Volume 8, Issue 1 • January/February 2015 cordilleraranch li V in G. co M + 2014 YEAR IN REVIEW CLUBS VACATIONS FROM THE MOUTHS OF BABES FITNESS FOR YOUR GOLF GAME AND MORE B e Y ond T he dia M ond JOSH BECKETT
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Stop in and see us, our associates are ready to assist you. • Irrigation Installation and Repair (including water efficient drip irrigation) • Outdoor Kitchen • Lot Clearing, Cedar Tree Removal and Mulching • Outdoor Lighting • Hardscape (including Fire Pits, Seat Walls, Retaining Walls, Flagstone Patios, Stained and Stamped Concrete, Arbors, Pergolas, Split Rail Cedar Fencing, and more) your local Design Build Firm servicing the greater Boerne and Texas Hill Country, as well as North San Antonio. Architectural color rendered master plan including brilliant images and plant descriptions in both 2D & 3D, outlining 10 months of color with a balance between evergreen and deciduous foliage containing movement throughout, resulting in low maintenance, drought tolerant and deer resistant landscape. Specializing in: Other Features: 32255 IH 10 West, Boerne, TX 78006 | Tel: 830.816.3200 | Fax: 830.249.3090 www.acacialandscapeanddesign.com
FEATURES 32 Beyond the diamond Former World Series MVP Josh Beckett talks life after a storied Major League Baseball career. BY MICHAEL MANCHA 52 FITNESS AND GOLF Improve your game by improving your fitness with TPI certified trainers at Cordillera Ranch. BY ANN-KRISTIN AND GEVIN ALLEN 58 yea R in R e V ie W A look back at 2014 and the incredible accom plishments achieved. BY CHARLIE HILL ALSO INSIDE: 16 Welcome letter 18 cAleNDAr oF eVeNtS 22 From the clubS mANAger 26 rANch SceNe 28 golF 38 StAFF ProFIle 40 corDIllerA rANch hIStory 42 outDoorS 46 From the mouthS oF bAbeS 48 DININg 54 bIrDINg At corDIllerA rANch 66 mIke SherIDAN retIreS 68 home tour 74 corDIllerA rANch reAl eStAte 8 | January/february 2015
PURE CUSTOM HOMES - always specifically designed to meet the needs of the client, and always very site specific. We offer incomparable supervision and interior design consultation, and value our longstanding vendor relationships. The collaborative effort of our experienced team brings critical, creative thinking and value to the homebuilding process. 69 AUGUSTA AVAILABLE | HILL COUNTRY CONTEMPORARY | MLS# 997966 If you’re in the market for a new home just ask any of our current and former clients, and along with rave reviews of quality and creativity you’ll hear the intangible reasons for our success first hand. Thank you to each of our 80+ friends and clients of Cordillera Ranch for allowing us the opportunity to be a part of your team. ROBERT S. THORNTON, LP – GREAT HOMES 507 EAST BLANCO, BOERNE TEXAS 78006 830 249 3646 | WWW.RSTHORNTON.COM cordillera ranch P re F erred BU ilder
CALL TODAY FOR A COMPLIMENTARY PLAN OR LAND CONSULTATION 830.980.4198 | Info@StadlerCustomHomes.com | StadlerCustomHomes.com SUPERIOR QUALITY, CUSTOM HOME CONSTRUCTION FROM $500,000 Details MAKE THE DIFFERENCE cordillera ranch P re F erred BU ilder
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• Our expectation is to provide professional design and construction expertise in hopes of earning trust and creating a timeless, well-built home. All framing is designed and inspected by our structural engineer along with our foundations. IN
Garner Custom Homes is an award-winning custom home builder in Boerne and the Texas Hill Country. Since 1998, Garner Custom Homes has been designing and building custom homes, uniquely and exquisitely.
After interviewing several high quality custom builders,my wife and I chose Garner Homes to build our dream retirement home.We could not be happier with our home.We consider the entire Garner team our friends.We could not recommend them more strongly.”
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CORDILLERA RANCH
Mark and Marcia Pratt 2320 Clubs Drive (210) 493-1686
cordillera ranch P re F erred BU ilder CordilleraranchLiving.com | 15
w EL c O m E
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Benjamin ben.weber@smvtexas.comWeber
Charlie Hill Vice CordilleraPresidentRanch
CORDILLERA RANCH DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
PUBLISHERS: SMV Texas Design Group, LLC / Cordillera Ranch Development Corporation
16 | January/february
Feature article photography provided by West Vita Photography. 830-431-1157, www.westvita.com Cover photograph provided by Ben Weber, 830-285-5477, www.benweberdesign.com
Clubsinfo@cordilleraranch.comCordillerainfo@smvtexas.com210-507-5250RanchSales830-336-3570ofCordilleraRanch830-336-9000
CONTACT: Cordillera Ranch Living Magazine 930 E. Blanco, Ste. 200, Boerne, TX 78006
Your house is on fire. Fortunately, you and your fam ily are away from home but your entire life’s worth of photos, personal possessions and family mementos are inside helplessly waiting to become charred remains of what you once had. Tragic and remote as it may sound right now, what do you do in that moment? What do you wish you had done before that moment? While you can’t ever be perfectly prepared for such a random event, you do have an opportunity to improve the odds that the response to an emergency situation is as effective, efficient and timely as possible by sup porting the 2015 Cordillera Shindig and its sole beneficiary, the Bergheim Volunteer Fire Department. It’s not just about putting out fires. It’s emergency response teams. It’s mak ing sure that the Bergheim Volunteer Fire Department has the equipment and resources to help stabilize you as a first responder to your car accident, heart attack or other emergency health situation. The fact is that if you’re in Cordil lera or one of the other 10 surrounding neighborhoods in their 51 square mile coverage area, the Bergheim Volunteer Fire Department is probably going to arrive before EMS, Life Flight or other emergency crews.
SMV TEXAS DESIGN GROUP, LLC CEO/PRESIDENT Benjamin D. ben@smvtexas.comSchooley
Your contributions will be tangible; they will go directly towards the BVFD’s goal of acquiring a pumper truck, which will dramatically improve the flow and capacity of water the BVFD can bring to the scene of an emergency. This translates to a greater likelihood that they’ll be able to save your house or your loved ones in a fire; if anything is truly priceless that’s it. Furthermore, your contributions are tax deductible since the Shindig is a 501C3. Your sup port of the Shindig and BVFD is greatly appreciated and is critical towards reaching their goal of $400,000 for the 2015 Shindig, which will go towards purchasing the new pumper truck.
The BVFD is so important to this area that the Shindig Board – for the first time in several years – has made it the sole beneficiary of the 2015 Shindig. Because of that, the 2015 Shindig, planned for May 2nd at the Cordillera Ranch Clubhouse, will impact more lives than all of the other prior Shin dig fundraisers. The overwhelming response and support for the Shindig is evident with half of the tables already sold at the opening night event a few weeks ago. As a Cordillera Ranch community and surrounding area, people seem to be recognizing the importance of supporting the BVFD.
Y
Cordillera Ranch Development is stepping up to the plate as well in sup port of the Shindig and the BVFD: Cordillera Ranch agreed to donate $500 from every developer lot sale starting this past summer up until the Shindig event on May 2nd. Thus far, Cordillera Ranch has donated nearly $10,000 and hopes to donate much more leading up to the event, in addition to other contributions that Cordillera and the Club provide for the Shindig. Aside from the great benefit this event provides, it’s one of the best parties you’ll attend. It’s not the typical simple fundraiser; it’s an incredibly wellplanned, fun evening with live music, contests, a casino, unique prizes, 5-star dining and, as they say, a good time for a good cause. And really, is there anything more valuable than your health and safety in the event of a serious emergency? This is your chance to help the Bergheim Volunteer Fire Depart ment before the emergency occurs. Go to cordilleraranchshindig.org to learn how to donate buy tables or become a sponsor.
VICE PRESIDENT Charlie cphill@cordilleraranch.comHill
www.facebook.com/cordillera.ranchwww.cordilleraranch.com830.336.3570
Cordillera Ranch Living is published bi-monthly through a joint venture between Cordillera Ranch Develop ment Corporation and Schooley Media Ventures, LLC. No reproduction in any form is authorized without the consent of both Cordillera Ranch Development Corpo ration and Schooley Media Ventures, LLC. Cordillera Ranch Living is a registered trademark of Cordillera Ranch Development Corporation. 930 E. Blanco, Ste. 200, Boerne, TX 78006. Printed in the USA. All rights reserved 2008. All rights reserved. No responsibility is assumed for unsolicited submissions. Manuscripts, pho tographs, and other submitted material can be acknowl edged or returned if accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. The content contained does not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of Cordil lera Ranch Development Corporation, Schooley Media Ventures, LLC, or Cordillera Ranch residents. Cordillera Ranch Development Corporation and Schooley Media Ventures, LLC assumes no liability for misinformation, omissions, or errors.
LIVING
2015
To make reservations for any of these events, please contact the Club reception desk at 830.336.9000, or reserve your spot online at clubsofcordilleraranch.com. Come check out the new Ranch Menu available every day! Great new features! calendar : MEMBER TRADITIONS Tuesday FIESTA BUFFET $15.95 Adults and $7.95 for children under 10. 5-9pm. Join us for a South Texas Favorites featuring Beef & Chicken Fajitas. Chicken Enchiladas with Salsa Verde, Beef Taco Salad, Guacamole, Queso, Rice, Beans and all the fixings. Enjoy $5 Blue Margaritas and $4 Mexican Beer. Wednesdays CORDILLERA RANCH GOLD RUSH We will draw a member’s name from our membership roster. If that person or anyone in their immediate family is in the main clubhouse at the time of the drawing they will be awarded the current club credit. ($50 added for next week’s drawing if winner is not present). Wednesday Evenings Come and sample Manny’s wine picks of the week! Thursay-Saturday Evenings CORDILLERA RANCH’S SIGNATURE DINING MENU Join us for dinner at the club as we spotlight our chef’s finest steak and seafood features, delivering an unparalleled fine dining experience Friday Evenings SIGNATURE DINING Featuring live entertainment from 6-9pm. Join us for an elegant dining experience, live music, and chef’s finest features. Advance reservations strongly suggested. Sunday FAMILY MEAL FEATURE $15.95++ Adults $8.95++ for children 10 and under. 11am-8pm. Remember when Mom used to cook Sunday family meals? We do! Come join us as the club for some home style cookin’! 18 | January/february 2015
February 6th RED NIGHT OUT Friday , February 6th 6:30pm – 10:00pm $100++ Couple Red Night Out celebrates “Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus “ with a classic night of food, tasty libations, dancing and merriment. We are inviting all of the ladies to dress in red & gentlemen in your best cowboy tuxedo. Couples will start their evening with ladies in the main dining room and gentlemen in the Men’s 19th Hole. Ladies will enjoy a Communal Fondue Feast featuring Akaushi Beef, seafood, cheeses, fruit and veggies matched with wine flights paired to enhance their dining experience. Gentlemen will enjoy a single malt tasting featuring scotches whiskies from the Lowlands and Highlands of Scotland ,while enjoying hors d’ouevres of wild game, seafood, chocolate and caramels. The evening will end with ladies and gentlemen joining back together for a Groovy Dance Party where special guest Disco DJ Stars Austin Powers and Penny & Polly Shagwell will be spinning favorite hits from the past and present.
