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Barton Creek Resort's Fazio Foothills (above) and
Fazio Canyons courses are the best Austin
golf courses the public can play.
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Although neither its Crenshaw Cliffside nor Palmer Lakeside courses are truly memorable, thanks to its Fazio Foothills and Fazio Canyons courses, Barton Creek Resort & Spa features the best Austin golf courses you can play on a Texas golf vacation.
The fabulous Fazio Foothills Course, the original 18 at Barton Creek Resort & Spa, begins across the road from the hotel and finishes just behind it. In between, it rambles over rolling terrain and continually thrills players with its tough driving holes, immaculate conditions, and stunning scenery. In fact, the only downside we found is that the extremely penal nature of the hazards can slow down play.
The seven year-old Fazio Canyons Course, a ten-minute drive from the hotel, probably showcases the varied, nature-rich Hill Country environment the best among all Austin golf courses.
Fazio etched his holes into corridors between heavily wooded gorges, limestone cliff walls, rolling hillsides, and stunning ravines so that only 70 acres of this 225-acre site actually require grooming. Breathtaking panoramas from hill-top tees and dramatically downhill driving holes add to the joys of the game.
Compared to the Foothills Course, the Canyons Course has roomier landing areas and larger greens, and mandatory forecaddies handle ball-spotting duties and tend to the bunkers, helping to keep play moving.
We liked the Canyons Course slightly more than the Foothills Course, but to experience it the way we did, we advise you to play it as soon as possible on your Texas golf vacation as home construction has begun to encroach on the scene.
Two other things to be aware of if you’re planning on playing the best Austin golf courses on your Texas golf vacation: 1) the public can only access Barton Creek's courses by staying at the resort, and 2) because one of the Fazio layouts is reserved each day for members, resort guests can't play both on the same day.
Did you know?Golf Vacation Insider and Golf Odyssey are the world’s only golf publications that travel anonymously and do not accept advertising, discounts, or free trips, green fees, accommodations or meals from the properties they review.
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