LaCantera enjoys Six Flags San Antonio as an unusual backdrop to the course.
May. 11, 2009
The TOUR heads to San Antonio,Texas, for the first leg of the newly reconstructed Texas Swing. Learn more about this week's host, LaCantera Golf Club.
| Fast facts |
| Director of Agronomy |
Jeffrey W. Kadlec |
| Original architect |
Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish (1995) |
| Par value |
70 |
| Number of TOUR events as host venue |
15 (including 2009) |
| Course ranking |
Ranked 37 (out of 54) in difficulty on the PGA TOUR in 2008 |
| Yardage history |
6,896 (present) |
| |
6,881 (2006-'08) |
| |
6,974 (2005) |
| |
6,881 (2002-'04) |
| |
6,929 (2001) |
| |
6,905 (2000) |
| |
7,001 (1996-'99) |
| |
6,899 (1995) |
| Grass |
Bermudagrass (tees, fairways, rough, greens) |
| 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 13 aces recorded LaCantera Golf Club |
| Hidemichi Tanaka |
17 |
2005 |
| Notah Begay III |
6 |
2005 |
| Tom Byrum |
13 |
2003 |
| John Maginnes |
17 |
2003 |
| J.L. Lewis |
17 |
2002 |
| Tom Purtzer |
17 |
2001 |
| Lee Porter |
13 |
2001 |
| MarcoDawson |
13 |
2001 |
| Greg Kraft |
13 |
2000 |
| Scott Dunlap |
13 |
1999 |
| Jonathan Kaye |
3 |
1999 |
| RoccoMediate |
13 |
1998 |
| Clark Dennis |
3 |
1998 |
| Mark Wiebe |
3 |
1996 |
|
| 2008 Rankings |
| Most Difficult Hole |
 |
This a deceptive and very challenging par 3, which plays 186 yards from the championship tees. It may be wise to use one more club than usual because trouble lurks in front of the green. A lateral hazard runs from tee to green on the right side, and bunkers frame the green on both the left and right. The green has subtle undulations with small mounds in the front and back. Par will almost always prove to be a great score.
2008: 0 eagles, 42 birdies, 257 pars, 90 bogeys, 17 double bogeys,2 others. |
| Easiest Hole |
 |
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.
2008: 13 eagles, 177 birdies, 182 pars, 28 bogeys, 8 double bogeys and 0 others. |
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| LaCantera Golf Club |
2008 rankings | Last 25 years |
| 1 |
5 |
665 |
4.725 |
17 |
4.791 |
18 |
| 2 |
4 |
448 |
4.103 |
3 |
4.140 |
3 |
| 3 |
3 |
202 |
2.961 |
10 |
3.028 |
10 |
| 4 |
4 |
444 |
4.098 |
4 |
4.103 |
5 |
| 5 |
4 |
494 |
4.056 |
7 |
4.078 |
6 |
| 6 |
3 |
162 |
3.049 |
8 |
3.036 |
9 |
| 7 |
4 |
316 |
3.811 |
15 |
3.798 |
17 |
| 8 |
4 |
361 |
3.757 |
16 |
3.845 |
16 |
| 9 |
4 |
380 |
3.86 |
12 |
3.912 |
13 |
| 10 |
4 |
460 |
4.208 |
2 |
4.234 |
1 |
| 11 |
4 |
427 |
3.902 |
11 |
3.935 |
12 |
| 12 |
4 |
415 |
4.086 |
5 |
4.068 |
7 |
| 13 |
3 |
142 |
2.841 |
14 |
2.874 |
15 |
| 14 |
4 |
527 |
4.61 |
18 |
4.041 |
8 |
| 15 |
4 |
446 |
4.078 |
6 |
4.171 |
2 |
| 16 |
4 |
380 |
3.98 |
9 |
3.885 |
14 |
| 17 |
3 |
186 |
3.218 |
1 |
3.111 |
4 |
| 18 |
4 |
426 |
3.843 |
13 |
3.948 |
11 |
|
| Course origins |
| La Cantera Golf Club underwent a complete bunker renovation during the summer of 1999. The signature holes at La Cantera are Nos. 7 and 12. The seventh 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. |
| 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 3s playing to a different yardage and direction, all requiring a variety of club selections. Also, each of the par 5s play in a different direction, bringing a variety of wind conditions, varying scenic views, and an assortment of different strategies. |
| The PGA TOUR moved the Valero Texas Open from its October date in the schedule to May, giving Kadlec the agronomic challenges of getting the golf course to peak in a different season and for the second time in seven months. --Source: Golf Course Superintendents Assocation of America |
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| Tournament course history |
| LaCantera Golf Club |
San Antonio, Texas |
1995-present |
| Oak Hills Country Club |
San Antonio, Texas |
1977-'94, '61-'66 |
| Woodlake Golf Club |
San Antonio, Texas |
1972-'76 |
| Pecan Valley Country Club |
San Antonio, Texas |
1967-'70 |
| Fort Sam Houston Golf Club |
San Antonio, Texas |
1960, '56, '51* |
| Brackenridge Park Golf Club |
San Antonio, Texas |
1957-'59, '52-'55, '50-'51*, '29-'40, '22-'26 |
| Willow Springs Golf Club |
San Antonio, Texas |
1941-'49, '27-'28 |
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| This week's Kodak Challenge hole |
HOLE: The par-4, 380-yard 16th at LaCantera GC
LAST YEAR: The 16th played to a stroke average of 3.981, with players recording 1 eagle, 82 birdies, 260 pars, 55 bogeys, 9 double bogeys and 1 other
DESCRIPTION: The day's flagstick placement is the key in determining a successful playing strategy on this drivable par 4. A three-quarter-acre fairway bunker dominates the left side of the fairway, and the player has the option of trying to drive the green or laying up over the single pot bunker in the center of the fairway. The lay-up shot will leave the player a short approach to the largest, most heavily contoured green on the LaCantera layout. Tiger Woods drove the green in 1996 but three-putted for par. (Click here for LaCantera tour) |
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