San Antonio - Mission Del Lago

[Jaywalker]

Not ready for prime time

Mission Del Lago is a municipal golf course on the south side of San Antonio. Billed as a course with links heritage, I wanted to like it, but I couldn't - it was a mess.

While I saw many employees on the course, it appeared to have suffered from neglect for years. In no kind of order, I noticed broken sprinkler mains gushing, dead spots on greens and fairways, unwatered areas, heaved and broken cart paths, too much hard, bare ground, and closed rest rooms. Also, while great for the homeowners who managed to build right along 9 (I think?), I could hear normal talking inside the house from the tee box. That's just too close.

On the back nine, the course wound its way through ranching country and could have been an improvement, except for a couple of things. My ball lodged in a cow flop on the 12th fairway. The cows had also been on the green - putting a line across hundreds of hoofprints is challenging. Oh, and there was no water in the ball washer on 13 - remember the ball in the cow pie from 12? Also, I could wish maintenance had been a little quicker to pick up the two aromatic corpses of skunks chopped by the mowers.

The tee boxes had permanent stands for course maps. They must have been old and not updated, however, as the yardage differed by as much as 40 yards from the scorecard.

On the plus side, the course did have old-fashioned course maps with marked yardage. I liked the broad fairways. I liked the fact they awarded me an unasked-for greens fee discount because of the two-week-old top dressing of the greens.

In general, though, there's no reason to travel more than a mile or so to get to this course yet - maybe later.

[option720]

[quote name='Jaywalker' timestamp='1282050110' post='2644336']
In general, though, there's no reason to travel more than a mile or so to get to this course
[/quote]

That might be the best review of a course I have ever read!

[PaulieDiGi]

I would like to slightly disagree with JayWalker and provide my take on Mission Del Lago.

First off, the layout at Mission Del Lago is well above average. Compared to other cheap courses in San Antonio, I think this track is very enjoyable, strategic, and fair.

I have been around this course quite a bit over the last two years, and yes, maintenance issues at this course fluctuate quite a bit (old irrigation system is a huge problem). However, I do believe that JayWalker's experience with conditions was probably at or near MDL's worst and things have improved. I played there a few days ago and thankfully there were no signs of cows (a common problem with a neighboring ranch). Fairways were actually in great condition and the greens were very playable (except for a few dead spots). There is lots of hardpan off the fairway, but these are areas where long grass once grew and over-penalized the average muni golfer. Many of the bunkers have been redone, and I believe they are in the process of completing the rest, so some of them may be a little rough. Overall, the conditions at MDL are average.

My take is that average conditions actually complement this course quite well. Much like a British style golf course, we shouldn't expect pristine conditions, and I don't think they are necessary. If you can't take some less-than stellar conditions, then MDL probably won't satisfy. I see MDL as a natural, Texas course, with firm ground and lots of hard-pan. This course would look awkward with soft, green turf. I understand that some things are unacceptable, but I found MDL's conditions to be fair and playable. For $35 (w/cart), I don't know if you can find a better layout in San Antonio. Unfortunately, this course is hidden 30 mins south of central San Antonio, doesn't get much play, and management will probably keep it flat-lining for sometime.

[Eun]

you can play Willow springs for around the same price and that course is always in great condition. Mission Del Lago is a joke. I've played there 3 times and will never go back. Jay is right...don't go out of your way to play this course....it isn't worth the money

[MahalNeneng]

http://www.golfsanantonio.net/2009/09/mission-del-lago-municipal-golf-course/