Austin &amp; San Antonio / Texas

The take

Austin & San Antonio is a strong golf trip because it gives you options: Omni Barton Creek on the Austin side, TPC San Antonio and La Cantera on the San Antonio side, and Lost Pines (formerly Wolfdancer) as the interesting Hill Country detour.

The best version is not “play everything.” It is choosing a base and building around it. Austin gives you better nightlife, barbecue, music, and a younger social feel. San Antonio gives you the cleaner resort-golf setup with TPC San Antonio, La Cantera, and the River Walk if your group wants that. Split the trip only if you have enough nights. Otherwise, the drive time starts making decisions for you, which is never a good sign.

Best version

For a first trip, pick either Omni Barton Creek/Austin or JW Marriott/TPC San Antonio as the base. Add one destination-style offsite round, one serious dinner, one barbecue stop, and enough downtime to avoid turning Hill Country into a windshield tour.

Skip if

Groups that want walking-only, pure-golf minimalism
Players allergic to heat
Trip captains who think Austin and San Antonio are “basically next door”
Golfers expecting every course to feel like a national bucket-list anchor

Insider notes

For a first trip, pick either Omni Barton Creek/Austin or JW Marriott/TPC San Antonio as the base.
Add one destination-style offsite round, one serious dinner, one barbecue stop, and enough downtime to avoid turning Hill Country into a windshield tour.

The courses

9 core rounds. Scan first, then click into the course detail when you want the full read.

Full destination course detailsExpand this section for the deeper course reads, then click again to hide it.Expand

#95GD Public

4.7(683)

San Antonio, TX 78259, USA

(210) 491-5800

Strong play

TPC San Antonio - Oaks Course

Designer: Greg Norman with Sergio Garcia as player consultant
Year: 2010
Par: 72
Yardage: About 7,435 yards
Difficulty: High
Green fees: Premium resort pricing through TPC/JW Marriott channels; verify current package and public access.

The Oaks Course is the serious tournament test in this destination. It hosts the PGA Tour's Valero Texas Open and plays like it knows exactly how many mid-handicaps it has humbled.

Strengths

- Best championship credential in the Austin/San Antonio set

Weaknesses

- Can be too demanding for casual groups

Play it if the group wants the big-boy test. Put weaker players on the right tees or apologize to them later.

0/5

Signature holes: 5, 16, 18

Strong play

TPC San Antonio - Canyons Course

Designer: Pete Dye with Bruce Lietzke as player consultant
Year: 2010
Par: 72
Yardage: About 7,106 yards
Difficulty: Medium-high
Green fees: Premium resort pricing; packages and seasonal rates vary.

The Canyons Course is the better fit for many resort groups. It has Pete Dye personality, Hill Country shape, and a little more forgiveness than the Oaks.

Strengths

- Strong companion to the Oaks

Weaknesses

- Less famous than the Oaks

Do not skip it if you are staying at JW Marriott. It makes the resort work.

0/5

Signature holes: 6, 12, 18

3.1(7)

8212 Barton Club Dr, Austin, TX 78735, USA

Strong play

Omni Barton Creek - Fazio Foothills

Designer: Tom Fazio
Year: 1986
Par: 72
Yardage: About 7,125 yards
Difficulty: Medium-high
Green fees: Resort guest/package pricing; verify current Omni access policies.

Fazio Foothills is the main Barton Creek round and the Austin-side anchor. It is polished, scenic, and resort-friendly without feeling like empty real-estate golf.

Strengths

- Best Barton Creek course for most groups

Weaknesses

- Resort access and pricing matter

If you are staying at Omni Barton Creek, this belongs first on the tee sheet.

0/5

Signature holes: 5, 12, 18

4.7(129)

8511 Carranzo Dr, Austin, TX 78735, USA

(512) 329-4653

Strong play

Omni Barton Creek - Fazio Canyons

Designer: Tom Fazio
Year: 2000
Par: 72
Yardage: About 7,153 yards
Difficulty: Medium-high
Green fees: Resort guest/package pricing; confirm current access.

Fazio Canyons is the quieter Barton Creek course that can surprise people. It is set apart from the main resort and has enough land movement to keep the round interesting.

Strengths

- Strong second Fazio option

Weaknesses

- Less convenient than Foothills

Play it if you are doing two Barton Creek rounds. It earns the spot.

0/5

Signature holes: 4, 11, 17

Image coming soon

Strong play

Omni Barton Creek - Crenshaw Cliffside

Designer: Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore
Year: 1991
Par: 71
Yardage: About 6,630 yards
Difficulty: Medium
Green fees: Resort guest/package pricing; verify direct.

