The Golf Club of Texas

Review and Rating of The Golf Club Of Texas in San Antonio

Located about 15 miles west of San Antonio, The Golf Club of Texas is a fun and interesting layout that was originally designed by Lee Trevino, in fact, it's the only signature Lee Trevino course in Texas  In 2015 the course went through a change in owners, a new management company, and a $6 million renovation.  The routing of the course remained the same but noted architect Roy Bechtol made several changes including:

• clearing out almost a 1000 willow trees which made the fairways much more open and forgiving
• the addition of an extra tee box
• eliminating some blind shots
• removing and improving some bunkers
• enlarging several greens and fairways

But most importantly, premier Zoysia grass (L1F Zoysia Greens, Zeon Zoysia Tees, and Jamur Zoysia for the Fairways) was added from the tee box to the cup which made The Golf Club of Texas the only course in the US with 100% Zoysia grass – the advantage of which is a more favorable lie for the golfers because the ball sits up on the fairway like a tee plus it's more drought tolerant and lowers maintenance costs. 

The renovation softened the course significantly and made it much more player friendly for all skill levels. The course plays through 6 acres of gently rolling farmland and it's got a links-style design with a slight hill country look and feel.  Like most links courses the fairways are wide open and the greens are huge.   Shortly after the renovation a new management company was hired – Touchstone Golf which has a portfolio of excellent courses in Texas and the United States.

The front nine is your opportunity to warm up and score –  some of the holes that we really liked on the front nine included:

• #8 is a 526-yard par 5 with a slightly elevated tee box with a carry over a natural area and then slightly left and over a creek at 130 yards in front of a green with a left and right side bunker
• #9 is a fun 465-yard par 4 with a slight uphill shot past a very long bunker along the left side of the fairway and a slight dog leg left past a hill along the right side leading to a green with a left side bunker

We thought that the back nine was a little more fun, scenic, and challenging thanks to water on 6 holes, a couple long forced carries, a risk-reward opportunity, and 20 bunkers.  On this nine our favorite holes included:

• #12 is a beautiful 187-yard par 3 that's all carry over a lake from the tee box
• #14 is a 344 yard par 4 that's challenging thanks to an intimidating carry over the lake to a fairway that turns right, is split down the middle with a long bunker, and has a green guarded by 2 bunkers –  a great risk-reward shot off the tee to try and carry more of the lake to shorten the second shot
• #18 is a great 534-yard par 5 finishing hole giving you a choice to play safe but longer on the left or shorter heading right if you can fly the bunker, and the approach shot to the green is challenging thanks to a pond on the left side of the green and two bunkers guarding the green

The fairways at The Golf Club of Texas leverage the gently rolling natural terrain creating some minor downhill shots from elevated tee boxes or slight uphill shots to raised greens.  We loved the Zoysia grass which makes for a superior playing surface.  The rough was cut short and very playable – but miss that and you're most likely lost in the natural area and small willow trees. The fairways are wide and forgiving from the tee box to the green.  Some large apartment complexes sit way back of the fairway and overlook some of the holes on the back – otherwise, it's just you and nature!  No side by side holes and no homes with barking dogs – it's peaceful and quiet except for the birds, the wind blowing through the trees and grass and some minor freeway noise in the distance.

The greens at The Golf Club of Texas are a variety of shapes and most are huge – making them easier to hit but also making for some very long and challenging putts.  You won't find a lot of slope and undulation but there is enough to make putting pretty challenging.  When we played the greens were firm, ran true, and at a good speed of around 10 or so.  Zoyzia makes the greens firm which means if you come in high you're not going to stick, so play more of a bump and run shot. Some of the greens are raised and all but one are guarded by one or two bunkers.

The bunkers range from good sized to long, skinny, and gigantic waste type bunkers!  A recent rain had soaked the bunkers making them tough to play.  They were not in very good shape and management admitted such and stated that club rules say you can take a lateral lie and not have to play out of the bunker.

Bottom line – a fun and forgiving layout suitable for all skill levels and a good value, particularly with one of the membership deals.