LonghornLib
< 25 Posts
Got an invite to play here this weekend. I've lived in Austin for 17 years and have never played golf here and have only rarely heard of this course. Any thoughts on this place?
Lake Cliff Country Club
- Thread starter LonghornLib
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austintexas
Guest
lived here 31 years and I've never heard of it.
Orange&White
1,000+ Posts
It is a really nice course. The best part about it is that is pretty easy too. Wide fairways, not a lot of water or trees, the sand is usually in awesome shape. And the greens are pretty flat. As a general rule, if it doesn't have a VERY noticable break on your first observation, play it straight at the cup.
The previous greens keeper kinda slacked off on the greens for a few years and they got pettty rough in some spots. A new guy took over about 9 or 10 months ago and has brought them back to great shape.
The course is not very well known as they only have about 150 members, and most don't live in Austin. I have played out there several times and not seen one other group on the course.
Also, if you are driving over from Austin, you should leave about 30 minutes early and go past the turnoff for Paleface Ranch Rd for a few miles into Spicewood and grab some Opie's BBQ before or after your round. Good que and well worth the extra short drive considering you are already that far out.
Also, no matter how tempting it may be, don't try to go over the sand traps and make the green from the tee box on number 8. I tried i, successfully, my first time out there. Every single time since, I have tried and either landed directly in one of the bunkers or in the water.
The previous greens keeper kinda slacked off on the greens for a few years and they got pettty rough in some spots. A new guy took over about 9 or 10 months ago and has brought them back to great shape.
The course is not very well known as they only have about 150 members, and most don't live in Austin. I have played out there several times and not seen one other group on the course.
Also, if you are driving over from Austin, you should leave about 30 minutes early and go past the turnoff for Paleface Ranch Rd for a few miles into Spicewood and grab some Opie's BBQ before or after your round. Good que and well worth the extra short drive considering you are already that far out.
Also, no matter how tempting it may be, don't try to go over the sand traps and make the green from the tee box on number 8. I tried i, successfully, my first time out there. Every single time since, I have tried and either landed directly in one of the bunkers or in the water.
LonghornLib
< 25 Posts
Thanks for the info about why it's not well publicized. I'm looking forward to playing out there and will add some comments on this thread or the Austin Golf Course thread.
Played there two years ago, I was on some mailing list and I got invited for a free round--clearly wanted me to join but it was way out of my price range. Really nice and the greens were in outstanding shape, especially for a new course. I think they have some top of the line underground irrigation system for the greens there.
Orange&White
1,000+ Posts
They do have the top of the line underwater vacuum system for the greens. Problem was, it wasn't being used properly. As I mentioned in a previous post, I think it has all been taken care of. Last time I was out, early March, most of the rough spots on the green had been repaired by using grass from one of the practice greens, or had been brought back to life with some TLC.
A few months ago they were offering temporary "memberships" that allowed you membership stauts in exchange for only paying the monthly dues (no initiation fee). The way it was explained to me was that you could keep that same agreement until all of the memberships were sold, at which point you could pay the initiation fee and continue being a member, or just walk away. I heard it second or third hand so that may not be the exact way it was structured.
Either way, enjoy your round and let us know what you think.
A few months ago they were offering temporary "memberships" that allowed you membership stauts in exchange for only paying the monthly dues (no initiation fee). The way it was explained to me was that you could keep that same agreement until all of the memberships were sold, at which point you could pay the initiation fee and continue being a member, or just walk away. I heard it second or third hand so that may not be the exact way it was structured.
Either way, enjoy your round and let us know what you think.
LonghornLib
< 25 Posts
Played on 5/13/06 - The Course is an architectural disappointment because they could have made much better use of the terrain around Lake Travis. There are several canyons around the course, but for the most part, they do not even come into play. Rather than using the canyons to add to the difficulty and aesthetic value of the course, they seemed to me just to add to the beauty of the cart ride from one hole to another. The only explanation I can think of as to why they did not utilize this gorgeous terrain is to sell more lot space closer to the lake. This is understandable, I guess, if you are planning a sub-division to make money and not to have a fantastic golf course. The golf course itself is rather boring, extremely easy (I'm an 11 and shot a 75 and didn't play all that great) and not as pretty as it could be.
