Jimmy Walker, Joe Jimenez, Tony Holguin…San Antonio’s relationship with golf goes back a long way with the city one of the first names mentioned in discussions on Texan golf.
In recent years, San Antonio has become one of the best golf destinations in Texas with some of the best golf courses in the state located here.
Within a 15-mile radius of the city, there are almost 30 courses of 18 holes. The vast majority of these are public courses that anyone can play.
If you’re thinking of golfing in the San Antonio area, it helps to know which are the best courses — and we’ve already done the legwork for you. Below we cover the best budget, mid-price and luxury courses in San Antonio and also break down the public/private setups for you.
Best budget golf courses in San Antonio
At the following courses, you can play 18 holes for less than $50, representing great value that almost any golfer can afford…
The Quarry Golf Course
- Address: 444 E Basse Rd, San Antonio, TX 78209. Tel: (210) 824-4500
- Green fees: $39-$89 (including carts)
- Tee times: Welcomed and bookable online
Since 1993 when it opened, the links-style Quarry Golf Course has been one of the best golf courses in San Antonio for golfers of all standards to play.
The course, which includes a driving range and measures 6740 yards, is locally owned and managed. It is located in Alamo Heights, just to the north of downtown San Antonio. The area has a long history with many of the rock formations that define the course dating back to the early 1900s, when the area was home to the Alamo Quarry.
Rolling hills, dramatic 100-foot-plus cliffs, chiseled stone, wide fairways, large greens and often-abrupt elevation changes make the Quarry a unique and challenging golf experience.
Despite its popularity with corporate outings and tourists, you can still play a round for under $40 (including cart) if you choose the right tee time (higher fees at weekends, of course).
Mission Del Lago Golf Course
- Address: 1250 Mission Grande, San Antonio, TX 78221. Tel: (210) 627 2522
- Green fees: $25-$42
- Tee times: non-refundable booking fee of $5/player for tee times 9-14 days in advance and $7.50/player for 15-30 days in advance
Mission Del Lago Golf Course is a links-style course located in the south of San Antonio near Mitchell Lake. It offers one of the most affordable rounds of 18 holes in the entire city (usually around $25-$30 per round).
The course, which measures just over 7,000 yards, features large greens, dog legs, gullies, creeks and over 100 bunkers. The often-windy conditions add an extra challenge and make it a somewhat unique golfing experience for the San Antonio area.
Mission Del Lago is one of the courses featured in the Alamo City Golf Trail, a non-profit venture that is also known as the Municipal Golf Association San Antonio (MGASA). This venture includes eight golf facilities providing a municipal golf experience that helps to keep rounds affordable for locals in the city.
There’s a large practice green, a chipping course and a driving range in addition to the Mission Del Lago course itself.
Landa Park Municipal Golf Course
- Address: 180 Golf Course Rd, New Braunfels, TX 78130. Tel: (830) 221-4340
- Green fees: $35-$49 (including carts)
- Tee times: Welcomed and bookable online
Landa Park Golf Course is another of the most popular municipal San Antonio courses on the Alamo City Golf Trail.
The course is situated on 122 acres of land next to the Comal River in New Braunfels (to the northeast of San Antonio). For a busy public course, it offers excellent golfing conditions with a countryside charm and without the slow play that afflicts some municipal courses.
Landa Park features gentle undulations, doglegs and plenty of hazards and, besides the 18 holes, there’s a short-game practice area.
As with many San Antonio golf courses, the cheapest rounds are at twilight on weekdays, with healthy discounts offered for juniors, seniors and military veterans.
The Golf Club of Texas
- Address: 13600 Briggs Ranch, San Antonio, 78245. Tel: (210) 504-2550
- Green fees: Dynamic pricing (most rounds from $19-$69)
- Tee times: Welcomed and bookable online
The grandly-named Golf Club of Texas is located to the west of San Antonio. From the stunning 16,000-square-foot cabin-style clubhouse with its full range of amenities and its beautiful views, this golf course lives up to its grand name with some ease.
