Texas Golf Insider - Spring 2024 by Digital Publisher

Golf Insider TEXAS

SPRING 2024

The Official Guide to Golf in Texas

Bayou Golf Course

A Little Piece of Heaven in Texas City Inside: 2024 PGA Merchandise Show A Hit! New Products Available Now

Houston Golf Courses Shine Highland Pines GC A Big Hit

Fort Worth Golf

Revitalizing Meadowbrook GC

Watch our Facebook Live “Golf After Hours” Podcast! Facebook.com/ TexasGolfInsider

Award-winning dining, a booming craft beer scene, luxurious resorts, and exceptional year-round golf on courses along the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail await you in Alabama. Plus, with Jerry Pate’s Kiva Dunes and Arnold Palmer’s Craft Farms in Gulf Shores, from the Mountain Lakes to the Gulf Coast, you can take it all in.

www.GolfAlabama.org

Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Grand National, Auburn-Opelika

CONTENTS|

Bayou Golf Club

SPRING 2024

6 Welcome

54 Happiness Is

8 Bayou Golf Club

58 Fort Worth Golf

Returning to Lubbick

A Little Piece of Heaven in Texas City

Meadowbrook Reimagined

18 Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta 66 PGA Hope Taking it to A Whole New Level

Offers Host of Opportunities

26 PGA Merchandise Show 69 Top Drawer Golf Best of New Products

Starts with Highland Pines GC

34 Change Your Attitude 74 Chambers Creek Southernmost Texas Golf

Central Texas 44 GENERAL DIRECTORY 46 MAPS 47 COURSE DIRECTORY

Modern 55+ Community

Dallas/Fort Worth 62 DIRECTORY / MAPS 63 COURSE DIRECTORY

Houston

79 GENERAL DIRECTORY 80 MAPS 81 COURSE DIRECTORY

18 30

THEEDITOR PUBLISHER FROM THE

Letter From The Publisher Texas

GOLF INSIDER P.O. Box 310652 New Braunfels, TX 78130 830-964-2152 FAX 830-964-2153 thetexasgolfinsider.com Mike Ratchman Publisher Office: 830-964-2152 mike@thetexasgolfinsider.com Director of Marketing: Melanie Grafe, Houston Office: 979-732-1909 Joe Valentino, DFW Office: 940-735-1265 Editor: Ava Ratchman Contributing Writers: Steve Habel, Art Stricklin, James McAfee Contributing Photographers: Connie Black, Mark Lindsay, Steve Giles, Justin Becker, Office Manager/Social Media: Marcede Pullen 3 ANNUAL EDITIONS Copyright ©2023 Texas Golf Insider. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Golf course rates are subject to change at any time. Texas Golf Insider and its affiliates are not responsible or liable for any errors, omissions or changes in rates or information.

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

Dear Hooked-on-GolfTexans and NorthernVisitors, As the bluebonnets bloom and the fairways green up, I welcome you to the Texas Golf Insider’s spring issue—a delightful blend of golf, travel, and newest golf training products. Our feature story and front cover feature isThe Bayou Golf Course inTexas City.This municipal golf course, where Butch Harmon got his start and was built by legendaryTexas Golf architect Joe Finger, is only 6,596 yards. Sure, it’s shorter than most courses, but throw in a costal wind and water surrounding most of the course and it makes for a fun challenging day. So, if you’re headed toward the coast stop by for a few hours and take the challenge. Next, the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando show showcased 100’s of golf products to the world of golf, the newest and best-of-the-best drivers, apparel, golf shoes, training aids and some of the weirdest golf gadgets. My favorite several years ago was the digital breath alcohol tester that I still have and use. Let’s me know if I need to uber from the course. Fore real! We also highlight severalTexas travel stories, some costal golf courses that you might want to travel to and, in my opinion, one of the coolest 55+communities in Houston if not Texas. It’s all here in the spring issue. Remember readers, golf is more than just a game—it’s a chance to chase that elusive white orb, curse creatively, and forge bonds over lost balls. So, swing with all you got, snicker at your slices, if you can, and embrace the divots.After all, life is too short for serious faces. I hope you enjoy our spring issue as much as we had running down stories for you. I hope to see you on the green, where the grass is so much greener. Par-tee on! Mike Ratchman Publisher,Texas Golf Insider/Host of “GolfAfter Hours” Podcast You ask! How can I submit an article toTexas Golf Insider? Send to: media@thetexasgolfinsider.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Melanie Grafe

Houston sales for the Texas Golf Insider, over 15 yrs experience in marketing and advertising. CEO of e-Graphics Marketing and Advertising providing marketing and graphic design services.

Top 1 0 0

C lubsfitters in th e C ountry

JoeValentino

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

H ug e selection of new and used club s 8 , 0 0 0 sq ft facility, with hitting b ays and custom C lub F itting

Steve Habel

Level Media.

Steve Habel has contributed to Texas Golf Insider for more than two decades. He is the publisher of GolfDaily.com, a beat writer for InsideTexas. com and a long-time contributor to Field

V isit our Golf S h op to S ee Major B enefits from: - Monitors and

fitting

- F ully stocked

Golf A pparel

- F ast and

Art Stricklin

One of the foremost experts on golf history and travel in Texas, Stricklin has written a total of seven books and personally played at a majority of the state’s courses.

eq uipment

Reliab le Repairs

- C ustom Refinishing

and

S tamping

- F riend ly C ustomer S ervice - Personliz ed

L essons

TEXAS

Golf Insider

The Official Guide to Golf in Texas

Watch our new Facebook Live “Golf After Hours” Podcast!

6 1 0 North Austin Avenue G eorgetown, TX 7 8 6 2 6 5 1 2 - 8 6 3 - 4 5 7 3 www.golfranchshop.com Take your game to the next level!

Facebook.com/TexasGolfInsider TheTexasGolfInsider.com

COVER STORY

Texas City’s Bayou Golf Course fills needed niche in Gulf Coast golf hierarchy

By Steve Habel, Contributing Writer

The sense of community and fellowship one gets from playing golf is on ready display from the minute one lays his or her eyes on the Bayou Golf Course, the Texas Gulf Coast’s top

Hole #17, Par 4

value golf facility. Conditions here have never been better, and the course is a challenge throughout thanks to a wellreceived renovation that brought out the best and discarded the rest.

Hole #8, Par 5

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

COVER STORY

Clubhouse where Butch Harmon got his start

There’s nothing better than a great golf course that can be played at an affordable price and that’s what you get at Bayou Golf Course. The mix of holes at the hybrid links/parkland-style facility was raised up from about 200 acres of marshland along Moses Bayou as it flows toward Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, with water coming into play on 12 of the holes. “We’ve made this course a haven of sorts for golfers who want to have fun, be treated like family and enjoy a consistent level of great golf for under $40,” said Mike Skiba, Bayou Golf Course’s head professional and director of golf. “If you come play our course we think you will want to play it again and again. That’s the best complement a golfer can give a course.” Bayou Golf Course plays at 6,596 windswept yards from the back tees and to a par of 72. The routing was originally designed

by legendary Texas golf architect Joe Finger in 1974 and Houstonian Mike Nuzzo put his stamp on the experience here when he restored and enhanced the course in 2014. Subsequent improvements and tweaks have been done as needed, with the latest a resurfacing of the course’s cart paths and a total bunker revitalization. Play has continued to increase at Bayou Golf Course since the pandemic, with more that 32,000 rounds played at the venerable facility that sits just 14 miles from the Galveston city limits and on the outskirts of Texas City in Galveston County. Skiba, who’s been

Hole #14, Par 4

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

COVER STORY

Bayou Golf Course

at Bayou GC for seven years, said the rounds and revenue have grown about 20 percent year to year, another indication of the quality and longevity of the course and the way it is run. Bayou Golf Course checks a lot of boxes for most golfers with testing greens complexes and demanding putting surfaces that helps the experience rise above the norm. From the back tees, four of the par 4s are carded at over 400 yards and

Hole #12, Par 4

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

three of the par 5s play at more than 500 yards. Add in the wind, which is always blowing here, and those seven holes alone clearly indicate the need for prowess with the driver. There are also 18 sand bunkers strategically placed in throughout the routing to form a formidable combination with the course’s slightly elevated tees and greens. “Our putting surfaces are rolling as smoothly as I’ve ever seen them,” Skiba said. “As everyone who plays here regularly can tell you, we can put the pins in places where precise approach shots are the only way they be attacked and play close to par.” After two relatively easy holes to start the round, the 414-yard par 4 third ups the ante in spades, playing into the prevailing wind with water along the left on the approach and trees on the right near the preferred landing area. Water awaits a misjudged shot behind the smallish and undulating putting surface at the back-left. It’s one of the toughest pars on the Gulf Coast.

COVER STORY

Hole #17, Par 4

The 414-yard par 4 sixth demands thought and course management. The tee shot must be short of the bayou that begins 225 yards after which the golfer must produce an approach to another wind-affected, tiny green. The 481-yard par-5 10th offers the golfer a risk/reward option. There is a lake in play off the tee and on the approach, as well as out of bounds on the left, but birdie or better is within

reach with two, or three, well executed shots. Bayou Golf Club is renowned for its fourhole closing stretch. The 573-yard par 5 15th is the longest hole here and has a double dogleg. Next up is the deadly and long 191yard par 3 16th, which always seems to need one more club than you think to reach the putting surface. The 17th, at 457 yards, is the longest par 4 on the course. It’s a dogleg-left with a stout carry across the turn to the fairway with trees guarding the left side as well. Most of the Bayou Golf Course’s regular players consider a par here to be like a birdie, especially on those days when the wind comes in from the north. The round wraps up with a 393-yard par-4 that’s considered one of the best finishing holes in the Bay Area. There’s water along the left side and a deep bunker that guards the tournament hole placement at the back-left.

