The Classics

For golf history buffs, San Antonio has lots of courses. But you'll need your A~game to pass their tests. Here are two that top the list:

Brackenridge Park Golf Course
Known to locals as "01' Brack;' it hosted the first Texas Open in 1922 and is the oldest public track in the state. Nearly a century after it opened, Brack remains a purist's paradise - but it hasn't remained trapped in time. A.W Tillinghast designed it in 1915, and rhe city blessed it with $6 million in upgrades just last year. The course will also serve as the fitting home to the Texas Golf Hall of Fame.

Pecan Valley Golf Club
This tight, tree-lined layout hosted the 1968 PGA Championship, where Julius Boros edged Arnold Palmer in one of golf's most compelling final rounds. Thanks to $5.5 million in recent improvements, this old~school course stays in mint condition year 'round.

The Contemporary

Even throwback golfers enjoy modern-day indulgence, and San Antonio doesn't disappoint. Consider these luxurious destinations:

Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa
This resplendent retreat, just down the road from Sea World San Antonio, sports 27 scenic golf holes by acclaimed architect Arthur Hills. Awash in rainbow~colored wildflowers in the spring, the surrounding hillsides are a sight for sore eyes. As for the on-property spa, it's just the thing for other aches and pains.

Westin La Cantera Resort
Another A-list destination, this 508-room resort sports two championship layouts; the challenging Palmer Course and the award-winning Resort Course, which was designed by architect Jay Moorish and PGA Tour star Tom Weiskopf and was host to the PGA TOUR's Valero Texas Open. Both courses stretch alongside the Six Flags Fiesta Texas theme park. You can even see the spines of thrill rides from several fairways and tees.