The course layout is quite open with native marshlands and grassy areas incorporated, which present some unique challenges for golfers. The Golf Club of Texas underwent a major renovation in 2015, with entirely new playing surfaces installed on all 18 holes.
Practice facilities are available as well as an impressive range of dining choices.
The Golf Club of Texas follows a dynamic pricing model that adjusts green fees according to the current demand. Golfers can find rates that work for them — but it shouldn’t be too much trouble to find a round for well under $50 and sometimes real bargains can be snapped up if you’re flexible.
Olmos Basin Golf Course
- Address: 7022 McCullough Ave, San Antonio, TX 78216. Tel: (210) 826-4041
- Green fees: $36-$53
- Tee times: Bookable online
The Olmos Basin Golf Course is another of San Antonio’s best-loved municipal courses where golfers can book a round of golf for well under $50.
Located in the heart of the city itself, just north of downtown San Antonio, the course opened in 1963 and has become an institution for golfing locals, hosting many amateur tournaments.
A 2021 renovation of the course completely updated its infrastructure, making it reappear on the radars of course options for many local golfers of all ages and levels.
Olmos Basin is Alamo City Golf Trail’s most-played course, partly because of its easy-to-access location and partly because it’s a great course for beginners to cut their teeth on. Measuring 7,038 yards, it offers wide-open holes, beautiful tree-lined fairways, undulating greens, doglegs and a creek winding past many holes.
You should be able to book a round for under $40, with even better rates for seniors and military personnel.
Alsatian Golf Club
- Address: 1339 Co Rd 4516, Castroville, TX 78009. Tel: (830) 931-3100
- Green fees: $30-$64 (dynamic pricing policy)
- Tee times: Bookable online
The Alsatian Golf Club is another of the best, most affordable public golf course located to the west of San Antonio in Castroville (Medina County).
Opened in 1995, the course is relatively flat and short (6,436 yards from the longest tee) compared to many other courses in San Antonio. Its oak-lined fairways and well-protected greens give it plenty of character, though.
The amenities at the Alsatian Golf Club are more than adequate for most golfers, with a spacious clubhouse, great dining options, a terraced pool and kids’ play spaces. There’s also a driving range, practice chipping green, bunker and putting green.
If you’re prepared to walk, you can still book 18 holes at the Alsatian Golf Club for $30 from Monday to Thursday and $40 from Friday to Sunday — though the course operates a dynamic pricing policy that adjusts fees according to the demand.
Canyon Springs Golf Club
- Address: 24405 Wilderness Oak, San Antonio, TX 78258. Tel: (210) 497-1770
- Green fees: $29-$44
- Tee times: Bookable online
Canyon Springs Golf Club is located in the very north of San Antonio on former farmland.
Originally built in 1975 with nine holes, the course opened in 1987 with 18 holes. It offers a classic natural Texas Hill Country design, with rolling hills and thick woodland. The Snake River is another major feature of the course.
For added character, uniqueness and challenge, there are also two limestone waterfalls, bridges, canyon walls and patches of thick native grasses. You may even be able to spot longhorn steers and whitetail deer on your round.
Plenty of bunkers and fescue make the course extremely challenging if you don’t drive straight and true. However, that doesn’t deter many golfers from heading to the course during weekdays as well as weekends. Its premium practice facilities also attract golfers wanting to improve their short and long games.
The rates at Canyon Springs Golf Club are extremely competitive considering the quality of the course.
Best mid-price courses in San Antonio
At the following mid-price golf courses in San Antonio, you can book a round of 18 holes for less than $100…
Silverhorn Golf Club of Texas
- Address: 1100 W Bitters Rd, San Antonio, TX 78216. Tel: (210) 545-5300
- Green fees: $40-$95
- Tee times: Bookable online
Silverhorn Golf Club of Texas is another of the best city-based San Antonio courses, located just a couple of miles from the airport and 15 minutes from San Antonio’s River Walk.