Hole #6, Par 4

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

COVER STORY

There is water everywhere at the Bayou

Time does not stand still and neither do the demands placed on the management of a golf course. There are plans in the future to redo the front nine’s cart paths, to improve drainage throughout (especially on the front nine, which is the most affected by the bay’s tidal pools) and re-grass some areas on

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

the edges of the course that have been damaged by the brackish water. The facility also offers the community a five-and-a-half acre walking family pitch-and-putt course with holes that play from 60 to 90 yards. It’s a place where you can find both the skilled golfer looking to hone his or her skills around the greens (and who isn’t) as well as beginners just learning about how great golf can be. It’s the home to the area’s First Tee program. Bayou Golf Course is famously known as the place where Butch Harmon, one of the game’s most noted and famed instructors, got his first job in the golf business. “There are people who want to play this course just because Butch used to teach here,” Skiba said with a laugh. “I’m no Butch Harmon, but if you want to improve your golf game, I can get you on the right track.” Seems like a place to enjoy as often as your schedule allows. If you haven’t played Bayou Golf Course, you owe it to yourself to give it a shot.

elcome o B A l le

ece of ea en n Te as C

2800 Ted Dudle Dr Te as C Te as 2 www. a ou c.com

Call Toda ! 40 - 3 - 22

GET ALL ACCESS Digital Magazine

Scan QR Code for the lastest Edition of the Texas Golf Insider

Landa Park Golf Course

New Braunfels, Texas

BOOK YOUR TEE TIME TODAY! www.LandaParkGolfCourse.com 830-221-4340

The Big Easy Lodge

Infinity Pool, Cabana & Recreational Activities

FEATURE STORY

Vidanta Nuervo Vallarta Onsite Amenities and Activities Abound

By Art Stricklin, Contributing Writer

The idea of spectacular golf facilities, spectacular lodging plus spectacular scenery all combined into a spectacular beach resort is hardly a new travel concept, in Mexico or anywhere else, but Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta takes it to a whole new level. There are, of course, 45 great holes of golf plus multi-tower lodging options overlooking the lakes, river and beach scenery. Really though, who doesn’t have that at any self-respecting Mexico resort? But what about a still under construction amusement park, the SkyDreams

SkyDreams Gondola Lodge Interior

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

gondola system used on special occasions and to connect to the amusement park, which the resort website claims as the first in the world gondola for a resort, river taxies and the world longest cart suspension bridge? All that and more await your visit to the massive complex in Nuerta Virata, site of the PGA Tour’s Vidanta Mexico Open, an official Tour event won by Tony Finau last year, Jon Rahm the year before, and coming soon for 2024. With two of the region’s premier courses—The Nayar Course and the Vidanta Vallarta Course—plus the 10-hole, par-3 The Lakes Course and the all-new Vidanta Golf Academy which the pros used as a practice area, a beautiful new clubhouse restaurant, and the longest golf cart suspension bridge in the world, which links the tower lodging to the golf course, there is plenty to see and do. More than half of the holes at the Lake Course feature water to form a challenging if not scary tee shot.The course winds in-between

FEATURE STORY

lots of trees and brush and plays in front of the hotel and condo towers. Another feature at The Lakes is the unique SkyCoaster gondola which goes over several of the holes giving riders a aerial views of the hole layouts and the shots below. “I’ve done a lot of golf courses in a lot of places, but I don’t think I’ve ever done one with a gondola going above the course, there is a lot going on there,”Texas architect Chet Williams said. The tournament course, the Vidanta Vallarta Course, is an 18-hole par 71

layout and was redesigned by Greg Norman. It was awarded Renovation of the Year by Golf Inc. magazine in 2022. This course, originally open in the 1970s, features wall-to-wall paspalum grass and challenging shots around the greens. The pros play it from 7,400 yards, but amateurs can move up several sets of tees to make it a bit more user friendly. Water comes into play on several of the holes, including the closing par 5, and there are plenty of trees which can impede your movement if you stray off the fairway.

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

FEATURE STORY

Golf CourseViews fromYour Hotel

The adjacent Nayar Course is both a natural and technical marvel.This 18-hole, par 70 course is forgiving to beginners, but is rimmed with seven lakes and 49 strategically placed bunkers that can challenge the most experienced golfers. It also plays between several huge mansions and the streets which run into the resort, making it an interesting layout for all players. When golf is finished for the day, you take the swaying golf cart bridge back across the river.There is no doubt Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta is a massive resort - some find the sprawling layout a bit confusing and aren’t prepared for the amount of walking or tram rides that are involved.

Evening Walking Bridge

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

Woe to the traveler who gets on the wrong tram going to the wrong place (which I did) or tries to find a specific eatery with the right sign (which I also did). The bright side of such a big resort is the proportional number of on-site amenities and activities available here. At Vidanta, along with the three golf courses and academy, you’ll find multiple spas (some towers have their own), a lazy river, a multitude of pools, an entertainment pavilion for live performances and a shopping center. For activities, you can take salsa lessons, go to trivia night, make arts and crafts, etc, With the resort’s beach access, guests can also lounge on the shore and partake in watersports.When hunger strikes, there are more than 40 restaurants and lounges to choose from, so whether you want to grab a casual lunch or indulge at a gourmet restaurant, there’s bound to be a place to suit your taste. Light shows? They’ve got them. Famous entertainments and groups? Yes, andYes.Waterfalls, indoor and outdoor venues and theaters, all here. Accommodations are just as varied, ranging from rooms to lofts

FEATURE STORY

Pool and Lazy River

to four-bedroom estates and offering perks like private balconies, plunge pools, kitchens and more. The towers are divided into the Grand Mayan, the Grand Luxe, Grand Bliss and the Mayan Palace with larger houses available as well.The tower names hardly do the rooms justice with individual pools, spectacular views, full kitchens and dining areas. Among the newest dining area is the Sky Garden which is on top of the Grand Luxe Tower and offers great food and better views overlooking the pool, jacuzzi and river. EPIK Theme Park is the first phase of Vidanta World, and will showcase the Vista Wheel, an incredible Ferris wheel that transforms into a multi-media light show spectacle by night;The Crater, a striking volcanic fountain experience;The Lake Show, a stunning production of incredible scale with talented artists, breathtaking scenery, and

dazzling lights, honoring the music of Carlos Chávez. In other words, if they don’t have it here during your resort visit, it’s probably either not invented yet or still in the planning stages. Spectacular resort overload might not be everyone’s idea of a small boutique vacation spot, but at Vidana Nuevo Vallarta, it’s a very good thing. For information on the resort and the many coming projects, visit www.GrupoVidanta.com or www.vidanta.com/en/ web/nuevo-vallarta.

The Beach Club

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

COVER STORY

Remembering a Golf Dad Who Focused on What Really Matters on the Course

By Art Stricklin, Contributing Writer

Art & Dad once stood on Swilcan Bridge

TGI Golf contributor, Art Stricklin, pays homage to his late father, who never worried much about his score but still traveled the world playing the game. No offense to any of the great golf teachers nationally and in Texas, many of whom I know personally and respect greatly, but the recent passing of my great golfing father at age 88 was not a huge loss to their profession or future business.

The author (left) and his father, Gil. TheTexasGolfInsider.com

I suspect my father was like millions of golfers’ nationwide. His golfing goal was all about being in the outdoors in scenic and historic locations with people he wanted to be with. No other reason but friendship, fellowship and fun. Scorecard optional, sometimes very optional. To the best of my knowledge, my dad only took two golf lessons in his lifetime and only played in one club tournament. He didn’t especially enjoy either, dad just wanted to play with family, thankfully me, and friends in fun surroundings. We played hundreds, if not thousands of rounds together all over the world. It was bonding not birdies and bogeys which kept us going. Family, not frustration, was part of every round. Hole in One? Ha! (although close one day at Royal Oaks CC in Dallas). Club championship. Never. True handicap, only when we went to Scotland. Double figure total score. Rarely.

COVER STORY

Art and his Dad at The Bluejack National

We stood in Amen Corner while watching the Masters tournament, on the Swilcan Bridge at St. Andrews Old Course, by the first tee in bright sunshine at Pebble Beach, mist at Brandon Dunes, driving rain at Prestwick. What did we shoot in those rounds? I couldn’t even tell you. But the fact we did it together was just another chapter in the family golf scrapbook. Before his funeral in Dallas, a friend gave me a great line which summed up my dad’s golf career. “Playing golf with your dad was like playing golf with (motivational speaker) Zig Ziglar or Norman Vincent Peale.” “He was always asking about how you were doing, how your family was getting along, what you were going through in life. Rarely, if ever, was it about golf unless he was telling you about another family golf adventure or asking about yours.” It’s not like he didn’t want to get better at golf, I’m sure he was not opposed to it, but not at the expense of why he got involved in the first place. Hitting balls, putting, chipping on the range for hours, rushing off to get in his regular foursome on Saturday AM,

nothing wrong with that at all, Just not what he was into. The chance to spend uninterrupted time with people he wanted to be with and the chance to raise money for a favorite cause or to help someone facing problems, that was the reason he played. He taught me plenty, including no complaining when you had a bad shot, “nobody wants to hear that.” Also, no talking after somebody else hits a bad one, “you don’t have to say anything, they already know it was bad,” plus sometimes you just need another try. I’ve seen him tee up another mulligan, while the first one was still in the area or rolling on the ground.” Of course, there was one time when it all came together for him on the golf course. We were playing at the scenic Tom Fazio designed Buffalo Ridge layout at Big Cedar Lodge in Branson.

Mist at Brandon Dunes

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

COVER STORY

Buffalo Ridge Course, Hole # 18

For whatever reason, it was simply his day. The drives found the fairway, the approach shots hit the greens, the balls were rarely lost and putts went in the hole. Headed to the back nine it occurred to me this could be a record round of so many we played together. The longer the streak of good Senior Stricklin play went on the more nervous I got to see him achieve a rare on-course highlight. Finally, at the par 5 18th, I picked up my ball so eagerly to help him make his par putt on the closing hole.

rt an his a

final roun

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

He stroked the putt solidly into the hole. A 90!! At age 80!!!Incredible for his age and ability. After hugging, we celebrated with my mom and others at Arnie’s Barn Restaurant at Big Cedar with our drinks of choice. Iced tea and Dr. Pepper. Just another chapter in the memory books. Ultimately, my dad lived up to the words of a long ago Jack Nicklaus TV interview. “The three most important things in golf,” the Golden Bear once said, “What did you shoot? Where did you play? Who did you play with? When you think about it, the first two don’t really matter at all.” So true. Thanks for all the rounds of golf and all the memories Dad.You always got one right, the other two don’t really matter at all.

Moody Gardens Aquarium

SHOPPING

By Art Striclkin, Contributing Writer

The 2024 PGA Golf Merchandise Show in Orlando recently completed its nearly week long run at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando and Orange Country National Golf Course, with the largest attendance of more than 40,000 since the Global Pandemic, and a nearly 10,000 increase from last year . About 1,000 companies displayed products which will soon be displayed in golf shops all over Texas and elsewhere.

Lee Trevino sporting the Super Mex look

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

Here is a look at the top 10 items that caught our eye for Texas Golf Insider readers. Enjoy some of the latest and great golf treasures. Super Mex Golf, Dallas,TX Of all the thingsTexas native LeeTrevino has done in his unmatched career, from poverty to worldwide golfing power, fashion icon was never one of them, until now.With the 2023 launch of Super Mex Golf, that is about the change.The new company, handled by his son Daniel, will offers shirts, hats, shorts and other golf gear all with the familiar Trevino logo, the Sombrero with a golf club through the middle. “Being Hispanic and coming from where I came from, I’m proud of this logo because it shows that if you have perseverance, if you sacrifice and work hard, you can be successful. Not just in golf, but in anything,” said Trevino, who was known as the Merry Mex or Super Mex during his lengthy career. For now, the fashion line is being sold on-line, but later this year it will roll out to public and private courses around the state of Texas. Business at the PGA Show booth with Trevino telling stories non-stop was booming. “People love the retro gear,” Daniel Trevino said.