Visitwww.clubsofcordilleraranch.com830.336.9000thissiteformoreinformationon:RelaxandRejuvenatewithTheClubsofCordilleraRanchSpaServices.Featuringanarrayofservicesincludingmassagetherapy,facials,manicuresandpedicures
February 14th VALENTINE’S DAY PRIX FIXE MENU
tammera aranda, Esthetician And Masseuse 830.336.9000 ann-Kristin allen, Personal Trainer 830.336.9000
FEBRUARY
Karen Walton, Massage Therapist 210.363.6194
tammy Stone, Nail Technician tammystone1958@yahoo.com210.833.0083
Join us for a romantic evening at the club, featuring live entertainment and a special Valentine’s pre-fixe menu for you and your special someone! Indulge your taste for romance. Treat your sweetheart to a fabulous four-course dinner and enjoy the music & vocals of Bernie Martini on piano. Specially selected wines and champagnes will be available to complement your dining experience. Reservations are strongly recommended and are available starting at 5:30pm.
JANUARY January 1st CLUBS CLOSED January 15 JOSEPH JEwELL wINEMAkER DINNER 6:30pm – 9:30pm $135 Members & Guests $108 Cellar Club
CordilleraranchLiving.com | 19
YoungMemberswinemakers
The c lubs of cO r DILLE r A rAN ch
martha miehe-Renard, Massage Therapist & Pilates Instructor marthamiehe@hotmail.com830.446.1140
EVENTS : calendar
theCLUBS
Micah Joseph Wirth and Adrian Jewell Manspeaker started out in a garage in 2006 and have slowly expanded, making Russian River wines that tend to emphasize discretion rather than bombast. Rated 95 points by Wine and Spirits Magazine and a “Best Buy” feature in the magazine Top 100 , their even-handed approach clearly paid off in the moderate 2012 growing seasons resulting in sleek, vidid apotheosis of Russian River Pinot Noirs. Join us for a wonderful five course meal showcasing great single vineyard pinot noirs, chardonnays and zinfandels.
m ANAGE r ’S NOTE 22 | January/february 2015
Stability is another important aspect of a club. 2014 brought ownership changes to several clubs in the San Antonio mar ket. To my knowledge, 3 private clubs and 2 resorts in our local market experi enced ownership changes in the last year. We’re one of the few clubs in our market who have the great fortune of maintain ing the same ownership since the club opened in 2006.
2014 was a very good year for the club and a great example of how our members and residents embrace growth within the community and club. We enrolled or upgraded 76 memberships for the year.
theCLUBSTOO GOOD TO BE TRUE? NO TOO GOOD TO BE IGNORED! CordilleraranchLiving.com | 23
I’ve had the opportunity to visit clubs where more time is spent discussing whether they should lift their coat and tie policies in their dining areas rather than creating innovative ways to welcome new Members to the club. Can you imagine how many of our members would stop supporting the club if they had to wear a coat and tie to dine?
Members often use the term “exclu sive” when describing their club. How ever, the definition of ‘exclusive’ includes the description “not shared : available to only one person or group”, “only allow ing in people from a high social class”, “available to only a few because of high cost.” In some cases this is an accurate description, as we hear about clubs that have become so exclusive that they’re having a difficult time generating enough revenue from their membership base to cover the expenses. As those clubs continue to struggle, their exclusivity is a contributor to failure. That doesn’t sound like a place I would want to invest in or be proud of.
So when you consider the variety of amenities we provide to our members, the beauty of the community and clubs and the value and stability associated with the club, we have a lot to be proud of. After all, “Life is better out here”!
Our attrition was at an all-time low with only 26 resignations, and the majority of those were due to relocations. It’s been almost nine months since we were award ed Golf Course of The Year by the NGCOA (National Golf Course Owners Association) and the criteria for winning that award: • Exceptional Quality of the Course • Exceptional Quality of Ownership and Management • Outstanding Contribution to its Community • Significant Contribution to the Game
Although The Clubs of Cordillera Ranch is considered one of the top ranked clubs in the state, the appropriate term for us is “inclusive.” I also researched that term and found “covering or including every thing” and “open to everyone: not limited to certain people.” One of the things that make this community and club unique is the welcoming nature of our members and residents. As we host prospective members around the club, we typically encounter several members who ask our guests where they are from and enthusiastically welcome them to the community. I certainly realize that we have guest policies in place to ensure that our members have ample access to their club, and that there are costs associated with the club, but in general I believe our members and staff embrace an inclusive environment. As a matter of fact, as a staff we have 4 main objectives we try to stay focused on and the #1 item on that list is “To be the friendliest and most engag ing club in the world.” While that may seem like a lofty goal, it sets the tone for the experience and environment we’re dedicated to providing. Our commitment to this begins with our new hire orienta tions. I thoroughly enjoy leading those tours and introductions, and the opportu nity to personally welcome our new team members to the club while sharing our coreInclusivephilosophies.alsocomes to mind when you think of the variety of amenities the club has to offer, from the River, Equestrian, Rod & Gun, Social, Golf, Spa & Athletic, and Tennis and Swim Clubs we strive to provide amenities that are attractive to a wide range of members. We challenge ourselves every day to step out of the box and think of programming we can create, designed to include more of our members in club activities. We’ve even expanded our offer ings out of The Ranch to include Signature Vacations to Pinehurst, Kaui, Las Vegas, and Napa Valley, fishing trips to the coast, and excursions to shows and performances in the local area. We certainly don’t want to be inclusive without providing value. Every year we participate in a competitive study which compares other clubs in the state and what they charge for dues and other fees. I’m proud to report that out of the three clubs in the local Hill Country area that have golf courses that rank in the top 10 according to the Dallas Morning News, our dues are $500 - $700 less per month than the other 2 clubs. We also claim the highest rank ing among our competitors based on the fact that our Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course ranked 4th in the state in 2014, which is the highest ranking of any club in south Texas or the Hill Country.
I’m excited about the future and believe 2015 is going to be another outstanding year; we have over 40 homes under con struction on The Ranch which will provide us with more friendly faces around the club. We have a great calendar of events sched uled for the New Year, including the 2015 “Denim & Derby” Shindig on Saturday, May 2nd which lives up to its billing of “A GOOD TIME FOR A GOOD CAUSE.” For more information, log on Happywww.cordilleraranchshindig.org.toNewYear!
By Monty Becton, General Manager the Clubs of Cordillera Ranch
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r AN h Upload your own photos to www.facebook.com/cordillera.ranch for a chance to be featured in next issue’s Ranch Scene NESECordillera KruppWIneBrothersDinner KruppWIneBrothersDinner 26 | January/february 2015
theCLUBS Gavriella & Elliot at Trunk or Treat50s Girls at Trunk or Treat Wicked Witches at the Equestrian Center Trevinos at Trunk or Treat Todd, Allison, Catherine Gerch atTrunk or Treat CordilleraranchLiving.com | 27
Happy New Year! I wanted to take an opportunity to share with you some of the exciting things we have planned for 2015. There were a number of successful events last year that we hope to build on this year and a few new things planned for next year. The Bear Trap Friday afternoon game will be in its third year and I hope you will come out and par ticipate. It is a great way to get to know other players or just play in the weekly game with your own group. The format is a running quota with skins. We will be trying a few new things with our Men’s Night Out program during the summer months so stay tuned.
The MGA Staff Kick-Off Scramble will take place on Saturday, January 31st. We will once again have key Cordillera Ranch staff personnel joining each group. This is a great way for so many of us to get to know our members and a chance for you to maybe play with someone that you have not yet played golf with. I think every one that participated last year enjoyed the day so hope you will help us get the year started off right and play in the tournament. Cordillera Ranch will be hosting the Golf Course Superintendent’s Association of America National Championship on February 22nd-23rd. Take a look at the feature article on this event in this issue for details. I know Director of Agronomy Mark Semm and his team are excited to be showcasing the golf course and we are look ing forward to a special event. On February 28th, we will be hosting the Second Annual Cordillera Ranch Put ting Championship. We have an awesome day planned as we hope to identify the best putters here at the Club. Breakfast and Bloody Marys begins at 7:30am before heading out for a 9:00am shotgun. The format is BB of the twosome and there will be two flights based on combined handicap. Team entry fee is $80 and we will have an optional skins game, as well as pari-mutuel wagering for those who would like to make it a little interesting. I hope you will join us as we look forward to a fun day on the course. Finally, thanks for your support of Gevin Allen in his first year as our Director of Instruction. He had an outstanding year and will continue working this year toward developing an instructional program that will benefit all of our members. He will have new programs developed specifically for golfers of all varying abilities. Gevin is now a TPI Certified Level 3 Golf Professional which affords our members an op portunity to gain insight into the latest trends in teaching and golf fitness. We are always looking for ways to grow and improve our golf operation so please let me know if you have any suggestions that will help us improve the mem ber golf experience here at Cordillera Ranch. See you on the course, marc deWall, PGa Director of Golf, The Clubs of Cordillera Ranch mdewall@cordilleraranch.com | 830.336.4653 28 | January/february 2015
GOLF Golf
GCSA
Semm was honored that Cordillera Ranch would host the GCSAA National Championship. After all, it’s not every day that he gets a chance to showcase his work to his peers.
However, those events occur when the weather is typically warm and sunny.
The Golf Championships are held in conjunction with the 2015 Golf Industry Show (GIS), the GCSAA’s an nual industry gathering. The GIS will take place February 21-26, 2015 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in downtown San Antonio. “People are eagerly anticipating com ing to San Antonio,” Ihms said, “and having the national championship here adds to that excitement.” A year ago, Deron Zendt won the GCSAA National Championship, shoot ing 5-under over two rounds at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla. While 2014 U.S. Ryder Cupper and Cor dillera Ranch member Jimmy Walker’s course record 63 should be safe, what participants might find most attractive about the club (besides the par-3 16th) is the wonderful hospitality and the friendly membership. “We look forward to hosting the GCSAA National Championship,” said Monty Becton, Cordillera Ranch general manager. “Mark Semm and his staff do an incredible job of getting the course ready for the membership and their guests on a daily basis.”