Despite being a city course, Silverhorn provides a distinctive Hill Country character that is appreciated by locals and tourists alike.
The semi-private course measures 6,922 yards and is open to the public. It provides a premium golfing experience in a great location for under $100 (afternoon times can be as little as $40).
With a total of 262 scenic acres of rolling hills with mature oaks and cedar trees, the course features tree-lined fairways, creeks and contoured, elevated greens, adding challenges for golfers of all levels. There are lakes and other water hazards to be avoided too!
Silverhorn also offers a driving range and professional instructors are available for golf lessons to improve your game.
Brackenridge Park Golf Course
- Address: 3700 N St Mary’s St, San Antonio, TX 78209. Tel: (210) 207-7275
- Green fees: $55 – $72
- Tee times: Bookable online
The Brackenridge Park Golf Course is another of the main municipal courses forming part of the Alamo City Golf Trail.
This historic, tree-lined city-park course was the home of the very first Texas Open in 1922 (making it the sixth-oldest golf open in the world) and it retains its charm to this day.
This, together with a prized location just to the north of downtown San Antonio and its restoration in 2008, make it an extremely popular course that is a little pricier than other municipal courses on the Trail.
The esteemed reputation of Brackenridge is supported by it now being home to the Texas Golf Hall of Fame and the Texas Tournament Trophy Room.
Note that despite its higher green fees than other municipal courses in San Antonio, you can still book a round for less than $50 if you are a senior or in the military — or if you enjoy twilight rounds.
Olympia Hills Golf Club
- Address: 12900 Mt Olympus, Universal City, TX 78148. Tel: (210) 945-4653
- Green fees: $55-$65
- Tee times: Bookable online
Olympia Hills Golf Club is located in Universal City, to the northeast of San Antonio and part of a large golf and event center.
As a premium course, Olympia Hills offers beautiful views, a remodeled clubhouse and banquet room and a well-manicured,18-hole golf course. Golfers enjoy the narrow fairways, elevation changes, natural undulations and breathtaking views, with picturesque live oaks and abundant native vegetation and wildlife.
If you’re there for a wedding or other event with a large group of guests, you can also take advantage of its top-tier golf practice facility, a full-length driving range and a 10,000 square foot short game area with a putting green, chipping area and practice sand bunker. Professional instruction is also provided for more golfers determined to improve their game.
Walk-in public rates are offered at $55-$65 but you can play for considerably less if you plan for a twilight round or are a junior, senior, military or Universal City resident.
The Resort Course at Tapatio Springs
- Address: 1 Resort Way, Boerne, TX 78006. Tel: (830) 443-9681
- Green fees: $40-$85
- Tee times: Bookable online. Closed to public play on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Just to the northwest of San Antonio is a town called Boerne and just beyond this, in the undulating hills of the Texas Hill Country, you’ll find the Tapatio Springs resort golf course.
This course is open to the public five days a week — while guests at the resort can enjoy a lot more than golf and wonderful views: fine dining, live music events, wine tasting, boutique shopping, hikes, Guadalupe River trips and more are all offered at this peaceful retreat in the countryside.
With a $2 million renovation in 2015, the Resort Course was named the Most Improved Public Golf Course in the Country by Golf Inc. Magazine. It is suitable for golfers of all levels and meanders through rolling hills and towering live oaks,
You can even get your golf clubs delivered to the resort and schedule their return delivery using Ship Sticks.
Best luxury golf courses in San Antonio
The best luxury golf courses in San Antonios are over $100 a round but offer something a little extra for your money…
La Cantera Golf Club
- Address: 16641 La Cantera Pkwy, San Antonio, TX 78256. Tel: (210) 558-6500
- Green fees: $80-$160 (cheaper twilight rates available)
- Tee times: 6 am-7 pm daily bookable online or by phone
La Cantera Golf Club is part of a premium resort and spa located in the northwest of San Antonio. It offers breathtaking views of the Hill Country, downtown San Antonio and Six Flags Fiesta Texas from one of the highest points in the area.