SHOPPING

Shot Scope

One thing Dear has found out since coming to America seven years ago, as already the second largest range finder company in Europe, is that in the U.S. they sell 70% of the range finders which fit into your hand and 30% which fit on your wrist. In Europe, the percentage is almost totally reversed. “People are used to a wrist watch in Europe and this is just one more thing. In America, most young people don’t wear a watch.” PAYNTR Golf, San Diego, CA Traditional spiked shoes, waterproofed for the conditions, along with smooth shoes has been the biggest draw for this

Shot Scope, Edinburgh, Scotland In the crowded range finder market, Shot Scope stands alone with the fully metal shell model, the Pro L2 & LX which is not only accurate, but sturdy. “I was testing it out and it actually fell out of my cart and I ran over it,” said chief commercial officer Gavin Dear. “It’s also waterproof and can survive anything and anybody. It’s priced reasonable well for the golfer and can gauge PAYNTR Luxe Shoes anything you need on the course.” fastest growing footwear company over the last two years in the U.S. The company produces a best-selling X 001 F and the X 004 RS Luxe shoes, along with training shoes for work on the range and the Tour Professional. One of the biggest announcements of the show was that PAYNTR golf has signed with the 2024 International Team captain Mike Weir for use at the biannual Presidents Cup matches at Royal Montreal this fall. The high quality shoes, which come in spiked and non-spiked versions, waterproof and regular, will be on the feet of some of the finest golfers in the world and can also be used by amateur golfers Shot Scope anywhere.

Rendering of Family Pool TheTexasGolfInsider.com

SHOPPING

The Payntr shoes all come with the company name on the sole of the shoes along with the industry leading blister free warranty, which company officials said they have never had to honor since it started two years ago.

overs, pants and shorts, but staying true to our founders’ vision.” GolfForever, Denver Colorado Dallas’ Justin Leonard achieved plenty in his PGA Tour career with 14 tournament wins including a British Open title, but when he turned 50 and joined the Champions Tour, he wanted to work with a company which offers fitness equipment to amateur golfers to use like pros. GolfForever is a golf fitness system which integrates an at-home fitness golf

Polo, New York City Golf Legend Tom Watson has been an endorser for Polo Clothes for more two decades because he says classics never got out of style. But that doesn’t mean the iconic company headed by designer Ralph Lauren isn’t changing. GolfForever Fitness System

Polo for the 19th Hole

The focus for 2024 are adaptable clothes which can go right from the golf course to the 19th hole to dinner, or anywhere else without a change. “People’s dress styles are changing and we are changing as well,” said Polo’s Maggie Senesac. “We are adapting to the changing times with our shirts and pullTheTexasGolfInsider.com

training system with the same coaching and tools used by the pros. “Being on the pro golf tour, you’re used to the best-of-the-best equipment, but with GolfForever anybody can use it to get better for the game we all love,” said Leonard. TRUE linkswear, Tacoma,WA TRUE offers a line of casual shoes good for the golf course or for aftergolf activities. They have no-spike shoes for gentle courses and heavier nights.

TRUE Lux Shoes

SHOPPING

Among their other offerings are 3L Rain Jackets, Vests, and the iconic dead golfer

collection. ‘Married to the Game, Until Death do us Part.’ Ashworth, Carlsbad, California Another iconic clothing line making a comeback at the PGA show was the casual Ashworth line still promoted by Fred Couples, as laidback and casual as it comes. After a series of owners and financial issues, Ashworth is back with its traditional putter boy logo. “We are back bigger and better than ever,” said Ashworth’s Negi Darsses. “We want to prove the game is available to every golfer.”

Tour Striker, Scottsdale, AZ Leading golf teacher Martin Chuck said he wants to help fellow teachers with their ability to teach others, but also wants to help amateurs with their game as well. That’s why he has the Tour Striker series which including the 7-iron training aid and video series which can help anybody with a more consistent swing.

Tour Striker Impact Sling

Chuck still teaches out of the Raven Golf Club in Scottsdale, but says the Tour Striker system has been proven to help golfers anywhere who want a more repeatable swing. TheTexasGolfInsider.com

SHOPPING

Uneekor Launch Monitor, Lake Forest, CA Another successful entry into the crowded golf simulator field is the Uneekor launch monitor and golf simulator. No longer just for the largest

Uneekor Launch Monitor & Golf Simulator

clubs or richest golfers, the Uneekor products, originally a Korean company, range from $500 to $4,995, depending on size and scope. They can fit into your man cave or are portable and can be carried to the golf range with you. Already the Uneekor simulator is being installed in bars and restaurants, along with the Denver airport and many other places. Home delivery can be accomplished in a couple of weeks if you want to groove your game before heading to the links. Whoosh Software, San Francisco, CA. The pen and paper tee sheet is quickly going the way of the Model-T Ford or horse and buggy, and so is the ability to slip $20 to the starter to get you out a little sooner.Whoosh Software, founded by businessman Colin Reed takes all of that to the computer screen for guest and members to key in what they need and pro shop workTheTexasGolfInsider.com

ers to handle any issues with a touch of a computer screen. “By cutting out pen and paper, we can save clubs 20 hours a week in work time, while freeing members and guests to type in what they need without endless phone calls,” Reed said. Whoosh already works with 200 clubs around the country including the Olympic Club in San Francisco and is seeing its greatest growth in public courses who want to automate their tee time process. “As someone who has attended the PGA Show for over 30 years, this one certainly had an added excitement around it,” said PGA of America President John Lindert, PGA Director of Golf at the Country Club of Lansing in Lansing, Michigan. “The golf industry is in a great place and that was very evident this year.The Show is annually the largest gathering of PGA of America Golf Professionals and industry leaders and is the epicenter of golf business.”

WHAT IS THIS?!

Scan barcode to ﬁnd out The latest golf news in the Texas area

Golf travel, golf courses, and shopping

#1 most picked up guide to golf in Texas

FEATURE STORY

Change your attitude as you tee it up in southernmost Texas

By Steve Habel, Contributing Writer

There is a change in attitude as you go further south in latitude on your way toward the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Here, even as the region continues to grow in population and as a center for commerce and link to Mexico, time seems to pass a little slower. The Valley is a bona fide tourist destination for those looking to get away and is a favorite for visitors from the Midwest as well as Mexican nationals and thousands of college students who visit South Padre Island throughout March and April for Spring Break activities. The area is highlighted by two great courses – South Padre Island Golf Club in Laguna Vista and the El Diablo course at Rancho Viejo Resort & Country Club in suburban Brownsville. These facilities would be worth the trip any day, but even more so when the sun is warm and bright. A recent National Golf Foundation poll found that the Rio Grande Valley has more playable days of golf per year (less than 25 days lost) than anywhere in the United States, making it the place to point my truck when the weather turned frigid farther to the north. TheTexasGolfInsider.com

South Padre Island Golf Club can be a test Constant wind makes venerable South Padre Island Golf Club a test of patience and great golf. Longtime PGA Tour professional Dave Stockton once said, “When the ducks are walking, you know it is too windy to be playing golf.” And while we never would walk off the golf course because of the wind, the South Texas coast is a place where folks don’t even bother to comment unless it tops the 30-mile per hour mark. South Padre Island Golf Club’s designers Stephen Caplinger and Chris Cole considered the fact that there would normally be at least a 20-mph wind when they fashioned the track. It’s the southernmost course in Texas and set across Laguna Madre (the area’s intercoastal waterway) from its island namesake. Opened in 1987 as the centerpiece of a gleaming residential community developed by Landmark Land (the folks behind the likes of PGA West, Kiawah Island and Oak Tree) South Padre Island Golf Club plays to a par of 72 and at 6,931 yards from the tips.

FEATURE STORY

The challenges at South Padre Island GC are varied and diverse. The holes go one direction, then turn for a while, then head off in another direction. Besides wind, players will also find water on half the offerings and wetlands and high-grass areas to make things even more interesting. The club has hosted the Texas Senior Open and the South Texas PGA Southern Championship and must be taken seriously, especially when its hardest holes – the 415-yard par-4 eighth, the 409-yard par-4 11th and (perhaps surprisingly) the 133-yard par-3 12th – are played into a stout wind. For most of the year, the shorter holes play into the wind and its longer offerings are aided by a breeze, which allows golfers to hit the ball farther but also affects ball spin on approaches. The design is highlighted by wide fairways bordered by native yucca, mesquite and cactus, and shots that fail to find the fairway will bury in waste areas and deep rough. The course’s signature hole is the risk-reward, 334-yard, par-4 fifth. With the left-to-right breeze, golfers might be able to reach the green off the tee

and can bite off as much as you choose. Beware of a shot that moves too far right and into the beachfront that skirts the hole from tee to putting surface. Around every bend and on virtually every hole visitors will find reasons that the golf course is one of the finest in the Rio Grande Valley. Rancho Viejo is like a dream Opened for play in 1971, Rancho Viejo Resort and Country Club was the only real option for championship golf in this neck of the woods for almost four decades. Over the years, the facility has hosted the PGA Tour Qualifying School (Curtis Strange, Craig Stadler and Peter Jacobsen earned their cards here) as well as celebrities and golfers looking to escape winter’s chill. Designed by Dennis Arp, El Diablo has been updated several times through the years, including the installation of TifDwarf greens that are probably the best part of the course’s experience. El Diablo plays to a par of 70, with the routing punctuated by eight water hazards. The morning we played at Rancho Viejo, the fog was thick and conditions

South Padre Island Golf Club

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

FEATURE STORY

RanchoViejo Resort & Country Club

were wet, making El Diablo seem like it was suspended in a dream state of muted colors and sounds surrounded by faded ranch-style homes and ancient trees. Once the fog burned off for our afternoon round, the stark reality came to bear of a tough layout amid tight confines. At 6,847 yards and relatively flat, El Diablo might not seem like much of a challenge by looking at the scorecard. But the course’s name aptly fits here, thanks to the combination of stout par 4s (three weigh in at more than 440

El Diablo Golf Course

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

yards, including the 440-yard second hole and the 452-yard eighth), lengthy par 3s (three at more than 201 yards, highlighted by the 218-yard 16th which is played entirely over water and into the wind), and a pair of tight but reachable par 5s. El Diablo is more protected than many golf courses in the area because of its inland location along but the wind is still a constant consideration. Add water, fairways lined by homes and out-of-bounds looming on every other corner, and you might be tempted to

FEATURE STORY

leave your driver in the bag as often as not. El Diablo was formerly the site of the Historic Brownsville Open on the Duramed Futures Tour (now the Epson Tour). The course is a good test of accuracy and putting prowess and belongs on the short list of must-play courses in the Valley. Rancho Viejo is a relaxed, golf-oriented community and resort that is high on quality and low on pretense. Everpresent is the influence of the Spanish and Mexican heritage. The property features a pair of excellent dining facilities and a conference center with plenty of meeting and party rooms, and its award-winning landscaped swimming pool with its very large waterfall will remind some of the South Seas. On-site accommodations are in two- and three-bedroom villas located along the golf course or the Resaca del Rancho Viejo. All villas are furnished in regional décor and handicrafts and have attractive views. Rancho Viejo is located just 30 minutes from the beaches of South Padre Island and 20 minutes from shopping in Mexico. Other options in the Rio GrandeValley •Los Lagos Golf Club, Edinburg: Eleven acres of lakes highlight this Robert von Hagge design that leans more towards a links-style layout.

