Golf Club of Texas in Midst of Big Renovation


Set in the booming southwest corner of San Antonio, the Golf Club of Texas is undergoing a major renovation under the guidance of its original architect Roy Bechtol-designed. The renovation, which stripped the site down to the dirt, is costing more than $3.5 million.

The Austin-based Bechtol has reworked the Golf Club of Texas' putting surfaces, bunkers and tees while adding movement and bunkers to the fairways. The front and back nines have been flipped to create a more dynamic finish and new water features have been added.

It is now grassed with different strains of Zoysia - including all the putting surfaces - becoming the first course in Texas grassed throughout with the versatile and hearty turf.

First opened for play in 1999, the Golf Club of Texas is a core layout located within 1,900 acres near the Hill Country. It incorporates the rugged south Texas landscape where it meets a sprawling flood plain.

"The Golf Club of Texas was always one of San Antonio's favorite courses because of its playability and the feeling that golf was the most important aspect of the site," Bechtol said. "Where else can you get a golf course that's four-holes wide with plenty of room in between those holes? You stand on the deck of the clubhouse here and see nothing but golf across the wide plain to the south."

The irrigation was also updated, even though Bechtol's revision has reduced the amount of turf that needs to be watered by more than 20 percent.

The new turf was grown at nearby Bladerunner Farms, a Poteet, Texas, firm that is the world's largest privately owned Zoysia grass and Buffalo grass research and development facility. Bladerunner Farms is run by David and Sheri Doguet, part-owners of the Golf Club of Texas and Outlaw Golf, the facility's new owner and operator.

"The Golf Club of Texas is a completely new design incorporating state-of-the-art turf and advanced technologies that make it the greenest course in the nation and deliver a superb playing conditions," said Tom Bevans, principal of Outlaw Golf.

"This has to be one of the most environmentally friendly courses ever built," David Doguet added. "We are using Zoysia grass for its ability to provide a top-quality course without the need for a lot of water, fertilizer or chemicals and Buffalo grass for all the native areas."

The project also included an expanded and lighted practice area, which includes a dual-sided driving range and a "wedge world" short-game zone - one of Bechtol's favorite design concepts - as well as a private teaching area. Two new practice putting greens have been fashioned in the shadow of the updated clubhouse.

The revamped clubhouse, practice greens, driving range and restaurant and bar will be open before Christmas while the course's back nine is expected to be ready for a soft opening January 1st.

The front side is set for a March 1 completion, with the Golf Club of Texas' grand reopening planned for spring 2015.

"We had a great piece of land to work at the start and the course has always had great bones," Bechtol said. "The changes we have made only enhance what was there in the past and address maintenance and conditioning issues that affected the course in the past few years.

"It's great to see this course back to where it belongs to be and the excitement about this entire project and the game of golf again," Bechtol added. "Tom and David had a vision to bring the Golf Club of Texas back to life and we are seeing the fruits of their efforts day by day on site. I can't wait to play the course again."