Golf - Public Course · 18 Holes · Par 72
San Antonio
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Review and Rating of The Golf Club Of Texas in San Antonio
Located about 15 miles west of San Antonio, The Golf Club of Texas is a fun and interesting layout that was originally designed by Lee Trevino, in fact, it's the only signature Lee Trevino course in Texas In 2015 the course went through a change in owners, a new management company, and a $6 million renovation. The routing of the course remained the same but noted architect Roy Bechtol made several changes including:
But most importantly, premier Zoysia grass (L1F Zoysia Greens, Zeon Zoysia Tees, and Jamur Zoysia for the Fairways) was added from the tee box to the cup which made The Golf Club of Texas the only course in the US with 100% Zoysia grass - the advantage of which is a more favorable lie for the golfers because the ball sits up on the fairway like a tee plus it's more drought tolerant and lowers maintenance costs.
The renovation softened the course significantly and made it much more player friendly for all skill levels. The course plays through 6 acres of gently rolling farmland and it's got a links-style design with a slight hill country look and feel. Like most links courses the fairways are wide open and the greens are huge. Shortly after the renovation a new management company was hired - Touchstone Golf which has a portfolio of excellent courses in Texas and the United States.
The front nine is your opportunity to warm up and score - some of the holes that we really liked on the front nine included:
We thought that the back nine was a little more fun, scenic, and challenging thanks to water on 6 holes, a couple long forced carries, a risk-reward opportunity, and 20 bunkers. On this nine our favorite holes included:
The fairways at The Golf Club of Texas leverage the gently rolling natural terrain creating some minor downhill shots from elevated tee boxes or slight uphill shots to raised greens. We loved the Zoysia grass which makes for a superior playing surface. The rough was cut short and very playable - but miss that and you're most likely lost in the natural area and small willow trees. The fairways are wide and forgiving from the tee box to the green. Some large apartment complexes sit way back of the fairway and overlook some of the holes on the back - otherwise, it's just you and nature! No side by side holes and no homes with barking dogs - it's peaceful and quiet except for the birds, the wind blowing through the trees and grass and some minor freeway noise in the distance.
The greens at The Golf Club of Texas are a variety of shapes and most are huge - making them easier to hit but also making for some very long and challenging putts. You won't find a lot of slope and undulation but there is enough to make putting pretty challenging. When we played the greens were firm, ran true, and at a good speed of around 10 or so. Zoyzia makes the greens firm which means if you come in high you're not going to stick, so play more of a bump and run shot. Some of the greens are raised and all but one are guarded by one or two bunkers.
The bunkers range from good sized to long, skinny, and gigantic waste type bunkers! A recent rain had soaked the bunkers making them tough to play. They were not in very good shape and management admitted such and stated that club rules say you can take a lateral lie and not have to play out of the bunker.
Bottom line - a fun and forgiving layout suitable for all skill levels and a good value, particularly with one of the membership deals.
Tee Box | Yardage | Rating | Slope |
---|---|---|---|
Black | 7,137 | 74.1 | 130 |
Blue | 6,003 | 68.6 | 122 |
White | 5,559 | 67.0 | 113 |
Gold | 6,578 | 71.3 | 125 |
Red | 4,838 | 67.9 | 111 |
Approximate Weekend
Rates: $40.00 to $69.00
The clubhouse is cool, the pro shop is well stocked, the grill serves some good food, and the bar is great for a few drinks after your round. For practice, you'll find two putting greens, a chipping and pitching area with a sand bunker, and a driving range. The GPS is excellent. The staff is very friendly and outgoing.
Here's How Texas Outside Determines the Scorecard RatingThe Texas Outside rating scale ranges from 1 to 10 – a perfect 10 course would be something like this: links along a cliff overlooking the Pacific ocean and bordered by tall trees; lush fairways on rolling hills with lots of natural hazards; water (which is crystal clear) on most of the holes; immaculate greens (but they are undulating and tough); lots of variety and character (each hole is completely different and includes blind shots, elevation changes, doglegs, and significant challenges); perfectly manicured traps with the whitest and prettiest sand you’ve ever seen; a nice club house with great food and a 19th hole; a GPS; plenty of beverage carts or your own cooler and ice; and it only costs $40 bucks! What this means is that you probably won’t find any 10s in Texas – try Cabo San Lucas, Pebble Beach, or some of the Hawaii courses!
All of the above determines the overall score for the golf course. In other words, we like courses that are pretty, fun, very challenging with a lot of variety, and fairways and greens in excellent condition – all for $40. We also tend to play the courses that are affordable for the masses, which means in the $30 to $80 range. We rate hard and we haven’t found a 10 in Texas yet – don’t worry we haven’t given up and we’re still looking.
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