There are two things I adore in this life: traveling and golfing.
Now, when I get to combine these two admirations together, it is a win-win. I feel alive. I feel blessed.
Being able to experience new places and new golf courses is a dream come true. It is extremely gratifying to soak in the great outdoors on the golf course, to down a few cold ones, and enjoy the rollercoaster of emotions that is golf.
This is your guide to an epic golf trip in the heart of Texas hill country and the host of the newest edition of Big Break x Good Good.
Horseshoe Bay Resort: A golf haven
Prior to this adventure, Texas hill country was an afterthought for me. Unless you’ve been there before, I don’t feel like it is a first-choice golf destination for most. Yet, if you just give it a try, I’m convinced you won’t be disappointed. It has EVERYTHING.
Horseshoe Bay Resort features three fully accessible golf courses and one private golf course:
- Slick Rock
- Apple Rock
- Ram Rock
- Summit Rock
To top it off, they also have an 18-hole putting course, “Whitewater.” It’s the perfect place to settle any and all bets. If this doesn’t scream “guys’ golf trip”, I don’t know what else to tell you.
Slick Rock
Have you ever played a “Million-Dollar Hole”? Yeah, you read that correctly. I kid you not, Slick Rock has a million-dollar “golf” hole and it features waterfalls.
The 14th hole gets all the buzz but this golf course is a blast overall. Some resort courses can be tricky. Not this one. Slick Rock, the original course here that opened in 1972, has character and it will test your golf game. However, there are birdies to be made.
Of the three publicly accessible courses, I found Slick Rock to be the most golfer-friendly. It has the lowest course and slope rating of the three resort golf courses at 73.2/134 from the back tees. There are several holes that are forgiving off the tee. Approach shots aren’t as daunting, either, but watch out for holes 4 and 18.
If you have an extra day of golf, you’ll likely spend it replaying Slick Rock.
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Apple Rock
Apple Rock is the perfect blend of beauty and beast. Arguably the most scenic of the three resort courses, Robert Trent Jones Sr. routed it closely to Lake LBJ and up and over the hilly terrain. At 75.4/136, Apple Rock will eat your lunch in heartbeat if your game isn’t sharp.
Holes 7 and 10 truly give you an appreciation for how big Horseshoe Bay Resort is. On the tee boxes, you can see glimpses of Lake LBJ. No. 10 gives you a bird’s eye view of the lake and the surrounding environment. We played it in the afternoon and I highly recommend playing the course while the sun is setting. The views are majestic. I can still envision the spectacular view on the 10th tee as the sun sets and the shadows lengthen.
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Ram Rock
Where do I begin? How about, “Good luck!”
Ram Rock is the known as “The Challenger” for good reason. It has the highest course rating and slope of the three resort courses at 75.6/137. This is a shot-maker’s golf course. Ram Rock has played host to the Texas State Open, USGA qualifying events and a plethora of other highly competitive events.
Robert Trent Jones Sr. tours you up and down the hill country. The opening hole is deceitful. It is a downhill, pretty open par-4. Maybe, just maybe, you start off with a par and you feel good but just wait. Like the routing of the golf course, your round of golf will be a rollercoaster.
Tight fairways and doglegs are the theme here. There are several demanding approach shots as well to well-guarded green complexes. From start to finish, Ram Rock is a shot-maker’s course and it will test everyone who sets foot on it.
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Summit Rock
If you can play Summit Rock, do it.
Summit Rock is a Jack Nicklaus Signature Course. Some have even touted it as “Nicklaus’ best work.” My opinion? This golf course is phenomenal.
Here, Nicklaus and his team incorporate the topography of the hill country beautifully. There are stunning views and numerous elevation changes. You start down below, work your way up the hillside, maneuver across and through the hillside, and eventually weave your way back down to the closing stretch of holes.
Summit Rock will challenge you every step of the way. Of the four courses, it is my favorite. Challenging, but fair. As a nature lover, I appreciated every moment of it.
The one caveat to resort guests is that Summit Rock is a members’ only facility. Members and their guests have privileges to this masterpiece via a “Summit Membership.” The Summit Membership is the premier membership option at The Club at Horseshoe Bay Resort.
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Do you need to sharpen your golf game?
In 2025, Horseshoe Bay Resort opened their state-of-the-art golf academy. The Golf Academy at Horseshoe Bay Resort features indoor bays and simulators, outdoor bays and a practice putting green. Clinics and lessons are available to resort guests and members.
PGA Tour veteran Rich Beem, the winner of the 2002 PGA Championship who grew up in El Paso, is an influential piece to the development of The Golf Academy at Horseshoe Bay Resort. Part of the experience is participating in hands-on clinics and lessons with him and Director of Instruction Bobby Steiner. Certainly, that’s a memory to last a lifetime.
The golf academy sits at the bottom of the Ram Rock and Apple Rock driving range.
More than just a golf resort
I am a golfer first and foremost. Naturally, I am going to highlight all of the golf amenities at Horseshoe Bay Resort. But, damn, there is much more to do at this luxurious Texas getaway. Here is a full list of amenities for resort guests to grasp the full range of this “experience.”
- Pools and beaches
- Marina
- Award-winning golf
- Bayside Spa
- Tennis and pickleball
- Peseo Fitness Center
- Whitewater Putting
- Bronco off-road adventures
- Jungle Kids Club
- An aviary
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Go play Texas golf. Go to Horseshoe Bay Resort
Horseshoe Bay Resort is creating their own buzz and separating themselves as a premier golf trip destination. Three outstanding golf courses, lake life adventures and outstanding Texan hospitality. Hey, pardner, this is your “poke” to go check out one of finest golf and lake resorts anywhere..
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