Golf Courses in San Antonio
September 17th, 2009
(cc: photo credit: Definitive HDR)
Visitors to San Antonio of sure to check out the top tourists spots and they’ll obviously remember the Alamo, but the savvy golfing tourist will remember the city for a lot more, they’ll come back with a deep appreciation of the incredible golf courses that literally litter the landscape. No matter what type of golfer you are, an old duffer who’s more interested in the enjoyment of the sport or a cracker jack professional looking to hone his or her skills on a championship level course, San Antonio has a golf course or two designed to fit every experience level.
I did say tourists will remember the Alamo, well golfers will as well with the Alamo Golf Club. A simple public course with reasonable (some would say inexpensive) fees, an uncomplicated layout and well cared for grounds. The Alamo Golf Club is just simply an excellent way to squeeze in a quick round before you’ll required for other family or tourist duties. If you’re too pressed for time to fit in a quick 18 or 9 holes, try the Par 3 Putt and Pitch or spend a little time working those kinks out on the range. As a special side note, the course has a club maker who will design and make custom clubs for hard-to-fit golfers and will repair old favorites. Now that’s worth remembering.
For a totally different public course experience, make some time to fully experience Canyon Springs Golf Course. Nominated by Golf Digest and Golf Magazine as best new course in 1998 and winner of the Reader’s Favorite course that year, Canyon went on to receive further accolades in 2005 and 2005 as best overall golf club in San Antonio. So is this course worthy of the hype? Absolutely! A hill country course, you’d be best advised to stay straight and true or risk losing a few dozen balls in the tall rough. Beyond the challenge of the course, the scenery is something you’ll want to take in and absorb over and over again. Built on the Claussen Homestead, Canyon Springs, pays homage to the rich and storied history of the land. Look for remnants of the old farm and keep your eyes out for caves. Several caves are registered by the National Geologic Society and excavations discovered the intact remains of a saber tooth tiger and several Winchester rifles. Truly a stunning course full of challenges and beauty as well as an intriguing past.
Another great municipal course to check out is Cedar Creek Municipal Golf Course. Not a quick round like Alamo Golf Club, this one will take a big chunk of your day as it’s so popular and can get backed up. But there’s good reason for its popularity, Cedar Creek Muni is consistently rated as one of the top municipal courses in the entire country. The fairways are narrow and challenging as the course winds through limestone hillsides, past stunning waterfalls and over generous creeks. More beautiful and well kept than a muni course usually deserves, this public course is a heavenly concoction of all that is really great about golf.
Looking for the total golf experience rather than sneaking a quick round in where you can, then there’s nothing like staying at a golf resort and immersing yourself in the game. One of the best resort courses in San Antonio is Hyatt Hill Country Club and Golf Resort. Ranked the number one Texas golf destination and the seventeenth worldwide by Conde Nast Traveler, Hyatt Hill is set on a whopping 200 perfectly manicured acres and features 27 holes designed by famed golf course architects, Arthur Hills and Associates. Expect to play across wide and rolling meadows flanked by both steep hillsides and wooded ravines and get ready to play over (hopefully) several water hazards. As all good results should, Hyatt Hill offers some of those little extras that make the experience exciting, one of the most popular current amenities is the GPS loaded golf cart. If you have yet to experience golf with this electronic caddy you’re in for a real delight, if you’ve become accustomed to the yardage information, the hazard locations, and the helpful hints then you will be happy to find this old friend along for the ride. The resort itself is packed with amenities and loaded with professional staff while still retaining its comfortable western atmosphere. Oh! And did I forget to mention the four acre water playground?
Another resort worth noting is The Westin La Cantera Golf Club another highly rated course as not only Golf Digest found a way to recognize it more than once, the PGA has also stood up and taken notice and La Cantera can boast that it’s the current host of the PGA Texas Open. This remarkable public course sits atop one of the highest points in San Antonio and offers guest some breathtaking views of the rolling hills and downtown. But it’s not just the view that will take your breath away, the course itself is nestled in a very beautiful surrounding amplified by gorgeous waterfalls, tricky creeks, and wicked hills. In addition to the noted 18 holes preferred by the PGA, La Cantera has a new 18 holes designed by Arnold Palmer. If you’re wondering about the amenities, La Cantera’s golf course is not the only thing recognized by the press, Golf Digest named their golf shop the best of 2008 and of course the resort itself is reaping awards as well.
This list hasn’t even scratched the surface of golf courses in San Antonio. There are dozens more that draw golfers from around the globe. Heck, we haven’t even mentioned the famous The Quarry Golf Club a course with its own list of awards and accolades including the moniker of One of the Most Unique Golf Courses in America. There is no end to the fun and challenge a golfer can find in San Antonio, you could spend a lifetime looking for the perfect round in San Antonio.
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