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Fair Oaks Ranch Golf & Country Club

The golf : Built in 1978 on Ralph Fair’s ranch, the original Black Jack Course is the more difficult of the two Gary Player designs. Both are carved out of the Hill Country and feature narrow, tree-lined fairways and large greens. Ponds and creeks dot the landscape and impact play.

The Blackjack Oak course, which opened in 1994, is more of a links-style layout that requires a bit more length from the tee. The opening hole is a long par 5 that rolls down into a Hill Country valley loaded with scenic holes and spotted by sand and water. The 18th is only 359 yards from the blue tees but runs straight uphill.
In 1993, Player collaborated with Ron Kirby on the Live Oak Course, which is considered the more scenic of the two tracks. The back nine offers one tough stretch of golf in holes 16 and 17. The par 3 No. 16 plays uphill to a difficult hill-topped green that is hard to hold. Less-than-perfect tee shots will find the bunker or ditch. No. 17 is just under 500 yards and requires a blind drive–and a layup iron to follow– before firing uphill on the final approach.

Fair Oaks has a nice practice area with three putting greens, a driving range, and a chipping green with practice bunkers.

The details : 830-981-9604. 7900 Fair Oaks Pkwy. Fair Oaks, TX 78015

• Live Oak: 1993 Gary Player and Ron Kirby. Gold - 6,732 (73.1/131). Blue – 6,337 (70.9/124). White – 5,886 (68.4/119). Red – 5,197 (71.7/126). Price - $$$.
• Black Jack: 1978. Gary Player and Denis Griffith. Gold – 7,000 (73.5/131). Blue – 6,494 (70.5/121). White – 5,870 (67.7/115). Red – 5,236 (69.4/115). Price - $$$.

Getting there : From I-10 east, take Exit 546 and turn right, then drive 2 miles to the course. The entrance is on the right.