Tierra Santa Golf Club

•Tierra Santa Golf Club, Weslaco: Designed by Jeffrey Brauer with input from PGA Tour pro Steve Elkington, this challenging course plays through 14 lakes, with length, sand bunkers and wind constants throughout. Most holes end at extremely large, fast putting surfaces that are of championship quality. •Champion Lakes Golf Course, McAllen: This Charles Howarddesigned track has surprising movement and roll in an area not

Champion Lakes Golf Course

known for much elevation change. It’s generous, and fairways are lined by rough and mounds that at places create a links- style atmosphere but at others offer a more parkland design. Los Lagos Golf Club

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

SPEND AND SAVE

10 OFF

WHEN YOU SPEND $50 OR MORE* IN-STORE COUPON CODE - ALU 986728

OFFER EXPIRES 4/30/24. *VALID IN-STORE ONLY AT EDWIN WATTS GOLF. DISCOUNT CANNOT BE APPLIED TOWARD PURCHASE OF A GIFT CARD OR PREVIOUS PURCHASES AND CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH OTHER COUPONS OR ADVERTISED DISCOUNTS. SELECT ITEMS FROM THESE MANUFACTURERS ARE EXCLUDED: SCOTTY CAMERON AND PING. ADDITIONAL EXCLUSIONS MAY APPLY. SEE STORE OR WEBSITE FOR DETAILS.

GET FIT BY OUR EXPERTS FOR FREE IN-STORE!

UTILIZING THE BEST FITTING TECHNOLOGY IN THE RETAIL GOLF INDUSTRY! CORPUS CHRISTI

4526 South Padre Island Dr • (361) 852-0358

TYLER

410 West SW Loop 323 • (903) 561-8851

WORLDWIDE GOLF

SAN ANTONIO

FT. WORTH

1050 NE Loop 410 • (210) 822-4060

5805 Camp Bowie Blvd • (817) 731-4441

HOUSTON

Visit us online at: WORLDWIDEGOLF.COM

5395 Westheimer • (713) 627-2411

STAY CONNECTED!

CLICK HERE

90-DAY 100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE

If you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, return it to us within 90 days of purchase, and you will receive 100% store credit towards your next purchase. Buy with confidence!

NEW YEAR, NEW GEAR Qi10 MAX DRIVER

$599.99 EA FAIRWAY

$349.99 EA RESCUE

$299.99 EA

AI SMOKE DRIVER (MAX)

$599.99 EA

FAIRWAY (MAX)

$349.99 EA HYBRID

$279.99 EA

DARKSPEED DRIVER (MAX)

$549.99 EA

FAIRWAY (MAX)

$329.99 EA HYBRID

$279.99 EA

INSTRUCTION

David Ogrin Junior Golf Academy The David Ogrin Junior Golf Academy is New Braunfels’s hometown golf program where junior golfers learn to play and excel in the game. The Learner’s Academy is for younger and more beginner golfers ages 6-12. The Player’s Academy is for golfers who intend to compete for their schools and in local junior tournaments. The Elite Academy is one on one coaching for golfers looking to play varsity golf and move on to college golf. Across the board, the David Ogrin Junior Golf Academy trains young golfers to hone their skills and to play the game of golf. DOGA Junior Learners Academy Monday – Wednesday 5:00 PM Tuesday – Thursday 5:00 PM $250/ Month: New Class Every Month

DAV ID OGRIN GOL F AC ADEMY 9 : 0 0 AM – 9 : 0 0 PM 7 Days a W eek Open to Public

New

1 3 5 7 W ald Road B raunfels, TX 7 8 1 3 2

Ph one: 8 3 0 -6 6 0 -3 9 9 8 Email: og ring olf@ g mail. c om

DOGA Junior Players Academy Monday - Wednesday 6:00 PM Tuesday – Thursday 6:00 PM $250/ Month: New Class Every Month DOGA Junior Elite Academy One on One Coaching and Unlimited Practice Pricing based on Personalized Plan PGA Junior Golf Camps www.pgajuniorgolfcamps.com TheTexasGolfInsider.com

D AV I D OG RI N D irector of E verything and L ead C oach & 1 9 9 6 V alero Texa s O pen C hampion

Texas Golf Insider Podcast

Golf After Hours with Mike Ratchman & Dave Roberts

LIVE on Facebook Every Wednesday @ 7 pm Scan QR Code to listen to podcast

Sponsored By:

Media Partners:

COURSES

Public Course

SAN ANTONIO | HILL COUNTRY | AUSTIN

MAP #20

RATES M-TH F-Sun, Holiday

Regular $48 Senior $44 Twilight $38

$54 $49 $44

Twilight Tuesday - $38 after 10am* *includes cart

COURSE FACTS

Number of Holes: 18 Par: 72 Architect: Leon Howard PGA Head Professional: Greg Saul Superintendent: Sean Vance Course Record: Chris Shive, 62

TEE INFORMATION

Yardage/Rating/Slope: Gold: 6544 / 72.6 / 134 Blue: 6170 / 70.8 / 129 White: 5807 / 69.0 / 124 Red: 5187 / 69.8 / 117 Silver: 5187 / 65.7 / 119

COURSE AMENITIES

• • • • •

Practice Facilities Golf Instructions Fully Stocked Golf Shop Online Specials Full Service Bar & Grill

Junior golfers play for free with paying adult (7 days a week, anytime)

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

Lago Vista

Lago Vista Golf Course Proposed Golf Course Renovations Go To www.lagovistagc.com

LagoVista Golf Course was built in the early 1970’s by Leon Howard. It originally opened as a 9 hole facility and expanded to 18 holes shortly thereafter. Lago Vista Golf Course operated as a private county club until the mid 1990’s before opening to the public. The course experienced several ownership changes up until 2008 when it was purchased by the city of Lago Vista. To this day Lago Vista Golf Course is owned and operated by the city of Lago Vista. The course serves not only as a community amenity but as a tourist destination to golfers of all skill levels who wish to experience her hill country beauty and serenity. Today, all golfers are welcome to enjoy the undulating fairways, epic lake views, and abundant wildlife at Lago Vista Golf Course. The course features four sets of tees to provide a fun challenge for all ability levels and a practice facility with a spectacular view of Lake Travis. 4616 Rimrock Drive Lago Vista, TX 78645

512-267-1170

www.lagovistagc.com

CONNECT WITH US! USE THE QR CODES BELOW TO CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, EXPLORE OUR MENU, AND JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST.

WATCH SPORTS ON OVER 30 TVS JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST

FREE POOL & SHUFFLEBOARD GREAT FOOD & ICE COLD BEER DAILY HAPPY HOURS & SPECIALS

VISIT US TODAY! SCAN THE QR CODE BELOW TO ACCESS OUR STORE HOURS AND RECEIVE DIRECTIONS.

2055 CENTRAL PLAZA STE 102 NEW BRAUNFELS, TX 78130 DOUBLE_SCHOTTS

DOUBLE_SCHOTTS

DIRECTORY SAN ANTONIO | HILL COUNTRY | AUSTIN

COURSE TYPE AUSTIN: Avery Ranch Golf Club Semi-Private Falconhead Golf Club Semi-Private Grey Rock Golf Club Semi-Private Hancock Park GC Public Jimmy Clay/Roy Kizer GC Public Lions Municipal GC Public Morris Williams GC Public Riverside Golf Club Public BANDERA: Flying L Ranch Golf Course Resort BASTROP: Colovista Golf Club Semi-Private Hyatt, Wolfdancer Resort Pine Forest Golf Club Public BLANCO: Vaaler Creek Golf Club Semi-Private BOERNE: Tapatio Springs Resort Resort BURNET: Delaware Springs GC Public CANYON LAKE: Lakeside Golf Club Public CASTROVILLE: Alsatian Golf Course Public COMFORT: Buckhorn Golf Course Public CONCAN: Frio Valley Ranch Semi-Private DEVINE: Devine Golf Course Public FLORESVILLE: River Bend Golf Club Public FREDERICKSBURG: Lady Bird Johnson GC Public HORSESHOE BAY: Blue Lake Golf Club-9 holes Public Horseshoe Bay Resort Resort Apple Rock Resort Ram Rock Resort Slick Rock Resort HUTTO: Golf Club at Star Ranch Semi-Private KERRVILLE: Scott Schreiner Municipal GC Public KINGSLAND: Legends Golf Course Public KYLE: Plum Creek Golf Course Public LAGO VISTA: Lago Vista Golf Course Semi-Private LAMPASAS: Hancock Park Golf Course Public LEANDER: The Golf Club at Crystal FallsPublic LLANO: Llano Golf Club Public

PHONE

WEBSITE

(512) 248-2442 (512) 402-1558 (512) 288-4297 (512) 978-2330 (512) 974-4653 (512) 477-6963 (512) 974-8333 (512) 223-6677

www.averyranchgolf.com www.falconheadaustin.com www.greyrockgolfandtennis.com www.austintexas.gov/department/hancock-course www.austintexas.gov/department/jimmy-clay-course www.austintexas.gov/department/lions-municipal-course www.austintexas.gov/department/morris-williams-course www.riverside-gc.com

(830) 796-7745

www.flyingl.com

(512) 629-4585 (512) 308-9653 (512) 321-1181

www.colovistagolf.com www.wolfdancergolfclub.com/golf-course www.pineforestgolfclub.com

(830) 833-0706

www.vaalercreekgolfclub.com

(830) 537-4197

www.tapatiosprings.com

(512) 756-8471

www.delawaresprings.com

(830) 899-3301

www.lakesidegolfclubinc.com

(830) 931-3100

www.alsatiangolfclub.com

(830) 995-5351

www.buckhorngolfcourse.com

(830) 834-9340

www.friovalleyranch.com

(830) 665-9943

www.devinegc.com

(830) 216-2800

www.southtxgolf.com

(830) 997-4010

www.ladybirdgolf.com

(830) 598-5524 (830) 598-8600 (830) 598-8600 (830) 598-8600 (830) 598-8600

www.bluelakegolf.com www.hsbresort.com www.hsbresort.com/golf/apple-rock www.hsbresort.com/golf/ram-rock www.hsbresort.com/golf/slick-rock

