The Palmer Course- San Antonio, TX
Texas Hill Country may just be one of the most beautiful regions in the United States. Mild winters, rolling hills, and abundant sunshine not only make it a great vacation spot, but also the perfect location for world class golf. La Cantera Resort, located outside of San Antonio, offers two stunners that are sure to impress and challenge any golfer. While the Resort course may have been home to the Valero Open, the newer Palmer course was the standout in my opinion. While it isn’t easy, it is spectacular. Showing off all the best features of Hill Country golf, this course should be on your short list.
Designed by Arnold Palmer, and opened in 2001, this is one beautiful course. It takes full advantage of the elevation changes found in the Hill Country, and beautifully follows the contours of the land. There are several forced carries over natural obstacles such as brush filled ravines, as well as man-made waterfalls and lakes. Such features present several opportunities to lose balls, which will probably happen despite your best efforts.
Because a course can’t be too punitive, there are several wide plushly carpeted fairways. However even holes with wide fairways present their own challenges, such as blind shots, dog legs, and thick rough. Impossibly thick rough. Not to mention the 236 feet of elevation change found at the course. But this is what keeps it interesting, right?
As stunning at the front nine is, the back nine manages to top it. Or maybe equal it; they are both amazing. As the course unfolds, you will find many of the holes have similar features, but with each unique enough to keep you beyond interested. More elevation change, more dog legs, more blind shots, more valleys, more water. More of that stunning scenery.
It is certainly a course you will want to play more than once if you can, as you probably won’t play well the first time. At least I didn’t. But I also didn’t care. It is a magnificent course, kept in excellent condition, that showcases all the best features of Hill Country golf.
The Palmer Course also has one of the finest finishing holes you will ever encounter, which no doubt is one of the many reasons it consistently ranks in the top ten courses you can play in Texas. In a city that has many top golf courses, this is one not to miss.
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