Austin Golf Club

I was able to play AGC with a few buddies. It was incredible! The clubhouse is modest, there are no bev carts, the driving range is simple and nice, but this place is awesome. Some of the best greens I've ever played! Very slick!! 5 of us played but there was no one is front or behind us. I feel very fortunate I had the chance to play. Don't pass up the chance to go play Austin Golf Club if you ever get the opportunity.

When playing private clubs in the Hill Country you can expect a few things: fancy houses, waterfalls, showy entrances ,cart-centric routings (some don't even allow pull carts!!!) and more bells and whistles. Pretty much every club has a residential component to it.

Austin GC is the antithesis. It personifies Ben Crenshaw's humble personality, and to another extent that of his legendary instructor Harvey Penick. The club is all class and is never trying to show off with excessive design or amenities.

There are more scenic and spectacular layouts like ACC, Summit Rock & Barton Creek. Austin GC is on a pretty tame piece of Hill Country land that makes it feel far more classic in nature. I haven't played Chicago GC but having played Arcadia South, this felt similar.

I'm curious why Crenshaw only wanted a par 70 here with two par 5s. They have plenty of land and No. 18 could have easily been made a risk-reward par 5. I won't second-guess the legend too hard though.

We played the course shortly after an aerifcation of the bent grass greens (I was told they do a small tine punching every six weeks in the summer). The greens rolled well but weren't as fast. I sensed the greens can be seriously good (and treacherous in the wrong spots) when rolling at full speed. This is an exclusive club so if an invite comes your way i'd jump on it.