Golf Digest Selects Horseshoe Bay Resort Among “Best Resorts in the Southwest”
HORSESHOE BAY, TX – The newly-renovated Horseshoe Bay Resort, a tropically-adorned lakefront oasis in the Central Texas Hill Country, was recently selected for the 2019 Editors’ Choice Award by Golf Digest as one of the “Best Golf Resorts in the Southwest.”
Nestled along the gleaming shores of the constant-level Lake LBJ and just outside of Austin, Horseshoe Bay Resort is putting the final touches on a $90-million resort and multi-course renovation. The AAA-Four Diamond- and Conde Nast Readers’ Choice Awardwinning property increasingly continues to be named one of America’s premier golf destinations.
With four acclaimed championship golf courses and the innovative Whitewater Putting Course, Horseshoe Bay Resort offers an appealing array of unforgettable golfing experiences designed by World Golf Hall of Fame members Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Jack Nicklaus. Horseshoe Bay Resort was recognized with other acclaimed resorts in the Southwest, including The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North and The Boulders Resort & Spa. RENOVATIONS REINVIGORATE DISTINCTIVE LAYOUTS In 2016, Horseshoe Bay embarked on an expansive $7.5-million project to upgrade all three of its Robert Trent Jones, Sr. designs, Slick Rock, Ram Rock, and Apple Rock. The improvements to the courses and overall golf product has the resort community in position to earn nationwide attention and a rise in out-of-state rounds.
Situated on picturesque constant-level Lake LBJ and meandering through a rugged 7,000-acre expanse of rolling Hill Country, the scenic Horseshoe Bay Resort is the only waterfront resort in Texas. Tropically landscaped with palm trees, bold water features and the most colorful vegetation this side of Hawaii, this resort stands apart, both visually and in the guest experience. The golfing experience matches that uniqueness.
Before there was ever a Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, Horseshoe Bay Resort was home to three very distinct courses designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. The Ram Rock course, constructed in 1981, has made its reputation as one of the toughest courses in Texas. Slick Rock, the first golf course built (in 1971) at Horseshoe Bay Resort, features a pleasing parkland setting and quintessential elements of Jones’ renowned architectural sensibility. Wall-to-wall renovations to both courses have enhanced playability and fun from the forward and middle tees while maintaining each layout’s legendary challenge for scratch players.
Each of the course renovations included installing the latest 007 bent grass greens to improve quality of turf, expanded green sizes by as much as 50 percent in some areas, renovating bunkers, re-shaping and leveling tee-boxes, new irrigation, as well as adding beautiful rock retaining walls along all of the water-hazards to improve over-all course aesthetics. This was most significant with the awe-inspiring “Million Dollar Hole” where golfers follow a winding path across a 35-yard rock-walled waterfall. SUMMER 2019 TO SEE FINISHING TOUCHES The final course and renovation project, Apple Rock, will see much of the same renovations completed as its sister courses and will re-open in June 2019. The course offers some of the most picturesque views in the region. Jones Sr. strategically routed holes to take advantage of the many higher elevation points that overlook Horseshoe Bay and Lake LBJ.
Punctuating the re-opening of the Ram Rock and Apple Rock courses will be the unveiling of the luxe, new Cap Rock Clubhouse. Members and guests of Horseshoe Bay Resort will enjoy the new Cap Rock setting with its expansive views of the courses and Texas Hill Country. It will feature a dining room and bar area along with a pro-shop, swimming pool, cabana, pavilion area for groups, and a practice/teaching facility.
In addition to the resort golf, Horseshoe Bay also offers a distinctive members-only experience with the Jack Nicklaus Signature design, Summit Rock (which opened in 2012). The course offers some of the most stunning scenery in Texas. Nicklaus routed holes along a high ridge, a setting that showcases spectacular views that stretch for more than 40 miles over the Texas Hill Country and Lake LBJ. ONE-OF-A-KIND PUTTING COURSE Complementing the championship golf is the highly-unique Whitewater Putting Course, a tropically-adorned 18-hole day/night real-grass putting course that sits adjacent to the hotel and is routed around the energetic Whitewater 360 Sports Club, a full-service destination for pub food, cocktails and live sports on 16 HDTVs surrounding the bar. It is the perfect attraction for golf buddy groups, couples and families.