Crenshaw Cliffside is the smarter, subtler Barton Creek play. It is shorter and less flashy, but the Coore/Crenshaw DNA gives it a strategic calm that strong golf nerds will appreciate.

Strengths

- Best architecture conversation at Barton Creek

Weaknesses

- Less dramatic and less long

The savvy add. Do not let yardage-only thinkers talk you out of it.

0/5

Signature holes: 6, 11, 16

Image coming soon

4.5(2,517)

8212 Barton Club Dr, Austin, TX 78735, USA

(512) 329-4000

Strong play

Omni Barton Creek - Palmer Lakeside

Designer: Arnold Palmer Design
Year: 1986
Par: 71
Yardage: About 6,668 yards
Difficulty: Medium
Green fees: Resort/package pricing; verify current availability.

Palmer Lakeside is the fourth Barton Creek round and feels like it. Useful for volume, scenery, or a softer day, but not where the trip should hinge.

Strengths

- Lake Travis setting

Weaknesses

- Off the main Barton Creek property

Fine if you are staying longer. Not mandatory.

0/5

Signature holes: 3, 9, 18

4.3(385)

Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa - Golf Clubhouse, 575 Hyatt Lost Pines Rd, Cedar Creek, TX 78612, USA

(512) 308-4770

Strong play

Lost Pines Golf Club (formerly Wolfdancer)

Designer: Arthur Hills
Year: 2006
Par: 72
Yardage: About 7,205 yards
Difficulty: Medium-high
Green fees: Resort/public seasonal pricing through Hyatt Lost Pines; verify current rates.

Lost Pines is the best detour round between Austin and Bastrop. The course many golfers still know as Wolfdancer has more personality than many resort courses and works especially well if the group wants Hyatt Lost Pines or a quieter Hill Country feel. The finish drops toward the Colorado River valley and gives the round a more natural, less resort-managed edge than most Austin options.

Strengths

- Strong land variety

Weaknesses

- Not central to Austin or San Antonio

Worth adding if you want one course outside the obvious resort anchors.

0/5

Signature holes: 5, 12, 18

4.5(215)

16641 La Cantera Pkwy, San Antonio, TX 78256, USA

(210) 558-4653

Strong play

La Cantera Resort Course

Designer: Jay Morrish and Tom Weiskopf
Year: 1995
Par: 72
Yardage: About 6,926 yards
Difficulty: Medium
Green fees: Resort/public seasonal pricing; verify current rates.

The Resort Course has history, views, and a very easy San Antonio fit. It is now the La Cantera golf product. The Palmer Course closed permanently in 2021, so older guides that sell La Cantera as a two-course setup are stale. The Resort Course is not the hardest course in the region, but it is one of the more sensible choices for a group staying near La Cantera.

Strengths

- Convenient San Antonio resort play

Weaknesses

- Less compelling than TPC Oaks for serious players

Play it if San Antonio is the base. It is practical and fun.

0/5

Signature holes: 7, 17, 18

Strong play

La Cantera Palmer Course

Designer: Arnold Palmer Design
Year: 2001
Par: TBD
Yardage: TBD

Do not include the Palmer Course in an itinerary. It is closed. This matters because plenty of older trip guides and course databases still make La Cantera look like a two-course resort. It is not. The active golf option is the Morrish/Weiskopf Resort Course.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Closed. Mentioned only to prevent bad planning.

0/5

Full course library

Where to stay, eat, and stray

Lodging

Where to stay

Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa

Barton Creek is the easiest Austin golf base because the courses are built into the stay. It is the right answer if golf and resort convenience matter more than downtown nightlife.

JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa

If TPC San Antonio is the anchor, stay here. The logistics are clean, the resort is large, and the group can stop making transportation the main character.

La Cantera Resort & Spa

La Cantera is the polished San Antonio lifestyle base. Golf is convenient, the resort is strong, and it works well for groups that want comfort without centering every decision on TPC.

Dining

Where groups actually eat

Terry Black's Barbecue

For a golf group, Terry Black's is easier than chasing the most famous line in town. It is reliable, group-friendly, and still feels like a proper Austin barbecue stop.

Franklin Barbecue

Franklin is famous for a reason, but it is not always smart golf-trip planning. If the group wants the ritual, fine. If you have a noon tee time, stop being theatrical.

Cured

Cured gives San Antonio a smarter dinner than default River Walk wandering. Use it when the group wants a real meal without turning dinner into a resort banquet.

Things to do

Beyond the golf

Austin

live music, barbecue, breweries, South Congress, UT energy, and a proper night out.

San Antonio

Pearl District, River Walk in moderation, Hill Country drives, spa, and resort pools.

Lost Pines/Bastrop

quieter outdoor feel if Lost Pines is part of the plan.