The 2018 Final Four and its potential economic impact may have absorbed most of the local headlines recently, but there’s another national championship headed to the San Antonio area in late February that is sure to bring a lot of green. Green thumbs, that is. The Golf Course Superintendents As sociation of America (GCSAA) will con duct its 2015 golf championships Febru ary 21-23 at several area golf courses, including The Clubs of Cordillera Ranch. The club’s Jack Nicklaus Signature Design will be the site of the champi onships’ marquee event, the National Championship, a 36-hole stroke play event featuring 100 of the top superin tendents with a verified handicap index of 5.0 or below. An overall champion, as well as a senior champion (age 50 and over), will be crowned. “Having our national championship at a place like Cordillera Ranch adds even more energy to this event,” said Keith A. Ihms, President of the GCSAA. “We are extremely honored to have such an elite club host our most prestigious tournament.”Executivesfrom the GCSAA, Cordil lera Ranch and The Toro Company, the event’s presenting sponsor for the past 21 years, attended a November 18 press conference to introduce the club, as well as superintendents from differ ent area golf clubs and select media. Following the news conference, many toured the club and played the course. They all came away awestruck. “The course is simply amazing,” said Jonathan Wall, Equipment Editor for PGATOUR.com. “There is so much character and the conditions were flawless. And the par-3 16th, it’s as good as advertised.”
No matter what Mother Nature throws at Semm and his peers, the GCSAA National Championship promises to kick-start a wonderful and exciting week for not only Cordillera Ranch, but the 2015 Golf Industry Show. “This [national championship] is like an icebreaker for a weeklong show,” Ihms said. “It’s away from work, gives them some time to loosen up and relax, and gets them ready for a full week in San Antonio and at the con vention center. “As a Texas native, I can confidently proclaim Cordillera Ranch is Hill Country golf at its finest. The players are really going to enjoy this venue.” Ranch to host National Championship by Robert Rodriguez
CordilleraranchLiving.com | 29
THECLUBS
“We have the opportunity to hear feedback from some of the best [super intendents] in the industry,” Semm said. “It will be a great learning opportunity.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Sunday it’s 75 degrees with a 15 mph south wind and Monday it’s 40 degrees with a 25 mph north wind,” Semm said. “The pressure will be on the players [to play well].”
The GCSAA National Championship will occur in late February, when the weather could be unpredictable.
One would think Semm would be stressed since he has to prime the course for his cohorts. Yet, as Becton attested, Semm and his staff approach every day like it’s the club championship or the C-Star member-guest.
GOLF Cordillera
The look of the driver will be similar to theirTheirons.two weight ports contain two inter changeable weights. These weights will influence the face angle at impact. When the heavier weight is toward the toe, the club will have a tendency to stay open at impact and vice versa. The weight ports can also be used for swing weight purposes. The weights can be changed with lighter or heavier weights depending upon the player.
GOLF
The Callaway Alpha 815 is the prede cessor of the original Alpha launched last year. When Callaway designed the 815’s they listened to tour players and average golfers, hence the Alpha 815 has two versions with the other being called the Alpha 815 Double Black Diamond (DD).
CALLAWAY ALPHA 815
The gravity core technology is what makes the Callaway 815 unique com pared to other drivers on the market. The gravity core is a steel stick with one side of the stick heavier than the other (similar to a tee). The stick is inserted from un derneath the club head. The spin rate will increase when the heavy side of the stick is inserted on the top of the driver and vice versa when the heavy side is inserted towards the sole driver. With this feature the spin rate can be manipulated inde pendent of the loft and hence change the shape and trajectory of the shot. The difference in spin rate can be as much as 500 rpm, which is significant. The most important benefit to the Callaway 815 is the flexibility of chang ing the performance of the driver to your advantage. For example, your swing may change with time and now you can adjust your driver to liking. A slicer may need a driver with a higher loft, weight towards the heel and an upright lie angle. Another advantage to the gravity core is the adjustment of spin rate to accommo date certain conditions. When it is windy, the gravity core can be changed to lower the spin rate. On the other hand, when the fairway is wet, the gravity core can be adjusted for maximum carry by setting it to favor more spin. Please contact us if you have any ques tions or want to get fit. We can further explain the benefits of each setting and how it will enhance your game.
The size of both of the drivers is 460 CC, however the Double Black Diamond has a deeper face with a more compact look when addressing the ball (much like a persimmon driver). The Alpha 815, on the other hand, looks larger and wider because of its shallow face. Both drivers feature a new technology called RMOTO, which is a redistribution of weight inside the club head to increase Moment of Inertia (it keeps you in the short grass).
All of the drivers in the market have a very thin face to produce maximum dis tance, however both of the Alpha 815 has more adjustability than any driver made with 16 different face angle/lie combina tions, 2 interchangeable weight ports and a gravity core located vertically inside the head to produce various spin rates. This is where the flexibility of the adjustability will produce more distance.
The driver is available with lofts of 9, 10.5 and 12 degrees while the Double Black Diamond is available in lofts of 9 and 10.5 degrees. Each driver head can be adjusted by adding up to 2 degrees or reducing by 1 degree in lofts, in reality you will receive four drivers with the price of one. The lie angle of each head can also be adjusted to a more upright set ting, which favors a draw ball flight. The upright setting is also useful for the taller players who are fitted with upright irons.
30 | January/february 2015
The journey begins! Like the Par 4 #10 hole at Cordil lera Ranch, the opening hole offers stunning views of the Texas Hill Country and the Twins Sisters peaks. It is the #9 handicap hole on the course and serves as an excellent opening hole that is very fair yet challenging.
The hole from the very back Bear tees is extremely long but typically plays a little shorter with a pre vailing SE wind and it is down valley. The tee-shot favors a draw on this dog-leg left Par 4 as the fairway slopes from right to left. A tee-shot hit at the fairway bunkers on the right-hand side will often end up in the middle of the fairway. It is better to favor the right side as there is trouble left where an errant tee-shot can bound into a hazard full of native grass on the left side of the hole. The fairway is fairly wide and hitting it will leave a short to mid-iron.
Trying to figure out green speeds at the beginning of the round can be challenging. A putt toward the back of the green on this hole runs down valley and down grain so will usually be very fast. A putt moving the other direction is just the opposite. Understand ing this and how it affects putting will go a long way in determining how many putts are holed that day as it is not easy to see. Hole #1 at Cordillera Ranch can be considered a birdie hole. It is very fair and by getting your tee-shot in the fairway players have a chance at accomplishing that. The hole is a great beginning as it showcases a little of everything the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course has to offer. Get ready, the experience is just beginning!
The second shot requires the right club selection as the green is large but well protected on the left-hand side by two bunkers. When the flagstick is located on the back-left corner it is important to take enough club to carry the bunkers. There is a bail-out area to the right of the green that is the safe shot but this area requires a deft touch with your chip shot as the green runs away from you in that direction and gaug ing speed is very difficult.
PLAYING THE COURSE Hole #1 – 493 yards Par 4 – Handicap #9
32 | January/february 2015
BEYOND the DIAMOND by michael mancha :: photography by west Vita
“When we want to slow down, that’s the way the Hill Country is. That’s the way Boerne is,” he said. “It’s nice to live back here away from the hustle and bustle.”
CordilleraranchLiving.com | 33
Driving onto the Beckett’s Hill Country ranch, you get a deep sense of Texas country living. The sprawling 115 acres are picturesque with distant hills splashed against rich blue sky. From the moment you enter you are greeted with beautiful trees peppered across the property, all changing colors in the crisp fall air.
“There is something weird about Texas guys,” Beckett said. “I met a lot of them through the years playing, and it seemed like none of us ever moved. A lot of guys would adopt the city where they were playing and stay there. I never did that.”
Despite spending months away from home, at the end of every season, Josh would make his way back. “I always foresaw myself coming back, and I did, every year in the off season,” he said. “I never spent an off season away from Texas.” So much of what makes Beckett who he is, has to do with where he makes his home. Josh and his wife, Holly bought their Hill Country home three years ago and have since settled into the life out here. “I’m not a slow person,” Beckett said. “I like to stay busy. I like to be going and getting stuff done. I’m not a guy who just has somebody come and do everything forBut,me.”in spite of his admittedly active nature, he has found that they enjoy the slowness of the Hill Country.
The porch of their beautiful ranch home is covered with Christmas décor seeming ly in mid-design. Wreaths, trees, green, red and gold create an inviting Texas Christmas vibe. Josh stands towering in the front door and welcomes us in. For Beckett, a Spring native, Texas has always been home. As a former Major League Baseball pitcher, Josh has seen a lot of the country. After his brilliant high school career, Josh was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 1999 draft. After 4 years in sunny Miami, Josh was traded on Thanksgiving Day in 2006 to the Boston Red Sox. Josh would spend another 6 years on the East coast before moving teams once again in 2012, this time to sunny Los Angeles where he would spend his last two years with the Dodgers. But some where in all that, going from south to east to west, and traveling across the country in between, Texas never left Josh’s heart.
34 | January/february 2015
FoR a CaUSe
CordilleraranchLiving.com | 35
Unlike pitching or golf, hunting is a change of pace. It’s slower and quieter. It’s brings a kind of balance to the things he loves to do.
“That’s what Cordillera Ranch is all about,” he said. “The golf course is obvi ously awesome, but it’s about the people more than anything.” Josh start playing golf not too long af ter he was drafted. A fellow minor leagu ers told him to get some clubs and 16 years later, he’s never looked back. And getting to play at Cordillera Ranch is a huge benefit to living in the Hill Country.
Josh has played his share of great courses, Oakmont Country Club in Penn sylvania, LA Country Club, Bel-Air Coun try Club, The Cal Club in San Francisco, and Pine Valley. But when he’s home, Cordillera Ranch is were you’ll find him.
GoLF and CoRdiLLeRa RanCh Having lived in central Texas for a few years now, Josh has lived in a couple dif ferent spots and played around the area, but there was something special about Cordillera Ranch that led him to become a member.“Alotof friends who are members there, talked to me about it,” he said. “I went out there enough times with them and I got to meet more guys, meet more of the people. Holly got to meet the wives of a lot of the guys I played golfForwith.”theBeckett’s, finding a community they loved didn’t require a big city. It was just about finding people they could actu ally connect with.
“Every year going to spring training in February, I’d have that one last round at Cordillera and I’d ask myself, ‘Why am I leaving?’” he said. on the RanCh Just 28 miles southeast of Cotulla, Texas, is a place you’ll find Beckett if you don’t find him in the Hill Country. A 7,000-acre spread of the finest South Texas land called Herradura Ranch. Beckett’s ranch is very much his second home. Even though they offer commercial hunting, the ranch is a family place. Since he was young, Josh says that his dad was into hunting and anything outdoors. It’s a lifestyle that has never left. “Anytime I’m at the ranch my family is with me. We have our own little place out there,” he Whethersaid.it’sfishing, hunting or mend ing fences, the South Texas life is a big part of his. Josh says he isn’t one to just let other people do things for him. If he’s out there, he’s working and if he’s not working, he’s hunting.
It’s clear that off of the pitchers mound, Beckett loves two things, hunting and golf. A few years ago, he decided to take those two passions and use them for a good cause which is when Beckett and his friend radio host, Rusty Baker, began a celebrity charity event.
