Off the Fringe, “Golf’s best short read.” The award winning newsletter, sent twice monthly, that provides an unconventional perspective on the golf world.
Matt Welch
Blanco
2012-09-26
$26 (cart included), played on Sunday, September 2012 at 2pm
Vaaler Creek is a REAL FIND! Course conditions far exceed what you could expect for the area, and the place is WIDE OPEN. Of course, that's because getting there is a road trip for just about anybody, but you'll be hard pressed to say it wasn't worth it--if you're anywhere near south or west of Austin, coming out to Vaaler Creek will feel more like a milk run. If you're in San Antonio, and can resist the ample charms of the quite-closer River Crossing (or can't get on there), the extra few miles up 281 are well worth it. The layout/challenge of the course was interesting, with heavily contoured but compartmentalized greens. That means pay attention to your pin placements. A lot. Good routing, clear ideas on where to place (most of) your tee shots. A little unsure about distances--there are sprinkler head numbers, and then there are markers along the sides of the fairway at 50-yard intervals. But they seem to give wildly conflicting information, even within a couple of steps of each other. My guess is you should go with the sprinkler heads. Mostly, you should just GET OUT THERE and keep places like this open!
Would travel: 60-120 Miles
Bottom line: I would play again, Better than average course for the area, Ranks with the best in this price level, Bargain priced based on quality and competitive area pricing
Condition of Course, Difficulty, Layout, Price, Ambiance, Pace of Play
$26 (cart included), played on Sunday, September 2012 at 2pm
Vaaler Creek is a REAL FIND! Course conditions far exceed what you could expect for the area, and the place is WIDE OPEN. Of course, that's because getting there is a road trip for just about anybody, but you'll be hard pressed to say it wasn't worth it--if you're anywhere near south or west of Austin, coming out to Vaaler Creek will feel more like a milk run. If you're in San Antonio, and can resist the ample charms of the quite-closer River Crossing (or can't get on there), the extra few miles up 281 are well worth it. The layout/challenge of the course was interesting, with heavily contoured but compartmentalized greens. That means pay attention to your pin placements. A lot. Good routing, clear ideas on where to place (most of) your tee shots. A little unsure about distances--there are sprinkler head numbers, and then there are markers along the sides of the fairway at 50-yard intervals. But they seem to give wildly conflicting information, even within a couple of steps of each other. My guess is you should go with the sprinkler heads. Mostly, you should just GET OUT THERE and keep places like this open!