St. Augustine, FL – The World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida has launched its 2019 Summer Golf Packages. These new golf packages offer guests exceptional golf experiences at remarkable values and include: green fees, cart fees, and range balls for the awardwinning King+Bear Golf Course and The Slammer+Squire Golf Course - the only resort golf courses in the world designed as a collaboration between Hall of Famers Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Sam Snead and Gene Sarazen.
Play All Day Golf Package
The Play All Day Package offers guests unlimited golf on either the Slammer+Squire or King+Bear golf courses along with lunch, range balls, and 50 percent off admission to the World Golf Hall of Fame. Rates for this package start at $109 per person.
Florida Georgia Residents Package
This new golf package offers Florida and Georgia residents 18 holes of golf with cart and complimentary range balls on either golf course. Rates start at $69 per person. Guests must show a valid Florida or Georgia driver’s license or state-issued identification card upon check-in.
Family Golf Package
World Golf Village’s Family Golf Package provides free golf after 3 PM at the Slammer+Squire and King+Bear for children (ages 17 and under) when accompanied by a paying adult.
7 Day Double Play Package
This package enables guests to play both courses within seven days and save. This package includes one round of golf at the Slammer+Squire and King+Bear, and complimentary range balls at both courses for $149 plus taxes per person.
The Day Tripper Package
This package offers a round of golf at either the King+Bear or the Slammer+Squire, complimentary range balls and lunch available before or after the round. Rates for this package start at $109 plus taxes per person.
Golf packages are available through September 30, 2019. Stay and play packages, which include onsite lodging, are also available. For more information, visit www.golfwgv.com or call 904-940-6088.
Troon’s Honours Golf division professionally manages the club operations at the World Golf Village Resort.
Women’s Golf Day 2019 blew all expectations out of the water last week as it smashed previous records for venues, countries and overall reach. The global celebration of golf succeeded in its goal of uniting women around the world, with 845 locations across 46 countries hosting WGD events that combined socializing and golf.
Outside of the course the figures were equally astounding, with over 25 million people viewing WGD content for a total of over 47 million impressions across social media that included some of the biggest brands, influencers and celebrities around the game.
Elisa Gaudet, Founder of Women’s Golf Day was blown away by the support for this year’s event and is delighted to be a part of the momentum that is gathering in the women’s game. She said, “From year one we’ve combined easy, fun golfing activities at golf venues with a bigger conversation about the importance of the global female golf market. Every year we’ve grown but 2019 has been a tipping point for uniting industry leaders, teaching pros, programs, courses and events to celebrate women and golf for one day.”
The feeling of unity across the globe was reflected in comments from venues that hosted WGD events. Benedict Riches, CEO, Leadbetter Golf commented “We are incredibly proud to support Women’s Golf Day at The Leadbetter Golf Academy World Headquarters at Champions Gate, Orlando and across our academies worldwide. This is a fantastic initiative and perfectly aligns with our mission of building a lifelong game for golfers of all ages and abilities. We hope the 135 women who attended our event in Orlando not only improved their golf swing but made new friends as they joined the community of women golfers united across the world.”
Across digital and social media, WGD 2019 succeeded in driving the conversation about the women’s game with a huge variety of content being produced across WGD channels, international golf influencers, celebrities, brands, pros, and golf venues. Some of the best known names that joined in on the #WomensGolfDay conversation include: Tisha Alyn, Nikki B, Matt Ginella, Chris Harrison, Niall Horan, Blair O’Neal, Greg Norman, Gary Player, Annika Sorenstam, Paige Spiranac and Michelle Wie.
With Women’s Golf Day 2019 having been such a resounding success, Elisa Gaudet plans to build on the momentum and make sure that the conversation converts into action. She explains, “Women’s Golf Day is the start of the journey for so many women and that’s something of which I’m incredibly proud. There are so many great teaching pros and programs available already in existence, so if we can help women understand what a fantastic game golf is and the value of the communities that exist within the game then I know we can create the next generation of female golfers. The way that the industry has come together to show women’s golf at its best is so inspiring and I can’t wait to see how we can be at the heart of driving that conversation again in years to come.”