Planning mechanics

Logistics

Flights, driving, walking

Flights

Both airports work. Choose the airport that matches the base. Flying into Austin for a San Antonio-heavy trip can be fine, but only if the fare is meaningfully better.

Ground transportation

Rental cars or arranged SUVs are strongly recommended. This is not a walkable golf destination.

Walking

Carts are standard. Caddies are not a defining part of this trip.

Weather

When the trip works best

March

Good golf weather, spring demand.

April

Prime, but book early.

May

Warm, playable, increasingly humid.

Planning ranges

Cost and value levers

Premium resort rounds

$175-$350+ - TPC, Barton Creek, and La Cantera vary by season/package.

Public/support rounds

$90-$225+ - Lost Pines and regional options depend on season.

Lodging

$250-$800+ per night - Resort rates and Austin event weekends can spike.

Itinerary builder

Build your itinerary

The sample on the right is an illustrative Streamsong example.

It is meant to show the depth and shape of a real plan. Build your own around your group, dates, rounds, lodging, dining, and travel timing.

Build my itinerary

Illustrative sample output

Streamsong in 3 Days: 4 Rounds, Mixed Group

3 nights at Streamsong Lodge covering all 3 courses plus a repeat of whichever lands best with the group. With a mixed-skill group and a social thread running through the trip, the sequencing matters: start approachable, build toward bold, and protect evenings for the group to decompress together.

Recommendation

Start with Red to set the right tone for mixed players, not Black. Black's scale can deflate weaker players early and that poisons the rest of the trip.

Day 1

Morning: Arrive, check in to Streamsong Lodge, and get settled without rushing. Arrival timing is unknown, so do not force a same-day round.

Afternoon: If arriving early-to-midday, use the practice facilities to shake off travel; skip forcing an afternoon round on an unknown schedule.

Evening: Make this the nicer dinner night. Gather the group, debrief the plan, and use the evening to build energy for the heavy golf days ahead.

Insider note: Day 1 is the setup day, not a golf day. Burning a round here on travel legs is the most common mistake groups make at Streamsong.

Day 2

Morning: Tee off on Streamsong Red first thing. It is the most balanced course and the right anchor for a mixed-skill group on fresh legs.

Afternoon: Afternoon round on Streamsong Blue. It is more open and wind-affected, which rewards better players while staying manageable enough for the group.

Evening: Keep dinner casual and on property. Two rounds is a full day and the group needs to recover, not power through a production.

Insider note: Red in the morning lets the group settle in before Blue asks harder questions in the afternoon wind.

Day 3

Morning: Play Streamsong Black. Use it as the bold contrast round the guide describes, not as the centerpiece, and set expectations accordingly for higher-handicap players.

Afternoon: Replay the course that resonated most with the group. Red is the likely call for mixed groups, Blue for stronger players who want another look.

Evening: Final evening on property. Keep it relaxed since departure timing is unknown and no one should be grinding through dinner logistics.

Insider note: Black is the experience round, not the best round. Frame it that way for the group before the first tee so no one is quietly disappointed by the rougher edges.

Tradeoffs

Four rounds in two full golf days is aggressive but workable at a comfortable pace. The plan keeps Day 1 golf-free to protect legs and group cohesion rather than chasing a fifth round nobody would enjoy.

Black is scheduled for Day 3 morning rather than being skipped. It adds useful contrast and a memorable moment, but it was deliberately placed after the group already has two courses under its belt rather than as an opener.

The nicer dinner was placed on Day 1 rather than a golf day. This protects energy on the days that matter and gives the group something to build toward without splitting a long golf day around a formal meal.

Book first

Book all four tee times at Streamsong before lodging fills. The property manages its own tee sheet and availability tightens fast in peak season.

Confirm Streamsong Lodge rooms for all three nights in a single block. A small group of 3-4 makes this manageable, but winter weekends can still book out early.

Arrange caddies for at least Red and Blue if the group is open to walking. First-time looks benefit significantly from local knowledge on both courses.

Watchouts

Two rounds on Day 2 is the heaviest ask of the trip. If anyone in the mixed group is a high-handicapper or infrequent player, build in flexibility to skip the afternoon Blue round rather than grinding through it.

Streamsong is genuinely remote and there is no nightlife option off property. Groups expecting energy beyond the lodge bar will be disappointed, and that expectation gap kills trip morale faster than a bad round.

Black's scale and difficulty can frustrate less experienced players, especially after already playing 36 holes the day before. If the group's weakest player struggled on Day 2, consider swapping Black for a Red replay.

LodgingExpand

Overall lodging take: Austin & San Antonio lodging is about choosing the trip identity. Barton Creek for Austin resort golf. JW Marriott for TPC convenience. La Cantera for San Antonio luxury. Downtown Austin only if nightlife is the real priority.