Josh says that when he started, he found that it was a lot like pitching. “I’m a competitive guy, and it’s one of those sports where you’re not just play ing against the guys you are with, but you’re playing against the golf course, you’re playing against the game itself, and I don’t think it’s something you ever reallyPlayingmaster.”golfbecame a regular thing for Beckett, he says it was something he could do between starts. Eventually, fate would bring the two games together like he never expected. Earlier this year, on Memorial Day weekend, Beckett and the Dodgers were in Philadelphia to play the Phillies. On his day off, just like he’d done many times before, Josh went to play golf. But not just any course. That day, Josh was invited to play at Pine Valley Golf Club, the number one rated course in the US. An opportunity that could only be matched by what would happen that Sunday. As the starting pitcher for Sunday’s game, Josh would go on to do what most Major League pitchers never accomplish - he pitched a no-hitter, the first of his career. It was a weekend he wouldn’t forget - two rare events happen ing so closely together.
“Golf, to me, is about that competitive ness with yourself but I enjoy playing golf with other people,” he said. “I like the s**t -talking, the banter. I like everything that comes with golf.”
“It started out at the ranch, we did a doe hunt,” Beckett said. “We donated all
“I love being out there at five in the morning - you can see but the sun’s not up yet. Just being by yourself in a blind and respecting God’s creation,” he said. Hunting and living life on the ranch is in his blood, it’s very much of part of who he“Wheneveris. I’m leaving the gate, I already know when I’m coming back,” he said.
the meat to Hunters for the Hungry. We had a bunch of celebrities there, come dians and country music artists, playing guitar and telling jokes.”
QUite a CaReeR
The money that the event raises is donated to Show of Support, a non-profit started by Terry Johnson, takes wounded warriors on hunting trips. While they are off hunting, they also take their spouses and children and treat them as well.
Beckett won the World Series MVP that year. He would play a couple more sea sons with Florida before being traded to the Boston Red Sox in 2006. Once again,
“I think the first year we raised $5000,” he said. “The next couple years it was four then six.
“Whether it’s a man or woman, com ing back from war, they are trying to get back to some kind of normalcy,” Beckett said. “Sometimes just going deer hunt ing gets them back to what they’re used to. They do stuff for the whole family and it’s just awesome.”
This past season with the Dodg ers would be Beckett’s last. Battling several different injuries he officially retired in October after 13 amazing seasons in the majors.
For four years they held the event at the ranch, and despite people excitement every year, they didn’t seem to be raising the kind of funds they wanted.
Josh’s career was one that many ma jor leaguers never accomplish. He won the 2003 World Series with the Florida Marlins, a team that was never expected to “Ido.don’t think any of us would have be lieved if you had told us at the beginning of the year that we would win the World Series,” he said. “I’ll never be a part of anything that was that tight-knitted.”
Three years ago, Beckett and Baker decided to move the celebrity charity event to Tapatio Springs Resort in the Hill Country and to change it from a hunt to a golf tournament and that’s when it really took off. “It just exploded,” Beckett said. “Since we turned it into a golf tourna ment... we’ve gone over $2 million that we’ve donated.”
36 | January/february 2015
Josh says the celebrity event attracts everyone from professional golfers, base ball players and football players to many musicians, especially Texas country artists.
“When it’s all said and done, you end up with memorabilia from three different teams and you don’t know which one to hang up,” he said.
Looking back at where his career had taken him, Beckett has a great perspec tive. He speaks with no regret, no lack of closure. He has worked hard to put himself in a place where he can con tinue to do the things he loves and he wears it “Whereproudly.Istarted was a perfect place for me to start and were I finished was a perfect place for me to end.”
CordilleraranchLiving.com | 37
Josh would join a team that was making history. A year after Florida had won the series, Boston would make a run in 2004 and end an 86 year “curse”. In 2007, with Beckett on board, Boston would make another run at the championship win ning the World Series. That year, Josh won the American League Championship Most Valuable Player (MVP). Aside from his World Series wins and MVP awards, Beckett is a three-time MLB All-Star and had his no-hitter with LA in 2014.
STAFF P r OFILE KRISTEN SELBY Equestrian830.336.9000Center Manager hometoWn Bulverde, TX
hoW did yoU Get into yoUR FieLd?
I have always had a love for horses and I began riding when I was 9. I began training horses when I was 14 and have been training ever since. I also started teaching horseback lessons when I was 17 and have greatly en joyed sharing my knowledge with children and adults.
What haS Been yoUR moSt ReWaRdinG eXPe RienCe in yoUR BUSineSS? I love that moment when you finally get a great connec tion and bond between you and a young horse. I love the feeling of knowing that I was the first person to ever touch, halter, or ride that horse, and that I gained his trust enough to do so.
The Man from Snowy River. I love the natural way of liv ing and that horses were their means of transportation. Riding through mountains, valleys and woods is such an amazing experience.
The horse business, like many things in life, has its ex treme highs and extreme lows. Some years the breed ing and selling business is booming and some years it is a big challenge. Through the good and the bad, I have always kept horses as a part of my life.
hoW LonG haVe yoU Been With CoRdiLLeRa RanCh? 4 months What iS yoUR FaVoRite aSPeCt oF WoRKinG in the hiLL CoUntRy? I love the fresh air, the peace of nature, and the relation ships I develop with the horses. What are your hobbies/interests? Training horses and competing in cutting and roping events. FaVoRite QUote? “We ride and never worry about the fall, guess that’s just the cowboy in us all” –George Strait FaVoRite moVie and Why?
FaVoRite aSPeCt oR FeatURe at CoRdiLLeRa RanCh?
FamiLy Husband, Mom and Dad, and Brother
Even though Cordillera Ranch turned into a neighbor hood, it is still natural. The grass is still long and ungroomed. There are still open fields, and thick brush. 38
What haS Been yoUR GReateSt ChaLLenGe in yoUR BUSineSS?
| January/february 2015
h ISTO r Y
The Sueltenfuss home and Schiler Post Office is what we refer to as the “Stagecoach House”, or Outfitter Center, and is located at the end of Swede Springs Road. If you have never stopped by, you should contact me to see the place prior to us mov ing out in late spring of 2015. The Outfitter Center has been a wonderful place for our members and their guest to gather prior to going on a river trip over the years and provides a glimpse of what homes looked like in the area in the 19th century.
Page 107 of the book says “Charcoal City was an extended string of charcoal-burner camps along the Guadalupe River between Sisterdale and New Braunfels. Lasting from about 1880 to 1919, it had a post office in the Sueltenfuss home, called first the Guadalupe Post Office, then the Schiller Post Office.”
40 | January/february 2015
A few years back I received a short article written by Mark McCurley for the Cordillera Ranch Nature Club. He wrote about moving to Cordillera Ranch and wanting to learn more about the history of the area. The Clubs has been using what we call the “Stagecoach House” for our Outfitter Center since the summer of 2006, and the summer of 2015 will see our departure into a new Outfitter Center on the east end of the ranch. Mark found an interesting history book on the area titled “The German Settlement of the Texas Hill Country” by Jefferson Morganthaler. It is a great little book that tells why, when, where and how the Germans settled this part of Texas. Cordil lera Ranch, although not mentioned by name in this book, does have a connection that some of you may not have realized.
Shane OutdoorReynoldsRecreation Director The Clubs of Cordillera Ranch
CordilleraranchLiving.com | 41
If you are like most Texans, charcoal comes in a Kingsford bag, is the little crumbly stuff that works in the aquarium filter or in its finest forms is used by budding artist for their sketches. As Mark researched his article he learned that charcoal also has a medicinal use, a common treatment for gastric issues like indigestion. Mark was clueless however on how charcoal was made by the settlers who inhabited this area.
As the name Charcoal City suggest there was a pretty successful enterprise working in this area at that time. The Germans found a practical use for the Ashe Juniper (Cedar) that covered so much of the land in this area. They began to turn the wood into charcoal for their own settlements use but also as a trade or cash source from the larger San Antonio market. As commercial charcoal produc tion rose, they needed more hands to work the business and so Anglos and Tejanos were hired to clear land on a sharecrop basis.
If you have cut any Ashe Junipers on your property, you know how hard that work is. Obvi ously that was the start of the process for the settlers. The downed trees would then be cut into relatively equal size pieces for the billets. The next step takes a bit more skill and experience to pile billets of wood on their ends so as to form a conical pile, openings being left at the bottom to admit air, with a central shaft to serve as a flue. The whole pile is covered with turf or moistened clay. The firing is begun at the bottom of the flue, and gradually spreads outwards and upwards. The success of the operation depends upon the rate of the combustion. Under average conditions, 100 parts of wood yield about 60 parts by volume, or 25 parts by weight, of charcoal; small scale pro duction on the spot often yields only about 50%, large scale was efficient to about 90% even by the seventeenth century. The operation is so delicate that it was generally left to colliers (professional charcoalThanksburners).toMark’s article, we know a little bit more about the first neighborhood in this area. I really hope that reading this story will encourage you to learn more about the Texas Hill Country and also that it will entice you to visit our Cordil lera Ranch Outfitter Center. Who knows that might just lead to a day with your family and friends on a kayak trip down the Guadalupe, an afternoon of fishing or a nature walk to make your own fossil or Indian artifact discovery? Have fun outdoors and enjoy the wonders of nature in this amazing place. Thanks to Mark McCurley who put together most of this information!
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OUTDOO r S
By Shane reynolds, Outdoor recreation Director clubs of cordillera ranch
Rivers Inlet holds the largest concentra tion of brown bears in BC, and represents the epicenter of BC’s salmon producing areas with over 20 streams, rivers, and feeder creeks supporting the annual spawning rituals of all five salmon species.
Our destination is Cottonwood Lakes basin. Cottonwood Lakes, located at the southern tip of the John Muir Wilder ness, are home to California’s state fish, the Golden Trout. Cottonwood Lakes basin has many pristine lakes and creeks located between Mount Langley and Cirque Peak. Other lakes in the area we may choose to fish are Muir Lake, South Fork Lakes, Cirque, Long and High Lakes. From our basecamp in the Cottonwood Lakes basin, we’ll explore the rugged alpine setting in search of trout with fly rods in hand. The primary trout found in these waters are the California Golden trout and native Brook trout. Occasionally we’ll hook a Brown trout and there are a few types of hybrids. One of my favorite fly fishing quotes is from Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, and he states that “It’s not about catching the fish, it’s about the fish catching you.” This trip is sure to be a lasting memory for all who venture into the Sierra Nevada with us!
The summer of 2015 will see us offer two fishing trips that offer a once in a lifetime experience. The first is a trip to Legacy Lodge in British Columbia to fish for Coho and Chinhook Salmon as well as Halibut. The second trip is to the Sierra Nevada of California to fish for Golden, Brown and Rainbow trout.
Although I teach minimum impact and lightweight packing, people who are not used to backpacking always bring too much gear. One of my favorite teaching methods I use is a pre-trip meeting where I lay everything I bring with me out on a tarp and let people see my gear. For some, they take note, but for most, they soon forget as they begin to cram pounds and pounds of unnecessary gear into their pack. Go light is my motto.
The Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, also known as the Range of Light by naturalist John Muir, runs north to south for 400 miles and 70 miles east to west.
