Recently, I had the privilege of playing the new Boot Ranch in Fredericksburg with other members of my staff as we had gathered to make plans for 2007.
I have to agree with Carl Mickelson that you have to keep an eye on successful PGA Tour players because they really know how to dream big. Earlier in this publication he wrote, “If there was any doubt 1982 PGA Championship winner and 2004 Ryder Cup captain Hal Sutton’s ability to shoot for the moon, he erased it with his vision for and development of Boot Ranch. There’s nothing ordinary about this 2,200-acre luxury country club community perched in the broad, rugged hills near Fredericksburg.”
The golf course plays through every type of Hill Country terrain, showcasing the area’s natural beauty. This is never more evident than on the par 4 No. 10 hole. Your approach there must carry over winding Palo Alto Creek with a breath-taking, multi-tiered waterfall off to the left. The uncommonly inspired view from the elevated No. 15 tee spurred 1956 Masters champion and longtime Sutton mentor Jackie Burke to quip, “God used up a lot of paintbrushes on this view.”
It was on this tee that my group was surprised to drive up and find a staff member there with cheese and wine. Of course, we took time to take in the view and enjoy our snack.
Another attraction is that each twosome is assigned a caddie. I’m not sure our caddies could do all of what they are normally assigned to do since they had to spend so much time looking for balls hit into places that they may have never seen before. Luckily, that particular golfer had plenty of balls.
I definitely have Boot Ranch on my list of golf courses to visit again.
—Scott Talley |
