San Antonio/Austin Texas golf

[zaphod]

Yo, I'm traveling from balmy Central Wisconsin to San Antonio/Austin, Texas for a business conference. Going for a few extra days, I'm guessing, Jan 10th through 16th. I'm looking for a couple golf course to play at. I'm a 6 Hcp, my son a 4 , and his significant other a 20. So we are looking for course that all three can have fun at. "The Quarry" would be one choice. Others??? I'm trying to keep greens fees at $70 or under.

Thanks
Because of the time limitations I'd like to stay around the two city areas. The South Padre Island Course (by Brownsville) is one of my favs but Texas is such a big a** state driving time is a hurdle.

[shank]

http://www.canyonspringsgc.com

Pretty much all the googled courses are good. Canyon Springs will blow you away!

It is the best course running right now. A true golfers dream.

[ClairefromClare]

Believe it or not, I've seen this conversation elsewhere recently. I'm just cutting and pasting here:

Here are some links that may provide some helpful info.

Texas Golf 2008: A Special Section to the Dallas Morning News:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont.../vitindex.html

(Complete section in PDF format: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...8texasgolf.pdf )

Golf Texas Blog:
http://www.golftexas.com/

Austin is about 1 1/2 (by car) north of San Antonio and last year was ranked the #1 city for golf in the U.S. by Golf Magazine. (San Antonio was #13. Dallas/Ft. Worth [4 1/2 hours north of San Antonio was #4.) In Austin, Barton Creek Resort is the premier destination in the area, but I don't know if you have to be a guest of the resort to play there. http://www.bartoncreek.com

Here are the Top 50 courses in Texas, as ranked by the Dallas Morning News:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...-top50_new.pdf

Next 50: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...olf-next50.pdf

Top 100 "You Can Play":
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...ic.41adc6.html

From that ^^^ list, the following are in San Antonio:

• Resort Course at La Cantera
• Pecan Valley Golf Club
• Palmer Course at La Cantera
• The Quarry
• Hyatt Hill Country Resort
• Canyon Springs
• The Republic
• Cedar Creek
• SilverHorn
• Golf Club of Texas

__________________
This should help:

http://www.texasgolferguide.com/

Also... you can pick up a free magazine with the same title once reaching Texas at most golf shops/courses.

[Eracer]

I've played:

La Cantera (nice, but above budget.)
The Bandit (fun and fair)
Silverhorn (locals' favorite - not fancy, but fine)

If I was you I'd play Pecan Valley for sure. The other suggestions on here sound great too.

Oh, and for a good upscale Mexican food experience, go to La Fogata. You won't be disappointed.

[zaphod]

Thanks Shank, Claire, and Eracer. I've been to San Antonio before but not Austin. Austin interests me. Smaller cities with large universities such as Madison, Wisconsin---Tucson, Arizona etc are my cup of tea.

Golf in January is a plus as winter here in Wisconsin is already getting old--and it's only the end of December. Hope to get out twice in Texas and hoping the weather will be doable when I visit.

[West Coast Duffer]

Played Canyon Springs, nice course.



Pecan Valley is where the Champions Tour plays and La Cantera is where they play the PGA Valero Texas Open.

Lived there seveal years ago so my memory is not helping me out right now. The Quarry is a good one.

[Pa Jayhawk]

Here is another thread that helped when we went down last year.
Where to play in San Antonio?

An my experience quoted from the thread.

Originally Posted by Pa Jayhawk

Well thank you all for the suggestions. Turned out to be a great trip. Didn't see your post until I got back Bravo. We did have a GPS, which just makes traveling much more enjoyable. Although we did do La Fogata, as I figured if it was at the top of Eracer's list it would be worth the drive. We Played La Cantera - Palmer Course, Pecan Valley, and The Quarry. We ate at Rudys, Mi Tierra, La Fogata, and various places along the riverwalk including one of their BBQ Places and a Steak Place (First day we went out with some of the people my wife works with). Probably drank enough Margaritas and Frozen Margaritas to fill and freeze over the San Antonio River. Man, they serve those up like water down there. We already decided that we may likely go down this year for the Final 4 if we can get booked, whether or not Kansas is involved. We will have to try Paloma Blanca and Tomatillos at that time.

As far as Golf, La Cantera was a great course but it is unlikely we would play there again for the money. My wife and I came to the conclusion that it is likely a bit more prominent because it plays like a mountain course in the middle of Texas. Which is probably pretty unusual. But I can think of many course up here that are better, and are only about $50 to play instead of $140. There were also far to many blind shots on the course for my liking, it seemed like every other hole. Again, great course, but to me it seemed like it was probably so popular because of the elevation changes, which we are all to familiar with up here. The Quarry was a very unusual course, and well worth the $90 just to see how they pieced this thing together. Fortunately the back 9 in the Quarry was open. I guess up until last week the back was closed due to the recent flooding. You could see that on the course, but it still played relatively well. Pecan Valley may have been the best bang for the buck at under $60, and probably what I would view as Texas golf if I had any vision going into the round. Wind played a heavy role that day. Also noticed this was the location of the 50th PGA Championship, as still advertised on their scoreboard. All 3 rounds were enjoyable. I am not sure I will ever get used to the spongy, fuzzy grass around the greens, that wreaked havoc on my short game this week, and most prominent at La Cantera.