(512) 252-4653

www.starranchgolf.com

(830) 257-4982

www.golfkerrvilletex.com

(325) 388-8888

www.legendslbj.com

(512) 262-5555

www.plumcreekgolf.com

(512) 267-1170

www.lagovistagc.com

(512) 556-3202

www.lampasas.org/147/Golf-Course

(512) 259-5855

www.crystalfallsgolf.com

(325) 247-5100

www.golfllanoriver.com

SAN ANTONIO | HILL COUNTRY | AUSTIN DIRECTORY COURSE TYPE PHONE MANOR: Shadow Glen GC Semi-Private (512) 278-1304 MARBLE FALLS: Hidden Falls Golf Club Semi-Private (830) 693-3300 NEW BRAUNFELS: The Bandit Golf Club Public (830) 609-4665 Landa Park Golf Course Public (830) 221-4340 PLEASANTON: Pleasanton Country ClubSemi-Private (830) 281-3486 PFLUGERVILLE: Blackhawk Golf Club Public (512) 251-9000 ROUND ROCK: Forest Creek Golf Club Public (512) 388-2874 The Golf Club of Star Ranch Semi-Private (512) 252-GOLF TeraVista Golf Club Semi-Private (512) 651-9850 SALADO: Mill Creek Inn & Country Club Semi-Private (254) 947-5698 SAN MARCOS: Kissing Tree Golf Club Semi-Private (512) 749-1031 SAN SABA: San Saba River GC Public (325) 372-3212 SEGUIN: Starcke Park Golf Course Public (830) 401-2490 SPICEWOOD: Pedernales Golf Course Public (512) 264-1489 SPRING BRANCH The Club at Rebecca CreekSemi-Private (830) 885-5168 SAN ANTONIO: Brackenridge Park Golf CoursePublic (210) 226-5612 Canyon Springs Golf Course Public (210) 497-1770 Cedar Creek Golf Course Public (210) 695-5050 Gateway Hills Golf Course Public (210) 671-3466 Golf Club of Texas Public (210) 504-2550 Hyatt Hill Country Resort Resort (210) 647-1234 La Cantera Golf Club Public (210) 558-4653 La Loma Grande GC Public (210) 222-9386 Mission Del Lago Golf Course Public (210) 627-2522 Northern Hills Golf Club Public (210) 655-4148 Olmos Basin Golf Course Public (210) 826-4041 Randolf Oaks Golf Course Public (210) 652-4570 Riverside Golf Course Public (210) 533-8371 Salado Del Rio GC Public (210) 222-9386 San Pedro Range & Par 3 Public (210) 349-5113 Silverhorn Golf CLub Public (210) 545-5300 The Quarry Golf Club Semi-private (210) 824-4500 TPC San Antonio Resort (210) 491-5800 Windcrest Golf Course Semi-private (210) 655-1421 Willow Springs Golf CoursePublic (210) 226-6721 UNIVERSAL CITY: Olympia Hills Golf & Conf. Ctr Public (210) 945-4653 UTOPIA: Utopia Golf Course Public (830) 966-5577 VICTORIA: Riverside Golf Course Municipal (361) 573-4521 WIMBERLEY: Double J Ranch Golf Club Public (512) 847-9700

WEBSITE www.shadowglengolf.com www.hiddenfallsgolfcourse.com www.banditgolfclub.com www.landaparkgolfcourse.com www.southtxgolf.com www.blackhawkgolf.com www.forestcreek.com www.starranchgolf.com www.teravistagolf.com www.millcreekgolf27.com www.kissingtreegolfclub.com www.golfsansaba.com www.seguintexas.gov www.cutnputt.com www.rebeccacreek.com www.alamocitygolftrail.com www.canyonspringsgc.com www.alamocitygolftrail.com/cedar-creek-golf-course/ www.jbsagolf.com/gateway-hills www.golfclubtexas.com www.hyatthills.com www.lacanteragolfclub.com www.jbsatoday.com/golf/ www.alamocitygolftrail.com/mission-del-lago-golf-course/ www.alamocitygolftrail.com/northern-hills-golf-course www.alamocitygolftrail.com/olmos-basin-golf-course/ www.jbsatoday.com/golf/ www.alamocitygolftrail.com/riverside-golf-course/ www.jbsatoday.com/golf/ www.golfsanpedro.com www.silverhorngolfclub.com www.quarrygolf.com www.tpc.com/sanantonio/ www.windcrestgolfclub.net www.alamocitygolftrail.com/willow-springs-golf-course/ www.olympiahillsgolf.com www.utopiagolf.com/www.utopiagolf.com/ www.playriversidegc.com www.quicksandatwoodcreekwimberley.com

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

Laredo

Kingsland

87 87

20 3

Pharr

Par

Yardage /Rating /Slope

(512) 267-1170

M 18

6579/70.0/118

• • •

• • 42

(830) 221-4340

M 18

6205/68.9/112

• • •

• • 15

(325) 247-5100

M 18

6094/69.1/123

•

• • 25

(830) 257-4982

M 18

6453/71.6/126 • •

• • 48

(512) 252-4653

P 18

7030/71.0/117

• • •

•

(830) 833-0706

P 18

6864/73.0/140

•

• • 17

Type: M=Municipal, PR=Private, P=Public, SP= Semi-Private.

Lago Vista Golf Course 20 4616 Rimrock Dr., Lago Vista, TX 78645

Practice Fac. Restaurant Banquet Fac. Pro Shop Instructions Ad on Page

Type Hole

Map Number

SAN ANTONIO |HILL COUNTRY | AUSTIN COURSES 47

www.lagovistagc.com

Landa Park Golf Course

73 180 Golf Course Rd., New Braunfels, TX 78130 www.landaparkgolfcourse.com

Llano River Golf Course

78 2835 West Ranch Road 152, Llano, TX 78643 www.cityofllano.com

Scott Schreiner Municipal Golf Course

17 1 Country Club Dr., Kerrville, TX 78028 www.golfkerrvilletex.com

Star Ranch Golf Club 3 2500 FM 685, Hutto, TX 78634

www.starranchgolf.com

Vaaler Creek Golf Club

87 228 Jeff Vaughn, Blanco, TX 78155

•

www.vcgc.golf

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

DIRECTORY SAN ANTONIO | HILL COUNTRY | AUSTIN SHOPPING/SERVICES | ACCOMMODATIONS/DINING | INSTRUCTION ACCOMODATIONS/ DINING

REAL ESTATE Rockin’ J Ranch | Map# 2 | Ad Page 16 288 John Price, Blanco, TX 78606 | www.rockinjranch.net | 830-833-2266

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

Welcome to Scott Schreiner Golf Course Discover Scott Schreiner Golf Course where passion meets play, and every swing offers breathtaking views in the heart of the Hill Country,

Book Your Tee Time!

www.golfkerrvilletex.com or Call (830) 257-4982

SAN ANTONIO | HILL COUNTRY | AUSTIN DIRECTORY

THE COAST COURSE

TYPE

PHONE

Alice Municipal Golf Course Public Brownsville Golf Center Public Bay Forest Golf Public Champion Lakes GC Public Colony Creek Country Club Semi-Private Ebony Hills Municipal Golf Course Public El Campo County Club Private Edna Country Club Public Goliad Golf Club Public Harlingen Country Club Private L.E. Ramey Golf Course Public Los Lagos Municipal Golf Course Public Lozano Golf Center Public Oso Beach Municipal GC Public Northshore Golf Course Public Padre Isles Country Club Private Palmilla Beach Golf Club Semi-Private Rio Colorado Golf Course Public The Victoria Country Club Semi-Private Tierra Del Sol Golf Club Public Tierra Santa Golf Club Public Treasure Hills Country Club Semi-Private Village Executive Golf Course Public

(361) 664-7033 (956) 541-2582 (361) 790-7513 (956) 681-3444 (361) 576-0018 (956) 292-2144 (409) 543-6592 (361) 771-2424 (361) 645-8322 (956) 412-4110 (361) 592-1101 (956) 316-0444 (361) 826-8016 (361) 826-8010 (361) 643-2798 (361) 949-8056 (361) 749-4653 (979) 244-2955 (361) 573-3712 (956) 702-2320 (956) 973-1811 (956) 365-3100 (956) 968-5616

Valley International Country Club Semi-Private

(956) 546-5331

WEBSITE www.brownsvilletx.gov/431/Golf-Center www.bayforestgolf.com www.championlakesgolf.com www.theclubatcolonycreek.com www.facebook.com/EbonyHillsGolfClub/ www.elcampocountryclub.com www.ednacountryclub.com www.facebook.com/GoliadGolf/ www.harlingencc.com www.l-e-ramey-golf-course.business.site www.facebook.com/LosLagosTX/ www.lozanogolfcenter.com www.osobeachgolf.com www.northshoretx.com/welcome www.spigolf.com www.palmillabeach.com www.riocoloradogolfcourse.com www.victoriacc.com www.golf.pharr-tx.gov www.terrasantaweslaco.com www.facebook.com/TreasureHillsGolfCourse/ www.facebook.com/Village-executive-golfcourse-584437071605208/ www.valleyinternationalgolf.com

RIO GRANDE VALLEY COURSE

TYPE

Adobe Wells Country Club Alamo Country Club Brownsville Municipal GC Cottonwood 21 Harlingen Country Club Llano Grande Golf Course Los Lagos Golf Club McAllen Country Club Palm View Golf Course Rancho Viejo Country Club Raymondville Municipal Course River Bend Resort Shary Municipal Golf Course South Padre Island Golf Club The MAX Golf Course Tony Butler Municipal GC

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

PHONE (956) 686-8801 (956) 787-0910 (956) 541-2582 (956) 428-0766 (956) 412-4110 (956) 565-3351 (956) 316-0444 (956) 928-0440 (956) 687-9591 (956) 350- 4000 (956) 689-9904 (956) 548-0191 (956) 580-8770 (956) 943-5678 (956) 726-2000 (956) 216-5970

WEBSITE www.welcomehomergv.com/business/adobe-wells-country-club www.myalamocountryclub.com www.golfcenter.cob.us www.cottonwoodcreekcountryclub.com www.harlingencc.com www.llanogranderesort.com www.facebook.com/LosLagosTX/ www.mcallencountryclub.com www.palmviewgolf.com/contact/ www.rvrcc.com www.facebook.com/raymondvillegolfcourse/ www.riverbendresort.us/ www.missiontexas.us/Departments/Golf www.spigolf.com www.themaxlaredo.com www.tonybutlergc.com

