COURSE REVIEW

Teravista Golf Club's reputation is well-served in Round Rock near Austin

By Steve Habel,
Contributor

ROUND ROCK, Texas (March 20, 2007) — No expense has been spared at Teravista Golf Club in Round Rock, and thanks to the attention to detail and the golf course's prime condition, you can bring your best game and expect to be rewarded handsomely.

Teravista is an 18-hole golf course not far off IH-35 and just north of the "tech-burb" created by the burgeoning city that is Round Rock. Designed by Floridian George Clifton, the course is a challenge for golfers of all ages and abilities, but is not a punitive track, meaning that good shot-making is rewarded by excellent chances to score.

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Teravista is one of five Texas properties operated by Troon Golf. The company's touches of opulence are evident throughout the facility.

The course opened for play August 2002 and features rolling, tree-lined fairways. Because Teravista sits on a hill and is rather exposed to the elements, prevailing winds can be a major factor in play throughout the course.

Teravista is generally open and the greens are large and strategically bunkered. Water comes into play on eight holes and there are waste-area carries that cause one to pause when considering which tees from which to play.

The entire course plays to 7,200 yards from the tips and there are five sets of tees to challenge all skill levels. The design has captured the Texas Hill Country beauty of the area and sports views that span for 30 miles to the west.

Teravista was recently named a "Beginner Friendly Course" by National Golf Course Owners Association and offers some of the best golf in the region.

"We feel like this course has a little something for everybody," said Jeff Thomason, Teravista's general manager and director of golf. "The emphasis here is on playability and a positive experience for those that choose to play our track.

"If the course is both fair and challenging, we think the player will have a much better time and want to come back. That is what we are striving for."

You find out just how you stand with the first shot of the day on No. 1, a 381-yard par 4 with a wide fairway and a large green. This is a great place to put a stroke in your pocket, and you had better do so because things get a lot tougher immediately.

The second hole, a 455-yard dogleg right par 4, can take that stroke right back. From there, you follow with the 216-yard, par-3 No. 3 and the tough, 559-yard par-5 No. 4 that features a narrow landing zone bracketed with a creek bed on left and out of bounds on the right. Careful with the approach to this difficult, undulating green as the slope makes for a tough putt.

The backside kicks off with the 573-yard No. 10, a par 5 with a second shot to a narrow fairway between two tough bunkers. If you catch one of these, it leaves a difficult third shot over a greenside bunker.

Teravista Golf Course 4333 Teravista Club Dr. Round Rock, TX 78664 Tee times: 512-651-9850

No. 11 is a 188-yard par 3 to a big, sloping green, but if you swing for the pin you have a chance to score. Your next chance to do some damage is on No. 13, a 377-yard par 4 that plays shorter and will give up a birdie.

You end your round with arguably the two most difficult holes on the course. No. 17 is Teravista's hardest hole by handicap, and the 443-yard par 4 has a wide landing area and requires an uphill second shot that makes it tough to get close to the pin. The bunker in front of the green usually grabs a ball or two in every foursome.

The home hole, a 409-yard par 4, is one of the most deceptively challenging holes on the course. It has a wide driving area and usually the southerly winds help your ball down the fairway. Placement off the tee is crucial as you are hitting over the rocks and water to an elevated, narrow green that slopes away from you. The trouble is on the left and front of the green to claim any shot that's anything less than perfect.

Teravista Golf Club: The verdict

The Teravista experience begins in the parking lot and is extended through the course's impressive practice facilities. The 22,000-square-foot putting green is adjacent to the course's two greenside and fairway bunkers practice area. Teravista has one of the best range facilities in Central Texas.

The double-ended range features tee boxes that extend more than 80 yards. You'll need the warm up, because the course's challenge starts with the very first hole.

Teravista is not a course for walkers — the distance between many holes is mind-boggling. So enjoy riding and spending the morning or afternoon on one of the top daily-fee courses in Central Texas.

You will use every club in the bag, and — if you are up to the task — the trip around Teravista will be on par with the best public golf the area has to offer.

Green fees range from $49 weekdays to $69 per player on weekend, with discounted tee times for evenings, seniors, juniors and twosomes ($40 a player on weekdays and $50 per player on weekends).

Austin hotels

Because this course is in the middle of one of the fastest-growing parts of the Austin area, there are no less that 30 hotels, motels, lodges and inns from which to choose to stay within 10 minutes drive. For package deals, contact the course.

Austin restaurants

Golfers in Austin will find the city replete with a wealth of excellent dining options, from upscale American restaurants to a wide variety of Asian offerings to that most sacred of Texas subjects: Barbecue. Whatever you're in the mood for - a quick bite, a nice wine, an exotic meal - this city has an answer. Use our Austin dining guide to help plan where you might like to eat on your next Texas golf vacation.

Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management. The information in this story was accurate at the time of publication. All contact information, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the golf course or resort before making reservations and/or travel plans.