New Texas Golf Bible details pilgrimages for golf travelers

By David R. Holland, Contributor

DALLAS, Texas -- If Jason Stone's fingers are sore it's not hard to figure out why.

The native Texan just finished his 800-page book on Texas golf. That's a lot of keystrokes on the computer producing the most complete print travel guide yet. It's a pilgrimage through the country roads of West Texas, through the Rio Grande Valley to the Gulf Coast and the concrete jungle of the Lone Star State's Interstate system playing on layouts of every style imaginable.

But its goal was to include every course in Texas -- tiny municipal, expensive daily-fee and historic private clubs. What a ride. It's called "The Texas Golf Bible".

What Stone suggests is a golf trip. Pack the Bible, fill the ice chest with your favorite brew, take along the fishing gear, throw the clubs in the back of the truck, wander the back roads and play golf. You can have a specific agenda or you can just go where the highway takes you.

"The Texas Golf Bible" separates the state into eight regions, with up-to-date, detailed descriptions of more than 900 courses and 430 cities.

This guide is so complete, Stone even comments on GolfTexas.com. "The folks who write for GolfTexas.com do a phenomenal job," Stone said.

The author, from Midland, played hundreds of Texas courses during his research. For more information visit texasgolfbible.com or contact Robin Stone, robin@fandangopublishing.com or (214) 357-2222.

Twin Creeks opens Couples' design

The Austin area, a burgeoning golf mecca, has another upscale private club opening in Twin Creeks Country Club, a 760-acre residential community located in the Cedar Park. The Fred Couples Signature Course, designed by Schmidt-Curley Golf Design, is a 7,000-yard course in the scenic Texas Hill Country.

Thirteen of the 18 holes at Twin Creeks feature natural ravines and creek beds along rolling terrain, 100-year-old pecan and oak trees and rock outcroppings. During a round of golf, members drive or walk over 22 bridges to cross the namesake creeks.

Members will practice on a 10-acre driving range and relax in a 25,000-square-foot Clubhouse. An historic building dating back to 1859 still stands on Twin Creeks' grounds as a reminder of the area's rich history.

Twin Creeks is located approximately three miles south of U.S. Highway 183, just west of the intersection of Anderson Mill Road and Cypress Creek Road. For more information call (512) 331-5900 or visit twincreekscountryclub.com.

Finchem opens Falconhead near Lake Travis

PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem was on hand to open Falconhead Golf Club, the world's first PGA Tour Signature Series golf course near Austin.

The Signature Series was initiated as a notch below Tournament Players Club courses, such as the Four Seasons TPC Course in Irving, host for the Byron Nelson Championship. But unlike the TPC courses, the PGA Tour has no ownership or management at Falconhead.

Green fees will be under $100, unlike TPC courses. Falconhead measures 7,302 yards from the back tees, traversing 169 former ranch land acres near the intersection of Texas 71 and RM 620. It was designed by Chris Gray, vice president for PGA Tour Design Services Inc.

For more information log on to falconheadaustin.com or call (512) 267-1226.

Spotlight on Beacon Lakes Golf Course

Looking for a unique golf outing that shines bright even into the evening? How about Beacon Lakes Golf Course? They claim it is the world's longest lighted 18-hole golf course. It's located in Dickinson, just south of Houston on the way to Galveston.

Built in 1996 and designed by Charles and Dean Wilson, this course features mean ball-losing rough and water hazards on 13 of the 18 holes. Narrow fairways are tree-lined and elevated greens are large and moderately undulating. Avoid the 47 bunkers on your lighted journey that covers 6,777 yards at par of 72.

More than 40,000 rounds a year are played here with the course being opened from 7 a.m. to midnight. Additional responsibilities for the maintenance staff? How about changing light bulbs? Log on to beaconlakesgolf.com for more information or call (281) 337-1459.

New Mexico's Paa-Ko Ridge lands another honor

Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club, located above Albuquerque in the Sandia Mountains, has been named by The Golfer Magazine as one of the premier desert courses in the world in their "Best of the World 2003" edition.

Others ranked include Cascata in Boulder City, NV; Desert Highlands, Estancia, Talking Stick, and Troon in Scottsdale, AZ; Desert Forest in Carefree, AZ; Dubai Creek in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; The Quarry in La Quinta, Ca; and The Vintage Club in Indian Wells, CA.

Paa-Ko Ridge, No. 1-rated course in New Mexico, is ranked ahead of all of the courses mentioned above, except for Dubai, in Golfweek's Top 100 Modern Courses in America rankings.

This and that

Irving's Four Seasons Resort and Club is offering a Champions Golf Package, which features a room, complimentary twilight golf at the Four Seasons Tournament Players Course on the day of arrival, one reserved tee time and a complimentary replay round on the same day for just the price of a $25 cart fee, beginning at $295 per night. Log on to four seasons. for more contact information.

The Tribute Golf Club located in The Colony has announced it will make caddies and fore caddies available through the Caddie Club of Dallas. Call (972) 370-5465 for more information.

August 1, 2003