The Sierra is also home to Lake Tahoe, the largest alpine lake in North America, as well as twenty National Wilderness Areas and two National Monuments.
theCLUBS CordilleraranchLiving.com | 43
The fertile waters of Rivers Inlet offer a variety of bottom feeders, as Halibut, Yellow Eye and Lingcod are abundant all season.
The Club will offer a 4 day/3 night trip with a layover in Vancouver to Legacy Lodge in British Columbia. Legacy Lodge offers exceptional conventional and fly fishing for Pacific salmon on the calm, protected waters of Rivers Inlet. Known around the globe for it’s magnificent scenery and unparalleled salmon fishing, the waters of Rivers Inlet teem with some of the largest Coho and Chinook Salmon in the world. In fact, more 50 to 60 pound Chinook salmon are caught in this fjord-like inlet each year than in any other area in British Columbia. Full of energy and fight, these salmon can battle for hours, over incred ibleRiversdistances.Inletlies within the Great Bear Rainforest, the planets last large expanses of coastal temperate rainforest. At 8+ million acres, it is 5 times the size of Banff National Park and represents one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. With an unmatched biological output of 500 tons per acre, it’s 40 percent greater than tropical rain forests.
One of the special things about work ing at Cordillera Ranch is getting to travel with our club members and introduc ing them to some of the great outdoor recreation opportunities in this wonderful country of ours. When a few members asked me about doing something special this summer, I spoke to them about visiting the high country of the Sierra Nevada. For most people who live, work and play here in Texas, the alpine setting of a high mountain range is usually only a passing thought. The further I explored their interest of fly fishing and visiting the mountains, I focused in on an area I’ve visited many times with both groups and by myself solo, the eastern slope of the Sierra just south of Mt. Whitney. Mt Whitney, at 14,505’, is the highest point in the contiguous United States and just to the north, south and west of this majestic peak are hundreds of high alpine lakes full of trout. For the avid fly fisherman a trip into the high country is not generally what comes to mind. But I can assure anyone who ever questions whether it’s worth the work to get there, I would answer absolutely yes! It’s not an easy task by any means. For us Texans who live at or near sea level, a trip to the high country means preparing one’s self for both a mental and physically demanding trip. As our group prepares for this sum mer adventure, there are several things we will do to ensure all are prepared and have the right expectations on what to look forward to. The logistics for this trip include a flight from San Antonio to Los Angeles International Airport. Once in Los Angeles, we’ll load our gear into a rental van and head north, making three stops along the way. One stop is for groceries, which will include backpacking gourmet meals made from fresh ingredients. As a backcountry guide for the past twenty three years I have learned that there are fewer things more enjoyable than a great meal at the end of a long day in the mountains. Our second stop will be at a local backcountry store to pick up fuel for my backpacking stoves, which you cannot fly with, and our California fishing license. Our third and final stop will be in the eastern Sierra where we pick up our backcountry permits. From there we head to our trailhead in the eastern Sierra just outside of Lone Pine, California. The trailhead where we spend our first night, Horseshoe Mead ows, is located at 9,698’ above sea level. Our first night is spent here to acclimatize our bodies to the altitude. If you have never been at this altitude you will be short of breath just walking across a park ing lot with no backpack on. We’ll pitch camp and settle down around a campfire on night one simply getting used to the thin air. On day two we will layout and distribute all the group gear and food for the trip. Each person in the group will be carrying anywhere from 25%40% of their body weight in a backpack.
“In 19 years of producing fishing shows throughout Canada and B.C., this is abso lutely the best saltwater fly fishing I have EVER experienced! Legacy offers some of the best access you will ever find.”
–MARK PENDLINGTON, HOST OF WEST COAST SPORTING JOURNAL FLy FiShinG the hiGh SieRRa
Rivers Inlet long history of commercial fishing and canneries has given way to the adventurous angler who pry its craggy shoreline and steep granite walls in search of North America’s largest salmon, the Wannock Chinook. Whether you prefer fly fishing or con ventional fishing, this Signature Vacation will offer memories of a lifetime. The abundant Coho, often in excess of 20 pounds migrate through amazingly high in the water column are so aggres sive, they are often caught a few feet behind the boat. Imagine a 20-pound Coho striking your cut plug bait trolled 20 feet from your rod tip, then peeling 200 feet of line off your single action reel in seconds. This is Rivers Inlet excitement, and your Legacy Lodge experience at its best!
There are three National Parks within its boundaries, Yosemite in the north and Sequoia and Kings Canyon in the south.
LeGaCy LodGe in BRitiSh CoLUmBia
The New Year is a perfect time to commit to improving one’s health. Now that research has shown that there is better time to commit to with Chet as Dr. Hawkins committed to obtaining highest level of committed to
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serving his patients with the highest quality of dental care. We would be honored with have you join our dental family. Please call our office at 830-249-7870 44 | January/february 2015
Rehabilitate in Boerne, One Step Closer to Home 1440 River Road • Boerne, Texas 78006 • 830.816.5095 C ibolo C reek H ealt H . org Cibolo Creek provides accommodations in the heart of Boerne, with individualized therapy programs that enable one to return home quickly. By receiving rehabilitation services close to home, family and friends are able to visit often and with ease. Cibolo Creek stands apart by: • Being the most contemporary rehabilitation facility in Boerne • Providing physical, occupational, speech, and vital stim therapy in a modern and innovative setting under the guidance of highly trained and experienced therapists • Offering both inpatient and outpatient therapy services to improve one’s overall strength and mobility • Facilitating admissions 24/7 Master in the Academy of General Dentistry • 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE The Dental Wellness Center • 806 N. Main St. • Boerne • 830-249-7870 • www.drchethawkins.com NEW YEAR NEW HEALTHY SMILE NEW HEALTHY YOU
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Cibolo Creek Elementary
do you think your dad would rather watch football or go shopping with your mom? Watch football because he loves football. I have never seen him shop. What do you want to do on your next vacation? I want to go swimming because swim ming is fun. how do you think your school teacher would describe you? Helpful to my friends.
46 | January/february 2015
F r O m T h E m OUT h OF BABES
anSLey BUSBee age 6 School
What’s the meanest trick one of your siblings has ever played on you? did you do anything to get him / her back? She doesn’t play tricks but she tries to boss me around.
What does your mom do all day while you are at school? She walks the dogs and goes shopping for clothes.
What does your dad do all day while you are at school? He goes to work but I don’t know what he does. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Chocolate chip pancakes and bacon if you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? I would go to Hawaii because it has a big beach. What is your favorite thing to do on the weekends? Stay home and play with my dogs and sleep late.
ahoeCaSenGemeyeRge
CordilleraranchLiving.com | 47
What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Scrambled eggs and bacon if you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? The Himalayas because it’s cold there and there is a lot of snow
What is your favorite thing to do on the weekends? Play football outside with my brothers and watch football on TV do you think your dad would rather watch football or go shopping with your mom? Definitely football because he loves football What do you want to do on your next vacation? I want to go to Colorado because i like the snow. It’s fun to build a snowman and have snowball fights with my brothers. Skiing with my family and friends is fun too. how do you think your school teacher would describe you? She would say I’m funny, rowdy, nice and smart!
What’s the meanest trick one of your siblings has ever played on you? did you do anything to get him / her back? My brother flew a helicopter in my face and I punched him for it. That’s a true story. What does your mom do all day while you are at school? She washes the dishes and runs errands. What does your dad do all day while you are at school? He goes to work and sleeps:).
8 School Cibolo creek elementary school
CELEBRATE LOVE AND ROMANCE IN FEBRUARY WITH EVENTS GEARED TO STIR YOUR HEART!
CLASS presents “Red Night Out” Friday, Feburary 6th 6:30pm – 10:00pm $100++ couple Red Night Out celebrates “Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus,” with a classic night of food, tasty libations, dancing and merriment. We are inviting all the ladies to dress in red and gentlemen in your best cowboy tuxedo. Couples will start their evening with ladies in the Main Dining Room and gentlemen in the Men’s 19th Hole.
48 | January/february 2015
DINING
Ladies will enjoy a Communal Fondue Feast featuring Akaushi Beef, seafood, cheeses, fruit, and veggies matched with wine flights paired to enhance their dining experience.
Gentlemen will enjoy a Single Malt Tasting featuring scotch whiskies from the Lowlands and Highlands of Scotland, while enjoying hors d’oeuvres of wild game, seafood, chocolate andThecaramels.evening will end with Ladies and Gentlemen joining back together for a Groovy Dance Party, where Special Guest Disco DJ Stars Austin Powers and Penny & Polly Shagwell will be spinning favorite hits from the past and present.
theCLUBS CordilleraranchLiving.com | 49
Valentine’s Day
Saturday, February 14, 2015 Prix Fixe Dinner Dining & Dancing 6:00pm – 10:00pm $75++ per member 2014 Valentine Prix Fixe First Wild Mushroom – Florentine Soup Croissant Crisps Second Grilled Shrimp and “Pearls” Ginger – Sweet Chili Butter Third
Cider Poached Gala Apple – Baby Spinach Salad Cheddar Curds, Toasted Almonds Champagne Vinaigrette Fourth (Choice of…) Rosemary Dusted Texas Quail Shitake Risotto, Buttered Broccolini Aged Balsamic Reduction – oR –
Sweet Endings
Pan Seared Jumbo Diver Scallops Shrimp and Spanish Chorizo Saffron Rice, roasted Brussels Sprouts “Tio Pepe” Sherry Butter – oR –Akaushi Steak Au Poivre Yukon Gold Potato Gratin, Asparagus Bundle – oR –“Lover Duet” Grilled Petit Filet and Poached Main Lobster Tail Tillamook- Truffle Mashed Potatoes, Tomato Tartlet Drawn Butter and Red Shallot Demi-Glace (Additional $10 Charge)
Cordillera Opera Cake Or Red Velvet Cake – Sweet Cream Parfait
Indulge your taste for romance. Treat your sweetheart to a fabulous four course dinner and enjoy the music & vocals of Bernie Martini on piano. Specially selected wines and cham pagnes will be available to complement your dining experience. Reservations are strongly recommended and are available starting at 5:30pm.
210.623.0505 www.pristinepoolstexas.com 830.537.3410 www.sterlinghometech.com
TPI Level 3 Golf Mechanics is a certi fication acquired by Gevin that concen trates on the science of the golf swing, new ball flight laws, short and long game advance 3-D biomechanics, force plate data and advance club fitting. Different swing philosophies and their effects were also discussed. The information given is separated into two different levels.
By Ann-Kristin and Gevin Allen
Most importantly these certifications assist our clients by improving their golf game faster and more efficiently. All of the information and resources that we have acquired have been proven accurate as a result of the data collected from TPI and their testing. TPI has a specific sys tem for improving each of our clients’ golf game in relation to their swing limitations and faults. Our job is to use the system and simplify it for the members where they can self coach themselves. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Gevin at 210-632-2787 or gallen@cordilleraranch.com, or AnnKristin at 210-367-5942 or norway1961@ yahoo.com.
TPI has studied thousands of golfers ranging from the top professionals to amateurs, and the differences between them in relation to their physical capa bilities to their swing pattern.
