Texas Hill Country Tour

Texas Hill Country golf offers a beautiful blend of historic towns, stunning scenery, low and slow BBQ, and of course, the best golf courses in Texas. When planning a Texas golf vacation, there are many things to do in Texas Hill Country.

From Austin to San Antonio, experience the culture and history of the Lone Star State before visiting postcard-perfect downtown San Antonio. You’ll also have the chance to explore the old ‘Wild West’ cowboy towns of Fredericksburg and Bandera when you’re off the course. 

Golf vacations in Texas offer something for every golfer, and in Texas Hill Country, world-class golf is always on the cards. At JW Marriott San Antonio, you’ll have the choice of two championship golf courses; the 18-hole Oaks Course which has hosted the PGA Tour Valero Texas Open, and the Canyons Course, home of the PGA San Antonio Championship.

For a luxurious experience, Horseshoe Bay in Austin comprises three award-winning golf courses set amongst rolling countryside with expansive views of Lake Lyndon B. Johnson.

Golf in the Texas Hill Country is shaped by a landscape of rolling ground, exposed limestone, native oak trees, creeks and broad lake views. The terrain changes considerably between Austin and San Antonio, allowing golfers to experience several distinctive course styles during one regional tour.

Some layouts move through elevated countryside with dramatic changes in level, while others follow lakeshores or use tree-lined corridors to create a tighter strategic test. Native grasses, rock formations and water hazards connect the courses visually, but the variety of architecture prevents the trip from feeling repetitive.

The region is also home to work by several influential designers. Robert Trent Jones Sr. created the three-course collection at Horseshoe Bay, while Pete Dye and Greg Norman designed the contrasting layouts at TPC San Antonio. A single itinerary can therefore combine classic resort golf, visually dramatic Hill Country holes and a PGA TOUR tournament venue.

This concentration of architecture and terrain has made Texas Hill Country golf resorts an appealing choice for groups seeking more than one style of golf without traveling across the entire state.

The recommended tour brings together five courses across two destinations, beginning at Horseshoe Bay near Lake LBJ before continuing south toward San Antonio.

Slick Rock provides an approachable opening round, allowing golfers to adjust to the landscape before encountering the greater elevation changes of Apple Rock. The latter offers some of the tour’s most expansive scenery, particularly where the course approaches the shores of Lake LBJ. Ram Rock then concludes the Horseshoe Bay portion with a more exacting test of narrow fairways, water hazards and rugged rock outcroppings.

At TPC San Antonio, the Canyons Course introduces a different form of Hill Country golf. Pete Dye followed the movement of the land, creating wide playing corridors, panoramic views and significant elevation changes. It provides a natural transition between the lakeside courses at Horseshoe Bay and the more traditional challenge that follows.

The Oaks Course is positioned as the final and headline round. Designed by Greg Norman with input from Sergio Garcia, the established host of the Valero Texas Open places greater emphasis on accurate driving, strategic angles and controlled approach play through native oak trees.

Arranging the courses in this order creates a clear progression, with the most demanding tournament-style challenge reserved for the end of the trip.

Remaining at one destination can provide convenience, but a multi-stop tour reveals how varied Hill Country golf can be. The route moves from the lake-influenced Robert Trent Jones Sr. collection at Horseshoe Bay to two modern championship courses at TPC San Antonio.

The transfer between destinations also creates a useful break from consecutive rounds. Golfers can use the journey to explore Fredericksburg, experience one of the region’s historic towns or simply allow time for recovery before the final two courses.

Texas Hill Country golf packages can be adjusted around the group’s priorities. Golf-focused parties may choose to retain all five rounds, while groups seeking a more relaxed pace can remove one course, add a rest day or extend their time in Austin or San Antonio.

The region’s major airports and road connections also provide flexibility. Groups can arrive through Austin and depart from San Antonio, reducing unnecessary backtracking and allowing the trip to operate as a genuine point-to-point tour.

Spring and fall generally provide the most comfortable conditions, combining milder temperatures with attractive scenery. These are also popular periods, so tee times and the preferred order of courses should be arranged well in advance.

Summer travel is possible, but early tee times become particularly valuable during the hottest months. Tournament preparations at the Oaks and scheduled maintenance across the resorts can also influence course availability.

A seven-night itinerary provides a balanced pace for five rounds, a transfer day and time away from the course. Premier Golf can coordinate tee times, transportation and sequencing across both destinations while adapting the tour to the abilities and interests of the group.