The resort itself has just under 500 luxury rooms and, besides golf, offers six pools, health club and spa services, tennis courts, fine dining, kids club, three hot tubs, spacious meeting space and more.
The golf course is a full 7,000 yards with frequent elevation changes and tricky false fronts. There are natural water features to navigate with swift running streams, as well as magnificent live oak trees, limestone rock outcroppings and scores of white sand bunkers.
Hill Country Golf Club
- Address: 9800 Hyatt Resort Dr, San Antonio, TX 78251. Tel: (210) 520-4040
- Green fees: $70-$156
- Tee times: Bookable online
The Hill Country Golf Club operates from the Hyatt Resort, which is a premier property providing a range of Hill Country experiences around 20 minutes to the west of downtown San Antonio.
There are 27 holes on offer at the championship golf course, with the TPC San Antonio Oaks course hosting the Valero Texas Open since 2010. The 27 holes encompass three nine-hole courses (The Oaks, The Lakes and The Creeks).
The courses are open to the public and cover over 200 acres of natural landscape with diverse terrain and scenic views: link-style rolling meadows and lush hillsides give way to tree-shaded plateaus, tranquil lakes and serene ponds.
If you’re not staying at the resort, you can still play if you’re prepared to stump up for the higher green fees. As well as the course itself, you’ll find a pro shop, a full-service clubhouse, and a practice area with putting green and golf instructional available.
Public vs private vs resort golf courses
There are several important differences between municipal, public, private, semi-private and resort courses beyond simple green fees.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Municipal courses: owned and/or managed by the city, town or county.
- Public courses: privately owned and operated (by individuals, real estate development companies or corporations) but open for the public to play. Many of the best ones are designed by experienced course architects (sometimes with the help of ex-players).
- Semi-private courses: open to the public but also offer memberships for those who want to pay for priority tee times, reduced green fee rates and other perks.
- Private courses: these courses usually require membership of the golf club (or registration as a guest) to play a round of golf. In return for paid membership, golfers enjoy less crowded courses, high-quality fairways/greens, dining/social activities, etc.
- Resort courses: many of these are technically public courses (no membership is required) but restrict public access by requiring that you stay at the resort if you want to play golf there.
Best public golf courses in San Antonio
Many candidates vie for the title of the best public golf course in San Antonio. Much comes down to personal golfing preferences but there are more than enough choices outlined above to keep you interested: from downtown courses to the rolling Hill Country west of the city.
San Antonio has built a strong golfing reputation for locals and tourists alike and you can choose from the following well-affordable courses to work on your game:
- The Quarry Golf Course
- Mission Del Lago Golf Course
- Landa Park Municipal Golf Course
- The Golf Club of Texas
- Olmos Basin Golf Course
- Alsatian Golf Club
- Canyon Springs Golf Club
- SilverHorn Golf Club of Texas
Improve your short game in your backyard…
Do you regularly play at any of the above public, private or resort golf courses in San Antonio? If so, how about improving your short game from the comfort of your backyard?
Artificial grass putting greens have become popular in recent years, thanks to the advancements in synthetic putting green turf and more affordable prices for fully installed golfing areas.
Putting green turf requires virtually no maintenance to perfectly mimic the roll of a golf ball on natural grass. It’s cost-effective over the long term compared to natural grass and is an excellent way to improve putting and chipping without even leaving home.
Your backyard putting green will look pristine all year round without mowing, watering, fertilizing, aerating or weedkilling and will stand up well to heavy usage and the hot Texan sunshine.At Artificial Grass Pros, our team can look after everything from green design to installation. Discuss your ideas with a professional by calling us at 512.269.1500.
