[Dave_Miller]

To the Treehouse:

Does anyone know anything about the new Golf Course and Real Estate Community Spanish Oaks near Austin, Texas located almost adjacent to Barton Creek?

Is the Course open and operating?

Are homesites still available?

Have any of the other amenities been completed such as the Clubhouse?

Is this to be a high end type project along the lines of Trump and others?

How does the Golf Course rate?

Are there any development issues or problems which would scare off potential members and/or home buyers.

Thanks for the help.

Fairways and Greens,
Dave

[ChipRoyce]

Dave;
Haven't been out to the course but can answer a few of your questions:
1) Course is very much up and running. Have heard good things about the course and experience. However, I've also heard that the course gets very little play and struggling for memberships

2) Homesites? I think so... many homes within are being developed on Spec.

3) Amenities - no idea

4) High End? yes, for the Austin area. Many homes in the $700K-1.2MM. Not a $3-5MM kind of home set-up.

5) Golf course? Don't know, haven't played. Did well in the best new private for 2003 or 2004.

Dave - are you here in Austin or looking to move? I'm here in town and would be glad to share more info.

Best,
Chip

[Steve_ Shaffer]

This is another takeover project by Discovery Land, developers of Estancia & Mirabel in Scottsdale, Hideaway & Madison Club in LaQuinta, etc.  The Bobby Weed golf course is now closed for renovation and will reopen in the March 2006. Apparently, it was too difficult for the average member. The clubhouse will be built as well as new golf villas. In the meantime, spec homes are available as are lots and someleftover units from the previous developer.

www.discoverylandco.com/project_spanishoaks.html

[Tom_Doak]

I'm surprised, as I had heard good things about this course.

I think Bobby's associate Chris Monti, who I taught at Cornell years ago, was on site through most of the job.

This makes me wonder if Discovery is making changes because they really think the golf course needs them, or whether they are just trying to rebrand it as a Tom Fazio course so they can jack up the real estate prices accordingly.

[Lou_Duran]

I played this course on the recommendation of a Golf Digest rater in early 2004 and like it a lot.  We both have it very high on our list of Texas courses.

As to being too difficult, I failed to break 80 from the back tees, but this didn't stop the head pro there from shooting one of the easiest low-60s I've ever witnessed (a 63, I think, and the course record at that time at least).   Compared to Horseshoe Bay- Ram Rock and Austin Country Club, Spanish Oaks is very playable.

SO was relatively new at that time and it still had some rough edges.  All the brush and other native vegetation had not been thinned out, so I can understand how the course may have seemed difficult.

My recollection is that it did have a nice permanent clubhouse.  Perhaps the new owners are expanding the scale of the club.

It is not far from Austin Golf Club and they share some similarities.  However, SO has more elevation change/diverse topography.  In my book, both are fantastic courses with gorgeous surroundings.  It would be a great place to raise a family.  

[Steve_Lemmon]

While pricey to a cheap guy like me, the lot prices are actually quite reasonable by Austin standards,especially for  a gated neighborhood in that location.  I have played there a few times and thought the course quite fair and a lot of fun, even for a mediocre golfer like me.  

[Steve_ Shaffer]

My understanding is that Discovery is NOT bringing in Fazio to bulldoze the course like they did with Stonehaven/Mirabel in Scottsdale. Weed may be involved in this work, the details of which are unknown to me.

[Bill_McBride]

One of the best things I've heard about recently in Austin is the "owner's club" at Barton Creek.  It's a timeshare deeded ownership arrangement where you get 1/13 of the year (28 nights) in a number of really nice 3 BR 3 bath villa units.  Included in the annual cost after purchase is "free" golf on any of the Barton Creek courses, and an affordable guest rate for friends ("moochers") like the McBrides who will of course come to visit.  

You aren't locked into a specific unit, and you can choose to use your time at other sister clubs -- I forget where else but it sounded pretty good.

[ChipRoyce]

Is the course completely closed? Would like to play the course before changes are made, but concerned that is now out of the question.
Thanks!
Chip

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Chip

Yes, the course is closed until March 2006. Call the number on the website to make sure.

Steve

[Dave_Miller]

Thanks for the info.
Does anyone know anything about Discovery Land?
Best
Dave

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Dave

Try:

www.discoverylandco.com

They seem to specialize in very high end golf course communities, either as the initial developer or as a takeover/turnaround developer.

Steve

[Dave_Miller]

Dave

Try:

www.discoverylandco.com

They seem to specialize in very high end golf course communities, either as the initial developer or as a takeover/turnaround developer.

Steve

Steve:
Thanks for the information.  I take it from reading thir bacground that this is a takeover/turnaround project.  Any chance of success?
Best
Dave

[CHrisB]

Spanish Oaks is my favorite course in central Texas, ahead of Austin Golf Club (barely), Austin Country Club, Cimarron Hills, etc.

A really good set of greens and some fun shots, including several blind ones, which turns some people off but is refreshing to me. Too bad those shopping centers are being built within eye- and ear-shot of the course.

[Lou_Duran]

Chris,

What is it about Spanish Oaks that you give it a nod over Austin Golf Club?  I am just curious.  

[CHrisB]

Lou,
Sorry for the late reply.

As I said I prefer Spanish Oaks over Austin GC (barely), and I think what tips it for me is:

1. I like the greens at Spanish Oaks a little more--the steep slopes at #1 and #4, the sunken 5th, massive greens like the 3rd, 13th and 18th, and a super green for a driveable par 4 at #6. Good variety as a set, and the holes can play completely differently each day as the pins are moved around.

2. I like the playing surface at Spanish Oaks a little more--I think the zoysia surfaces at Austin GC work against the intent of the course, especially around the greens. By that I mean this--so many of the green surrounds fall away from the putting surfaces like they do at Pinehurst, and the logical recovery is usually a run-up shot. But the zoysia grass is sticky and unpredictable, and so these shots don't work as well. I also prefer the quick bermuda of SO over the bent grass green surfaces of AGC.

3. I like blind and semi-blind shots, and Spanish Oaks has fun ones at #8, #9, and #18.

But again, for me it is splitting hairs, as I could happily play either every day.

[ChipRoyce]

Chris;
Thanks for the info! Let me know next time you're headed out that way - would love to join up.
HOWEVER, wondering how significant the changes will be to the course? Will a lot of those nuances be lost after the changes this winter? Also with the colder weather and drought conditions, wouldn't surprise me if grow in took longer than expected
Best,
Chip

[Lou_Duran]

Chris,

Sounds like an outing in the making!

Your preferences are interesting and make a lot of sense.  Personally, I enjoyed the green complexes at AGC a little bit better and the bent grass a lot more.  Perhaps it was because the zoysia was already going dormant when I played the course, but the skip-and-run shots were possible to execute.

The Spanish Oaks site with its elevation changes is more representative of the Hill Country.  The green complexes are in keeping with the topography.  I do hope that the new owners don't go crazy out there with changes.  In my opinion, the course just needed some thinning-out, a nip and tuck here and there, and some maturation.
 

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