Level 3 certifications were important for us to acquire in order to separate us from other fitness and golf professionals. Although we have over 50 years of expe rience combined, we had to stay current with the latest findings in our industry.
TPI Level 3 Fitness Professional is a certification that Ann-Kristin has acquired. TPI Level 2 Fitness Professional focuses on strength, power screening, exercise progressions, body weight training, group training, cardiovascular evaluation and protocols, wrist and ankle screens and advance biomechanics. Level 3 objec tives include: nutrition, advance strength, power development, advance swing concepts and balance.
Not many Level 3 Certifications were ac quired in the State of Texas and currently none in the Hill Country area. Each level of the certification process consisted of testing, lectures, intense hands on train ing and case studies.
The Clubs of Cordillera Ranch Golf Fitness • Update • 52 | January/february 2015
TPI (Titleist Performance Institute) is the world’s leading educational organi zation and research facility dedicated to the study of how the human body functions in relation to the golf swing.
We received the original TPI Certifica tions a few years ago but completed Level 3 certifications at the end of last year. This is not to say that the original certification was not important, in fact it was necessary to acquire a system to evaluate golfers, identify their limitations and prescribe the correct exercises for those limitations. These evaluations and exercises have been proven by TPI to improve a golfer’s performance regardless of their level.
FITNESS The connection of golf and fitness has been vague among the common golf ers, however in the professional tour it is a necessity. Almost all of the PGA Tour players have a specific exercise routine that enhances their performance and most importantly prevents injury. In the amateur level, a golf specific exercise program should not be an afterthought rather than a precursor when playing golf regularly. Why? Physical limitations are one of the leading causes to swing faults. The primary reason tour players’ golf swing is functional is because they have trained their body off the golf course to assist in fixing their swing faults.
The face angle at impact will de termine the start line of the ball. The swing path will determine the curvature of the golf ball (i.e. slice or hook). Not the other way around, as taught in the past. Before starting an exercise pro gram, you must consult a profes sional to determine your current physical Functionalstate.exercises should be the start of any exercise program.
FaSt haRd FaCtS to imPRoVe yoUR GoLF Game
Always make your practice ses sions more difficult than the expe riences you will encounter on the golf course. For example, practice out of tight lies or practice putting to a smaller hole.
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When working on a new golf swing, it is better to play rather than practicing on the range. The change will be more permanent because you are encountering random targets.
Your daily water intake should be half of your weight in ounces. 25% of that amount should be in the morning. Dehydration will lead to stiffness in the back nine.
By Shane Reynolds NATU r E 54 | January/february 2015
The location of your feeding station is important in two respects: Birds need the cover of trees or shrubs nearby to feel safe and welcome and the feeder should be close enough to your window or porch so that you can enjoy their theatrics. a BaSiC FeedinG Station Start with a single platform, hopper, or large tube feeder. Each accommodates large and small birds and can be hung from a tree or hoisted on a pole. Fill any of these feeders with black oil sunflower seeds and you’re certain to get visitors, usually within days. Remember to posi tion the feeders where you can see them clearly. Provide a birdbath filled with fresh water. Keep your feeders filled with dry seeds. If jays, cowbirds, and other large birds are crowding out smaller birds, switch to a feeder that discriminates, or blocks, them, but not the smaller, more desirable birds. Have fun exploring the many types of bird feeders on the market. Attract ing birds to your yard and around your home will greatly enhance the sights and sounds found in Cordillera Ranch. If you keep your feeders full of seed and food year round, you’ll be amazed at the number of our feathered friends that visit your home.
Bird watching can be a joyful experi ence. The sounds of birds frolicking outside your Cordillera Ranch home can be a great addition to your garden and landscape. Bird feeders are the quickest and easiest way to attract our winged friends to your yard. Before I get into information on feeders, here is some information to get you started: A book I’d strongly suggest on the birds you may begin to see around your home once you get your feeders set up.
ChooSinG a FeedeR
There are five types of bird feeders: hopper, platform, tube, nectar, and suet. Variations of each type number in the hundreds. Many species of birds will visit hopper and platform feeders filled with seed mixes. Tube feeders are designed for finches, but will attract other kinds of birds, especially if a bottom tray is attached. Woodpeckers are attracted to suet feeders.
BUyinG a FeedeR
• Birds of the Texas Hill Country by Mark W. Lockwood, Terry Maxwell (Foreword), Clemente Guzman (Illustrator)
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A Little Nature Store - 106 E Theissen, just off Main Street in Boerne; 830.249.2281 –a great little shop with lots of bird feeders and friendly information. Guadalupe State Park – visit the park, just 3 miles east on Hwy 46, and pick up these 2 FREE publications by Texas Parks and Wildlife. • Birds of the Edwards Plateau • Providing for Backyard Wildlife Local Birds of Central Texas – an easy foldout of bird pictures and descriptions. Find it at the Bergheim General Store. Bird feeders come in a dazzling variety of shapes and sizes. Many designs are based upon careful research to attract birds with spectacular efficiency. More than ever, anyone can quickly learn the basics of bird feeding and choose a feeder that will lure a wide variety of birds throughout the winter months.
Before buying a feeder, decide how many feeding stations you want, and where you’ll place them. A feeding sta tion is a single feeder, or a group of feed ers in one location. Be practical at first. Check out seed prices and decide if you have the time and energy to fill several feeders weekly. When shopping for a feeder, consider the quality of its materi als and construction, its ease of filling and cleaning, and how much seed it can handle. Try to imagine the feeder after a heavy rain or after strong winds. Are the seeds soaked-- Is the seed tray filled with water-- The best feeders include covers and built-in drainage systems. WheRe to PLaCe FeedeRS
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Logos, websites, branding, and every issue of Cordillera Ranch Living 210.507.5250 • 930 E. Blanco • Boerne, TX 78006 WE ALL KNOW THE OLD SAYING “CLOSE ONLY COUNTS IN HORSESHOES AND HAND GRENADES.” DON’T LET IT APPLY TO YOUR MARKETING. 56 | January/february 2015
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by Charlie Hill
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DEVELOPE r YEAR IN REVIEW 2014: LOTS OF ENERGY
SPaRK PLUG to StaRt the yeaR Looking ahead and planning for the fu ture is the nature of life and it’s definitely the routine of our business: planning the next project. However, it’s the time of year when we take a look back and see what all the year entailed at Cordillera Ranch and now that we stop to look back, it’s re markable what all has occurred over these 12 months. One thing is for sure, ‘energy’ has been the key theme at Cordillera Ranch. There has been a vibrant energy at the Club with growth in new membership and lots of members enjoying the various amenities more often this year at various events. We’ve benefitted from the energy boom with the historic expansion of both the Eagle Ford Shale and Permian Basin oil and gas fields. Many new property owners and members are moving here from Houston, San Antonio, and Midland and are involved in some way in these energy plays. You can also see the posi tive momentum simply driving around the community and seeing all of the homes under construction. It’s been a fun year at the ranch and it was kicked off by a great honor at the NGCOA conference that has no doubt helped affirm Cordillera’s national reputation as a premier upscale Wecommunity.werehonored to open the year by winning the NGCOA’s Course of the Year Award which recognized Cordillera’s renowned Nicklaus Signature golf course and also its contributions to the commu
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nity and the game. Making the moment more memorable was that the award was given the same night that Jack Nicklaus was given NGCOA’s Award of Merit for his part in golf’s global expansion. While the year started out hot from a real estate and membership sales standpoint (we’ll get back to that), no one started the year hotter than Jimmy Walker with three PGA Tour wins in his first eight starts to the season. Jimmy, who moved into his new Cordillera home in the midst of this run, continued the great play through the four majors with three top ten’s and another T26. The media also took notice of Jimmy’s game with several cover magazine features and his starring role on Golf Channel’s “Playing Lessons with the Pro’s” hosted by Holly Sonders. “Play ing Lessons” was filmed on the back 9 here at Cordillera Ranch and aired on the Golf Channel late this summer. Jimmy’s consistent golf over the past two seasons earned him a spot on the 2014 Ryder Cup team where he had a stellar debut adding 2.5 points for Team USA.
As mentioned, 2014 was a banner year for all sales and club memberships, and while that may sound a bit boastful, it’s really more of a testament to the 1,000+ families that have put their trust in Cordil lera Ranch. Cordillera is blessed to have so many great Club members and prop erty owners because it’s this core of people that has helped this place grow through so many referrals that are brought in to the community. You can’t replace a great testimo nial and we’re proud that so many people that have introduced Cor dillera to their friends and family. From a numbers standpoint, total lot sales were up 35% in 2014 to $16.6MM (total resale and de veloper lot sales) driven by both an increase in actual lots sold and an increase in the average sales price ($264k/lot). A total of 70 lots were sold in Cordillera Ranch (on 63 dis closed pricing) in 2014 and Cordil lera Ranch Realty sold 57 of those 70 lots (73%). The increased lot sales activity was driven partly by some new releases of lots this year in three sections and a continued growth in demand for the unique lifestyle at Cordillera Ranch. In the two newest sections that were released in 2014, Bears Ridge and the Golf Frontage Estates, over half of the lots were sold prior to completion of streets – a strong indication of demand.
During the year, two of the most recent spec homes, built by Burdick and Christo filis and Authentic Custom Homes on hole #6, were both sold. There are currently almost 700 homes complete in Cordillera Ranch and 47 total on the market, representing a healthy supply of less than 8% of total inventory. Further, this inventory of avail able homes varies widely in price ($499k - $2.8MM), age and lot Withattributes.255lots sold in Cordillera in the last five years, that leaves a healthy pipeline for new home construction, which we’re seeing all over the ranch. The primary
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Average price per square foot of the pre-2006 constructed homes was $169/sf versus $255/sf average price for the post2006 constructed homes. The following chart illustrates the distinct difference:
Home sales activity has also been robust in 2014 with 33 sales at an average price of $852k; these numbers do not count new home starts (discussed below). However, digging into these sales stats reveals what we’ve said for several years: that there are really two communities in Cordillera Ranch, the pre-Club community and the post-Club community. In 2014, 21 homes sold that were built prior to 2006 at an average price of $686k while 9 homes sold that were built after 2006 at an average price 81% higher at $1.24MM.
ReaL eState BUZZ
response. This summer we completed a new section of Di Lusso Villas (Phase 2), where from hole #3 you can see two new homes under construction, one complete and one more about to start – all of which are pre-sold. In October, the newest release of pre mier Clubs Village view lots with pristine 20+ mile views in all directions can be found atop this section called Bears Ridge. 12 of the 25 lots were sold prior to completion of paving which is an excel lent start to what is going to be one of the finest additions to the Ranch. Lastly, our most recent offering of new lots, the Golf Frontage Estates on holes #9 and 10, have had the most resounding response with 10 of the 14 lots already sold and
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construction of the streets starting this month and the first homes starting in this section during 2nd quarter of 2015.
