Landa Park Golf Course at Comal Springs

Review of Landa Park Golf Course at Comal Springs in New Braunfels

Landa Park Golf Course at Comal Springs is owned and operated by the City of New Braunfels and opened for play as a nine-hole course on 61 acres in 1938.  In 1972, the course was redesigned as an 18 hole layout which also expanded the course by an additional 52 acres.  

In 2013 the City of New Braunfels started a $7 million dollar renovation by Finger, Dye, Spann of Katy Texas which has turned Landa Park Golf Course at Comal Springs into one of the best in Texas.  The renovation touched everything on the course from the tee boxes to the cup.  Bottom line, from our perspective the redesign transformed Landa Park Golf Course at Comal Springs from a traditional and straightforward somewhat boring layout into a layout that is fair but demanding, loaded with character and fun holes, and a joy to play. 

One of the joys of playing Landa Park Golf Course at Comal Springs is the wildlife (ducks, egrets, and more) and all of the deer grazing in the rough and under trees and carefully watching your game and snickering behind your back as you top the ball or spray it into where they are grazing.

The course is scenic with trees and native areas and ponds plus the clear water of the shortest river in Texas (the Comal River) which comes into play on some holes and on others you can watch the tubers having a blast as you’re trying to blast out of the bunkers.  On the back nine, you’ll hear whooping and hollering at Schlitterbahn Water Park as guests enjoy the slides, river, and all there is to do at this great waterpark.  At times, when it is 100 degrees and typically after a three-putt, you may wish you were tubing rather than golfing.

The front nine of Landa Park Golf Course at Comal Springs has 4 sets of tee boxes with yardages ranging from 2470 to 3354 yards for par 37 – one par 3, 6 par 4s, and 2 par 5s.  This nine is regarded as the easiest of the nines and from my perspective, the greens complexes on this nine are very challenging – lots of slope, contour, ridges, swales, and well guarded plus some are raised.  This is the easier nine but it will still throw a lot at you to keep you on your toes, for example:

#2 is the #1 handicap and you’ll think it’s a piece of cake at 341 yards from the tips but a branch of the Comal River (which is hidden from your view and could come into play for long hitters off the tee) cuts in front of the green and puts a premium on your approach shot

#4 is a fun 571-yard par 5 with a carry over the lake from the back tees, a huge bunker waiting for your drive, a slight dog left, then a carry over the Comal River to a green with no room for error

#9 is only 317 yards from the back tee box and you might be tempted to go for the green but a big sprawling tree can block the approach to the green which is raised and has lots of slope and contour plus a long skinny deep bunker on the right side and a sharp drop off the back side and a hidden bunker you’ll find if you’re long on the approach shot

The back nine of Landa Park Golf Course at Comal Springs is short at 2068 to 2851 yards (it plays much longer than that) primarily because it is a par 34 with 3 par 3s, 1 par 5, and 5 par 4s.  The back is home to some very memorable, challenging, and fun holes like:

#13 is a great 516-yard par 5 that’s slightly downhill and a dog right between two huge fairway bunkers leading to a green that is tucked off to the left side of the fairway making for a very tough approach shot

#16 is fun play – it’s an uphill shot with a sharp dog leg left and a sprawling big tree that splits the fairway and can block your shot to the green –  a great risk-reward shot to carry the trees on the left but you also need to miss the huge bunker with two islands or you can try a long uphill shot to the right side of the fairway and approach the green from the right side of the tree – you’ll want to play this hole again

#18 is a fun finishing hole with an elevated tee box and a carry down over the creek and natural area to a green guarded by trees and 4 bunkers – you’ll be tempted to go for the green since it’s only 316 yards from the tips

The fairways at Landa Park Golf Course at Comal Springs were in excellent condition, particularly considering it was February and the winter was rough.  They are firm, generally wide and forgiving off the tee box, and littered with bunkers and deer!  The rough was cut thin and very playable.  There are several holes that play side by side and you may encounter some fellow golfers in your fairway or you may end up in theirs if you spray the ball.  No homes, no barking dogs, lots of trees, and a couple places where you might lose your ball if you miss the fairway.

The greens at Landa Park Golf Course at Comal Springs are fantastic – fast (around 11 when played, but they normally will be around an 8 to 9), well guarded, large to huge, a variety of shapes, some are raised, and all have some combination of slope, undulation, tiers, ridges, or swales.  The breaks range from subtle and easy to read to “wow, I didn’t see that!”  Pin placement can make or break your score.  Practice putting before you head out!

The bunkers are some of the best we have encountered and typically only found at exclusive private courses.  They are well maintained, the lips range from easy to steep – but the sand is packed on the steep ones and your ball will tend to roll back to the middle – that’s if you’re lucky and the last guy in bunker raked it!  And the sand is perfect – thick, light, and fluffy.

Bottom line – this is a must play course that is a heck of a value, in great condition, fair but demanding, and home to some very memorable holes.  Here is a link to a Coupon for Landa Park Golf Course at Comal Springs which will save you some money on your next round.  And don’t forget to check out their upcoming tournaments and events page.