Slick Rock Golf Course at Horseshoe Bay Resort (830-598-2511)
Texas Golf Course Review
Introduction
Horseshoe Bay Resort in Marble Falls, Texas - just a short distance from Austin - is an award winning golf resort in the heart of Texas Hill Country featuring luxurious villa accommodations in The Waters at Horseshoe Bay Resort and Four Diamond AAA hotel. This property features the full-service Bayside Spa and Fitness Center, a 24-hour workout center, four swimming pools, volleyball, twelve tennis courts (six lit for night use), an activity center with table tennis, fooseball and video games, a private sandy beach, a Japanese water garden, and a marina with a wide variety of water sports available. The dining options at Horseshoe Bay Resort include country club dining overlooking Lake LBJ, the Lantanna Grill, the LaBahaia Restaurant, and a variety of poolside grills. Also on property is a Market and well-stocked Tennis Shop and a private airstrip.
Three 18-hole championship golf courses are on property that take full advantage of the Texas Hill Country landscape - each designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. Slick Rock, Apple Rock and Ram Rock are available for play by guests of the Horseshoe Bay Resort. . Resort shuttles provide complimentary transportation to all of the resort courses and facilities.
Two Pro Shops at Horseshoe Bay Resort offer a wide variety of quality golf attire, clubs, balls and paraphernalia. The Cap Rock clubhouse that services Apple Rock and Ram Rock features a beautiful swimming pool with views of the Apple Rock course. Lockers and showers are available for both men and women. The practice facilities at each clubhouse include a complimentary range, a short game practice area with a putting green, a chipping green, and a practice bunker. PGA Professionals are on staff and offer a selection of private lessons and clinics. A unique feature of the Horseshoe Bay Resort is a multi-million dollar 18-hole, par 72 Bermuda grass putting course. Located next to the Marriott Hotel, it is designed like a regulation 18-hole golf course, complete with fairways, bunkers, and water hazards. This lushly landscaped course boasts a collection of exotic birds, cascading waterfalls and lavish rose gardens.
For more information on the Horseshoe Bay Resort, click here.
Slick Rock Course Review
Slick Rock is the most player friendly layout of the three award-winning 18 hole courses currently available at Horseshoe Bay resort. It is the original course - opening in 1972 - and has hosted several state amateur tournaments. With three sets of tees playing 5377, 6354, and 6834 yards and a slope rating of 126 from the forward tees to 131 from the championship tees, Slick Rock offers a challenging but fair round to players of all skill levels.
Daily pin placement sheets are provided and yardage blocks on all par fours and fives are located in the center of the fairway at 100, 150, 200 and 250 yards (on par fives). Sprinkler heads are measured to the center of the green. Fairways, tee boxes and rough are all Bermuda and the immaculate greens are a hybrid bent. Most greens are elevated and slope from back to front with very mild undulations. These greens are large and quick and true, yet are soft enough to stick the ball easily. There are over 75 bunkers located on the fairways and around the greens! Nine holes have water either directly or indirectly in play.
Slick Rock has a "country club" feel to it...the layout runs through an upscale residential area, but the neighborhood does not infringe on the course in any way - there is lots of room here, and there are some gorgeous holes on this course. The front nine features two very pretty par threes that play over water: hole number 2 is short and sweet while number 8 is a long 190 yards from the blues. The back nine is only slightly more challenging than the front and features the breathtaking par 4, 14th waterfall hole. Beautifully sculpted tee boxes offer a view of a gorgeous waterfall fronting the fairway on the other side of a deep, stream filled ravine. Its hard to keep you eye on the ball here - between the waterfall and the numerous fairway bunkers - its easy to be intimidated. A well struck shot on this hole will be rewarded with an approach to a well bunkered, long and narrow green that slopes front to back. The par 3 number 17 is also very beautiful and plays as long as 232 yards from the championship tees over a water feature to a green that is well-guarded by bunkers on the left, right and back of the green.
We found this to be a very comfortable golf course - with natural beauty and forgiving fairways - but with enough interesting features to provide a challenging and exciting round of golf. Service from the Pro Shop, the lounge and dining area, the cart staff and the rangers is extraordinarily friendly and efficient. (We just can't say enough about the wonderful people at the resort and golf courses at Horseshoe Bay.) Slick Rock is the perfect companion to the more difficult Ram Rock and Apple Rock courses and is just one more reason for us to say - stay her and play here! Horseshoe Bay Resort is a golfers paradise - enjoy!
For more information on the Slick Rock Course and Horseshoe Bay Resort - click here
|
