be prepared for shots that must carry over rock chasms on the back nine, and long par 4s that demand accurate approach shots are the norm throughout the course. Located about 10 minutes north of downtown, keep an eye out if you arrive by air, you’ll get a great view of the course.
Golf Resorts
Hyatt Hill Country Resort - A wonderful destination resort situated on 200 tree-covered acres in northwest San Antonio. The resort features an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Arthur Hills (complete with great practice facility), a 550-room hotel, and a really cool 4-acre water playground for children and adults.
The course is fairly forgiving off the tee (there are four sets of tees throughout the course), yet the greens are well-guarded by sand and grass bunkers. Several of the par 4s are over 450 yards offering all the challenge you’ll want.
In addition to a wonderful resort — which recently received a $3.5 million facelift — the Hyatt Hill Country Resort also boasts a world-class spa facility. Windflower Spa opened in 2002 and is designed to resemble a late 1800s ranch house. Distressed timbers and earth tone colors mix with state-of-the-art spa treatments to enhance the resort’s attractiveness.
La Cantera Resort - Wow. From the second you arrive at this luxury resort it’s apparent that you are in the midst of something special. Incredible service, meticulous attention to detail and two of the finest courses in Texas are what you’ll find at Westin’s La Cantera Resort, some 20 miles north of San Antonio in the beautiful Texas Hill Country.
Ranked
#2 on the "Top 30 Resorts in North America" by Conde Nast Traveler, the
$115-million hilltop retreat combines the best in golf with the best of luxury.
The 508-room resort offers luxury accommodations (they have the most comfortable mattresses in the world), six pools (and three hot tubs), health club and spa services, tennis courts, unique dining and a kids club.
La Cantera plays host to the PGA Tour Texas Open every year, and according to Roger Twibell, Kansas City native and arguably television’s finest lead golf commentator, it’s "the most popular Tour stop for the families of the contestants." Why? That’s easy. This resort is simply one of the top golf resorts in the world (not to mention it’s right across the street from Fiesta Texas — one of the state’s top family attractions).
La Cantera — which literally means "The Quarry" — offers a "Valley of Golf" featuring 36 unique golf holes. The Resort Course (site of the Texas Open) was designed by the team of Jay Morrish and Tom Weiskopf. Playing at 7,000 yards from the tips, this par 72 course is very forgiving and offers some magnificent views.
Like the Resort Course, the newer Palmer Course is also visually stunning but a notch above in difficulty. Arnie has created an unforgettable golf experience that will test you on every shot. For a tune-up on your swing, try the La Cantera Golf Academy. Dr. David Cook, one of the nation’s leading sports psychologists, also calls the Golf Academy home and can help you with the mental side of the game.
The resort sits atop a hill overlooking both courses and is overflowing with first-class amenities. The gardens, pools and paths provide a soothing respite after a day of golf.
The romance and beauty of the Texas Hill Country are alive and thriving at La Cantera.
Tapatio Springs Resort - A little out of the way, but if you want to focus on playing in the Hill Country north of town, the hour drive is worth it. The par 72 course is carved out of the beautiful oak hillsides, and the spring-fed creeks and an abundance of wildlife make for a memorable experience. The resort offers a great value for the price and a chance for you to journey into the wonderful bed and breakfast communities of Fredericksburg and Boerne. Be sure to check out the Texas sunset from the dining room at the resort. You will be entertained by the brilliant colors of the Hill Country and the hundreds of deer that make their way onto the 18th fairway at the end of the day.
Whether you stay at one of the historic River Walk properties, at one of the golf resorts, or a B&B in the Hill Country, you’ll be within a short drive of some great golf. Both the accommodations and the golf rates are very reasonable in the San Antonio area. You can easily find a comfortable room for less than $100 per night, and green fees will run from $50 to about $125 for the high-end courses. San Antonio’s intriguing charm, warm hospitality and close proximity to Kansas City make it a great golf destination.
For a free San Antonio Golfing Guide visit www.San AntonioVisit.com.