When you visit a high-end golf resort, I always expect terrific conditions, but they tend to lack difficulty and memorable holes. I am pleased to say that The Omni Barton Creek Canyons Course by Tom Fazio was not your typical resort course; it was challenging, had memorable holes and terrific conditions. Canyons is a brilliant Tom Fazio layout, where the course works with the terrain, bunkers are placed to make you think and greens are challenging but fair. One thing that separates this course from a typical resort course besides the layout was the severe elevation changes, forcing one to hit every club in their bag. The Canyons Course is a short 2.5-mile drive from the main hotel. We jumped in the free shuttle, driven by a nice older gentleman that was a golf fan and shared some of his favorite stories and jokes. There is a dedicated practice area for the Canyons and also a brand new ultra-modern clubhouse with a restaurant as well. The clubhouse has concrete slab floors and large glass windows that remind me of going to a high-end Advertising Agency in NYC. The restaurant is all white inside, keeping the modern and cool vibe theme.
On to the course and I can’t stress enough the beauty of the elevation changes. The courses at Omni Barton Creek are all private, and each course will rotate days of the week for when guests of Omni Barton Creek are permitted. Also, I should point out that some of the mansions that are on top of the hills are breathtaking and have you gasping, “Is that one house?” Insert photo below. Within a very affluent neighborhood, the expectations must be high, and the members expect a great experience. Fazio Canyons delivers that experience, considering it was over 100 degrees outside, the course was in great shape, and I can only imagine how nice it could be with more temperate weather.
My Favorite Holes
Hole #3 was such a fun par 3, yet daunting because any shot right of the green will result in a lost ball. Adorning the right-hand side of the green is a steep ravine, so play your tee shot to the left side of the back-to-front green. Our pin was in front, leaving a long steep downhill putt for those that put the tee shot long…3 or even 4-putt comes in to play.
#10 is one of the signature holes, with a creek running right in front of the green. This left to right meandering dogleg will test everyone to have an accurate tee shot. From there, the green is not forgiving, as many get lost in the beauty of the approach, it can be tough. Short and you’re wet, right, and you’re in the bunker, left you’re in the OB trees. The walk across the rocks in the stream is much more enjoyable if your ball landed safely on the green. Let’s just say; I enjoyed the walk.
#11 is a fun and short par 3…. at least I thought it was standing on the tee. It normally plays 164 yards over a ravine, but on our day, it was playing shorter. I figured an easy 8-iron, then play my way to par or birdie. The problem was that my tee shot was a little fat and right. I found my ball in the ravine but decided to take an unplayable drop and hit it up high over the ravine. I made it to the green but then three-putted my way to a six! Yikes!!! So much for a fun short par 3. Note, I did put down a five as a single-digit handicapper can only take two shots above par. This infuriates the rest of my group that would have to take the six. I simply let them know that membership has its privileges and it’s something they can earn.
#14 is a fun snake twisting par 5. Hit a tee shot off to the left, leaving a manageable mid-shot over the bunkers to the right. At this point, the fun begins an uphill approach with nasty bunkers on the right. Finding the correct distance with slope included is key to reaching and keeping your ball on the green.
#15 par 4 is all about the grip it and rip it tee shot. Watch your ball sail in the air due to significant downhill elevation. Maybe this will be your long drive of the week! From there, a green guarded by OB on the right makes you aim for the middle left part of the green.
#18 is quite possibly the crown jewel on this course and an appropriate finishing hole by anyone’s standards. It’s a downhill par-5 that has you hit your tee shot between a near fairway bunker on the right and a long fairway bunker on the left. From there, you must navigate a stream that crosses from the right side through the fairway to the left side. Distance and placement are key, so you avoid an OB shot. Assuming you are over the creek, the approach is the fun part. With a creek all along the left side of the fairway up until it crosses in front of the green. The 18th is a very picturesque hole, but don’t get caught up in the beauty as an approach short or left will put your ball in the water. We all like to finish strong, and if you can grab par on this finishing hole, it will leave you with a smile wanting to play it all over again!
Fazio Canyons Course Rating 4.1 out of 5
Fazio always does such a great job of using the terrain and strategically placed bunkers that are challenging and fair; Canyons is a prime example of that. Throw in the amazing elevation changes, fantastic conditions and incredible mansions along the hilltops, and you have a very memorable round.
During our 3 days and 2 nights at Omni Barton Creek, we had a chance to relax at an amazing resort and play top quality golf. It was a close call between Fazio Foothills and Fazio Canyons as to which course would earn top honors at the resort, but Foothills edged out Fazio by a nose. While Foothills, has a little more character and charm, especially with pool guests cheering on your finish, Canyons provides a bunch of memorable holes and amazing scenery that you won’t soon forget.