Find it all in the Texas Golf Insider

Golf

Dining

Accommodations

Wanna Bet? Golf Side Games

By Adam Grosch

I was reading an article yesterday on Golf Digest’s website by Ron Kaspriske about a gambling game called Let It Ride. I talked my group into trying it out yesterday afternoon. Here is the description of the game: Players earn points for making a bogey or better on a hole. A typical point distribution would be 5 for a bogey, 15 for a par, 30 for a birdie and 60 for an eagle (better groups can start with par as the first pointeligible score). After earning points on a hole, the player has the option of banking the amount or “letting it ride,” meaning the point total can still grow on subsequent holes.The point totals double for every hole that they aren’t banked. So a bogey on a second consecutive hole would now be worth 10 and a par would be worth 30 and so on. However, if a player elects to let his or her points ride and a double bogey or worse is made, the player’s total points not banked goes back to zero. Banked points can’t be taken away and are credited at the end of the round.The players with the highest point totals are paid a predetermined amount for every point they have earned in relation to the other players.This is a great game for golfers who are streaky and also for golfers who love to gamble. Think about it: If you make back-to-back birdies without banking, you’ll have earned

the equivalent of making 18 bogeys earned at 5 points each. My group consisted of all handicaps of 5 or less, so we modified the game a little. In order to make the accounting a little easier, we made pars worth 1 point, birdies worth 3 points and eagles worth 5 points. We also changed it to make the 2nd hole of a streak worth 2 times the normal amount and the 3rd hole of a streak worth 3 times the normal amount (and so on) rather than doubling it every hole. Being that it was our first attempt, we decided to make each point only worth 50 cents in case things got out of hand. When it was all said and done, the big loser had only lost $43 and the big winner had won $50 so it really wasn’t too bad, but with higher point values I could see it getting very interesting. One of the guys in the group is definitely a risk taker and on the 17th tee he had 40 points accrued and chose not to bank because it was worth a multiplier of 10 for him at that point. His greed did not pay off as he missed his 6 foot par putt to take him from the likelihood of being the big winner to instead being the big loser. In all, this is a great game that will reward good play and will really test your nerves when you’re on a streak and feeling greedy. I think this would be a viable game for 3-somes, 4-somes and definitely 5-somes if you have that opportunity. Good luck out there

JOIN THE TEAM

Ready to turn your love for golf into a business? A GREAT OPPORTUNITY Become a Territory Representative Work While you Play Golf Be your own Boss Turn your Passion into Money Outside Sales Required, No Age Limit To Apply go to www.thetexasgolfinsider.com

Don't just dream about it, tee off your entrepreneurial journey today!

FEATURE STORY

Happiness is returning to Lubbock

By James McAfee

Country western singer and songwriter Mac Davis once sang “I thought happiness was Lubbock in my rearview mirror.” After a recent visit, I discovered this certainly isn’t the case any more. Happiness is returning to Lubbock. There’s plenty to do now. Despite spending more than 70 years living in Texas, I really had never before thought of the Hub City as a vacation destination, especially one where golf might be a reason for the visit. With one of the best public courses in Texas, The Rawls Course is a must-play course where you get a “bang for your bucks” with green fees less than $100 for weekend getaways. The idea of Texas Tech alumni Jerry Rawls, it was carved out of an cotton farm more than 20 years ago to test

Rawls Course-Hole #16

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

the skills of the country’s best college golfers, but also to provide another place for others in the college and in the community to also enjoy. Rawls was able to reach out to renowned golf course architect Tom Doak, fresh off his Oregon masterpiece at Bandon Dunes, allowing him and his staff to rely on their imagination to move 1.3 million cubic yards of topsoil to create a challenging parkland course, with 30 feet of elevation changes. It’s defined by wide fairways with plenty of contours and uneven lies; bordered on the sides by wispy grasses where finding a ball is difficult; large undulating greens (average of 8,000 square feet) where three putts are common; and 97 craggy and deep bunkers of all sizes. There are not many trees either. The only water

FEATURE STORY

Rawls Course- Hole #18

hazard is to the right of No. 10 and to the right of No. 18. Many locals say the design mimics the eroded features of the South Plains Caprock region, providing an appealing rustic look. I agree! The course, managed by Troon Golf for the past 14 years, has been rated as the No. 2 best public course in the state and the No. 3 best campus course by Golfweek Magazine. It has hosted several Big XII Conference events, including

The Clubhouse at Rawls Course

the Big XII Women’s Championship, the National Junior College Championship, several American Junior Golf Association events and qualifying for the U.S. Open and the U.S.Amateur. The Dallas Morning News rated it as the No. 1 public course in the mid-priced range in the state.In the same annual rankings, it’s No. 3 among all public courses and No. 30 when you add all the private courses. The Rawls can be stretched to 7,317 yards from the black tees. From the red tees, not the usual color designated for women, it plays 6,825 yards, still a challenge even for low handicappers. Others can move to the whites at 6,270 or the golds at 5,493. TheTexasGolfInsider.com

FEATURE STORY

Rawls Course-Hole #3

Ideal practice facilities for the highlyaccomplished Texas Tech Red Raider golf teams provides players with exclusive practice holes, diverse putting surfaces, sheltered hitting bays and the latest video technology. Local knowledge probably gives them an advantage. As might be expected, remember you will be in Texas, wind adds to the challenges you’ll face. If blowing from the south as it normally does, you’ll get to start with a shorter opening par 4 followed by a par 5 where it is easier to get home in

Meadowbrook Creek Course

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

two shots. Don’t relax. It’s going to get more difficult, starting on the long par-3 third back into the wind, PGA golf professional Jay Thomas says this wind certainly is the reason that the eighth, which can be stretched to 479 yards uphill, and the dogleg-right fourteenth, playing at 506 yards, are the most difficult. “Most players will likely be using fairway woods or hybrids for their approaches,” he said. Following Meadowbrook Canyon Course a long par-3 of more than 200 yards to a narrow green guarded by deep bunkers on the 16th, long hitters will like the fact they can have a chance to get home in two on the two closing par 5s. “A 4.5 acre lake that crosses the fairway and along the right side of the fairway adds to the risk-reward moment on the final hole,” said Thomas. A safer idea, one

FEATURE STORY

Shadow Hills GC

that I prefer was to find the fairway and position my second shot for a short iron into the green, but I failed to avoid the bunker on the left of the green and then failed to make a par. There are also other golfing opportunities for visitors in Lubbock at the Meadowbrook Canyons and Creek courses, and at Shadow Hills. If you know a member, golf might be possible at the newly-opened Red Feather Golf & Social Club, Lubbock Country Club, Hillcrest Country Club or Lake Ridge Country Club. Other attractions that I liked included the Buddy Holly Center, the Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Art, the National Ranching Heritage Center, wine tasting at McPherson Cellars and the Llano

Buddy Holly Center

Estacado Winery and Prairie Dog Town. There’s plenty of lodging options available close to the course, but don’t overlook staying at the Cotton Court, featuring a retro look back to the old motels with a modern twist.

Llano Estacado Winery

Based on personal experiences, you can not go wrong by eating at La Diosa, Neighborhood F&B, The Fresh American, Cast Iron Grill, Evie Marie’s (barbecue) and The Nicolett.

Cotton Court Lobby

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

FEATURE STORY

Meadowbrook Reimagined: Revitalizing an East Side Gem Nestled in Fort Worth’s East Side, lies historic Meadowbrook Golf Course. Originally opened as a country club in 1924 and later acquired by the City of Fort Worth, Meadowbrook will be celebrating its centennial with a complete course redesign. This modern overhaul will include rerouting almost every hole, replacing the irrigation system, turf, and

Future Hole #5 Rendering

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

cart paths as well as stabilizing the creek running through the course. Each hole will be rerouted aside from 10, 12, and 13. Hole 5 plays from the same location in the opposite direction, and will have a green cut into the hillside. Hole 12 will transition from a par four to a par five and Hole 13 from a par five to a par four. 11 will play from the same location, but the green will be relocated to the other side of the enlarged pond. Hole 18 will play in the same corridor at the old 15th in the opposite direction. This long par four promises to be one of the best finishing holes in Fort Worth. To complement the altered course layout, Meadowbrook will undergo a comprehensive upgrade of its infrastructure. A new irrigation system will mean easier maintenance in the

FEATURE STORY

Future Hole # 11 Rendering

future, along with better water storage and drainage to promote better turf quality. The current push-up style greens will be upgraded to United States Golf Association-conforming greens with the same hybrid Bermuda as Rockwood Park and Pecan Valley River Course. Dave Lewis, City of Fort Worth’s Park & Recreation Deputy Director, emphasized their plans for the future “We’re planning to model this renovation, and those in the future, after Rockwood Park. It is our template for success and these new courses will mirror the quality you experience there. We are also excited about the investment this brings to the east side.” The city has enlisted the services of Arlington-based Colligan Golf Design, the same team behind the successful 2017 renovation of Rockwood Park Golf Course, to complete the renovations.The upcoming redesign, slated for completion by summer 2025, promises a revitalized Meadowbrook that pays homage to its past while embracing the demands of the future. When asked what part of the project he’s looking forward to most, Trey

Kemp, senior golf course architect at Colligan, said he’s most excited about the rerouting. “Only the 10th hole will remain similar to the old layout, everything else will change. The new routing will offer new longer

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

FEATURE STORY

Hole #10

views of the course and show off great topography of the golf course.” Kemp says that Meadowbrook’s unique terrain is what sets it apart from others. “The topography at Meadowbrook makes the course stand out among others in the metroplex. With just over 100 feet of elevation change, the new design will take advantage of the topography to create a fun and memorable golf course.” The revitalized course, with its blend of history and modernity, will be a fantastic new challenge for golfers and a source of pride for Fort Worth’s East Side residents. Kemp describes how the rerouting of the course will bring about some new challenges for Meadowbrook golfers. “While the corridors and fairways will be be wider and easier to hit, they will also be more undulating and golfers may have uphill, downhill, or sidehill lies. This, along with the new larger greens throughout the course, may require the golfer to play a few times to get used to the breaks of the greens.” As the machinery begins to arrive and shape the new contours of Meadowbrook, the anticipation among golf enthusiasts and the local community TheTexasGolfInsider.com

is undeniable. The summer of 2025 will not only mark the completion of renovations, but the beginning of a new chapter for Meadowbrook Golf Course, where tradition and innovation converge into golfing excellence.

