BRIGGS RANCH GOLF CLUB
RUNDOWN: Briggs Ranch was acquired by the newly formed Dormie Network. The Dormie Network is comprised of six high end facilities that cater to a national and business style membership. Their goal is to provide a high end experience to all their members and guests, no matter where they visit. They go above and beyond to make sure you feel welcome at any of the clubs. They let no small detail go unnoticed so they can ensure that you have a fantastic experience wherever you may be teeing it up.
Located on the outskirts of San Antonio, Briggs Ranch has a laid back and relaxed feel to it. From the moment we entered the gates we were welcomed openly. We spent the next four days on property with no need to leave. We ate, slept and played golf with no thoughts of needing to venture away from Briggs Ranch. We stayed in the newly finished casitas and they were nothing short of fantastic! Placed right along the first hole we had everything we needed to enjoy ourselves after our round. It also made it very easy to get to the course for our tee time and of course to the clubhouse for our meals. The meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner were all top notch! If we could offer a suggestion, don't skip out on the bacon slab or smoked brisket queso for your appetizer. Follow it up with a perfectly cooked Filet or some Blackbuck Venison and you will not regret any of your decisions!
Tom Fazio did a fantastic job of using the topography of the land here. While there isn't a ton of elevation change compared to some of the courses we played out west this year, you will come across many hills and slopes that you will need to maneuver. Most of the greens have hills that will help or hurt you depending on where you land. The hills made it extremely fun for each of us as we learned where we could and could not be near the greens. On the other hand, the hills made it extremely difficult for us at times too. Getting to know this course will definitely help you with your scoring.
COURSE INFO AND DIRECTIONS
Designed by Tom Fazio in 2001.
Currently Ranked #19 in the State of Texas on the Golf Digest Best In State Courses.
Private golf course, part of the Dormie Network.
6 sets of tees ranging from 4,898 to 7,247 yards.
https://www.dormienetwork.com/briggsranch/
210.670.9400 2818 Rustler's Trail, San Antonio, TX 78245
Located on the outskirts of San Antonio, Briggs Ranch has a laid back and relaxed feel to it. From the moment we entered the gates we were welcomed openly. We spent the next four days on property with no need to leave. We ate, slept and played golf with no thoughts of needing to venture away from Briggs Ranch. We stayed in the newly finished casitas and they were nothing short of fantastic! Placed right along the first hole we had everything we needed to enjoy ourselves after our round. It also made it very easy to get to the course for our tee time and of course to the clubhouse for our meals. The meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner were all top notch! If we could offer a suggestion, don't skip out on the bacon slab or smoked brisket queso for your appetizer. Follow it up with a perfectly cooked Filet or some Blackbuck Venison and you will not regret any of your decisions!
Tom Fazio did a fantastic job of using the topography of the land here. While there isn't a ton of elevation change compared to some of the courses we played out west this year, you will come across many hills and slopes that you will need to maneuver. Most of the greens have hills that will help or hurt you depending on where you land. The hills made it extremely fun for each of us as we learned where we could and could not be near the greens. On the other hand, the hills made it extremely difficult for us at times too. Getting to know this course will definitely help you with your scoring.
COURSE INFO AND DIRECTIONS
Designed by Tom Fazio in 2001.
Currently Ranked #19 in the State of Texas on the Golf Digest Best In State Courses.
Private golf course, part of the Dormie Network.
6 sets of tees ranging from 4,898 to 7,247 yards.
https://www.dormienetwork.com/briggsranch/
210.670.9400 2818 Rustler's Trail, San Antonio, TX 78245
REVIEW AND HIGHLIGHTS
Hole 3 Par 3 - 212 Yards
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This longer par 3 comes in as a good representation of all the par 3's on this course. They are all going to test your iron game in order to score well. None of the par 3's were very easy for us on this trip. That could have been in part to our two month break from golf in Idaho. But it's also in part to the bunkering that sits around the greens. Fazio did a fantastic job of bunkering on the course and they are definitely meant to torment you. The bunker on the right side will make it tough to use the friendly hill on the right of the green, just ask me since I visited it a couple of times. The deep bunkers on the left will make you think twice before challenging any pins on the left half of the green. Overall, the play is to aim a little right and use the hill to bring the ball back to the pin.
