Golf Course Review: Heritage Ranch Golf Club - Texas

Our last stop on the 2016 Dallas Invitational was at Heritage Ranch Golf Club in Fairview, Texas. Most guys would be heading home after this and some would be packing up there clubs for the season. So it was only fitting to have a great weather day followed by a perfect day of golf at Heritage Ranch Golf Club. A beautiful bookend to our buddies golf trip.

 

The course was immaculate from tee to green. Rolling hills typical of most Texas golf courses made some shots more daunting.

 

The nice variety of trees at Heritage Ranch makes the layout more challenging. Including this beautiful oak tree which sits before the green on #17. Definitely makes you think out your approach to the green.

 

Heritage Ranch has some great risk/reward par 4s. Take driver and hope for a nice Texas roll or play it safe with hybrid and wedge. Here's #15 always fun to have a hole like this on a golf course they tend to be the most intriguing for the average golfer.

 

 

 

Hole #1 a beautiful drive from Richard. No nerves here, I think Richard like this drive.

 

Nice wide fairways makes for generous landing areas especially on hole #8 a nice 534 yds. par 5. The Bermuda grass rough at Heritage Ranch was kept to a nice length, not too penalizing.

 

Water comes into play on some holes at Heritage Ranch. Definitely intimidating especially on your second shot on the 2nd hole the 383 yd. par 4.

 

 

A long tough par 3 #4 can be daunting. I flubbed my hybrid but managed to get up and down for par.

 

This is the 12th hole, you see on the right hand side when you drive into Heritage Ranch. Another beautiful par 3.

 

 

The weather was perfect for the 2016 Dallas Invitational including our sunny round at Heritage Ranch.

 

The boys had a great day at Heritage Ranch and the talk had already started on plans for the 2nd Annual Dallas Invitational. With its variety of holes, challenging yet fair layout. Heritage Ranch is going to be a heavy favorite for a replay for next year. The course was in great shape and you can tell the people that work there take pride in the course, as they should.

 

Heritage Ranch on a Sunday cost us $69USD with a $20 voucher to spend anywhere on the golf course. A great value for a fun challenging Texas golf experience.

 

 

 

 

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Golf Course Review: Old American Golf Club - A Dallas/Fort Worth Delight

I've had time to absorb my buddy's golf trip to Dallas. I can reflect on the fact that a) DFW has some great golf courses, and b) I Can't wait to return to Dallas, TX.

One of the courses I was most excited to play was the Old American Golf Club. Having played so many different styles of courses over the years, I'd never played a course modelled after the "Classic American Designs" of the era from about 1910 to about 1937.

This was a period when golf designers like A.W. Tillinghast, Seth Raynor, Donald Ross, and Perry Maxwell worked their design magic on land that would become courses like Shinnecock, National Golf Links, Maidstone, Pinehurst, and Prairie Dunes. Tripp Davis and Justin Leonard did a beautiful job at Old American, using the inspiration of these "Classic" designers.

In 2010, the railroad bridge in the background was brought to the Old American Golf Course from the Red River, about 100 miles away. The bridge, built in 1900, provides a remarkable backdrop on the second hole.

The Old American includes many natural bunkers with a variety of native grasses. They are scattered throughout the layout and are sometimes quite difficult to get out of, so it's often best not to play the hero and just get out the easiest way available.

You're treated well at Old American, with complimentary drinks and snacks at two fully stocked comfort stations on the golf course. The day we played, Alex made some great Bloody Marys, a perfect drink for a round at Old American.

Whether you're in one of the bunkers or in some of the native rough, most approach shots involve playing positional golf. Davis and Leonard's design encourages strategy in shot selection.

As you can see from my pictures, Old American is quite a beautiful and picturesque golf course that winds around Lake Lewisville.

The wind was quite strong the day we played Old American, like most days in Texas. So strategy, where to place the ball, and club selection definitely entered our minds during the round. 

At Old American, all bunkers are considered waste bunkers, so they are genuinely hazardous. Golfers are allowed to rake when finished in any bunker.

The par 3s at Old American are challenging and will leave you guessing at club selection, especially with the Texas wind. Native grass and bunkers make for a picturesque view of every hole.

I love the old-school pin and flag, another homage to the old "Classic" designs.

Old American is a must-play when you're in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Plans are underway for the 2nd Annual Dallas Invitational, and Old American is a stand-out to return for 2017. Green fees run at $150 on weekdays and $175 on weekends, which is high-end but well worth the "classic design," fantastic customer service and Texas Golf experience. 

