South Central
San Antonio, Texas
TPC championship golf, Riverwalk dining, and Texas Hill Country value — the overlooked gem of Southern golf trips.
Overview
San Antonio is the value play in Texas championship golf. The flagship is TPC San Antonio, home of the PGA TOUR's Valero Texas Open, where two world-class courses — The Oaks (Greg Norman design) and The Canyons (Pete Dye design) — sit on the grounds of the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, one of the largest and most impressive resort properties in the state. Add La Cantera Golf Club's Resort Course (Weiskopf-Morrish design with stunning hilltop views), The Quarry Golf Club (a Keith Foster design carved through a former limestone quarry that is one of the most visually unique courses in Texas), and Briggs Ranch (a private Dormie Network club with limited guest access), and you have four to five days of excellent, varied golf.
What makes San Antonio special for groups is the Riverwalk. This tree-lined pedestrian corridor along the San Antonio River is the social hub of the city — miles of restaurants, bars, shops, and hotels connected by water taxis and stone walkways. After a day on the course, your group can dine at world-class Tex-Mex restaurants, catch live music, and bar-hop without ever getting in a car. The Alamo, the Pearl District's food halls and breweries, and the thriving culinary scene round out the non-golf experience.
San Antonio also benefits from being less expensive than Austin or Scottsdale for comparable quality golf. Hotel rates, dining costs, and even green fees trend 15-25% lower than Austin, making this an excellent choice for groups who want championship-level golf and a vibrant city experience without premium pricing.
Courses · 5
TPC San Antonio — The Oaks Course
Resort · Championship
$200-$350
Best for: Serious golfers who want to play where the PGA TOUR plays. The Oaks is the tournament course — championship conditioning and setup.
Insider tip: The Oaks was co-designed by Greg Norman and Sergio Garcia, and the course rewards aggressive, shaped tee shots. The wind on the exposed Hill Country ridges can add two clubs — check the forecast and pack wind gear. Walk it if you can — the elevation changes and canyon views are best experienced on foot.
TPC San Antonio — The Canyons Course
Resort · Challenging
$175-$300
Best for: Groups who want the Pete Dye experience — visual intimidation, creative hazards, and strategic shot-making. An excellent complement to the Norman-designed Oaks.
Insider tip: Pete Dye designed The Canyons, and his trademark railroad ties and optical illusions are throughout. If you have never played a Pete Dye course, prepare for tee shots that look tighter than they are and greens that are more severe than they appear. Trust the design and hit to the fat side of the green.
La Cantera Golf Club — Resort Course
Resort/Public · Moderate-Challenging
$100-$165
Best for: Groups who want a quality resort course at a fair price with exceptional views. The hilltop setting provides panoramic San Antonio and Hill Country vistas.
Insider tip: La Cantera sits at the highest point in San Antonio — the views are the best in the city from a golf course. The Tom Weiskopf-Jay Morrish design rewards accuracy over power. Formerly a 36-hole facility, the Palmer Course closed in 2021 — book the Resort Course, which is the surviving and better-regarded layout.
The Quarry Golf Club
Public · Moderate
$59-$145
Best for: Every group should play here once. The quarry holes are unlike anything else in Texas golf. A strong value play with a one-of-a-kind visual experience.
Insider tip: The front nine plays through a traditional parkland setting, then the back nine drops into the former Alamo Cement Company quarry. The transition is jarring and spectacular. Holes 11-16 are played inside the quarry pit with 100-foot limestone walls surrounding you. Take photos. Bring extra balls for the quarry holes — the walls create unpredictable bounces.
Briggs Ranch Golf Club
Private (Limited Guest Access) · Championship
$125-$200
Best for: Golf enthusiasts in the group who can arrange access. Tom Fazio design with immaculate conditioning and an exclusive feel.
Insider tip: If anyone in your group has a Dormie Network connection, Briggs Ranch is worth the effort. The Tom Fazio design is a pure golf experience — no houses, no condos, just Hill Country terrain and championship conditioning. Lunch at the clubhouse is included and excellent.
Lodging
Premium
JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa
$350-$600The anchor property. 1,002 rooms, two TPC courses on-property, a 9-acre water park, full spa, multiple restaurants, and a lazy river. This is a massive resort that caters to families and golf groups equally. Stay-and-play packages are the most cost-effective way to access TPC San Antonio. Group rates available for 10+ rooms.
La Cantera Resort & Spa
$275-$500496-room resort with the La Cantera Golf Club on-property. Full spa, adult-only pool, multiple dining options. Perched on a hilltop with stunning views. A slightly more intimate feel than the massive JW Marriott. The Palmer Course is closed, but the Resort Course is excellent.
Mid-Range
Hotel Emma (Pearl District)
$300-$500Boutique luxury in a restored 19th-century brewhouse in the Pearl District. Walking distance to the Riverwalk, incredible restaurants, and the Pearl Farmers Market. No golf on-property but the best location for off-course dining and nightlife. A design-forward choice for groups who value character.
Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk
$200-$350Prime Riverwalk location. Walking distance to everything downtown — restaurants, bars, The Alamo, water taxis. No golf but central for groups splitting time between courses and city experiences. Rooftop bar with Riverwalk views.
Budget
Drury Inn & Suites San Antonio Northwest Medical Center
$130-$200Drury is a beloved Midwest chain that delivers exceptional value — complimentary hot breakfast and a 5:30pm Kickback (free drinks and hot food). Located between downtown and TPC San Antonio. The Kickback saves your group $30-40/person on one dinner.
Hampton Inn San Antonio Downtown Riverwalk
$150-$225Reliable chain near the Riverwalk with complimentary breakfast. Walking distance to downtown attractions and restaurants. A practical budget base for groups who want Riverwalk access without resort pricing.
Dining
Mi Tierra Cafe & Bakery
$$Tex-Mex / Mexican
San Antonio institution since 1941 in the historic Market Square. Open 24 hours. The interior is a technicolor explosion of papel picado and Christmas lights. Massive portions, strong margaritas, live mariachi bands. This is the quintessential San Antonio dining experience. Large groups are easily accommodated.
Biga on the Banks
$$$$Contemporary American
Upscale Riverwalk dining with an inventive menu from chef Bruce Auden. This is the splurge dinner — elegant without being stuffy, creative without being pretentious. Private dining available for groups of 8-16. Riverwalk patio seating is coveted.
2M Smokehouse
$$Texas BBQ / Tex-Mex BBQ
The best BBQ in San Antonio, blending traditional Texas BBQ with Mexican flavors. The brisket tacos are legendary. The chicharron mac is addictive. Lines form early on weekends but move fast. A must-visit for BBQ lovers.
Cured at the Pearl
$$$Charcuterie / Southern
Located in the Pearl District. House-cured meats, creative Southern cuisine, and an outstanding cocktail program. The Pearl District itself is worth an evening — multiple restaurants, bars, and the weekend farmers market all within walking distance.
Ostra
$$$Seafood / Mediterranean
Riverwalk seafood restaurant with a raw bar, wood-fired dishes, and waterfront patio seating. Excellent cocktails. A lighter alternative to the steak-and-BBQ rotation. Group-friendly with flexible seating.
Schilo's Delicatessen
$German Deli
San Antonio's oldest restaurant, open since 1917. German-influenced comfort food — Reuben sandwiches, split pea soup, and homemade root beer. A quick, affordable lunch that is pure San Antonio history. No frills, all character.
Pro Tips
- 1
Book the JW Marriott TPC San Antonio stay-and-play package — it bundles accommodations with rounds on The Oaks and Canyons at a significant discount over the rack rate. Playing both TPC courses in one trip gives you the Norman vs. Dye architectural contrast.
- 2
Play The Quarry on your first day. It is the most fun, most affordable, and most visually unique course in San Antonio — and the quarry holes make for the best photos of your trip. Save TPC for when your game is sharper.
- 3
Spend at least one evening on the Riverwalk even if you are staying at the resorts. The water taxi is a genuinely fun way to move between restaurants. Start at the Pearl District and work south.
- 4
The Valero Texas Open (usually March/April) transforms the city into a golf town. If your trip overlaps, attend a practice round — the access is excellent and the atmosphere is electric. Book hotels early during tournament week.
- 5
San Antonio is 15-25% cheaper than Austin or Scottsdale for comparable golf and lodging quality. This makes it an excellent value play for groups watching their budget without compromising on the experience.
Sample Itineraries
weekend getaway
3 daysDay 1: Arrive at SAT, check into JW Marriott, afternoon round on TPC Canyons, dinner on the Riverwalk at Mi Tierra. Day 2: Morning round on TPC Oaks (the Valero Texas Open course), lunch at the resort, afternoon at the spa or pool, dinner at Biga on the Banks on the Riverwalk. Day 3: Morning round at The Quarry (the unique quarry holes), lunch at 2M Smokehouse, depart.
full trip
5 daysDay 1: Arrive, check into JW Marriott, afternoon round on TPC Canyons, casual dinner on-property. Day 2: Morning round on TPC Oaks, lunch at the resort, afternoon visiting The Alamo and Riverwalk, dinner at Cured in the Pearl District. Day 3: Morning round at La Cantera Resort Course (hilltop views), afternoon at Natural Bridge Caverns or free time, big group dinner at Biga on the Banks. Day 4: Morning round at The Quarry (the must-play), afternoon exploring the Pearl District and San Antonio Missions, dinner at 2M Smokehouse and Riverwalk bar-hopping. Day 5: Optional morning round (replay TPC Oaks or Quarry), lunch at Schilo's Deli, depart.
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