A view of the 8th tee -- and a Six Flags roller coaster behind it -- at LaCantera GC.
Oct. 7, 2008
The PGA TOUR will play the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio, Texas, at LaCantera Golf Club. Learn more about this course:
| Fast facts |
| Original architect |
Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish (1995) |
| Course superintendent |
Jeffrey W. Kadlec |
| Number of PGA TOUR events as host venue |
13 (including 2008) |
| Course ranking |
Ranked 39 (out of 55) in difficulty on the PGA TOUR in 2007 |
| Par value |
70 |
| Yardage history |
6,899 yards (1995) |
| |
7,001 (1996-1999) |
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6,905 (2000) |
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6,929 (2001) |
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6,881 (2002-2004, 2006-2007) |
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6,974 (2005) |
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6,896 (2008) |
| Grass |
Bermudagrass (tees, fairways, greens, rough) |
| Tournament Stimpmeter |
10.5 ft |
| Sand bunkers |
72 |
| Water hazards |
4 |
| Course tour |
Click here |
|
| Course record |
|
Player
Bart Bryant |
Year
2004 |
Round
3rd |
Finish
WON |
|
| Holes-in-one |
| There have been 14 aces recorded at the Valero Texas Open. |
| Mark Wiebe |
3 |
1996 |
| Clark Dennis |
3 |
1998 |
| Rocco Mediate |
13 |
1998 |
| Jonathan Kaye |
3 |
1999 |
| Scott Dunlap |
13 |
1999 |
| Greg Kraft |
13 |
2000 |
| Marco Dawson |
13 |
2001 |
| Lee Porter |
13 |
2001 |
| Tom Purtzer |
17 |
2001 |
| J.L. Lewis |
17 |
2002 |
| John Maginnes |
17 |
2003 |
| Tom Byrum |
13 |
2003 |
| Notah Begay III |
6 |
2005 |
| Hidemichi Tanaka |
17 |
2005 |
|
| 2007 Rankings |
| Most Difficult Hole |
 |
The par-4 460-yard 10th
Being at the top of the Texas Hill Country is the feeling provided by this beautiful hole. Favor the left side of the fairway when hitting your tee shot and position your second shot for a challenging short iron approach to an uphill green protected by two greenside bunkers. This hole provides another panoramic view of the San Antonio skyline from the green.
2007: 1 eagles, 35 birdies, 242 pars, 114 bogeys, 22 double bogeys, 3 others |
| Easiest hole in 2007 |
 |
The par-5 527-yard 14th
True to the tradition of Weiskopf/Morrish designed golf courses, the Resort Course at LaCantera Golf Club has one bunker-less hole, the dangerous par-5 14th. An accurate tee shot is the key to reaching the green in two shots. However, trouble lurks to the right side of the green so the approach must be on target as well.
2007: 21 eagles, 220 birdies, 154 pars, 20 bogeys, 1 double bogeys, 1 others |
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| LaCantera GC |
2007 rankings | Last 12 years |
| 1 |
5 |
665 |
4.899 |
14 |
4.803 |
17 |
| 2 |
4 |
448 |
4.144 |
3 |
4.147 |
3 |
| 3 |
3 |
202 |
2.978 |
9 |
3.036 |
8 |
| 4 |
4 |
444 |
4.065 |
6 |
4.099 |
5 |
| 5 |
4 |
494 |
4.101 |
4 |
4.086 |
6 |
| 6 |
3 |
162 |
3.024 |
8 |
3.030 |
9 |
| 7 |
4 |
316 |
3.83 |
15 |
3.809 |
16 |
| 8 |
4 |
361 |
3.823 |
16 |
3.853 |
15 |
| 9 |
4 |
380 |
3.916 |
12 |
3.915 |
12 |
| 10 |
4 |
460 |
4.312 |
1 |
4.238 |
1 |
| 11 |
4 |
427 |
3.945 |
10 |
3.932 |
11 |
| 12 |
4 |
415 |
4.041 |
7 |
4.071 |
7 |
| 13 |
3 |
142 |
2.82 |
17 |
2.891 |
14 |
| 14 |
5 |
527 |
4.434 |
18 |
4.476 |
18 |
| 15 |
4 |
446 |
4.151 |
2 |
4.199 |
2 |
| 16 |
4 |
380 |
3.906 |
13 |
3.892 |
13 |
| 17 |
3 |
186 |
3.086 |
5 |
3.102 |
4 |
| 18 |
4 |
426 |
3.94 |
11 |
3.966 |
10 |
|
| Course origins |
LaCantera Golf Club underwent complete bunker renovation during the summer of 1999. The signature holes at LaCantera are Nos. 7 and 12. The 7th hole requires a tee shot from a cliff dropping down to the fairway while overlooking Fiesta, Texas, which houses Six Flags amusement park. The 12th hole has a ravine that runs along the front of the green. La Cantera means "the rock" in Spanish. The golf course was built upon an old rock quarry.
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LaCantera is fully-certified in the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, which includes environmental focus areas of: environmental planning, wildlife & habitat management, integrated pest management, water conservation, water quality management, and outreach & education. The club has developed wetlands, which has brought a great deal of wildlife to the course. The course lies on the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone, which is the sole water supply for San Antonio.
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The course's design includes natural water hazards, such as swift running streams and waterfalls, which come into play on several holes. Six holes offer panoramic views of the San Antonio area. Several oak trees line the fairways, and the greens are large, fast, and undulating. Over 70 white-sand bunkers are spread throughout the course. The course offers a variety of other holes, including each of the par 3 playing to a different yardage and direction, all requiring a variety of club selections. Also, each of the par 5 play in a different direction, bringing a variety of wind conditions, varying scenic views, and an assortment of different strategies.
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Golf Digest rated La Cantera as the "Best New Public Course" in America for 1995. In addition, Golf Digest rated it as the second "Best Public Course" in the state for 1996, 17th among the "Top 75 Upscale Courses" for 1996 and the fifth "Best in State" course for 1997-98. GOLF Magazine listed La Cantera in its "Top 10 PGA Courses You Can Play" in 1998, and ranked it 58th in the 1998 "Top 100 Courses You Can Play in the United States."
-- Source: Golf Course Superintendents Association of America |
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| Tournament course history |
| Brackenridge Park GC |
San Antonio, Texas |
1922-26; 1929-40; 1950-55; 1957-59 |
| Willow Springs GC |
San Antonio, Texas |
1927-28; 1941-49 |
| Fort Sam Houston GC |
San Antonio, Texas |
1950-51; 1960 |
| Oak Hills CC |
San Antonio, Texas |
1961-1966; 1977-1994 |
| Pecan Valley CC |
San Antonio, Texas |
1967-1970 |
| Woodlake GC |
San Antonio, Texas |
1972-76 |
| LaCantera GC (Resort) |
San Antonio, Texas |
1995-present |
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