Hole #18

Waves crash on the beach at the Pueblo Bonita Pacifica Resort

DIRECTORY DALLAS | FORT WORTH

ARLINGTON: Lake Arlington Golf CourseSemi-Private Tierra Verde Golf Club Semi-Private AZLE: Cross Timbers Golf Course Public BROWNWOOD: The Hideout Golf Club Semi-Private BURLESON: Hidden Creek Golf Course Public Southern Oaks Golf Club Public CARROLTON: Maridoe Golf Club Private Indian Creek Golf Course Public DALLAS: Bear Creak Golf Club Semi-Private Buffalo Creek GC Public Cedar Crest Golf Course Public Keeton Park Golf Course Public Luna Vista Golf Course Public Preston Trail Golf Club Private Steven Parks Golf Course Public Tension Glen Golf Club Semi-Private The Golf Club of Dallas Semi-Private Trinity Forest Golf Club Private DENTON: Wildhorse GC at Robson RanchSemi-Private DESOTO: Thorntree Country Club Public EULESS: Texas Star Golf Course Semi-Private FAIRVIEW: Heritage Ranch Golf Course Public FERRIS: Old Brickyard Golf Course Public FLOWER MOUND: Bridlewood Golf Club Public Tour 18 Public FORT WORTH: Hawks Creek Golf Course Public Meadowbrook GC Municipal Pecan Valley GC Municipal

(817) 451-6101 (817) 478-8500

www.arlingtongolf.com www.arlingtongolf.com/tierra-verde

(817) 444-4940

www.crosstimbersgc.com

(325) 784-4653

www.thehideouttexas.com

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

www.hiddencreekgc.com www.southernoaksgolf.com

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

www.maridoe.com www.indiancreekgolfclub.com

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

www.bearcreek-golf.com www.buffalocreekgc.com www.golfcedarcrest.com www.keetonpark.com www.lunavistagolf.com www.stevensparkgolf.com www.tenisonpark.com www.golfclubdallas.com www.trinityforestgc.com

(940) 246-1001

www.robsonranchgolfclub.com

(972) 296-2146

www.thorntreecc.com

(817) 685-7888

www.texasstargolf.com

(800) 579-3089

www.heritageranchgolf.com

(972) 355-4800

www.oldbrickyardgolf.com

(972) 355-4800 (817) 430-2000

www.bridlewoodgolf.com www.tour18golf.com

(817) 738-8402 (817) 457-4616 (817) 249-1845

www.hawkscreek.com www.meadowbrookfarmsgolfclub.com www.fortworthgolf.org/-pecan-valley-golf-course

10 9

25 44

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

Par

Yardage /Rating /Slope

Practice Fac. Restaurant Banquet Fac. Pro Shop Instructions Ad on Page

Type Hole

Map Number

DALLAS | FORT WORTH COURSES 63

Apache Links at Squaw Valley GC 17 2439 E. Hwy. 67, Glen Rose, TX 78043

(254) 897-7956 M 18

6731/72.7/131

•

• 53

Comanche Lakes at Squaw Valley GC

(254) 897-7956 M 18

6731/72.7/131

•

• 53

(817) 392-6191 M 18

6363/70.8/125 • •

(817) 392-6560 M 18

6479/72/

Pecan Valley Golf Course (817) 392-6490 SP 18 25 6400 Pecan Valley Dr., Fort Worth, TX 76132

6609/71.7/126

• •

• • 61

Stewart Peninsula Golf Course (972) 625-8700 P 8 100 Cottonwood Springs Cir, The Colony, TX 76112

2676/33/126

•

The Hideout Golf Club & Resort 44 185 Hideout Lane, Brownwood, TX 76801

(325) 784-4653 SP 18

6981/73/134

• • •

• • 83

The Old American Golf Club 10 1000 Lebanon Rd., The Colony, TX 75056

(972) 370-5465 SP 18

7084/75.2/145

•

The Tribute Golf Links 9 1000 Lebanon Rd., The Colony, TX 75056

(972) 370-5465 SP 18

7002/73.9/130

• • •

Type: M=Municipal, PR=Private, P=Public, SP= Semi-Private.

www.squawvalleygc.com

5 2439 E. Hwy. 67, Glen Rose, TX 78043 www.squawvalleygc.com

Meadowbrook Golf Club 13 1815 Jenson Rd, Fort Worth, TX 76112

• • 58

www.fortworthgolf.org

Rockwood Park Golf Course

15 1851 Jackboro Hwy., Fort Worth TX 76114

•

• 61

www.fortworthgolf.org

• 52

www.stewartpeninsulagolf.com

www.thehideouttexas.com

•

• 52

www.golfclubsatthetribute.com

• • 52

www.golfclubsatthetribute.com

ACCOMMODATIONS/DINING | SHOPPING/SERVICES | ACADEMY/INSTRUCTIONS

ACCOMODATIONS / DINING

SHOPPING / SERVICES

Alabama | Ad Page 2 www.golfalabama.org |

Bash in the Box | Ad Pg 79 www.bashinthebox.com

Coushatta Casino | Ad Page 84 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder, LA | www.CoushattaCasinoResort.com | 800-584-7263

Coby Stevens | Ad Page 31 www.cobystevens.com

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

DIRECTORY DALLAS | FORT WORTH

FORT WORTH: Rockwood Golf Course Municipal The Golf Club-Champion Cir. Semi-Private The Golf Club at the Resort Public Whitestone Golf Club Semi-Private FRANKSTON: Pine Dunes Resort/Golf Club Public FRISCO: Frisco Lakes Golf Club Public Trails of Frisco Golf Club Public GARLAND: Duck Creek Golf Course Public Firewheel Golf Park Public GLEN ROSE: Squaw Valley Golf Club Public GORDONVILLE: Rock Creek Resort Golf ClubPrivate GUNTER: The Bridges Semi-Private GRAND PRAIRIE: Grand Oaks Golf Club Semi-Private Prairie Lakes Golf Club Public Riverside Golf Club Semi-Private Tangle Ridge Golf Club Public IRVING: Cottonwood Valley GC Public Irving Golf Club Municipal TPC Las Conlinas Course Public KELLER: Sky Creek Ranch Golf Club Public LANCASTER: Country View Golf Course Public LIPAN: Sugar Tree Golf Course Semi-Private MUENSTER: Turtle Hill Golf Club Public PLANO: Pecan Hollow Golf Course Public Ridgeview Ranch GC Public The Course at Watters CreekPublic POTTSBORO: Tanglewood Resort GC Semi-Private RICHARDSON: Sherrill Park #1 Public ROCKWALL: Buffalo Creek Golf Club Semi-Private ROWLETT: Waterview Golf Club Public RUNAWAY BAY: Runaway Bay Golf Club Semi-Private WACO: Bear Ridge Golf Club Public WAXAHACHIE: Country View Golf Course Public Waxahachie Country Club Public WEATHERFORD: Canyon West Golf Course Public Oeste Ranch Golf Course Public WYLIE: Woodbridge Golf Course Public

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

(817) 624-1771 (817) 497-2582 (817) 750-2178 (817) 249-9996

www.fortworthgolf.org www.championscirclegolf.com www.resortgolfclub.com www.whitestonegolf.com

(903) 876-4336

www.pinedunes.com

(972) 292-3089 (972) 668-4653

www.friscolakesgc.com www.thetrailsoffriscogc.com

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

www.duckcreekgc.com/ www.golffirewheel.com/

(800) 831-8259

www.squawvalleygc.com

(903) 523-5357

www.ddresorts.com/rock-creek/

(903) 696-0022

www.bridgestexasgolf.com

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

www.grandoaksgc.com www.prairielakesgolf.com www.playriversidetx.com www.tangleridge.com

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

www.fourseasons.com/dallas/golf/ www.irvinggolfclub.org www.fourseasons.com/dallas/golf/

(817) 498-1414

www.skycreekranch.com

(972) 227-0995

www.countryviewgolfcourse.com

(817) 341-1111

sugartreegolf.com

(940) 759-4896

www.playtheturtle.com

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

www.pecanhollowgc.com www.ridgeviewgc.com www.watterscreekgolf.com

(903) 786-4638

www.tanglewoodresort.com

(972) 234-1416

www.sherrillparkgolf.com

(972) 771-4003

www.buffalocreekgc.com

(972) 463-8900

www.waterviewgc.com

(940) 575-2225

www.rbgolf.com

(254) 848-7800

www.bearridgewaco.com

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

www.countryviewgolfcourse.com www.waxahachiegolfclub.com

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

www.canyonwestgolf.com www.oesteranch.com

(972) 429-5100

www.wbgolfclub.com

Looking for more tee times? Our Readers are Looking for You!

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

FEATURE STORY

Offering a Host of opportunities for golfers of all ages

HOSTING THE SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP

Step into the world of golf, where opportunities abound for Veterans, Juniors and Seniors alike. From transformative programs such as PGA HOPE to exciting junior events, and Professional events, the golfing landscape is filled with experiences tailored for everyone.

PGA HOPE works withVeterans

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

Discover the world of golf with PGA HOPE, a transformative program designed to introduce Veterans to the game. This is a specially crafted 6-8 week curriculum. Led by PGA Professionals equipped with adaptive golf and military cultural competency training. This initiative is fully funded and supported by PGA REACH National and PGA REACH Southern Texas, ensuring that all veterans can participate for free. In the midst of juggling a hectic schedule filled with personal commitments, school, and family responsibilities, finding time for your junior golfer can be challenging. Fear not, as STPGA Junior Golf events provide a fantastic

FEATURE STORY

PGA HOPE works withVeterans

solution with a wide variety of events ranging from 5-18 hole events built for all skill levels. Mark your calendars for the opening of summer tournament registrations on April 2nd, and the unveiling of the Fall season on June 18th. The first half of the Fall season opens for registration on June 25th, with the second half of the Fall season opening up on August 13th. Beat the rush and plan ahead to secure a spot for your junior golfer in these highly sought-after events! Embark on a golfing adventure with PGA Jr. League Golf, a dynamic and

inclusive opportunity for boys and girls, aged 17 and under, of all skill levels. Similar to other recreational league sports, participants wear numbered jerseys, play on teams with friends, and are guided by PGA or LPGA Professionals who serve as coaches. The league utilizes a popular scramble format to create a nurturing environment for both on and off-course development. Don’t miss out on key dates including the East Qualifier at Panorama Golf Club in Conroe, TX on July 15, 2024 and the West Qualifier at Morris Williams Golf Course in Austin, TX on July 18, 2024. The Section Championship will take place at Fair Oaks Ranch Golf & Country Club on July 22, 2024. For aspiring young golfers aged 7-15, Drive, Chip & Putt offers a pathway to Augusta National! Compete in local, sub-regional, and then regional qualifiers Junior Golf Leagues present unique opportunities throughout Southern TheTexasGolfInsider.com

FEATURE STORY

Play on teams with friends

Texas and the United States to showcase your skills in putting, chipping, and driving. Awards await the overall champions and individual skill champions. Keep an eye out for the 2024 season registration opening in Spring 2024.

Compete for the same purse, irrespective of the tee you play from. Even if you’re not interested in qualifying, join in for a shot at purses and prizes similar to the past senior events. Experience the thrill of golf and seize these incredible opportunities to enhance your skills, connect with fellow enthusiasts, and make lasting memories on the golf course! For more information about all of these incredible events, please visit our websites at stpga.com or stpgajuniorgolf.com.