Thirty6ix Golf Co. Original Logo Snap Back Hats: Dallas Approved

The 2016 Dallas Invitational is officially in the books and plans are now underway to make this an annual event. The weather is perfect in the Fall in Texas and the Dallas/ Fort Worth area has a plethora of beautiful golf courses. Sponsors are a big part of this kind of event and the guys always love getting free golf swag.

 

Thirty6ix Golf Co. offered to send me some of their Original Logo Snap Back Hats. Not usually what the boys wear but the reviews were all positive. It's also funny once these hats were worn by the lads, they had some added swagger.

 

Original Logo Snap Back Hats Texas Review:

Great fitting hat

 

Loved the logo

 

The style was Texas swagger approved

 

Great quality

 

Brian looking like Charley Hoffman with his Thirty6ix hat after a round of golf.

 

Richard was always willing to pose for a picture, he defintely likes Texas and getting golf swag.

 

The guys loved the Thirty6ix Golf Co. logo.

 

The Thirty6ix Snap Back hats cost about $29.99 CDN a steal for a great hat with swagger. They also have lots more great apparel including a beanie that would be perfect here in Canada for cold weather golfing.

 

 

 

 

 

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Stitch Golf: Texas Proof Headcovers

The 2016 Dallas Invitational turned out perfect. Weather was great, golf was fabulous and our sponsors came through just nicely. Giving out golf swag is important for a buddies trip because a) everyone likes free stuff b) no one expects it

 

Headcover Review: Texas Style

Stitch Golf supplied me with some knit headcovers and the boys loved them.

 

Knit Roadster- Black/White/Red

Great colour combination of black/white/red.

 

The headcovers fit great and were a great replacement for worn out or obsolete headcovers.

 

The boys liked the retro/different look of the headcovers.

 

 

The lads really like the colour of the Roadster headcovers, a real hit.

 

The driver headcover has no problem fitting a 460cc driver.

 

Richard gives the thumbs up for his Knit Roadster Driver Headcover

 

A three pack of Knit Roadster headcovers goes for $99 USD. Decent price for some quality cool looking headcovers.

 

 

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Bridgestone Golf JGR CB Forged Irons - Coming Soon For The Regular Golfer

I always love when a company releases a golf club made for us regular golfers. The ones that need forgiveness and help when playing and Bridgestone looks like it has a winner at least in the looks department. I've contacted Buffalo Agency who now does Bridgestone's PR so stay tuned for a review.

 

 

 

Bridgestone Golf Unveils JGR CB Forged Irons for Mid- to High-Handicap Players

(COVINGTON, GA) – Bridgestone Golf – manufacturer of premium golf balls, clubs and accessories – will debut its JGR CB Forged irons on November 1 at retailers nationwide and at bridgestonegolf.com.

Created for mid- to high-handicappers, the new JGR cavity-back set ($899 steel, $949 graphite retail) incorporates innovative design to improve consistency and distance control on approach shots. Unique to the game-improvement category, they are forged from premium 1020 carbon steel to provide superior feel at impact. Augmenting attractive, classic styling, distinctions include:

• Increased Offset – Promotes higher trajectory and steeper descending angle for reliable stopping power into greens
• Large Sweet Spot – Creates exceptional forgiveness thanks to a hitting area 4% bigger than Bridgestone’s popular J15 CB irons
• Tapered Rear Mass – Carries a low center-of-gravity for easy launching distance
• Wider Sole with Beveled Edge – Minimizes digging for smooth turf interaction
• Longer Face – Distributes weight and stabilizes MOI to reduce distance and loss of accuracy on off-center strikes
• 
  

“Our expert engineers created game-improvement irons specifically for those who need a little extra forgiveness, but refuse to compromise on look and feel,” says Angel Ilagan, President and CEO of Bridgestone Golf. “It’s our obligation to easily enable better performance and more enjoyment, and JGR technology answers that call.”

Available as a seven-club set – 5-iron through approach wedge – JGR irons features the acclaimed True Temper XP 95 shaft. This smooth-loading model launches the ball high with mid-spin, and Flex Chamber technology delivers kick without increasing spin for consistent distance and ball control.

The JGR irons join the respected Bridgestone line-up of Tour-proven drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, irons, wedges and putters tailored to players of all abilities.

Complementing its critically-acclaimed clubs is Bridgestone’s mantra that for golfers to improve, they must play the correct balls for their unique games. To accomplish this, the company introduced its proprietary Ball Fitting system in 2007. This has not only allowed Bridgestone to develop the most optimal golf balls for all player types, but helped the company engineer and recommend equipment based on a vast knowledge of golfers swings around the world.

Bridgestone’s professional staff features FedExCup champion Brandt Snedeker, Olympics bronze medalist Matt Kuchar, Masters winner Fred Couples, three-time major champion Nick Price, Bryson DeChambeau and LPGA Tour stars Stacy Lewis, Paula Creamer and Karrie Webb.

