San Antonio Travel and Leisure Guide 2008 - (Page 44) From Tees to Tip-Off UNIQUELY SAN ANTONIO One of the most unique courses in San Antonio – or anywhere else for that matter – is The Quarry, so named for the back nine holes designed totally inside the old quarry pit of the former Alamo Cement plant. Located halfway between the San Antonio Airport and downtown, it’s a visual and golf triumph by architect Keith Foster. Thomas Walker, a protégé of golf legend Gary Player, designed Canyon Springs on one of the highest points of land in the city that not only guarantees an abundance of sweeping views, but also a great green grass challenge on the site of a former Pony Express stop. The Republic is the newest public course just south of downtown while Silverhorn offers an exceptional stretch of finishing holes by pros Scott Verplank and Willie Wood. It wouldn’t be San Antonio without plenty of history involved, and golf is no exception. Brackenridge Park, the once private estate of George W. Brackenridge, was the first public 18-hole course in Texas when built in 1916. Designed by A.W. Tillinghast, it was also the first with true grass greens and first home of the Texas Open in 1922. When an ongoing renovation is finished late this year, “Ole Brack” (as the locals call it) will be home to the Texas Golf Hall of Fame. Just south of downtown is the city-owned Riverside Golf Course, where future U.S. president Teddy Roosevelt encamped his troops while training for his legendary charge up San Juan Hill. Nearby is public golf haven Pecan Valley, the site of the 1968 PGA Championship, where Julius Boros edged Palmer for one of golf ’s great championships. The scenic Press Maxwell layout along Salado Creek is also a treat for experienced players and newcomers alike. IF YOU GO (as referenced in text) Brackenridge Park Golf Club, 210-226-5612, playsanantoniogolf.com Canyon Springs Golf Club, 210-497-1770, canyonspringsgc.com Pecan Valley Golf Course, 210-333-9018, pecanvalleygc.com The Quarry Golf Club, 210-824-4500, quarrygolf.com The Republic, 210-359-0000, republicgolfclub.net Riverside Golf Course, 210-533-8371, playsanantoniogolf.com Silverhorn Golf Club of Texas, 210-545-5300, silverhorngolfclub.com For complete listings, visitsanantonio.com All golf and no other play can make for a very one-sided trip Thankfully, San Antonio is a sports lover’s dream come true. Clockwise from below: San Antonio Silver Stars, Westin La Cantera Resort, Valero Alamo Bowl and the four-time NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs. WE ARE THE WORLD CHAMPIONS! All golf and no other play can make for a very one-sided trip – and probably an unhappy family to boot. Thankfully, San Antonio is a sports lover’s dream come true. The four-time NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs are worshipped here and regularly play before sellout crowds at the spectacular AT&T Center just east of downtown. Owned and operated by the Spurs, the San Antonio Silver Stars is the city’s entry in the Women’s NBA. The teams not only share a building, but are also working on creating the same winning dynasty. The downtown Alamodome is also a sports magnet of all kinds. It recently hosted its third NCAA college basketball Final Four, along with the annual December college football Alamo Bowl, which attracts some of the sport’s best and biggest teams to a sellout crowd of 65,000-plus. IF YOU GO (as referenced in text) San Antonio Silver Stars, 210-444-5050, wnba.com/silverstars San Antonio Spurs, 210-444-5000, attcenter.net, nba.com/spurs For complete listings, visitsanantonio.com 44 VISITSANANTONIO COM O. http://playsanantoniogolf.com http://canyonspringsgc.com http://pecanvalleygc.com http://quarrygolf.com http://republicgolfclub.net http://playsanantoniogolf.com http://wnba.com/silverstars http://silverhorngolfclub.com http://nba.com/spurs http://www.attcenter.net http://visitsanantonio.com http://visitsanantonio.com http://visitsanantonio.com
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