The Southern Texas PGA is excited to introduce the Energy Transfer Texas Senior Open Qualifying Series, a revamped version of the Senior Series, new to 2024. New qualifiers offer an exciting chance for early entry into the 2024 Energy Transfer Texas Senior Open. No membership fee is required, and anyone aged 50 and above can participate for a chance at exemption. To qualify for exemptions, the player must play from the championship yardage. The entry fee for each Qualifier is $150, and a separate cash Skins game is available. The Woodlands Country Club Compete in local, sub-regional, and then regional qualifiers TheTexasGolfInsider.com

FEATURE STORY

Houston’s public/resort/daily fee golf menu is top-drawer and varied

By Steve Habel, Contributing Writer

Golf is varied and plentiful in the expansive Houston metropolitan area, a region that’s grown faster than any other of the top 20 metro areas in the country over the past decade. Along with all the hustle and bustle and growth, Houston and its surrounding cities and communities are a real all-season destination for the grand game. With more than 300 days of sunshine annually, there aren’t many times the call of the area’s fairways and greens is not strong.The early spring and the fall are likely the best time to play golf here since that’s when the area’s humidity is at its most tolerable. Let’s take a look at a six-pack of courses around the area at four different Houston facilities, including the area’s newest and most exciting course, two at one of the region’s top resorts, another pair at one of its best daily-fee properties, and a high-end public course that’s

Highland Pines Golf Club

been the face of Houston golf for the past two decades. While this barely scratches the surface of what the Houston area has to offer, it highlights a little bit of everything. Lazer Zoysia greens set Highland Pines GC apart, routing makes it fun When Highland Pines debuted in Porter, Texas in November of 2022 as the first new semi-private golf course in the Houston

Highland Pines Hole #8, Par 3

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

FEATURE STORY

Highland Pines Hole #7, Par 4

area in 15 years, there was plenty to get excited about.The fact that Highland Pines is a trailblazer is enticing as well.The course is the first and only track in the world with Lazer Zoysia grass putting surfaces. Highland Pines was designed by inhouse associate Dave Relford of Tour 18 Design Group.The course is nestled on the banks of the San Jacinto River and winds through the river’s basin before moving back up through tall stands of Pines and hardwood trees to stunning views of lakes, meadows and valleys. The course stretches to 7,307 yards from the tips and has five sets of tees, each offering their own unique challenge. Designed to be a combination of tests and fun for golfers of all levels, Highlands Pines was built into the landscape and offers more elevation changes and diverse terrain that normally found in southeast Texas.

Augusta Pines Golf Club

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

Highland Pines is conditioned to play firm and fast, and that aspect, along with the substantial corridors, can make the course a bomber’s paradise. Rest assured there are some long holes here, but with the rollout golfers can count on some extra length off the tee.That’s needed because the greens complexes are where the course can bare its teeth. While Highland Pines’ initial draw has been the putting surfaces and playing on “something new,” the course is quickly become a favorite in the area because of its overall package – it’s just a blast to play.

Gleannloch Pines Golf Club

I’ve played Highland Pines, and I can say these maybe are the fastest greens in Texas. They are firm and fast, typically running around 12 or 13 on the stimpmeter. It is the only golf course in the area that is Wall to Wall Zoysia that the public can play. The Tour 18 Inc. folks also own and operate two other courses in the Houston area suburb of Spring: Augusta Pines Golf Club, an 18-hole facility also designed by Relford, and Gleannloch Pines, which features 27 holes designed by the late Houston-native Jay Riviere.

FEATURE STORY

The Woodlands Resort’s two courses are different sides of the same coin There is a certain sense of style at the Woodlands Resort, set in the city of the same name about 35 minutes north of downtown. Stretching across 350 lush acres, this is an all-encompassing Texas escape within easy reach where play and productivity come naturally. The resort rests amidst the woods and waterways surrounding its Forest Oasis waterpark, plush hotel, expansive conference center and its two golf courses, the North (formerly called Panther Trail) and the West (formerly the Oaks). The West course was designed by Joe Lee and Robert von Hagge in 1975 and redesigned in 1999 by Jay Morrish and Associates.You’ll find water coming into play on 10 holes, large undulating putting surfaces and generous fairways lined with oaks among beautiful homes protected with generous setbacks. The West course is carded at 7,051 yards and is a very traditional 18 holes of golf – there are no trick shots here. It’s challenging but fair, and a relatively

Woodlands Resort’sWest Course

straight forward layout that is a real joy to play. The North is a sleek course with innovative contours, stunning water features, and lush fairways framed with native grasses and more than 20 acres of Texas wildflowers. It was originally designed by Joe Lee and von Hagge and completely renovated in 2002 by Roy Case, a design consultant for the Arnold Palmer Management Company. The North, which plays at 7,008 yards, has greens that can be demanding; most are of average size, but some are turtlebacked and a majority have some slope and contour and all are bordered with bunkers. The closing hole – a 413-yard par 4 that finishes at the edge of one of the

Woodlands Resort’s North Course

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

FEATURE STORY

courses routed over, across and through varying landscapes that make the player think before every shot. Located in the north Houston suburb of Cypress and fashioned by the duo of Peter Jacobsen and Jim Hardy, BlackHorse’s two courses – called North and South – opened for play in 2000. The courses have been South Course Uphill Hole #6 Par 3, BlackHorse GC rated as the No. 1 Daily Fee Facility in Houston, resort’s buildings with an island green pro- and they are both really good. tected by two large bunkers – is considBlackHorse GC’s courses are traered one of the best par 4s in Houston. ditional in style, thanks to a plethora of The West plays a little longer, but The mature trees – majestic oaks, live oaks and North plays about three strokes harder. pine – that lend the tracks an aged feel. The North has been ranked one of the The courses’ rolling landscape is rarely Top 5 courses to play in the area and it’s found in the flatlands around the nation’s deserving. fourth-largest city, which make them both Choices make BlackHorse GC one testing and beautiful. of Houston’s best And thanks to teeing grounds that ofGolfers love to be tested, and when fers six locations to accommodate golfers course designers offer a handful of choices of all levels, BlackHorse can be fun withfor players to consider, that sense of chalout being intimidating. Around the layouts lenge is always ratcheted up a few notches. are wetlands, oxbows, palmetto and huge BlackHorse Golf Club is all about decisions, oaks that attract ducks, egrets and sand thanks to a pair of demanding 18-hole hill cranes. Those attributes combine to

North Course Hole # 2 Par 3, BlackHorse GC

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

FEATURE STORY

Water protects this Hole #3 par 4 at Golf Club of Houston,

render these courses unique among the region’s daily-fee facilities. The Golf Club of Houston is all that and more From the tee shot on the 395-yard first hole to the final putt on the immense green at the 487-yard 18th, the Tournament course at the Golf Course of Houston in Humble is all about space and how you make the most of it. The par-72, 7,425-yard layout designed by Rees Jones is an oversized Texas masterpiece, just the kind of track you’d expect to see host a PGA Tour event – and it did for 14 consecutive years ending in 2019.The Tournament Course will return to the limelight when it hosts the LIV Golf Invitational June 7-9.

The Golf Club of Houston occupies more than 376 acres of wooded terrain surrounded by wetlands, lakes and native wildlife.The Tournament course – the younger brother of the adjacent Member course – has been open since 2005. It has beautiful, old-fashioned bunkers, carved like those on courses built in the Golden Age of golf. But the Tournament course was built for today’s golfers, giving players chances to make biries on several holes and forcing them to work to make pars on others. The feeling of isolation is wonderful on theTournament Course as its fairways and sight-corridors are free from any housing, leaving players with a feeling of being away from the loud city life that is actually just around the bend.

Hole # 4 is a demanding par 5 at The Golf Club of Houston

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

FEATURE STORY

By Steve Habel, Contributing Writer

Chambers Creek

checks all the boxes for a great, modern, 55-plus community If you are aged 55 or more and want to settle down and settle into a community that has virtually every amenity in the book – including a wonderful, unique and challenging golf course – Chambers Creek just north of Houston more than checks every box. Chambers Creek, set on 1,100 acres of rolling land billed as the “Houston Hill Country,” is located less than a mile off I-45 in Willis, near The Woodlands and 30 minutes from the northern confines of the Bayou City.

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

Gated Guardhouse

We took a trip over there to look over the community and tee it up on the marvelous nine-hole golf course designed by PGA Tour Champions player and 1996 Open Championship winner Tom Lehman and came away uber-impressed. Lehman, who has nearly a dozen courses on his design resume, has fashioned a deceptively challenging links-style track that sports elevation changes aplenty, longrange views, rolling terrain and a routing that’s defined by oak and pine trees, creeks and wide Zoysia fairways. “Chambers Creek is truly a one-of-akind development that offers a setting that is extremely rare,” Lehman said. “We’ve created a unique golf course that features some of the most amazing holes in all of golf. I believe any level of golfer will feel challenged, yet still have fun playing the game.” Lehman designed the course (called Lehman Park) to place the holes in a more natural way and they certainly blend into the land. There are just seven bunkers throughout the routing but they

FEATURE STORY

#17 Lehman Park Golf Hole Course

are positioned well and are not missed or needed to create difficulty.

Tom Lehman

At first examination, Lehman Park looks easy, with few forced carries and

generous openings to its huge putting surfaces. Playing it is a whole different story as four of the holes features blind tee shots and positioning on the lightning-fast greens is paramount. The course begins and ends with par 5s – the first hole’s green is played downhill and is reachable in two while the ninth is entirely uphill and made more difficult playing into the prevailing wind. In between those holes are two target par 3s, a drivable par 4, two long and tough two-shotters and the eighth, who’s green is angled away from the tee box and is protected by a lake and a huge mound.

Hole #13

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

FEATURE STORY

The 18 Hole Putting Green

In short, Lehman Park is a blast to play and will only get better with seasoning. It’s carded at 3,376 from the back set of four tees so players can bite off as much as they want to chew. A unique feature of the course is that each hole also has a dedicated, artificial turf tee so that it can be played as a par 3, with no hole longer that 150 yards. Chambers Creek ‘s other golf amenity is a cool 18-hole putting course of just over one acre that provides golfers the opportunity for shorter rounds, more informal play, a chance to play games, or place side-bets.

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

Living a lifestyle inspired by health, wellness, longevity and fun, there’s plenty more than golf offered at Chambers Creek, which bills itself as a “community with a golf course” rather than a golf course community. Chambers Creek is being developed by Caldwell Communities, which for more than three decades has delivered highly sought-after communities for people at every stage. Chambers Creek is one of the first communities in the U.S. specifically designed for electric vehicles, including designated golf cart paths, specialized

FEATURE STORY

Hole #4 Beautiful Settings at Chambers Creek

parking and homes equipped with garage charging.The community supports and encourages alternative means of transportation.

There’s also a two-acre vineyard of crimson cabernet grapes that serves as a charming setting for an alfresco dinner or a delightful backdrop for a special occasion. Five premier homebuilders offer single-story designs with a mix of classic and contemporary features equipped with the convenience of smart technology. Designs are priced from the $300,000s to more than $2 million, giving buyers a wide selection of floor plans that fit any lifestyle and budget.

Other amenities in Chambers Creek are a 300-boatslip private marina with access to Lake Conroe via a private canal, more than 20 miles of hiking/biking trails, pickleball and tennis courts for racquet enthusiasts, a social and wellness center, Bocce Ball, horseshoes and cornhole areas, a resort-style pool, dog parks, open green spaces and a community garden. TheTexasGolfInsider.com