Name that hole

Lovely

Another view of the 18th green at Star Ranch.  Some may think the guy hitting the bunker shot is playing out of turn, since the guy on the right is away.  I prefer to think they’re playing ready-golf.

Finger bowl

That last anomalous post left me with a bad taste.  You, too?  Here’s something to wash your hands.  The classic view of the 18th green at Star Ranch.  GM Ricky Heine says that old barn is in the advanced stages of falling down.  I hope he goes in there and reinforces it.  Imagine this photo without it.

What a difference a year makes…

Here’s a poor man’s time-lapse photo of the par-3 7th hole at ConCan Country Club, exactly one-year apart.  On the left, that’s SEMA Golf’s Robert Larson (on left) and co-architect Randy Russell, who’s showing Robert some subtle changes he wants made to the bunkers and green surface.  And what a difference a year makes in the way a guy takes a picture.  Sheesh, I hate to even show that one on the left.

Another thing about the 7th at CCC.  Until I played the course a couple of times, I thought this would be one of the weaker holes, but now it’s one of my favorites.  I love a short par-3, and this one plays about 150 from the back tee.  The bottom of those bunkers carved out of the front of the green are about eight feet below the surface of the green.  If the flag is on the front, the play is to hit it long and live with a two-putt par.  Hard to do on a short par-3, which makes it a well-designed hole, in my opinion.

Tough hole…

…to photograph, that is.  Here’s the 16th at Star Ranch.  I’ve been shooting landscapes out there for years, and I’d never gotten a good one.  Until now.  At least in my opinion.  This one doesn’t show really what the entire hole looks like, but maybe that’s been my problem.

My group

Here’s a shot of the guys I played with last Thursday at CCC, out on the third hole.  Harper Ray, Trent Rankin and Aaron Riggins.  They grew up playing junior golf together in and around South Texas.  They’re all good players, and each one of them hits 3-iron past my best driver.  I shot the lowest score this day, though, because the night before, Harper told me how to play the golf course.  “Don’t hit driver,” he said.  “220 from the fairway is better than 100 from the rough.”  He was right, and that’s how I played.  I only hit it in that tall grass once, and when I tried to hit it out, I failed.  Twice in a row.

Harper didn’t take his own advice that day, but I don’t blame him.  Watching the ball come off his driver is something rare.  You can’t teach that kind of clubhead speed and strength.

Bryson Knowles

Here’s the par-3 17th at CCC.  I watched founding member Bryson Knowles come as close as you can to making a one here, shortly before taking this picture.  He hit 7-iron that ended up about a foot behind the hole.  We both thought it had gone in.  The funny thing is that Bryson jokes that he hates to play by himself because he cheats.  He was playing alone on this day, and we had a good laugh about how he was ever going to explain himself, had his ball gone in.

Smart moves

Here’s one I took from the 15th green, across the lake and up the 3rd hole.  No clue as to who that is on the tee, but it looks like he’s playing the set of tees right behind the ladies’ tee.  Smart move.  CCC is long, and the rough is taller and harder to hit from than Oakmont’s.  Harper Ray, head golf pro and former Razorback golfer who misses driver 75 yards past my best one, said they’ll probably employ a local rule allowing you to play that tall native stuff as a lateral hazard.  Another smart move.

19th hole

So you’ve just come off the golf course.  It’s 100 degrees.  This is where you go.  The Frio River is by far the cleanest, prettiest river in Texas.  It makes me sick to think I might be responsible for more people knowing about this.  Then again, if anyone can make sure it doesn’t get screwed up by the masses, it’s the Arthur family.

8th hole at ConCan

Here’s one of the 8th green and approach area.

CCC clubhouse

Here’s one looking from the driving range back up into the outdoor patio area of the clubhouse.

Still more ConCan

And one looking southeast down the 9th fairway.

More ConCan

 

Here’s one looking somewhat west across the 13th green.  13 is the longest hole on the course.  630+ yards, double-dogleg, elevated green across a creek bed.  Harper Ray said that the average score (based on players building handicaps) on 13 is nine.  My guess is that it’ll be the #2 handicap hole.  It’d be the hardest hole if it were on the front.

ConCan

So I just got back from ConCan, where the Arthur family has done it again.  Done what, you ask?  Well, they’ve built a golf course.  Not just any golf course.  A long, tough, fair, traditional layout in the valley of mountains that frame the Frio River.  I shot this one of the first tee at 6:30am on Thursday.  I’ve said it before, but talking about this place is tough for me.  I want it to succeed, but I don’t want anyone to know about it.  More photos to come.

Out, but still in

Need some land out in the Hill Country, yet close to town?  Get in touch with these folks.  This is a shot of one of last few lots in Barton Creek.  Look close, and you can see the Frost Tower down on Congress Avenue.