About 10 days ago I was in San Antonio for some sightseeing with family. While we were in town I managed to play the Palmer Course one afternoon. This weekend I found a $65 tee time (normally $125) for the Resort Course on Saturday and booked it. That way, I could have both courses at La Cantera fresh in my mind for comparison!
After a leisurely morning nine at Windcrest Golf Club I headed over to La Cantera and found the Resort Course parking lot. For those curious, the Resort Course is close to the large hotel while the Palmer Course is about 5 minutes away. If you are constantly lost (like me) these words won’t really matter, as you’ll still end up at the wrong course!
Anyway, the Resort Course (Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish design) is one that I’ve had me eye on since moving to Texas. I’ve been excited to play here because the course was a host course for the PGA Tour’s Valero Texas Open from 1995 to 2009. While it isn’t an active PGA stop anymore I remember a few of the holes from watching on TV years ago. Cool stuff!
While the Palmer Course has some dramatic holes on the back nine, the Resort Course turned out to be one of those courses that kept surprising me with what was next! Both courses share similar topography, but I thought the Resort Course had more “wow” factor and it fit my eye better.
The 5th through the 7th is the course’s signature stretch. The 5th is a potentially reachable par-5 with an elevated tee and the 6th is a shortish par-3, cut into the rocks. The 6th green falls off on the left side into a rocky area, so missing right will be best.
The 7th is a short (potentially driveable) par-4 with awesome views of Six Flags Fiesta Texas. You can see all the roller coasters in the background and hear the screams of the riders. That isn’t your typical golf course view!
The back nine is just as interesting with many great views from elevated tees. The 12th was my favorite hole on the back because of its green complex, which is tucked into a hillside. There is trouble short and trees frame the green well.
The tee box situation on the Resort Course drove me crazy! I hoped to play the gold tees which are 70.2/124/6326. However, many of those tee markers were up a box, so I mostly played the black tees which are 73.3/135/6954. Some of those were up as well and I basically ended up with my own set of combo tees.
The conditions were solid and well worth the price I paid. However, I thought the Palmer Course was in better overall shape. The tee box areas seemed to be struggling on the Resort Course, with bare and thin spots. The fairways and greens were full, just not super lush. Lies were tight, thanks to the firm ground and the greens rolled at a medium pace.
After playing both courses at La Cantera, I’d give the edge to the Resort Course. While I think both courses are equally difficult, the all-star collection of holes on the Resort Course make it stand out among public courses in Texas! Put this one on your list if you are in South Texas.
Course Pictures (click any picture to scroll through the gallery):