With that rather harsh review, I will add a BIG positive. THE GREENS ARE PHENOMENAL! It's been a long time since us Austinites enjoyed bent grass in the Hill Country. The Hills, BC and ACC used to have them, but with the heat and constant upkeep, they all went to Bermuda. The Bent Grass greens at Lake Cliff were smooth, read true, held the ball and rolled purer than any of the aforementioned bent grass ever did (in my opinion). Not enough good things can be said about the putting surfaces.
Fairways were decent, bunkers playable and all around good manicuring of the course. Pro Shop was great and very little traffic on the course added more to the good time. It was a nice round, but I can't imagine anyone paying a $25,000 initiation fee and $300/month dues for that course. I guess that's why they are offering so many "deals" now.
I recommend you go, if only to putt on the bent grass, but don't expect an overwhelming experience.
With that rather harsh review, I will add a BIG positive. THE GREENS ARE PHENOMENAL! It's been a long time since us Austinites enjoyed bent grass in the Hill Country. The Hills, BC and ACC used to have them, but with the heat and constant upkeep, they all went to Bermuda. The Bent Grass greens at Lake Cliff were smooth, read true, held the ball and rolled purer than any of the aforementioned bent grass ever did (in my opinion). Not enough good things can be said about the putting surfaces.
Fairways were decent, bunkers playable and all around good manicuring of the course. Pro Shop was great and very little traffic on the course added more to the good time. It was a nice round, but I can't imagine anyone paying a $25,000 initiation fee and $300/month dues for that course. I guess that's why they are offering so many "deals" now.
I recommend you go, if only to putt on the bent grass, but don't expect an overwhelming experience.
LonghornLib
< 25 Posts
chit,
It was disappointing to me b/c I think the course could have been spectacular. In my opinion, all that needed to be done is build the course around those canyons, rather than just have a couple of holes that you hit across. For example, if you remember that 160+ yard par 3 that played over the canyon that you really couldn't see from the tee box, if you moved the tee box up a few yards and angled the green over the canyon, you'd have a breathtaking, difficult 180 yard par three with Lake Travis in the background. Similar design to #7 at the Hills (minus the gorgeous waterfall). You could then have a rolling downhill par 4 to the Lake with the canyon flowing on the left side of the hole with the gorgeous rock background of Lake Travis in the distance. This would have been a simple design to do, but I think the developers wanted to use all of the prime land for lots and not the golf course.
I'd play there again as I said, just to putt and hit into the bent grass greens, but I wish the course had been designed better. And like you, I have a fond memory of scoring well, but that will probably turn to anger when my handicap lowers and I lose strokes in my gambling game!
It was disappointing to me b/c I think the course could have been spectacular. In my opinion, all that needed to be done is build the course around those canyons, rather than just have a couple of holes that you hit across. For example, if you remember that 160+ yard par 3 that played over the canyon that you really couldn't see from the tee box, if you moved the tee box up a few yards and angled the green over the canyon, you'd have a breathtaking, difficult 180 yard par three with Lake Travis in the background. Similar design to #7 at the Hills (minus the gorgeous waterfall). You could then have a rolling downhill par 4 to the Lake with the canyon flowing on the left side of the hole with the gorgeous rock background of Lake Travis in the distance. This would have been a simple design to do, but I think the developers wanted to use all of the prime land for lots and not the golf course.
I'd play there again as I said, just to putt and hit into the bent grass greens, but I wish the course had been designed better. And like you, I have a fond memory of scoring well, but that will probably turn to anger when my handicap lowers and I lose strokes in my gambling game!
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