Golf resort

Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa

0/5

Best for: Austin-side golf groups

Cost: High resort rates; golf packages can change value.

4.5(2,518)(512) 329-4000

8212 Barton Club Dr, Austin, TX 78735, USA

Monday: Open 24 hours

Barton Creek is the easiest Austin golf base because the courses are built into the stay. It is the right answer if golf and resort convenience matter more than downtown nightlife.

Pros

- Multiple on-property courses

Cons

- Not downtown Austin

Golf resort

JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa

0/5

Best for: TPC San Antonio access

Cost: High resort rates; peak weekends and packages vary.

4.5(7,394)(210) 276-2500

23808 Resort Pkwy, San Antonio, TX 78261, USA

If TPC San Antonio is the anchor, stay here. The logistics are clean, the resort is large, and the group can stop making transportation the main character.

Pros

- Direct TPC San Antonio access

Cons

- Removed from downtown San Antonio

Luxury resort

La Cantera Resort & Spa

0/5

Best for: San Antonio resort/lifestyle blend

Cost: High seasonal resort pricing.

4.5(4,589)(210) 558-6500

16641 La Cantera Pkwy, San Antonio, TX 78256, USA

La Cantera is the polished San Antonio lifestyle base. Golf is convenient, the resort is strong, and it works well for groups that want comfort without centering every decision on TPC.

Pros

- Good golf access

Cons

- Courses are not the top pure-golf anchors

Urban hotels and homes

Downtown Austin Hotels and Rentals

0/5

Best for: Social groups prioritizing restaurants/nightlife

Cost: Wide range; event weekends can spike sharply.

4.3(273)(512) 220-0888

710 E 3rd St, Austin, TX 78701, USA

Stay downtown only if Austin nights matter. It is the wrong choice for an all-golf efficiency trip and the right choice for the group that wants barbecue, music, and late-night decisions they may or may not defend.

Pros

- Best nightlife and dining access

Cons

- More driving to golf

DiningExpand

Overall dining take: This is one of the best food destinations in the golf portfolio. The trick is not finding good meals. It is choosing meals that fit the golf day.

Barbecue

Terry Black's Barbecue

0/5

Best for: Austin group meal

4.7(13,065)(469) 399-0081

3025 Main St, Dallas, TX 75226, USA

Monday: 10:30 AM – 9:30 PM

For a golf group, Terry Black's is easier than chasing the most famous line in town. It is reliable, group-friendly, and still feels like a proper Austin barbecue stop.

Pros

- Strong barbecue without excessive logistics

Cons

- Popular

Iconic barbecue

Franklin Barbecue

0/5

Best for: Food-obsessed groups with time

4.7(7,115)(512) 653-1187

900 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702, USA

Monday: Closed

Franklin is famous for a reason, but it is not always smart golf-trip planning. If the group wants the ritual, fine. If you have a noon tee time, stop being theatrical.

Pros

- Iconic Austin food experience

Cons

- Time-consuming

San Antonio dinner

Cured

0/5

Best for: Pearl District dinner

4.5(577)(323) 939-0151

143 S La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036, USA

Monday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Cured gives San Antonio a smarter dinner than default River Walk wandering. Use it when the group wants a real meal without turning dinner into a resort banquet.

Pros

- Strong location at Pearl

Cons

- Reservations matter

Steakhouse

Bohanan's Prime Steaks and Seafood

0/5

Best for: San Antonio splurge

4.7(2,615)(210) 472-2600

219 E Houston St #275, San Antonio, TX 78205, USA

Monday: 5:00 – 9:00 PM

Bohanan's is the San Antonio steakhouse play. Expensive, polished, and exactly right if the group wants one formal dinner.

Pros

- Classic steakhouse experience

Cons

- Pricey

Live-fire fine dining

Hestia / Austin

0/5

Best for: Austin splurge night

4.5(976)(512) 333-0737

607 W 3rd St #105, Austin, TX 78701, USA

Monday: Closed

Hestia is the serious Austin food flex: live-fire cooking, controlled room, and more ambition than the standard steakhouse play. Use it for a smaller group that actually wants dinner to be a feature, not a refueling stop.

New-school Texas barbecue

LeRoy and Lewis / Austin

0/5

Best for: Barbecue group that wants more than the obvious line

4.4(2,200)(512) 945-9882

5621 Emerald Forest Dr, Austin, TX 78745, USA

Monday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM

LeRoy and Lewis is the smarter barbecue pivot when Franklin's line is incompatible with tee times. It still feels like Austin, and it will not consume the entire day unless you let it.