(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.

Golfing can get expensive.  Save money on your hotel and golf more!  Click here for hotel savings in San Antonio and around the world.

So, you may pay to travel to San Antonio, Texas, but once you land at the airport and arrive at your hotel, you can put your wallet away.

Visit the Alamo
The Alamo is the most popular tourist attraction in all of the state of Texas with 3 million visitors each year. At the Alamo, you can learn about the history and culture of people of Texas. Admission is free and the Alamo is open every day of the year except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Stroll on the River Walk
The 2 1/2-mile San Antonio River Walk attracts millions of visitors each year. You can stroll along the walk at your leisure, listen to free outdoor concerts, enjoy the scenery and watch the people. If you decide to spend a little money, there are dozens of restaurants, bars and shops along the way.

View Art at the McNay
This spectacular art museum is located on 23 acres of amazing grounds. The McNay is home to permanent collections of 19th and 20th century sculpture and paintings, rare books and prints. Admission to the McNay is free, however a $5 donation per person is welcome.

Enjoy the Southwest School of Art & Craft
This is one of San Antonio’s top cultural centers. Located in downtown San Antonio, you can view contemporary art exhibitions on this award-winning historic site. The picturesque campus is a must-see if you are in San Antonio.

Play at HemisFair Park
If you are traveling with children, take them to the HemisFair Park. This 15-acre location has waterfalls and fountains, as well as a fun wooden playground for young kids. If you can spend a little money, you can also take a trip to the top of the 750-foot Tower of the Americas – the highlight of the park. Here you can enjoy a spectacular city view on the observation deck or dine in their revolving restaurant.

To learn more about what San Antonio has to offer, visit the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau.

If you like free, you’ll love the San Antonio hotel deals at Hotels Cheap.

(Photo via flickr cc)

But there’s a lot more to San Antonio than just The Alamo.

The River Walk
Running through the heart of downtown San Antonio is the San Antonio River. Along the River Walk are dozens of restaurants, bars, shops and other establishments, including Rivercenter Mall.

You can dine overlooking the River at one of the fabulous San Antonio eateries, or even enjoy your meal on the river itself on one of the many dinner cruise boats.

While on the River Walk, you can catch an outdoor theatre performance at Arneson River Theatre or watch one of the seasonal parades of decorated barges floating down the river.

El Mercado
The largest Mexican marketplace outside of Mexico itself, El Mercado at San Antonio’s historic Market Square is always bustling with activity. Merchants sell clothing, jewelry, housewares, antiques and just about anything you can think of in this wonderful marketplace.

Adjacent to El Mercado within Market Square is the Farmer’s Market, consisting of food courts and shops selling Mexican food, raspas (Mexican snow cones) and margaritas.

Market Square is also an outdoor cultural hub where you can enjoy music, dancing, festivals, shopping and so much more.

Fiesta San Antonio
Fiesta, a 10-day, citywide festival, takes place in San Antonio every April. With nearly 100 Fiesta events to choose from, including parades, galas, pageants, parties and concerts, everybody enjoys Fiesta.

Other San Antonio Attractions

• San Antonio Zoo
• Seaworld San Antonio
• Six Flags Fiesta Texas
• Tower of the Americas

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