The Clubs of Cordillera Ranch have been both a contributor to and benefi ciary of this real estate activity. The Clubs vast offering of amenities is clearly a key part of the lifestyle people are looking to enjoy when they buy here, but the real estate demand has also helped drive the best year of membership sales in the past five years. There are many new faces around the club, with a total of 70 new members joining this year, comprised of new membership sales/developer lot sales (54) and resale property transac tions (16). Of those 70 new members, 52 are new golf members (Full and Limited combined) and another 18 are Ranch members. This marks the 8th consecutive year of net new member ship growth at the Club since opening; a remarkable feat that is again a result of the many people that enjoy proudly sharing the Club with their friends and families. The Club has now grown to over 640 total active members and has done so without ever reducing Membership Deposit pricing.
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LooKinG FoRWaRd Much like the upgrades to the Club this year such as an entirely new fleet of 19 new cardio equip ment units in the fitness center and new traditions started such as the inaugural Legacy Cup at Cordil lera Ranch, plans for 2015 include a variety of new endeavors and events. One event we’re proud to be hosting in 2015 is the Golf Course Superintendent’s Association of America (GCSAA) National Champion ship (that’s right those grass guys actually play golf too). In February, the GCSAA is having their annual conference in San Antonio, and Cordillera Ranch has been selected to host their National Championship featuring 100 superintendents with handicaps of 5 or less. We are also looking forward to delivering some new golf frontage lots; based on the strong demand for the most recent release of the Golf Frontage Estates we will be adding some more golf frontage lots along hole 11 during 2015. Additionally, we are making some progress in designing and developing some new lodging accommodations near the club. Construction of the Springs of Cordillera Ranch is also slated to start in early 2015 with some great pent up demand for this new addition. We are appreciative of the tremendous support of this incredible community of people and hope you have all had a memorable year and wish you a blessed 2015.
On behalf of the entire Cordillera Ranch ownership and staff, we offer an enormous ‘thank you’ to Mike for his contributions to this truly unique community. Aside from his artistic vision in land planning, Mike’s steadfast approach to guarding the integrity of the com munity for the past 17 years has been invalu able not only to the developer but also for the 1,000+ property owners. Sometimes underap preciated by residents is the daily work he has done as protector of detailed covenants by making sure there is strict adherence to these restrictions both from a home construction standpoint and general community main tenance perspective. Upholding these core principles is one of the many ways Cordillera is set apart from other luxury home communities in the Hill Country.
Congratulations, Mike, on a wonderful ca reer and long-lasting contribution to the finest community in Texas!Charlie Hill
MIKE “THE SHERIFF” SHERIDAN RETIRES by
Please join us in congratulating Mike Sheri dan on his retirement from Cordillera Ranch Development. As an original member of the development team at Cordillera Ranch 17 years ago, Mike has been an instrumental part of the growth and success at Cordillera Ranch. Having worn many hats of Development Man ager, Sales Manager, Sales Agent, de-facto POA Manager, Architectural Review Commit tee manager and many other roles, Mike’s experience and knowledge of the ranch is vast. His vision and talents in land planning the community complimented by his attention to detail reviewing new home plans have helped Cordillera become recognized as one of the highest caliber developments in not only Texas but the entire U.S. Further, his passion for Cordillera’s ongoing success is matched only by his love of the highly ranked Nicklaus Signature golf course he helped create.
While Mike is formally stepping aside from his regular day-to-day roles of managing vari ous development and POA operations, he’ll still be contributing to Cordillera Ranch on a less intensive consulting basis. This transition will allow Mike to continue to play a role in land planning of new phases as needed and assure that his knowledge of the community and role as one of its guardians is conveyed to successors, including new POA General Manager Matt Haire. Mike will continue on a consulting basis with the POA as a member of the Architectural Review Committee while also assisting in a long-range transition of the ARC that will include additional members. So you’ll still see Mike around the office some, but he’s looking forward to a less rigid schedule, less managerial responsibility and – most impor tantly – relinquishing the title of Mike Sheriff!
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WE VIEWSBEAUTIFULHAVE ASK ABOUT PRIORITY AD PLACEMENT Sara hill, ad Sales director 210.332.8628 • shill@cordilleraranch.com
h O m E TOU r “It’s what I do,” designer and decorator Marcia Pratt says referring to her involvement in the architectural design of her dream home at 2320 Clubs Drive. After having moved twenty times around the globe with husband, Mark’s career with Exxon Mobil, Marcia is elated to finally have the southern style home she always searchedQatar.whileandfriendsthemovingthreelivingwhereJakarta,mentmostLouisiana,Originallywanted.fromthePratts’recentassignhasbeeninIndonesia,they’vebeenforthepastyears.BeforetoJakarta,PrattsbecamewithNalgaPaulMebanelivinginDoha,Nalgahadhighandlow for the perfect place for her and Paul to retire and landed on Cordillera Ranch. “So that’s how we got out here and we were like, ‘oh my gosh, this is beautiful!’ But of course, it took me like a year to learn how to say Cordillera,” Marcia remembers. So in 2007, Nalga set the Pratts up with Tracy Harris to review several lots to determine if Cordillera Ranch was somewhere they could see themselves retiring. “As soon as we saw this lot, I said, ‘I know exactly what to put on this lot!’” Almost immediately, the Pratts chose designer Jim Terrian to embark on their journey toward a southern antebellum home. “We sat down together and we talked about their lifestyle and how they really live in an everyday at mosphere, how their family interacts, how they want to enter tain, what their furni ture needs are, what their likes of décor are and the mechan ics of the house. Then we looked at the site and evalu ated how we were going to fit all of these things on it,” Jim says of his process. “This site had a lot of unique characters in the slope of the land and it also had a lot of setbacks which were difficult to fit everything that they wanted in. Cordillera was really generous in how they worked with us and trusted us in our vision of what we wanted to put here. They were very generous in allowing us to do some things that hadn’t been done before in
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Photography by Ben Weber
by Kristine Duran ::
Cordillera.” But their efforts were delayed due to Mark’s career. Marcia explains, “Years passed, Jim left the builder he was working with and went on his own and we moved several more times. I was living in the Woodlands and Mark was rotating to Iraq and I got a package in the mail from King Bravo. It was a book; basically How to Design Your House for Dummies by Trey Garner. King Bravo said he had been work ing with this great kid, so Mark came back from Iraq one weekend and we started looking at it and called Jim up to say, ‘let’s fire this thing back up.’” That’s when the Pratts made the switch to Garner Homes in 2011. They took a look back at the 2007 design they had begun and realized that they would need to make some major changes. “We were building a two-story antebellum that every Louisi ana girl wants. Then I hurt my knee, and I was like, ‘I’m never going to bring any beer upstairs to the icebox on the second floor.’ So then we said okay, that’s ridicu lous. It was too big and too expensive” Marcia says. So they brought the home down from a two-story plantation home to a one and a half story southern British Colonial home. “They also wanted to have top quality of everything and this house has top quality of everything. They wanted the technology, like the geothermal heat ing and air conditioning systems, rainwa ter catchment, a lot of technology in this house that you can’t see. Mark did a whole lot of research on the modern sciences of building. We really became intrigued about all of the stuff that he brought to the table, and we started implementing some of those ideas even before we started building their house in other projects. ,”
JimFromsays.Jim’s first renderings of the house, Mark and Marcia were taken. “Right off the bat, with Jim, we told him what we wanted and boom. It’s amazing,” Marcia says. “His willingness to listen to our sug gestions and questions, his sense of pro portion and perception, and his quickly drawn 3-D hand sketched drawings re ally helped us in making decisions,” Mark says in agreement. Jim acknowledges that
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Marcia’s expertise is what really made it so simple. “With someone like Marcia, she’s got fantastic experiences with design, so it was easy for her to communicate back and forth with me. Sometimes clients don’t know how to communicate that as well, so it takes more attempts.” Making sure they would get all that they desired and needed in a home within their financial parameters was made possible by Garner Custom Homes’ reversal approach. “We do a reversal of what is normally the process. You [usually] design everything then put out the price. With Garner, they take the initial concept and they price it initially, then work backwards to make the design fit the price. It gave us the opportu nity to design the house more specifically to what they wanted,” Jim explains. Since Jim has started designing on his own, he has worked with several builders, but is especially impressed with Garner Homes. Marcia describes her positive recollection of working with Garner Homes, “They’re great! They’re young and they’re on the ball. My husband wanted a tin roof; I never wanted a tin roof. It’s just not my look. So Trey Garner said, ‘why aren’t you going with that new concrete slate roof?’ He said about two or three houses up, another house has one. So I went by and I said, ‘yes!’ And when it rains on it, it turns a little darker. I love it.” Aside from the roof, Marcia’s favorite part of her home is her fireplace, which she turns on during chilly mornings. Mar cia wanted large windows to allow plenty of natural lighting into the kitchen, which left no room for outlets, so now she is able to pull hidden outlets out of the counter at her convenience. Also a part of the Pratts’ kitchen is Marcia’s grandfather’s influence. The clear story above incorporates cypress beams from his farm that she grew up visit ing. Their trim carpenter placed them so that, from below, Marcia can still see her great aunt Edna’s name etched into one of them. To add even more character, they incorporated bricks that Marcia had
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The outside of the Pratts’ home was done, in large part, by John Hackett at Dy namic Environments. “He had a really integral involvement in the outdoor involve ment that we have with the New Orleans style rear courtyard. He and I worked together to create the look, then he did all the finishes and actually built all of the walls. Then of course, he was involved in all of the front landscaping and rainwater catchment design as well,” says Jim.
The Pratts’ were involved in every nuance of their home. They worked closely with Jim on the design to ensure that every need and desire of theirs was met, and Jim made every attempt to make those ideas a reality. “I was impressed with the way the Architec tural Review Committee did a really good job with working with the Pratts to take care of the hardships that this lot had. Also, with the styling of the home. Most of the houses are Hill Country, Mediterranean, or Tuscan and we wanted to go in a different direction. We were able to convince them with the quality of the materials and the finishes that it was going to be fitting because it was just going to be a quality house. They are protecting the homeowners out here and I’ve come to appreciate the job that they do because it’s a hard job,” Jim says. With Mark still residing full-time in Jakarta, Marcia continues to travel back and forth.” I kind of repatriated several months ago, but I still go back every couple months. It’s great when you’re over there, but just getting there isn’t. If something happened to my parents in Louisiana, it’s 34 hours to get from my door to their door. That’s a long way.” Mark will per manently join Marcia in their new home at Cordillera Ranch when he retires in August. Marcia continues to decorate and is currently gearing up to help with Shindig and admits that traveling is not high on the agenda at this moment.
collected from her hometown of Natchitoches, Louisiana. The majority of the home is handicap accessible for both elderly family members and for themselves later on in life.
“Boerne’s great, you can do everything on two streets! I finally got the house I wanted; I’m going to stay in my house.”
Garner Homes recently won GSABA’s 2014 Summit Award for Best Design for a Custom Home for the Pratts’ home, with Marcia Pratt recognized for Best Décor.
