36 Hole Day in San Antonio: Quarry vs. La Cantera

CDMackFisher · January 1, 2015

I've got a week long trip to San Antonio coming up in late January and I'll have time for a few rounds. I'm planning on 36 on a Monday, and sweeping the dew at Brackenridge Park the following Tuesday morning. I'm having a hard time choosing between Quarry and La Cantera for my Monday-Fun-Day. I know, Keith Foster vs. Arnold Palmer...no contest win for Foster, right? Ordinarily I'd say yes, but I like the idea of playing two courses at La Cantera and the Palmer course actually gets excellent reviews. Can I get some input from the architectural merit and general fun perspectives?

Golf!

texasdave · January 2, 2015

I'd go La Cantera for sure since you can play both the resort and Palmer course.

The Resort course used to host the Texas Open and has some nice elevation changes. The Palmer is the shorter of the two but still no push over, there are a few blind tee shots though. Conditions at both courses are usually very good but I haven't played either in about 6 months.

The Quarry is a good courses as well and always in good condition but with the exception of three tee shots on the back side where you shoot across a quarry pit it is pretty boring in my opinion.

Another benefit of theLa Cantera courses is the holes don't really run parallel to each other so you don't see a lot of other golfers, the quarry is wide open with no trees so even though your never very close to the other groups it feels like you are cramped together especially in the back side.

Good luck and have fun.

Argonne69 · January 2, 2015

La Cantera for sure. The Quarry is a very nice course, but the front nine is rather blah.

Yanki01 · January 2, 2015

the quarry I thought was nice but agree on the front nine. it doesn't have much to it. the back nine is very nice but like texasdave said, it seems like you're crammed with everyone else around. The Palmer course was very nice I thought.

texasdave · January 2, 2015

[quote name='Yanki01' timestamp='1420214063' post='10674323']
the quarry I thought was nice but agree on the front nine. it doesn't have much to it. the back nine is very nice but like texasdave said, it seems like you're crammed with everyone else around. The Palmer course was very nice I thought.
[/quote]

Hey Yanki01, I see your in Corpus, I grew up there learning to play at Lozano and Oso Beach; where do you usually play.

Haven't played there in about 10 years since my dad can't play anymore but have great memories playing there. Broke 80 for the first time at Lozano and shot my lowest score ever, a 72, at Oso.

Yanki01 · January 2, 2015

[quote name='texasdave' timestamp='1420217293' post='10674593']
[quote name='Yanki01' timestamp='1420214063' post='10674323']
the quarry I thought was nice but agree on the front nine. it doesn't have much to it. the back nine is very nice but like texasdave said, it seems like you're crammed with everyone else around. The Palmer course was very nice I thought.
[/quote]

Hey Yanki01, I see your in Corpus, I grew up there learning to play at Lozano and Oso Beach; where do you usually play.

Haven't played there in about 10 years since my dad can't play anymore but have great memories playing there. Broke 80 for the first time at Lozano and shot my lowest score ever, a 72, at Oso.
[/quote]

Yea man, I learned to play at Gabe. Started when I was 6yrs old so spent a lot of time on the executive 9 hole course. I usually play Gabe, Oso or Newport Dunes (now Pamilia Beach) in Port Aransas. Very nice course but pricey. Best ever was 76 @ Newport about 2yrs ago and 77 @ Oso about the same time. Haven't broke 80 at Gabe yet, it's still a long course. I think an 82 was my lowest there. Being you haven't played it in 10yrs, a lot of Gabe and Oso has changed. Foresight Golf owns it now, they own some courses in SA. It's a complete 180, very nice fairways, a lot of dead spots have life. Pointless trees and brush taken out. New bunkers, fast greens. They're both very nice muni's now.

texasdave · January 2, 2015

[quote name='Yanki01' timestamp='1420218519' post='10674695']
[quote name='texasdave' timestamp='1420217293' post='10674593']
[quote name='Yanki01' timestamp='1420214063' post='10674323']
the quarry I thought was nice but agree on the front nine. it doesn't have much to it. the back nine is very nice but like texasdave said, it seems like you're crammed with everyone else around. The Palmer course was very nice I thought.
[/quote]

Hey Yanki01, I see your in Corpus, I grew up there learning to play at Lozano and Oso Beach; where do you usually play.

