San Antonio Courses

[J_Birdie]

On 9/17/2023 at 10:25 AM, texasdave said:

Hadn't heard this but look forward to the improvements.

 

Amu specifics on what changes to the fairways will be taking place? Definitely think leveling out the fairway slopes on numbers 13, 16 and 18 will help pace of play.

I was told only 18 is changing. I am sure they will spruce up the others but 18 would be the only one with significant changes is what I was told. These things change mid stream though haha 

[nova6868]

Well 18 is probably the worst. Whoever graded that fairway was in a bad mood. But I agree, sure would be nice if they'd look at 13 and 16 which aren't much better. 

 

13 is so bad, I've heard that when they play the US Open qualifier there nearly everyone just hits a big cut over into the 12th fairway. I tried it myself once when the course wasn't busy and it worked great. Just a short wedge back over the trees to the 13th green. Much better than hitting a beautiful 4-iron straight down the fairway and watching it take a huge kick and run down into the ditch. 

 

 

Edited September 20, 2023 by nova6868

[texasdave]

The other change i would make is on #9...get rid of either the water on the left or the bunkers on the right.  Currently the gap to run it up in two is too tight so in most cases even after a good drive i'm inclined to lay up.  And if you hit any sort of draw with a second shot into the green it will almost always hit and run into the water.

[doc52]

On 9/13/2023 at 12:10 PM, snagy2000 said:

Anyone play LaCantera lately?

Played LaCantera last weekend. Conditions were fine.

[skaarsgard]

On 9/27/2023 at 12:52 PM, doc52 said:

Played LaCantera last weekend. Conditions were fine.

I too played La Cantera for the first time two weeks ago (Saturday noon time) and the course conditions were pretty sound but the greens were really rolling fast.  Drove the green on both par 4's (off the hill and dog right) so those were highlights.   Expensive but we were in town and the woman wanted a spa day.   It's a nice alternative to the Valero TPC course at the JW.

[GMTK]

Anyone played Cedar Creek lately? I know the reno starts in November. 

Played Northern Hills yesterday. Good shape, greens were outstanding and FAST. Fairways on 8 and 10 are super hard and fast. 

[texasdave]

1 hour ago, GMTK said:

Anyone played Cedar Creek lately? I know the reno starts in November. 

Played Northern Hills yesterday. Good shape, greens were outstanding and FAST. Fairways on 8 and 10 are super hard and fast. 

played Cedar last week...well the first 12 holes, play on thursday afternoon was extremely slow...course in good shape...fairways are in good condition with a few usual bare spots and greens were rolling fast and true. 

 

I thought renovation was slated until January??

[GMTK]

I thought I heard November from some buddies, but it could be January; I'm not 100% sure. I was trying to get out there before it happened. 

[nova6868]

Geez I hope the Cedar renovation helps with pace of play, that's always been the issue at that course - 6 hour rounds.

 

[texasdave]

I hope so too but I think there would have to be some serious changes to slopes of fairways on too many holes to be any help for pace of play. 

 

It's just that there's just too much trouble on the right side of the fairways, especially in the front side.  The front side is a slicers nightmare. Then on the back holes 12, ,13, 14, 16 and 18 are tough in them as well. 

[MerryTex]

How is Brack looking?

[texasdave]

Played Brack two weeks ago and it was in good shape....greens were really nice but slower than usual. 

[Lobby]

Brack gets their greens overseeded on Monday, Oct 30

[GMTK]

From the AGT:

1. Overseeding begins Monday, October 30th at Brackenridge Park at Noon. Be sure to bookmark the Course Care Calendar. The agronomy staff maintains this calendar and it will show all major maintenance efforts.

2. Riverside's Reopening is scheduled for late November, please be on the lookout for an official date soon.

3. Cedar Creek is next on our list for renovation and will close on January 2, 2024. We will be sure to follow up with more details.

[nova6868]

Sorry wrong thread. 

 

Edited October 26, 2023 by nova6868

[MerryTex]

I’ve got a time booked for the Saturday after overseed. 

[texasdave]

Any members secure a tee time for the re-opening of Riverside?

 

I'm interested to see what they did to the greens; I'm hoping they didn't overdo the slopes like they did at Olmos.

[Lobby]

It’s walking only for the 1st month or so on riverside. 
 

im also looking for reports. 

[texasdave]

walking only for first three months is what they stated. 

 

Snagged a time for the first Saturday so i'll post a review.

[texasdave]

Played Cedar today and was talking to some of the staff about the upcoming changes; they mentioned the already known--redo the greens, trim out a lot of the trees but two things i hadn't heard yet...

