PGA Tour Destinations: TPC San Antonio

After a month-long Florida odyssey, the PGA Tour has headed west to the Lone Star State for a two-week stint before bouncing back east for the Masters. But the streak of resort-based venues continues.

Valero Texas Open

Where? JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort/TPC San Antonio (AT&T Oaks Course)

Whether you're naming the resort or the golf course hosting this week's event, you've got a mouthful to say. And somewhat appropriately, TPC San Antonio's AT&T Oaks Course throws a lot at those who tee it up there. That's not a bad thing, though - the Oaks is tough, but well-maintained and scenic enough to soften the blows. The Greg Norman/Sergio Garcia-designed course, unsurprisingly, favors masterful drivers of the golf ball, and the large but muscular greens play smaller than their square-footage due to false fronts and sides that give way to sunken chipping areas and deep, wavy-edged bunkers. In the springtime, green fees jump north of $200 and settle in the mid-$100s at off-peak times of the year.

Worth It?

We enjoyed our most recent stay, but would call it a better catch-all resort experience than one for the golf-mad. Both the course and the attached ten-story hotel support the "Everything's big in Texas!" stereotype - the resort is one of the biggest in the Marriott portfolio, with plenty to offer families (a six-acre water park, among other non-golf amenities). So if you're looking to parlay a family trip into a couple rounds of golf, you could do a lot worse than the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and TPC San Antonio.

Alternatives?

The TPC San Antonio's AT&T Canyons Course, for one. This may be the only multiple-course facility in the world where the Pete Dye course is the easier of the two. That's not to say it's easy or boring - it's neither, and has its own professional golf-hosting history (a Champions Tour event since 2011). Elsewhere, we like the golf offerings at the former Valero Texas Open host, the La Cantera Hill Country Golf Resort, particularly its Palmer Course. We (and the PGA Tour) do prefer TPC San Antonio for golf.

Have you played golf in San Antonio? As always, please give us your thoughts and recommendations below!

Tim Gavrich is a Senior Writer for GolfPass. Follow him on Twitter @TimGavrich and on Instagram @TimGavrich.
2 Comments
Default User Avatar

I have played the Randolph AFB Golf Course several times. Golfing in Texas in the summer time is a new experience. The ground is hard and the ball rolls on the fairway forever. Plan to use less loft and play a shorter iron. Interesting but a great course.

Default User Avatar

The Hyatt Hill Country Resort designed by Arthur Hills has 27 good holes that wind among the live oak trees. There are lots of water and sand out on this course.
This is a fun track that's in great condition.$$$
The Kieth Foster design Quarry course gives you a classic links look on the front nine and an interesting quarry challenge as it's set in an old rock quarry.$$$
The Republic golf course on the Southside is a well-conditioned course that is
only moderately challenging but has great views and elevation changes. $$

Now Reading
PGA Tour Destinations: TPC San Antonio