I moved to San Antonio from Houston at the end of 2020. Early summer of 2021 I really got into golf and have been playing the Alamo City Trail mostly since then.

I've recently reached a point where I'm getting really frustrated with how the tee times, course maintenance, and pace of play are managed at most of the courses on the trail.

Does anyone have any suggestions of any private or semiprivate courses that have memberships available? Also if you have any experiences personally with any of the clubs.

I plan on reaching out to LaCantera, Hill Country Hiatt, and Canyon Springs at this point, but I'm sure I'm overlooking some places.

My wife and I currently live in Helotes, but I don't mind driving 20 or so minutes if the price of membership and course is the right fit.

Thanks in advance!

Haven't lived there in a few years but Canyon Springs and Olympia Hills were the two good ones on North Side I played a bunch.

50k or so gets you membership at JW Marriott

Check out Tapatio Springs in Boerne. Buckhorn in Comfort an easy drive.

If you can swing the JW Mariott I would do that but I would imagine the Oaks course gets slammed with tourists and people at the hotel. They also host the Valero and probably some other tournaments during the year

La Cantera is a good bet, they offer a full-on membership and then a "two-some" card that has benefits but is not considered a full membership. They also recently closed the Palmer Course, so now it is just the Resort Course, which is great, there's just now more people given it being the only course.

Silverhorn is off 281 & Bitters. Not sure if you've been there but it's not too bad of a drive from 1604 out by you. They offer really affordable memberships and the course has always played nice when I go.

Then theres San Antonio CC, TPC, Briggs Ranch, but those three are $$$$

Thanks!

I know the JW Marriott is very nice, but way out of my price range. Hopefully one day lol.

Wow. Is the Palmer course permanently closed?

Yes, unfortunately. December 20 was the last day. Rumored they sold it to some developers for more homes

That's what I heard also. Expensive property.

Tapatio is only 20 minutes right?

What are they charging for a membership

Most shaded summer course in the SA area maybe

If your are thinking (private) & Tapatio you ought to stop & the Dominion & Fair Oaks on your way out to Boerne. Play let's make a deal with the three. The question for Tapatio is, would you be competing with the resort guests for tee times?

Played Olympia Hills today, it is not good. The rye did not take on most greens. Number 5 a par 3 was the worst of all the greens. They can't be running the sprinklers as the tee boxes are hard (#8 was the worst tee box) and the traps? The grounds crew doesn't rake them, or anyone else. To top it off they full of rocks.

Too many courses around for you not too find a fav.

Tapatio is just a little too far from me currently to justify the cost of a private membership there. You also bring up a good point on the resort guests. That's a big part of my concern with La Cantera now that they no longer have the Palmer course to help share the load.

I do have a call in to Fair Oaks CC to find out a little more since it's only 20 minutes from me currently. We also are hoping to move that direction in the next year or two, so if it's a good deal that would probably be ideal.

I didn't think to try Dominion just because I figured it would probably be out of my price range, but I guess it wouldn't hurt to give them a call!

drive up to Vaaler Creek in Blanco. Good course, very reasonable rates and I have found it to be not crowded most of the time

Comanche Trace- Kerrville

Fair Oaks is part of ClubCorp so you may also email them

I've stayed at the JW for several days 10 of the last 12 years and never had to wait on either of the TPC courses. I've always been surprised how little play they get from the hotel.

With you being on the west side of town, you may want to look into the Golf Club of Texas. It's right next to Briggs Ranch, a little ways out on I-10 West towards Castroville. I lived in the Alamo Ranch area when it first opened, and always enjoyed going out there. Cool pro shop/bar area/back patio. Zoysia grass everywhere if I recall correctly.

Golf Club of Texas

Thanks! I will check it out.

CapCity12thMan said:

---

drive up to Vaaler Creek in Blanco. Good course, very reasonable rates and I have found it to be not crowded most of the time

---

One of the best kept secrets of the hill country.

Vaaler is great! I've played it a few times now. Not too bad of a drive either!

BLSD said:

---

CapCity12thMan said:

---

drive up to Vaaler Creek in Blanco. Good course, very reasonable rates and I have found it to be not crowded most of the time

---

One of the best kept secrets of the hill country.

---

Shh, let's keep it that way

I live in Spring Branch, but have played pretty much every course I can get on within a decent drive. Nothing public in town (Silverhorn, ACGT, Olympia, Canyon Springs, etc) is managed well from a pace of play perspective. Its painful and frustrating.

Vaaler is good, but damn they're proud of it. Landa Park in New Braunfels has been very well maintained lately. They did a great job overseeding this year, but they too don't really have marshalls out and pace of play suffers if you don't get out early. The Bandit in New Braunfels is a little more off the beaten path and pace of play can be hit or miss. Also a little pricey.

If you're up for a drive every now and then, Buckhorn in Comfort (right off of IH-10) is a great value and definitely worth the drive. They are on top of pace of play, and they have a much nicer course than you'd expect. It's probably my favorite right now. Also, if you're willing to drive to Marble Falls, there are two courses there that are a steal. Lighthouse and Legends. I prefer Legends, but they're both good and I've never had problems with pace of play.

Unfortunately, I have found that if I'm playing anywhere near San Antonio, I have to get the first tee-time (which is next to impossible) or drive elsewhere.

Oh yeah, one more - Scott Schreiner Municipal Golf Course in Kerrville. Played out there once and really enjoyed it.

Ladybird Johnson in Fredericksburg didn't work for me though. Five and half hour round and no marshalls in sight. I won't be going back.

I'm tempted to join River Crossing, but my golf buddies aren't members and I really do prefer to mix it up a bit. If I pay for a membership, I'd rarely play elsewhere.

edit: I haven't played Hill Country Hyatt in a couple of years, but I used to play it 3 or 4 times a year and don't recall having pace of play issues. It's a nice setup with 3 different 9 hole tracks and a great practice area. If I were you, I'd probably lean towards that - though I have no idea what a membership costs. I think they have a PDP membership which may be a good deal.

BEAggie, I got a social membership at River Crossing a year ago. Gives me the ability to play there, I just have to pay a green fee. It also gives me a place to go hit balls and practice. It also has a workout area and, of course, dining room and bar.

Like you, I have a group that likes to play other places. But they do like to play RC pretty often. But we do jump around to other courses. Since my social membership dues are not too bad I think it is a good deal and I still feel like I can play other places and not feel too guilty. All the memberships at RC just went up this month so it is not as cheap as it was, but it is still doable.

My wife and I are probably 3 years from a move but I'm making mental notes on neighborhoods and clubs. Keeping an eye on Tapatio Springs and Fair Oaks Ranch in particular. Seems like Fair Oaks is a bit further along in development as far as neighborhoods and communities go. Are the courses/clubs similar?

Oak Hills FTW