Tour the AT&T Oaks golf course at TPC San Antonio, home of the Valero Texas Open
Host of the Valero Texas Open, the AT&T Oaks at TPC San Antonio has earned a reputation as one of the PGA Tour's toughest courses since it became the venue in 2010.
The course, designed by Greg Norman with player consultant Sergio Garcia, features a challenging layout that meanders through Texas Hill Country oaks north of San Antonio. While the design is certainly exciting for spectators, it's a more natural look compared to the more stadium-style TPC designs like TPC Sawgrass and TPC Scottsdale. It can play more than 7,400 yards, no small feat in itself, not to mention when the winds are gusting in Texas as they often do, there are five sets of tees that play up towards 5,000 yards.
For the average member or resort guest playing the Oaks, the fairways are relatively generous, though it's the approach shots that are the real challenge here. Greens are firm, fast, often elevated and well-protected by bunkers and run-off areas. Finding deep traps also results in a matter of damage control, while navigating out of the many green-side swales and dips around the green will require a bit of deftness and ingenuity.
Brandon Tucker played the course just weeks before the 2015 Valero Texas Open and shares these photos. You can also read his full, five-star review of the course here.