San Antonio Courses

[huskerturf]

TPC special rate...https://tpc.com/sanantonio/the-first-tee/

 

[J_Birdie]

Went out to Cedar for a quick 9 but played so fast I ended up doing 18. Greens rolled a lot better than even 3 days ago or so. They are still very patchy around the edges with algae.

Wasn’t really keeping score until I threw in my 4th birdie on the “back” on #17/8 and quickly I jotted down my scores from memory and bogeyed 18/9 to shoot even lol.

 

Still no updated scorecards so not sure how committed they are to the flip of the 9s

[texasdave]

When i talked to the counter person on Thursday she made it seem like it would stay this way until the one person per cart requirement is eased... said this way walkers only have to climb the hill once from 18 to the clubhouse vs having to do it twice from 9 and 18 the "old" way.

Great score by the way J, especially with those greens.

[texasdave]

if it is humanly possible i think pace of play at Cedar is even slower now... people with their own carts and they are still going to each other's ball.

 

Tried to play today and took 2.75 hrs on the front.... just went in after that.

[J_Birdie]

Yeah pace of play out there is atrocious and that new starting hole doesn't do anyone favors

[nova6868]

Haha, they just can't seem to figure out pace of play at Cedar. It's a real shame too because it's a fun and challenging course with great views.

Right down the street is La Cantera Palmer, which is a similar style of course (lots of elevation changes, views, challenging tee shots) and they don't seem to have pace of play problems. Price is much higher and volume of play is less. I think that's the core of the problem, Cedar Creek was never designed to be a municipal course with a booked tee sheet full of higher handicap golfers.

I think the only way to fix pace of play at Cedar Creek is to space out the tee times, put up signs warning golfers the course is challenging and you should consider moving up tees, and then actually enforce pace of play. I've never seen a worker/marshal there even warn a group about their pace of play. One of the last times I tried playing there I quit after 9 holes (3 hours). I had even called the pro shop at one point because it was obvious the second group in front of us was falling WAY behind. Nobody ever came out.

 

[J_Birdie]

They flags alerts on the new GPS system but they won’t dispatch a worker, can’t spare the manpower. You are correct in that Cedar was never really intended to see this level of play

[texasdave]

the only thing that would help slow play is another city course on the northside.... guess we'll just have to deal with slow play at cedar.

[J_Birdie]

Maybe the city can buy Palmer course and make it a trail course lol

[J_Birdie]

Willow, Brack, SP in good shape

[texasdave]

Just as soon as the greens at Cedar were getting into good shape they punched them this morning!!!

Anyone played Brack recently, how are the greens?

[J_Birdie]

Brack just hosted the ACGT TOUR masters. They’re perfect. Or they were Sat/Sun haha

[texasdave]

thanks, J

[huskerturf]

I played in the event. They were quite good.

 

Hyatt aerified their greens last week....still pretty bumpy today.

[huskerturf]

Played Vaaler on Saturday. Greens were aerified probably a week or so ago. Decent but the occasional bump. Very good condition as usual.

[texasdave]

anyone have a condition update on Willow Springs, playing there Saturday for the first time in a year??

[J_Birdie]

I have not been there personally but have been told the course is in good shape.

[texasdave]

thanks, J... i'll give an update after the round.

[CMCSGolf]

I played there on 5/29 and the conditions were fine. Nothing great, but perfectly fine and the greens were good for a city course.

[choeppner]

I'm outside San Antonio in Kerrville, but I try and get out 3-4 days a week. I'm a member at Buckhorn and it's in really good shape if anyone is up for a round.

-Chris

[J_Birdie]

Not sure what happened exactly but some of the fairways on the front 9 at Brack basically died or had large patches die. They began resodding them Monday and I am told the tee sheet may be closed from 12-3 or something to allow for the crew to water the sod before the heat of the day. Greens are very good tho lol

[texasdave]

Hey J...this was just in front 9? i played there two weeks ago and now that you mentioned it they did seem a bit thin in certain areas but not dead....dead fairways at brack will just make it feel like pre-renovation condition!!

[texasdave]

played Tapatio Springs yesterday for the first time in maybe 15years and the course was in excellent shape...greens and fairways were in top shape.

pace of play was slow for as short as the course is but finished in 3.5hrs...

[huskerturf]

Played Northern Hills today for the first time. Terrific greens, slightly grainy but still quick. Course was in excellent shape and is a very good value for a city course.

[J_Birdie]

Played Brack. Fairways better not perfect but not the worst ever. Lots of GURS for the sodding but it looks promising. Greens are perfect and nice.

[J_Birdie]

Godspeed to those dodging punched greens this season 

[huskerturf]

Played Riverside on Friday.  Love the classic design elements on holes 1-10 & 18.  11-17 are the stereotypical 1960s design stuff.  Decent greens and good shape overall.  Fun track.  
 

Played Cedar on Saturday.  Greens were quicker than Riverside and rolled decently.  They are still recovering from an aeration, so there was an occasional bounce.  Looks like they’ll be getting some new irrigation around the tees as they had staked off positions for new sprinklers on holes 1-9 (old 10-18).  Pace of play at 3:30 pm was acceptable, 4 hours to finish.  The pro shop shouldn’t be letting golfers tee off on the back, though.  

Edited August 24, 2020 by huskerturf

[texasdave]

anyone played Brack since they punched their greens...how are they now?

[J_Birdie]

I have not been but if they healed any where near as well at Northern Hills then they are great again 

[J_Birdie]

Had a work break down by Brack so I went and chipped. Greens aren’t perfect but are fine