TRAVEL: Horseshoe Bay, Texas’ Jewel on Lake LBJ

Fall golf is fast coming approaching, which means it’s time to lineup your winter and early season golf trips with the boys and loved ones. 

Now while we’re all familiar with the mainstream options, like PGA National, Reunion Resort and Sawgrass in Florida or Troon North in Arizona, it’s nice to be one of the pioneers that visit the hidden gem before it blows up. 

You’re hearing it here first: Horseshoe Bay is next.  Just ask Kyle Berkshire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Located just an hour outside Austin, Horseshoe Bay features 3 incredible Robert Trent Jones, Sr. courses nestled in Texas’ Hill Country, alongside a breathtaking Jack Nicklaus Signature Course that was named “Best New Course in America” by Golf Digest. 

To make sure there’s more than just golf, whether you need something in between rounds or if your significant other and family members don’t feel left out when the snow starts to hit the ground, Horseshoe Bay Resort features world class amenities, events, and dining.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Fortunately, I was lucky enough to experience everything Horseshoe Bay had to offer earlier this year with a few friends over a long weekend. And I’d like to share with you just how incredible everything was on and off the course.

Immediately upon checking into the hotel, we were showered with Southern hospitality and provided with a quick tour of where everything and anything we could need would be, whether it was some fresh drinks or quality barbecue from J’s Restaurant and Bar or shuttles to and from the golf courses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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After settling in, we quickly flipped into some golf clothes, hopped on the shuttle (which the concierge helped arrange so we weren’t waiting and late for our tee time) and head over to Slick Rock Golf Course.  Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and blessed with a complete renovation in 2016, Slick Rock was a gentle, Texas handshake, making it the perfect course to head to after a 5 hour flight and get accustomed to Texas golf.

But being the proverbial “easy” course doesn’t mean Slick Rock gets overlooked.  To the contrary, Slick Rock has frequently found itself in the Top Courses you can play in Texas in 2021 (#29), 2020 (#30), and 2018 (#88). Renovated greens and bunkers helped bring new life into the course, while also adding some new challenges for modern golfers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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As you start to hit your stride and get comfortable with Texas golfing conditions, Slick Rock peaks at its infamous 14th, “Million Dollar” hole, that requires a committed tee shot over the immaculate water feature for a short, very gettable Par 4.  But as high as Slick Rock set the bar for the trip, each course that followed only continue to raise the bar higher and higher.

After a good nights’ rest, we woke up early to squeeze 36 in and kicked things off at Ram Rock Golf Course, which is known as the “Challenger” and has hosted the Texas State Open along with several USGA qualifying events. The Robert Trent Jones, Sr. design has found itself among the Top 10 Courses you can play in Texas the past 2 years is sculptured around narrow fairways and dramatic elevation changes that start right at the first tee box.

Despite how challenging Ram Rock could get, playing it felt like your favorite rock album that you could listen to start to finish because the hits just kept coming and coming. 

Indeed, even right now I can think about the beautiful holes that featured elevated tee boxes and panoramic views of the surrounding area as the sun came up, like the Par-3 4th (below)…

 

 

 

 

 

 

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and the Par-5, 7th (below)

After wrapping things up at Ram Rock, we pulled up to the Slick Rock Bar & Grill for some cold drinks and a perfectly spicy, crispy chicken sandwich to fuel up for the second 18 at Apple Rock Golf Course.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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With the first tees for Ram Rock and Apple Rock being positioned maybe 100-ish feet from each other, Apple Rock features similar dramatic elevation changes that make Ram Rock a test and enabled it to also host the Texas State Open and several USGA Qualifying events.  And with the help of a 2019 renovation, Apple Rock landed itself among the Top 25 Courses you can play in Texas in 2021 and 2020.

Now while the first few holes of Apple Rock may feel like a continuation of Ram Rock (which is perfect if you play 36 in one day like we did), the back 9 on Apple Rock provides a completely differently flavor, as made immediately clear by the tee shot for the Par-5, 10th hole that feeds down to Lake LBJ and peaks, in my humblest opinion, on the Par-3, 12th hole that cuts over the corner the lake LBJ and routinely invites spectators who are floating by on boats and wave runners, both of which can be rented from the Marina.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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After concluding an incredible day of golf and a quick shower, we went to J’s Restaurant and Bar for some quality BBQ, including Brisket Burnt Ends and smoked spare ribs and miller’s sausage.

Dinner (and the drinks) at J’s give everybody a second life, as we decided to raise the stakes at the Whitewater Putting Course, an 18-hole, Zoysia Grass putting course complete with bunkers, breaking fairways, and water hazards (along with some forced carries if you’re willing to take the Bryson line with your putter) that can be played all hours of the day with night, stadium lighting.

And to help keep the betting, competitive attitudes high, at the center of the Whitewater Putting Course is the Whitewater 360 Sports Club, which offers hand-crafted cocktails, pizza, bar bites and a robust beer menu.

After a grueling 54 holes, we called it a night before gearing up for our final round at Horseshoe Bay’s crown jewel: Summit Rock.  Sadly Summit is an exclusive, members-only course, because this Jack Nicklaus Signature design course has found itself among Golfweek’s Top 100 Resort Courses in America and should be enjoyed before every golfing junkie.  Fortunately, the Texas hospitality means that if you bump into a member while playing the other courses, you can probably wiggle your way onto this jewel with a couple jokes and post-round drinks.

We teed off just as the sun came over the hills, which made for an incredible experience as the first few holes are routed up the hills until you’re provided with a breathtaking, 30-mile Hill Country view from the elevated tee box at the famed 3rd hole.  The course presents you with challenges as you navigate the hills, with fairways that slope and feed into waste areas and bunkers and pins that invite you to flirt with going OB.

Fortunately, Summit Rock has some of the best snack houses I’ve ever found on a golf course, offering ever assortment of snacks you could imagine, including what might be the perfect treat when the heat comes out—the always classic ice cream sandwich.

Horseshoe Bay Resort is my first experience with Texas golf, and while I didn’t break out the Texas wedge while I was there, I am confident and look forward when I do it in the near future because I will 100% be returning for another visit soon.

The incredible golf, food, and hotel accommodations provide everything you could need, whether you’re in need of a BBQ-filled weekend away with the boys or a lazy few days at the spa and on the lake with family and friends.  So with the winter approaching, make sure to check out Horseshoe Bay’s Golf Packages so you can plan that perfect winter escape or pre-season warm-up trip.

Cover Image Via Community Impact