Golf Information journey author Graham McKenzie loved a memorable spherical throughout his go to to the Lone Star State at TPC San Antonio, dwelling of the Valero Texas Open
When you have ever been you can be forgiven for pondering that San Antonio in Texas is sort of a small metropolis. The power to stroll round downtown simply transferring from the Alamo to the canals while listening to Mexican Mariachi bands as you sip sangria and eat spicy meals will provide you with the impression of a small city. You’d nonetheless be unsuitable as it’s the truth is by inhabitants the seventh largest metropolis in the entire of america and as such the demand for golf is excessive. Unsurprisingly the realm is nicely represented with about twenty high quality tracks inside a superb three wooden from the town centre. Most well-known of all although is the TPC (Event Gamers Membership) San Antonio dwelling to the Valero Texas Open since 2010.
THE CANYONS COURSE
TPC San Antonio gives a top quality expertise to golfers of all ranges with two programs to select from. The Oaks Course and the Canyons Course. The Canyons course is the shorter of the 2 however gives most likely one of the best views of San Antonio Hill nation anyplace in Texas plus a powerful wildlife reserve. It’s a full distinction to the Oaks course however has skilled credibility of its personal because it was the host for the PGA TOUR Champions San Antonio Championship from 2011 to 2015. The winner in its remaining 12 months was none apart from Bernhard Langer who scooped a primary prize purse of $270,000. The intricacies of the course are hardly stunning once you realise that the course architect was Pete Dye along with his smallish, contoured greens that in some circumstances don’t make for a straightforward learn. Not fairly a Salman Rushdie novel however not far off it
THE OAKS COURSE
The Oaks Course is the extra well-known of the 2, having been used to host skilled tournaments of the very best order and the Valero Texas Open since 2010. The course was designed by the brand new Darth Vader of the Golf World aka Greg Norman and is thought for its slim, tree-lined fairways and difficult bunkers. While the course could be very lengthy, even from the shorter tees it’s approach over 6000yds , this can be very playable, and it has two signature holes within the sixteenth and 18th. The sixteenth is the par three with a bunker within the center. You’ll know earlier than I even write it what facet of the bunker my ball went. Yep, the unsuitable facet which makes for an attention-grabbing determination. Chip from the pristine inexperienced and danger a divot or attempt loopy golf fashion and go as near the bunker as doable along with your first putt within the hope you might have an out of doors likelihood of a par putt along with your second. I failed taking the placing route and ended with a bogey.
TOUGH FINISHING HOLE
The 18th is a protracted uphill par 5. For even probably the most gifted newbie enjoying from a ahead tee it gives a extreme problem. A extremely good drive will nonetheless depart you a good higher 3-wood to the inexperienced and throughout the stream that runs alongside the golf green however separates that from the inexperienced. Probably the most smart route is to put up additional alongside the golf green and take your third over the water to the inexperienced however you solely dwell as soon as so a 3 wooden it’s. Extra failure ends in ball retrieval from the water and a double bogey seven. Nonetheless, we gave it a go and later this 12 months when it’s on tv you possibly can relate and admire to what the professionals are doing.
ACCOMMODATION ON SITE
The venue gives a world-class associate within the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Nation Resort & Spa, which offers upscale fashion, good service, and wonderful hospitality. The resort is nestled amongst 600 acres of oak-covered hills and offers beautiful views of the Texas Hill Nation. The resort additionally gives a full-service wellness centre, Lantana Spa, the place company can take pleasure in a therapeutic massage or different wellness remedies.
The TPC San Antonio is a forty five-minute drive from the Alamo within the downtown space of the town and in case you are anyplace close by it’s nicely price a go to.
Inexperienced Charges begin at round $200 which features a buggy and vary balls. Click on right here to extra info