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SPeCS 4 bedroom 4 1/2 bath 3-car garage 4360 heated/cooled square feet Classic merged South Louisiana planta tion/British West Indies/Texas Hill Country NewarchitectureOrleans courtyard with antique brick columns/stucco walls Eclectic Louisiana heirloom/Middle East ern/North African/Far Eastern décor Ultra high efficiency Ground Source Heat Pump HVAC system (+30 SEER) with standalone dehumidification and fresh air 40,000ventilationgallon rainwater collection system CordilleraranchLiving.com | 73
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PRICECHANGE
• Back
This Robert Thornton home is a perfect example of Contemporary Hill Country style. The spacious house sits on 1.09 acres overlooking the Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course and gorgeous views of the Twin Sisters horizon. 1 VALLey KnoLL 3,024 square Feet MLs# 085874 bedroom, 3 bathroom, game room/office, 2 car garage hardwood floors and carpet recently installed new Bosch stainless steel kitchen appliances/ Bosch 5-top gas stainless stove cooktop new front and back yard landscaping with new irrigation system; completely re-sodded with Zoysia Hill Country and Guadalupe River Valley views off of the rear of the home entertainment center with flat screen connection lawn is fenced with gates and an invisible fence for dogs that covers about 2 acres of the property buy for family wanting move-in ready home with a view on a spacious lot with privacy Full Golf Membership available for purchase
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$529,000
WWW.C ORDILLERA R ANCH COM | 830.336.3570 RealtyThe #1 resource for Cordillera Ranch Real Estate Rick rgrimes@cordilleraranch.comGrimes Eric emetzger@cordilleraranch.comMetzger Frank fleblanc@cordilleraranch.comLeBlanc Jasen jmiller@cordilleraranch.comMillerCharles DirectorAgents:cmueller@cordilleraranch.comMuellerofRealEstate Sales: Barry Denton bdenton@cordilleraranch.com 69 $1,299,000AugustA 4,372 square Feet MLs# 997966 4 bedroom, 4.5 bath, 2-car garage with port-cochere and golf cart storage and hobby sink · Stained concrete and reclaimed longleaf pine floors, with gas fireplace and wood trusses in the open great room Kitchen is equipped with stainless steel designer appliances, walk-in pantry, custom longleaf pine cabinetry, and polished concrete and formed stainless countertops Private study overlooks the golf course and is lined with longleaf pine slats for photo and art arrangements Master suite’s tall windows welcome natural light and a panoramic view of Hill Country sights Lux master bath includes walk-in shower, concrete vanity tops, spa bath, and fully accessorized closet Detached backyard cabana is housed with wet bar, outdoor kitchen, half bath, and adjacent stone fire pit • Master Full Golf Membership available for purchase
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Located at the end of a cul-de-sac with stunning Hill Country and Guadalupe River Valley views, this single-story home, with a native stone exterior, is on a 3.5 acre flat lot with ample space, privacy, large mature oaks and views. Home has been recently upgraded with new interior paint, hardwood floors/carpet, stainless steel kitchen ap pliances (Bosch 5-top gas cooktop) and new light fixtures. An all new outdoor environ ment includes new landscaping, large Rainbow Systems playscape and patio-mounted flat screen TV. 2
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WWW.C ORDILLERA R ANCH COM | 830.336.3570 209 swede CreeK $1,499,900 6,036 square Feet MLs# • 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 3-car garage • Porte-cochere connects home to oversized garage • French glass doors and divided light windows provide abundant light • Gourmet kitchen with commercial grade appliances • Oversized rooms throughout • Butler’s pantry with climate controlled wine cellar • Relaxing master suite and inviting guest suite downstairs • Three spacious bedrooms upstairs • Outdoor, covered living includes fireplace and built-in grill • Convenient to Swede Creek Park and the Guadalupe River • Master Full Golf Membership available for purchase Traditional Hill Country living in this masterfully designed and appointed home by Authentic Custom Homes. 4.52 acres of mature trees and panoramic views provide a relaxing backdrop and comfortable lifestyle. Open floor plan includes spacious great room and adjoining kitchen. Custom millwork, ceiling treatments and plantation shut ters complement hardwood and stone flooring throughout. 3 • 4 bedroom, 4.5 bath, with 3 car garage • Enormous gourmet kitchen features Miele appliances and abundant counter space • Coffee bar in master bathroom • Two-sided salt water aquarium visual in both study and entry way • The ultimate outdoor living area with a fireplace, cascading waterfall pool, hot tub, and a full outdoor kitchen • State of the art Zenpanion electronic/audio/visual home automation system • Private outdoor putting green • Golf simulator room and golf cart garage • Numerous water features • Master Full Golf Membership available for purchase This Stadler Custom Home was featured as the “WOAI Concept Home.” The ultimate entertainment home on more than 1.5 acres overlooking the 15th tee box on the Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course. 25 $2,395,000AugustA7,299 square Feet MLs# 638461 4 445 $2,500,000AugustA5,465 square Feet MLs# 1038461 2 + 1 garages · Fully equipped outdoor kitchen · Custom infinity pool and spa · Stone and wood flooring in all gathering areas · Countless Burdick & Christofilis Signature features Convenient to Cordillera Ranch Clubhouse · Master Full Golf Membership available for purchase Experience the feel of the Tuscan sun as you take in Burdick & Christofilis’ new Model Home on the 17th Fairway of the Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. 3 Bedroom, 4 Bath home has a fabulous game room and bar off of the large covered patio. Enormous, vaulted kitchen and great room give way to 10’ tall sliding pocket doors that open to patio. Master suite includes decorative ceiling with timbers, lavish master bath with a hammered copper slipper tub. Adjacent to master bath is a flex room that has multiple use options. Circular courtyard completes the feel on the front of the home. 5
· 4 Bedrooms, 3½ baths · 337 sq. ft. Casita with full bath and coffee bar Solid mahogany doors, windows and beamed ceilings. · Finest selection of materials including travertine and wood floors, granite counters and limestone fireplace. · Outdoor kitchen and nearby fire pit for enjoying starry nights. · Finest appliances and functional kitchen serve multiple dining areas · Panoramic views of the Guadalupe River Valley and Twin Sisters · Master Full Golf Membership available for purchase Tuscany meets Texas in this fabulous, gated hillside enclave. Panoramic Hill Country views from outdoor living areas fuse with transitional contemporary elegance. The finest selection of materials and finishes embody this Di Lusso luxurious experience. Beautifully appointed throughout, this three bedroom villa includes an endless array of features that must be viewed to be appreciated. Closest proximity to the amenities of The Clubs of Cordillera Ranch clubhouse. 12 di Lusso driVe $999,000 2,896 square Feet MLs # 1042649 6 WWW.C ORDILLERA R ANCH COM | 830.336.3570 907 CordiLLerA trACe $1,175,000 5,136 square Feet MLs# 1003673 • 5 bedroom, 4 bathroom, 3 car garage • Open, spacious floor plan with three living areas • Tile granite countertops • Stainless steel appliances in the kitchen with gas oven range • Luxurious master suite includes a sitting room, his and her walk-in closets and a large bathroom with dual separate vanities and Whirlpool tub • Adjoining 5 acre lots on each side also available Mediterranean home by Burdick & Christofilis sitting on 4.60 acres with views for miles of the Hill Country. Multiple outdoor living areas open to the surrounding countryside. Picturesque pool, spa, waterfall and outdoor kitchen, cabana, and fireplace create a perfect relaxing backyard retreat. 7PRICECHANGE • 4 Bedroom/4.5 Bath/3.5 Car Garage • Designed by Gustavo Arredondo • Secluded living in Clubs Village • Fabulous Oak Trees • Panoramic Views • Master Full Golf Membership Available Now Available! 5136 Square feet of brilliantly designed elegant living on Hole #7 of the Jack Nicklaus signature golf course. Currently under construction and awaiting your preferences of interior element selections. 60 oAKLAnd hiLLs $677,500 3,158 square Feet MLs# 1089030 8 SOLD
WWW.C ORDILLERA R ANCH COM | 830.336.3570 • 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath, 3 car garage • Tall windows, travertine and wood floors, custom window treatments, lux ceiling treatments • Chef’s kitchen with premium stainless steel appliances, granite counter tops, built-in coffee maker, eat-at island and additional breakfast bar • Master suite and its sitting area have great views of hole #5 and the Hill Country beyond • Master spa bath with his and her vanities, coffee bar with wine fridge, oversized closet, built-in dressers, granite counter tops, and travertine throughout • Outdoor living area, including fireplace, kitchen with gas grill and fridge, and dual rock water features looks out over breathtaking Hill Country views and hole #5 of the golf course • Master Full Golf Membership available for purchase Tuscan-style home by Stadler Custom Homes with a bright, open floor plan that over looks the fifth fairway of the Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. 44 oAKLAnd hiLLs $1,349,000 5,280 square Feet MLs# 1019540 9 1838 CLubs driVe $1,142,000 4,267 square Feet MLs# 1089152 • 4 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, 3-car garage • Single Story • Towering ceilings in the family room • Panoramic views through the family and breakfast rooms • Expansive covered patio with complete summer kitchen and fireplace • Spacious master suite with lavish bathroom and enormous walk-in closet • Formal dining room and private study off the foyer • Open game room with adjacent media room • Large wine room • Intricate ceiling treatments throughout • Three additional bedrooms with private bathrooms • Master Full Golf Membership available for purchase Partners in Building is beginning construction on their first luxury, custom home in Cordillera Ranch. It is a single story Hill Country jewel with beautiful natural stone and luxury lifestyle features throughout. Contact John Moon at 210-978-2424 for more information. The depiction of this home is an artist’s rendering. The actual features and/or designs may vary from those depicted. 10 • 4 bedroom, 4.5 bath, 3 car garage • 3.41 acres with end of cul-de-sac solitiude • Hardwood and natural stone flooring in main living areas • Open kitchen design featuring island prep area and Wolf, Bosch and Sub Zero appliances • All bedrooms have en suite baths • Oversized laundry room • Exercise room convertible to fifth bedroom • Open floor plan with oversized living areas • Premium electronics featuring Lutron lighting system, upgraded fixtures, whole home audio, motorized shades and surround sound/media projection. • Warm, neutral colors and custom window coverings throughout • Swimming pool with adjoining hot tub Burdick & Christofilis custom features and the finest finishes complement spacious indoor and outdoor living. Exceptional, oversized covered Lanai and balcony overlook pool, native landscaping and Hill Country views beyond. Refreshing pool enveloped by multiple leisure areas and natural surroundings. 122 greystone Point $1,599,500 7,053 square Feet MLs# 1067747 11 SOLD
1 2 98 3 6 7411 510Cordillera Ranch Realty Homes for Sale 1 - 69 Augusta 2 - 116 Valley Knoll 3 - 209 Swede Creek 4 - 25 Augusta 5 - 445 Augusta 6 - 12 Di Lusso Drive 7 - 907 Cordillera Trace 8 - 60 Oakland Hills 9 - 44 Oakland Hills 10 - 1838 Clubs Drive 11 - 122 Greystone Point
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