On June 1, we closed the Boot Ranch golf course to undertake a major renovation of the bunkers and greens, tweaks to the layout, and improved aesthetics. The course will reopen for play by primary members on Friday, September 29 and we’ll welcome vertical members and guests on Saturday, September 30. The project could not have gone better, thanks to a dedicated team and excellent growing conditions.
Course designer and PGA Championship winner Hal Sutton was on-site to oversee this project along with Boot Ranch Director of Club Operations Todd Huizinga, Head Golf Professional Emil Hale, Superintendent Deven Baughn and our contractor Heritage Links.
Sutton’s focus in this project was to enhance the playability without altering the experience. “My key was to figure out a way to challenge the best players while offering higher-handicap golfers the chance to play golf and have fun,” explained Sutton.
The course was designed by Sutton to be the ideal course for the devoted golfer; a place where golfers can refine their game, take on some of golf’s most difficult challenges, and learn everything they will ever need to know about the game of golf.
“I wanted to build a course that if for some reason I wasn’t around to teach my son how to play golf, he would have a chance to learn all the shots he’d ever need right here.”-Hal Sutton
Don’t take these improvements as a sign of reduced difficulty to our nationally acclaimed course. While one aspect may seem easier than usual—like reduced difficulty when hitting out of bunkers—another will make up for it, in our case that is with faster, firmer greens.
“We’re really making the good player think, says Sutton. “If he hits it good, we’re going to reward him. If he hits it bad, we’re going to punish him.”
The course will be put to the test this fall with the Member-Guest tournament October 13-14, the Club Championship on October 21, and the Covey Buster Invitational November 6-8 which attracts pros and their members from top private clubs around the country. We’re expecting great reviews.
Updates to the Course
Greens
All of the greens used at Boot Ranch for practice and play have been converted from bentgrass to TifEagle Bermuda, to not only provide a superior playing surface but also to better tolerate the Hill Country climate and irrigation with reclaimed water. Many of the greens had their slope and undulation reduced to counteract the faster conditions created by the newly installed Bermuda grass.
Bunkers
The majority of the course improvements were to the bunkers, including raising the base of each bunker by four inches and installing new Bunker Solutions liners and irrigation.
The fairway bunkers were filled with a mix of bright “bunker white” sand blended with the slightly reddish native sand, and native grasses and grass islands in waste bunkers were removed.
To increase the landing areas around the greens, many bunkers were either reduced in size or eliminated.
Rough
To combat the longer native grasses that have previously plagued golfers who miss the fairway, an intermediate cut of inch-and-a-half-deep Bermuda grass has been installed.
18th Hole
This par 4 has been lengthened, transforming one of the toughest finishing holes in Texas into a challenging par 5.
Updates off the Course
Putting Park
We also invested an additional $1 million this summer in Metzger Park, creating a one-acre putting park designed by Chet Williams. This putting park, with the largest green in Texas, will be a center for family fun and friendly competitions. Adjacent to the putting park is a huge new play lawn for kite flying, soccer ball kicking and special events.
Boot Ranch property purchases include a multi-generational Club membership that extends privileges to five generations of the member’s family. Plan now to experience the Boot Ranch member lifestyle and explore real estate opportunities by scheduling a Discovery Visit this fall.