Haven't played there in about 10 years since my dad can't play anymore but have great memories playing there. Broke 80 for the first time at Lozano and shot my lowest score ever, a 72, at Oso.
[/quote]

Yea man, I learned to play at Gabe. Started when I was 6yrs old so spent a lot of time on the executive 9 hole course. I usually play Gabe, Oso or Newport Dunes (now Pamilia Beach) in Port Aransas. Very nice course but pricey. Best ever was 76 @ Newport about 2yrs ago and 77 @ Oso about the same time. Haven't broke 80 at Gabe yet, it's still a long course. I think an 82 was my lowest there. Being you haven't played it in 10yrs, a lot of Gabe and Oso has changed. Foresight Golf owns it now, they own some courses in SA. It's a complete 180, very nice fairways, a lot of dead spots have life. Pointless trees and brush taken out. New bunkers, fast greens. They're both very nice muni's now.
[/quote]

Yeah I heard they had improved both courses. Never played Newport dunes.

The tee shot on #10 at Gabe used to give me fits, especially in the usual 20mph wind that would be blowing.

Yanki01 · January 2, 2015

[quote name='texasdave' timestamp='1420224477' post='10675133']
[quote name='Yanki01' timestamp='1420218519' post='10674695']
[quote name='texasdave' timestamp='1420217293' post='10674593']
[quote name='Yanki01' timestamp='1420214063' post='10674323']
the quarry I thought was nice but agree on the front nine. it doesn't have much to it. the back nine is very nice but like texasdave said, it seems like you're crammed with everyone else around. The Palmer course was very nice I thought.
[/quote]

Hey Yanki01, I see your in Corpus, I grew up there learning to play at Lozano and Oso Beach; where do you usually play.

Haven't played there in about 10 years since my dad can't play anymore but have great memories playing there. Broke 80 for the first time at Lozano and shot my lowest score ever, a 72, at Oso.
[/quote]

Yea man, I learned to play at Gabe. Started when I was 6yrs old so spent a lot of time on the executive 9 hole course. I usually play Gabe, Oso or Newport Dunes (now Pamilia Beach) in Port Aransas. Very nice course but pricey. Best ever was 76 @ Newport about 2yrs ago and 77 @ Oso about the same time. Haven't broke 80 at Gabe yet, it's still a long course. I think an 82 was my lowest there. Being you haven't played it in 10yrs, a lot of Gabe and Oso has changed. Foresight Golf owns it now, they own some courses in SA. It's a complete 180, very nice fairways, a lot of dead spots have life. Pointless trees and brush taken out. New bunkers, fast greens. They're both very nice muni's now.
[/quote]

Yeah I heard they had improved both courses. Never played Newport dunes.

The tee shot on #10 at Gabe used to give me fits, especially in the usual 20mph wind that would be blowing.
[/quote]
still the same, I find myself sometimes knocking down a 4 iron off the tee because of the wind.

bk52 · January 2, 2015

Consider playng the poor man's "La Cantera", Cedar Creek. It is $27 well spent.

CDMackFisher · January 3, 2015

Thanks for the insight friends.

I'm also glad we were able to bring texasdave and Yanki01 together...GOLF!

CDMackFisher · February 21, 2015

La Cantera only had one course open, so I opted to head way off the beaten track and play The Bandit in New Braunfels...AWESOME! Keith Foster one of the best you've never heard of. Golf!

Yanki01 · February 23, 2015

the bandit is a very nice course. I enjoyed it.

pearsonified · June 16, 2015

Maaan, I have to disagree with the negative-ish comments about The Quarry. This is an EXCELLENT track with some unique shots and two very different-but-engaging nines.

The back 9 routing through the old quarry is full of strong holes (12-17 is one of the best stretches in Texas), and the swirling winds will keep you guessing the whole way home.

The Bandit (also by Keith Foster) is a wonderful track as well, and it's one of the only courses I've played in Texas that features a true (right-to-left) redan par 3. I really loved the front 9 on this one.