Corey Conners finished at 15-under and earned $1,602,000 as Champion of the 2023 Valero Texas Open
The PGA Tour’s last stop before the Masters Tournament is in San Antonio, Texas, where tour pros tackle the Oaks Course during the Valero Texas Open. Golf Aficionado Magazine is a huge fan of the TPC course network and has had a chance to play and write reviews on several of them (TPC Old White, TPC Danzante Bay, TPC Harding Park, & more). Across the country, TPC courses let golfers experience PGA TOUR life, from walking the same fairways as their favorite players to teeing off from the very spots history has been made. Honestly, it’s as close as many of us will ever get to being on the PGA Tour.
The Resort Experience
As is expected with any TPC facility, TPC San Antonio doesn’t disappoint. Regarding all-around guest experience, TPC San Antonio is at the top of our list. The two world-class golf courses at TPC San Antonio have a world-class partner in the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa.
JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa perfectly blends upscale style, superior service, and PGA Tour golf. The resort is nestled among 600 acres of oak-covered hills and provides stunning views of the Texas Hill Country.
More Than Just Great Golf
The resort offers so much more than just great golf courses. In addition to golf, guests of all ages will enjoy the expansive River Bluff Water Experience, a nine-acre water park featuring a 650-foot rapid river and a 1,100-foot lazy river.
If relaxation is more your style, indulge in a massage at Lantana Spa, a full-service wellness center.
Did you say you’re a foodie? No worries, you can enjoy the Sunday brunch at the upscale steakhouse, 18 Oaks, or dine at one of the resort’s other excellent restaurants.
Beyond the resort, TPC San Antonio is a fabulous location, central to several key attractions. Those looking to explore San Antonio will find many day trip options where you can enjoy the Hill Country wineries, Natural Bridge Caverns, or San Antonio Zoo. Don’t forget about The Alamo, TPC San Antonio is only 20 minutes north of this famous landmark.
Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio
Without further ado, let’s get to the golf experience! I’ll start with the Oaks Course. After all, it’s the course everyone knows. Since opening in 2010, Oaks has had a lot of airtime on T.V. as the host venue for the Valero Texas Open; chances are we’ve all had an opportunity to witness a memorable moment. Is Oaks still not ringing a bell? In 2011, when Kevin Na took a nasty 16 on the ninth hole, it was so bad they had to review the video to determine just how many strokes Kevin Na had on the hole.
Oaks is a Greg Norman design. As a celebrated golfer and renowned golf course architect, Norman developed a routing for Oaks that is best known for its narrow, tree-lined fairways. Norman also brought in current PGA TOUR player Sergio Garcia to lend his unique perspective in assisting with designing the par-72, 7,522-yard Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio.
Greg Norman is notorious for designing, how should I say it, highly challenging courses. I always look forward to playing a round of golf, but I know when I’m heading out to play a Greg Norman design, I’d better be on top of my game. At Oaks, that couldn’t be truer, as Kevin Na showed us all back in 2011. One lousy swing can easily lead to another, and another, and another… You get the point! Like any golf course, you will be best served to keep the ball in the fairway, and I tend to spray the ball to the right on occasion, and more often than not, I ended up having to take an unplayable with my ball entangled in thick brush with giant thorns.
The course does open up at points; several holes offer wider fairways with multiple options for getting to the green. The course has no elevation changes; I felt like I was back home in Central Florida. There are only 100 feet of fall from the course’s high point to the lowest. Don’t worry. If you like a golf course with changing elevation, keep reading. Canyons will be your kind, of course. The course bunkering is phenomenal; Norman did an excellent job creating bunkers that reflect a natural, rugged, “minimalist” design.
Norman did a great job with course routing. In terms of playing with and against the wind, he couldn’t have done a better job. Every downhill hole tends to play into the prevailing wind, while uphill holes play downwind.
For me, the best part of Oaks is the FINISH! Starting at sixteen with the signature Par-3, playing at only 183 yards from the tips, it’s one of the few places in the world where hitting it to the middle of the green is anything but a great shot. That’s right, Oaks is perhaps best remembered for its infamous 16th green with a bunker smack dab in the middle of it. Like the rest of the course, Greg Norman has placed a premium on accuracy.
The closing stretch at Oaks is genuine TPC! The 17th is a drivable par-4 that gives chasers a chance for glory and contenders second thoughts on what to hit off the tee. You finish the round on the par-5 18th, presenting players with a tremendous risk-reward opportunity. Do you try and reach in two? If so, you better be able to carry the creek protecting the front of the green.
Regardless of your skill level, you’ll walk off the 18th having had a great time and a new appreciation for just how good PGA TOUR players are!
Canyons Course at TPC San Antonio
Yo, hey, chopped liver over here? I’ve talked about TPC San Antonino, the JW Marriott, Oaks, and the Valero Texas Open, but don’t sleep on the Canyons Course.
After all, little brother packs some star power as well. The lesser-known Canyons Course was a regular on the PGA TOUR Champions circuit and host venue of the San Antonio Championship from 2011-2015. So, when I said two world-class golf courses, I wasn’t blowing smoke. Both courses have a bonafide resume.
Due to the differing topography, the Pete Dye-designed Canyons Course couldn’t be more different than the Oaks Course. Each course has a unique look, feel, and playing experience. You’ll find the Canyons Course very different from the traditional, tree-lined Oaks Course; you will remember the Canyons Course for the dramatic elevation changes and breathtaking views which don’t exist on the Oaks Course.
Pete Dye decided to let the land talk when he developed the layout for the Canyons Course. Gifted with a great piece of land, Dye allowed the natural flow of the land to dictate course strategy for the par-72, 7,106 yards Canyons Course.
While out on the Canyons Course, the elevation allows you to gain an appreciation of the Texas Hill Country. Take a second to enjoy some of the panoramic views of more than 700 acres of nature preserve surrounding TPC San Antonio; it’s truly God’s Country!
It’s not often you’ll go on a golf trip and come away saying that a Pete Dye-designed golf course was the kinder, gentler of the courses you’ve played, but that will be the case with a trip to TPC San Antonio.
Who doesn’t love a little ice cream with their cake? Don’t get me wrong, by no means is the Canyons Course a pushover. However, compared to the Oaks Course, I’m betting you’re walking away with a slightly bigger smile and a lower score on the Canyons Course.
The views and elevations are the highlights of the Canyons Course; you’ll find plenty of Dye elements on the course, including some of his signature Scottish pot bunkers and even a chain of church pew-style bunkers on the par-4 ninth.
Wrap Up
TPC San Antonio is a must-visit for any Golf Aficionado! It’s a flexible destination in a phenomenal city—an excellent location for business trips, family vacations, and buddy golf trips. What separates TPC San Antonio is the tremendous all-around experience. You can always count on a high-caliber golf experience when going to any TPC destination. The partnership with JW Marriott delivers a complete Golf Aficionado experience.
Took book your TPC San Antonio experience and enjoy the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa check out their latest vacation packages.