Food wise, we went to Rudy's after the round at La Cantera. I have always been convinced there are two type of BBQ in this world. That based around Sauce and that based around Rub. Although they can both mix. I have always been a fan of good sauce. So while Rudy's had great BBQ, to me it was actually a little disappointing. They pride themselves on their smoking and use of Rub. Their sauce leaves alot to be desired. So while I did pick up their Rub to Bring home, I could never compare it to my liking for KC BBQ which has always prided themselves on their sauce. Although that being said, I will agree Eracer, their cream corn is special and was the highlight of their food for my wife and I. I will also say their Beans are much better than what I found in KC as well. If I ever went back it would like be more for the Corn than the beef. While they are a true BBQ shack, and the certainly better than anything you would find in our neck of the woods, I have always just been a fan of Wet BBQ. Actually the Commercialized BBQ place on the Riverwalk was probably just as suited to my taste, as I thought they may have had better sauce. Mi Tierra was great Mexican food with a great atmosphere, we went on our way back from Pecan Valley. They may have had the some of the best margaritas, and atmosphere. Mariachi singers and the whole works. They are open 24/7, so we will likely have to try breakfast next time around. La Fogata was definitely our favorite this time around. Went after playing the Quarry. Good atmosphere and probably the best food we had down there. We went for lunch, and next time down I would like to go at night and sit out with the fountains and fire rings that they had set up for latter.

As indicated before, I was more looking forward to the food than the golf and San Antonio did not disappoint. Both were good, but I would likely give the edge to the food.

We also went during the Big 12 Championship, in a sea of OU and Mizzou fans. So I was one of token KU fans in the crowd. I compare this area to, in my own words, "A civilized New Orleans setting" I will also add that we stayed at the Hilton Homewood Suites on the Riverwalk, and while the price, room and services were great I would have to add that they built this into a fixed up older building and while they did a great job, they did a lousy job soundproofing the rooms. Which likely takes it from being one of the better deals and an incredible room you may find to just So~So as you wake each morning to the "Sounds of San Antonio".

Such a nice room and accommodations, but makes it hard to say if we would stay there again.

Will have to try Silverhorn and the other choices next time around. It seemed another heavy choice with the locals, and Republic was another mentioned by a few down there.

Thanks again all!!!

[Wi-Golfer]

Originally Posted by zaphod

Golf in January is a plus as winter here in Wisconsin is already getting old--and it's only the end of December. Hope to get out twice in Texas and hoping the weather will be doable when I visit.

I hit Dallas last february & it was a bit cold in the morning, was about 50º at 8:00, but it warmed up to 70º real fast.

[West Coast Duffer]

Definately hit Rudys for some Awesome BBQ and hit the Riverwalk for the clubs and drinks.

[shank]

Mi Tierra Restaurant & Bakery

As the post above says, Mi Tierra is a fun place to eat in San Antonio. Both Austin and San Antonio are full of family cafe type places. I'd stay out of the chains and taste the local flavor. The chains down here are just moving you through to make some money.
The one exception is Rudy's....mmmmmm good! Extra Moist sliced beef will have you smiling!

[Eracer]

Originally Posted by shank

Mi Tierra Restaurant & Bakery

As the post above says, Mi Tierra is a fun place to eat in San Antonio. Both Austin and San Antonio are full of family cafe type places. I'd stay out of the chains and taste the local flavor. The chains down here are just moving you through to make some money.
The one exception is Rudy's....mmmmmm good! Extra Moist sliced beef will have you smiling!

And the creamed corn. Don't forget about the creamed corn...

[zaphod]

Thanks for the food advice also. I'm so psyched. Golf, Ribs, TexMex, does life get any better?

[Pa Jayhawk]

Originally Posted by zaphod

Thanks for the food advice also. I'm so psyched. Golf, Ribs, TexMex, does life get any better?

If you like Margaritas it does, they flow like water down there.

Knew it was going to make for an interesting week when we showed up to the hotel the first night and they had a open margarita machine in the hotel lobby for happy hours.

[DaveE]

I'd recommend Falconhead. Played there with Rock when he came down a couple of years ago and it was both of our favorites of the courses we played.

Austin, Texas Golf Course - Falconhead Golf Club - Austin Golf Tournaments, Banquets, Weddings, and Membership

[twelvegage]

I don't know anything about Austin/San Anton golf (not that much about Houston either) but if you happen to make it down to Houston I'd love the oppurtunity to play w/ a fellow Shottalker!

Try EVERY bit of BBQ you can! And don't even think about eating it with a fork!

Oh, and today it was 71 outside, so hopefully you'll be instore for more of the same then!

Have fun and let us know how it goes!