 

1) filling in some bunkers and creating new ones and 2) putting a stream in front of the 11th green!!! They said they hope this would speed up play by forcing players to not wait for the green to clear before hitting their tee shots. 

[J_Birdie]

The water is also coming back on #3/#2/#1 i am told.  That stream that runs from the pump on 3 green, down the fairway, under #2, and back out #1.  

[texasdave]

I honestly don't remember the water on #1 but that water on the left side of #3 fairway was always a killer for me; the water by the green on the right was no problem but damn that water left hurt.

[texasdave]

Hey guys i may have an open spot to play Riverside this Saturday at 7:24; reserved the time about three weeks ago but my buddy now can't make it. 

 

If anyone would like to play let me know; of course will be walking only. 

 

About my game...not very long 230-250 but will usually score 75-80.

[texasdave]

Had a chance to play Riverside this afternoon and just wanted to give a quick review for you guys....

 

First off on conditions ...the course is still rough around the edges as is to be expected and the greens are very hard. Just like Olmos it will probably take a good spring/summer growing season to reflect expected conditions. 

 

Now on the the actual redesign:

the overall shape of the fairways and routing of the course is basically the same with the exception of 16&17 which have both been turned into relatively short par 4s.

 

what has changed significantly is the amount of bunkers on the course, both in the fairways and around the greens--basically every hole now has fairway and greenside bunkers...also the bunkers are weirdly all square-rectangular in shape , there are no circular bunkers. Here is a pic of the approach the the second green...

 

and then a pic of some new fairway bunkers on the left side of the fourth fairway. 

 

The greens...a lot of them seem to have been shrunk and made to look more angular, similar to Brack, and a many of them are now raised. The weirdest green is the new ninth; the first quarter of the green is level with the fairway but after that there is a 4-5ft drop to the remaining 75% of the green; I can only imagine the bitching and complaining when they put the flag on the first quarter and everything just rolls to the back. I tried to get a pic but it honestly doesn't do the slope justice. 

 

A few greens, specifically the 18th shifted as well; the 18th was shifted to the right away drum the trees near the cart path. The second was also shifted to the right away from the trees on the left which should help to key the green clean off all the falling leaves. 

 

My biggest worry was they would make the greens overly undulating like i feel they did at Olmos,  thankfully they didn't go that far but they are more challenging than before. 

 

Overall i feel the new fairway bunkering will make for more challenging course but the look of the greens will take some getting used to. Also im not sure if its just the case of the trees losing there leaves for the winter or they took out a lot of trees but the course, especially the front nine, seemed much more open. 

 

Overall i managed a 77 with the highlight being  a 3hybrid from 220y on #9 to four feet and then making the putt for eagle. 

 

Edited January 13, 2024 by texasdave

[Lobby]

We’re you practicing at San Pedro this week?  I was there and a guy gushed about having a tee time at riverside this weekend

[texasdave]

Just now, Lobby said:

We’re you practicing at San Pedro this week?  I was there and a guy gushed about having a tee time at riverside this weekend

Nope...just happened to check the app yesterday and there was a twosome at 12:36. 

 

Honestly because of my balky back i don't practice anymore. 

[The Milkman]

Is anyone here a member at Tapatio Springs that could give some insight and review? My wife and I are hoping to move back to Texas after a couple years away, and that area is at the top of our list. I’d want to join a club when we get back and that seems like a great value. 
 

I know it’s not fully private because of the resort guests, but how’s the course and the crowdedness etc?

[texasdave]

10 minutes ago, The Milkman said:

Is anyone here a member at Tapatio Springs that could give some insight and review? My wife and I are hoping to move back to Texas after a couple years away, and that area is at the top of our list. I’d want to join a club when we get back and that seems like a great value. 
 

I know it’s not fully private because of the resort guests, but how’s the course and the crowdedness etc?

Not a member and i haven't played there in a little over a year but at that time the conditions were fairly good but it was just as busy as your typical muni on a Thursday afternoon; no long waits but we didn't zoom around the course either. 

[The Milkman]

On 1/15/2024 at 10:30 AM, texasdave said:

Not a member and i haven't played there in a little over a year but at that time the conditions were fairly good but it was just as busy as your typical muni on a Thursday afternoon; no long waits but we didn't zoom around the course either. 

Any thoughts on Fair Oaks Ranch? 

[J_Birdie]

Tapatio to me is just a full blown public with a frequent flyer membership to save some bones. The course is scenic and a little quirky. I like going out there from time to time!

 

Fair Oaks Ranch will provide you a more traditional private experience and has 2 solid courses with decent practice facilities. 

 

Not knowing your budget, Cordillera is in Boerne too, but that is very private and very expensive.