Hole 4 Par 4 - 345 Yards
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Everything about this hole screams layup and play it smart. However, I think we may have followed that advice one time out here. It looks to be very inviting for a driver with a small fade that will roll out near the putting surface. While that was the plan most of the time, this hole quickly hurt our score if we were not careful. A hybrid off the tee to the open fairway will provide a wedge into this elevated green. On the other hand, bomb away with the driver and you could be left with a short pitch up the hill. Either way you look at this hole, make sure your approach gets all the way onto the putting surface! Anything short will end up in the deep bunker or rolling back to your feet in the fairway. The putting surface has a decent backstop with the hill behind the green. Do not be afraid to take a little more club to ensure you stay up on the putting surface. There aren't a lot of gimme putts to be found here either. If it is rolling quick you will need to guard against putting it off the green. Hopefully you can score well here, but a par will not hurt you at all!
Hole 6 Par 4 - 438 Yards
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Here on number six you will find the only water on the course. With everything in the fairway sloping hard from right to left, you will need to be careful so your ball doesn't go for a swim. There is ample room to the right and everything will funnel your shot to the short grass as long as you don't play a hard hook or hit the dreaded snap hook here. The approach shot here will need to be played like your tee shot too. Everything near the green slopes hard from right to left and looks to push anything short into the greenside bunker. You can get creative here with your approach shot and work the ball from the right side and let it fall down towards the pin. Long and right could lead to a tough chip shot, so keep your distances dialed in and give birdie a go here.
Hole 11 Par 5 - 595 Yards
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The first par 5 on the back nine is only reachable in two if you really catch everything off the tee and on your approach. Everything was rolling quick when we visited and Kevin managed to reach the putting surface in two on a couple of occasions. For the most part though, you will be hitting the surface in three. The drive here can be intimidating if you have a right to left shot shape as the fairway bunkers are deep and will hold up any attempt to advance your ball down the fairway. You will then have to maneuver around the large bunker that sits close to your second shot landing zone. We were able to avoid this one on the trip and thank goodness as the bunker face would force you to layup on your third shot as well. The green is well guarded and slopes from right to left. Use that slope so you can avoid having to take on the bunkers. We didn't get away with an eagle here but we both had a couple of birdies on this well laid out par 5!
Hole 13 Par 5 - 603 Yards
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I'd have to say this hole may lead the way as my favorite on the course. It's a beast of a par 5 and will test your long game for sure! There is a ton of room to the left side of the fairway but that will make the hole play very long! Go ahead and swing for the fences here as a drive down the middle will carry the fairway bunker and shoot down the fairway for a much more manageable approach shot. This may still be a three shot hole to reach the green, unless you can uncork one towards the left side of the putting surface. Either way, you need to position yourself properly for your approach shot. Anything left will feed towards the putting surface while the right side will provide a harsh kick if the pin is on the left. A layup on the right side of the fairway provided one of the more fun approach shots on the course. The green and the hills around it made this hole my favorite to play. You have a large hill behind the putting surface that can be used to feed your ball towards the pin. You will not have to be afraid to take a little more club here as everything feeds back towards you. There is also a large ridge that works its way through the middle of the green that can help or hurt you depending on the pin position. Once again, it can be used to feed the ball towards a right side pin position. It however can really hurt you if you stay on the top level of the green with the pin on the right. It is next to impossible to stop any putt from the top level to the lower level. So enjoy the options here, but make sure to get it right!
Hole 14 Par 4 - 314 Yards
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Everybody loves a drivable par 4! Something about having the chance for an eagle putt on a par 4 just speaks to people. While this one is drivable, you better be able to shape the ball right to left to make it work out. Double cross yourself off the tee and you can kiss your ball goodbye in the thick and thorny Texas bush. The large bunker plays down the entirety of the fairway and butts up against the putting surface. Carrying it off the tee will require a booming shot off the big stick. If you happen to play it just right then congratulations will be in order. There is plenty of room short if you want to play it safe and give yourself an easy and short approach shot into the green. However, I imagine that if you have any shot of hitting it this far, you will defiantly be going for the green in one!
Here are the Casitas from above. Check out Instagram for some of the videos we posted on our story!
Make sure to enjoy some of the food while you are here...
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