San Antonio has a wide variety of golf flavors, but there are not many places here that blend together the story you will find at Fort Sam Houston golf course. It is not another type of layout with people crowded behind a strip mall. It is a bit of golf history within one of our working army posts, and it still plays as a course would be built to test the real amount of skill.
Local people come around year after year, and visiting players usually have left wondering how much they got so much with their money. You may be sitting close to one, you may be going to see family in San Antonio or you may be just be trying to try something new to add to your list, whichever the case, this guide helps you to receive the factors to know before you mouse-click a tee time. You will have the last picture of it (both the course layout and playing conditions) and membership fees and what the real golfers are talking about.
A Quick Look At Fort Sam Houston Golf Course
In fact, this plant has two different 18-hole designs: La Loma and Salado del Rio. They create one of the more esteemed military golf clubs in Texas. The reasons why golfers come here are the fair pricing of the golf, the tree-lined fairways and the season in which the golf season is all year round.
The building is located at 1050 Harry Wurzbach Rd in San Antonio. It is not restricted to military personnel, dependents, and civilians. That combination is a component of its uniqueness.
The History Behind This Historic Layout
Not many golf courses can boast of a PGA Tour pedigree, but this course can. The Texas Open was held at the property, in the days of the 1950s and 1960s. That is why it is the only military base that has held a PGA tournament. And that is all the more you weigh in every round here.
Old school design with modern updates have been incorporated in the course architecture. Initial designs were done by A. W. Tillinghast and then the design was fine-tuned by Kevin Tucker. Such a combination gives the course a traditional look and a modern playability.
La Loma Course Details You Should Know
La Loma is a 72-par course (6,819 yards). The slope rating is 126 and its course rating is 73.0. Those figures remind golfers that it is not a pushover but neither is it brutally punishing.
La Loma is a little more accommodative as compared to its sister course. The fairways are not tight and are lined with trees. The positioning of the bunkers is calculated and not on demand and strategic placement of the shots is more rewarded than brute strength.
Course Conditions And Playing Surface
The greens are grassed in Bermuda grass that does well in Texas heat. Most critics claim that the greens are smooth and receptive and even in winter seasons when other courses have problems with their turf most greens are not problematic.
Recent player feedback has been clean with regard to fairways. This is because some golfers reported on an uneven speed of various greens, although the playing surface overall scores very well. Here maintenance crews obviously work regularly.
Amenities And Practice Facilities
Before teeing off, you can practice in the lighted driving range or practice your short game in the chipping practice green. It has a full putting green, too, to tune your speed on before the round begins.
Snacks are served in the clubhouse and the facility has locker rooms and showers. There is a teaching pro on hand to teach you and a golf academy where players can get their skills honed in the long run.
Rental Options And Services
Need equipment? There is an option of renting clubs on site, eliminating the need to come along with your own. Golf carts start at approximately 15 and pull-carts are available as well as long as you know what you are doing, walk the course.
Here, golf purists will enjoy walking. Note that metal spikes are not allowed; therefore, buy shoes accordingly. The pro shop accepts credit cards such as VISA and MasterCard.
What Golfers Are Saying About Their Rounds
With reviews of players, the image is quite similar. The total score is 4.1 out of 5 based on 153 reviews among the golfers, with 91.4 percent since the owners indicated that they would include the course in the list of recommendations to fellow golfers.
A significant number of reviewers point out the price-to-performance ratio, with one suggesting that it is difficult to do this cheaply on a facility accessible to the public or military. Some may be complimentary of the hospitable staff and the maintained greens especially when other courses in Texas are closed and dispersant during the Texas winters.
Common Complaints Worth Knowing About
No course is ideal and there are a few trends that emerge in player feedback. Other golfers talk of inadequate staff attitudes during check-in, especially regarding GolfNow bookings. The others cite hygiene of carts and overall maintenance of shared areas that require consideration.
Some reviewers had also said that there were rough tee time cutoffs and players were not made aware of when their round ended. When you make your bookings, it is good to be certain of the extent of your playing intentions.
Pace Of Play And Course Difficulty
Golfers rate pace of play 4.0, a good score considering it is a public-access facility. The majority of players claim to complete 18 holes in less than four hours, even during a more hectic day, such as on holiday.
On the scale of difficulty, La Loma is moderate. It is known to accommodate both the beginner who is still learning to play the courses and also the advanced player who can take long par 5s and hard par 4s.
Fort Sam Houston Golf Course Membership And Fees
At the Fort Sam Houston golf course, the cost of goods or services is dependent on whether you are in the military or a civilian. The greens fees charged per year to an individual vary between $500 and $2700 and membership of a family is up to $4050.
Cart charges are an additional cost to your money. An annual cart pass can be purchased or you can pay round per round. A typical price of 18-hole cart fees is between 18 to 35 dollars per individual, depending on your rank or a civilian.
Daily Rates And Booking Options
Daily walk-up prices are also offered in case an annual subscription seems too steep of a request. These provide you with flexibility without commitment to an annual plan. To view the entire fee schedule, visit the JBSA Golf Rate Sheet.
It is simple to make a tee time. You may make a reservation using GolfNow or you can talk to the pro shop and confirm your desired time slot.
Salado del Rio: The Sister Course
Although this guide deals primarily with La Loma, it is worth briefly referring to Salado del Rio. It is the second 18-hole course in the same facility and several regulars find it to be more challenging in comparison with the two layouts.
There are even players who like the narrower fairways and increased difficulty Salado del Rio provides. By playing the two courses you can have a nice contrast in the forgiving round and the more challenging test.
Why Golfers Keep Coming Back
The word that recurs in player feedback is value. It has a connection to the historic PGA Tour, the Bermuda greens are perfectly kept, and the pricing scheme is reasonable; it can be easily understood why this course found a significant number of loyal people.
Then add in the practice facilities, the teaching pro and the flexibility to walk or ride and you have the total golf experience. Not many publicly available classes in San Antonio can provide this much to this price.
Final Thoughts
The Fort Sam Houston golf course in San Antonio is among the most gratifying golf courses to have a round of. It combines both true history, reliable course conditions and affordable pricing, accessible to military personnel and the general populace. It can be either the pursuit of a personal best or a simple enjoyment of the outdoors, enjoyment of nature, and concentration on the course. I haven't played it yet, its still worth adding to your list.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Where is Fort Sam Houston golf course located?
It is in Bexar County at 1050 Harry Wurzbach Rd, San Antonio, Texas.
2. How many golf courses are at this facility?
The courses are 2 18 hole, La Loma and Salado del Rio.
3. What is the par for La Loma?
La Loma has a par of 72 and 6,819 yards.
4. Is Fort Sam Houston golf course open to the public?
Yea, it accommodates military personnel as well as ordinary golfers.
5. What type of grass is used on the greens?
The grasses include Bermuda grass, which can withstand the heat and winter in Texas.
6. Who designed the course?
A. W. Tillinghast took part in the initial design, and they were later updated by Kevin Tucker.
7. Did this course ever host a professional tournament?
Yes, it has hosted Texas Open in the 1950s and 1960s, the only military base to host PGA event.
8. How much does an annual membership cost?
Single memberships cost between $500 and 2 700 depending on the rank or civilian status.