About Bridgestone Golf

Bridgestone Golf USA is based in Covington, GA and manufactures premium golf balls, clubs and accessories under Bridgestone and Precept brands. The company started making golf balls in 1935 and, as the world’s largest tire manufacturer, leverages its 900 rubber polymer science engineers worldwide to produce high-performing products. Customer swing and related data, captured through its popular, nationwide ball-fitting program, advises continuous advancement of ball technology. Bridgestone Golf USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bridgestone Sports Co. Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo.

More information: bridgestonegolf.com.

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Save Muny: Texas' Muny, a civil rights landmark, on list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places

First read about the plight of Lions Municipal Golf Course in Austin from an article by Brandon Tucker at GolfAdvisor.com. Brandon said in the article you could support Lions Municipal Golf Course in Austin, Texas by buying a tshirt online at SaveMuny.com. So I bought a tshirt to support the course in its attempt to stay a golf course and flourish.

 

The reason there is a Save Muny website is that the golf course on land leased from the University of Texas is facing the threat of closing for commercial redevelopment purposes.

 

 

This past Wednesday, the National Trust for Historic Preservation took an important step toward bringing attention to its possible demise. It included Muny, as the locals call it, on its 2016 list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.

 

 

 

 

Didn't get a chance to play Lions Municipal Golf Course in Austin, Texas as we stayed in Plano and just played golf within about 30kms of there most days.

 

Didn't stop me from supporting their cause.

 

 

 

 

Ben Crenshaw, a World Golf Hall of Fame member and Austin native and resident, is on board with saving Muny.

 

“I really do think it helps the fiber of our community, in a societal way,” he said in this video. “I can’t stress that enough in the way I feel about it. It’s too good for too many people.

“And the bottom line for me is I just can’t see this place being developed. It’s too precious of an asset.”

 

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Heritage Ranch Golf Club: 2016 Dallas Invitational Favourite

Our final stop on the 2016 Dallas Invitational was the beautiful Heritage Ranch Golf Club located in Fairview, Texas.

 

Set in a beautiful residential community with rolling hills. The boys enjoyed the great conditions and challenging layout so much they all said they'd love to play the course again. Always a good sign even if you get beat up on a few holes.

 

Beautiful trees throughout the course, including this large oak tree in front of the green on hole #17.

 

Immaculate from tee to green you can tell immediately that those that work and take care of the course really take pride in the way the course looks and plays.

 

Fairly forgiving landing areas at Heritage Ranch especailly if you're driving the ball straight.

 

The property had different elevation changes thanks to some rolling Texas landscape. Kind of what you expect in Texas, beautiful and challenging.

 

Both sand and grass bunkering was strategically placed for both design and visual appearances.

 

Water on some holes made you rethink your club choice and strategy.

 

Texas Star - Heritage Ranch Clubhouse

 

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Old American Golf Club: A Dallas Fort Worth Must Play

So on the fourth day of our 2016 Dallas Invitational we got to play the Old American Golf Club. This golf course I was intrigue to play because it's a throwback to those old American claasic golf courses created during a period from about 1910 to about 1937. Having never played any courses like Shinnecock, National Golf Links, Maidstone, Pinehurst, and Prairie Dunes, I was excited so be able to play the Old American as it was top on my list for our Dallas Golf Invitational.

 

First off the customer service at the Old American is second to none from the warm greeting our group got from GM Mike McCabe to Ben who who went over the subtle intricacies of the course with us. He took his time with us answering our questions and even met us later to greet us on the first tee. Alex at the comfort station between the 4th and 8th hole was not only attentive to our questions but also poured a mean Bloody Mary. Defintely 5 star service for our group.

 

 

Visually right away you feel like you're playing an Old Classic designed course, trust the yardages from the GPS enable carts. It's best to be short of the flag on your approach.

 

Strategic shots are rewarded at Old American Golf Club.

 

Waste bunkers are strategically placed in areas that challenge any level of golfer. Designers Justin Leonard and Tripp Davis created an amazing golf experience along the shoreline of Lake Lewisville.

 

The more natural bunkers are beautiful to the eye but can be punishing for the golfers depending on the depth of the bunker as well as the grass around them.

 

If your planning a buddies golf trip to the Dallas/Fort Worth area Old American must be one of the golf courses on your list. Spectacular scenery and amazing layout, design and conditions. Customer service see below.

 

 

Alex was kind enough to take our foursome's picture at the comfort station at the 4th/8th hole. Phenomenal customer service and great adult beverages. Top notch customer service.

 

 

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