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La Cantera Golf Club

The golf : Home of the PGA's Texas Open since 1995, La Cantera features two truly spectacular golf courses that roller-coaster through the hills west of San Antonio.
The original Resort Course is a Tom Weiskopf/Jay Morrish collaboration that is cut out of a limestone quarry, playing 7,001 yards from the tips but offering another four sets of tees for any sort of hack. White bunkers and majestic oaks dot the plush fairways, and streams weave in and out of the design. Many holes offer panoramic views of the city and countryside, where you'll be able to look down over the hole ahead and see the huge, undulating greens in the distance.
Every hole seems like a signature hole, even the 600-yard-plus opener, but the best hole is the 415-yard No. 12. It features a fairway loaded with stair-stepped bunkers and a green guarded by a natural waterfall. The approach shot on 12 is one of the most scenic in Texas.
The new Palmer Course is virtually impossible to walk because of the hilly terrain, and it features plenty of blind shots. The most difficult hole is the 426-yard No. 5, which requires an impressive long iron to carry the dry creek bed.
The resort and golf are pricey, but the twilight rate is phenomenal and generally allows you to play without the crowds. We were able to walk on with no wait at a fraction of the prime rate on a late September Sunday afternoon.

The details : 210-558-4653. 16641 La Cantera Pkwy, San Antonio, TX 78256

• www.lacanteragolfclub.com
• Resort Course: Black - 7,001 (72.5/134). Gold - 6,406 (69.6/127). Copper - 6,026 (68.2/119). Silver - 5,581 (66.1/113). Jade - 4,993 (67.1/108). Price - $$$$.
• Palmer: Black - 6,929 (74.2/142). Gold - 6,535 (72.4/139). Copper - 6,115 (70.6/134). Silver - 5,684 (69.3/128). Jade - 5,066 (65.3/116). Price - $$$$.

Getting there : From San Antonio, take I-10 west to the La Cantera Parkway exit. Turn left and the course is about 1 mile down on the right side of the road.