Horseshoe Bay Resort
Summit Rock
Par-72 / 7,246 Yards
75.4 Course Rating / 136 Slope
Architect: Jack Nicklaus (2012)
Horseshoe Bay, Texas, USA
Rating Assessment: Birdie +
The Summit Rock layout at the Horseshoe Bay Resort is the only private layout at the 72-hole facility. It’s a Jack Nicklaus signature course that opened in 2012. The other three courses at the resort – Apple Rock, Ram Rock and Slick Rock – are all Robert Trent Jones, Sr. tracks that appeared over a fifteen year period between 1971 and 1985.
Occupying a 147-acre property, the Summit Rock course is laid out in two distinct parcels; a lower, flat playing area (containing holes 1, 2 and 14 to 18) and an upper, more rugged section (with holes 3 to 13) which offers impressive views of nearby Lake Lyndon B. Johnson and the Hill Country.
The course is segregated from the rest of the property and the isolation provides a platform for the golf encountered to shine.
The opening two holes belie what the golfer will soon experience. They are generally flat and simply provide a way to stretch the muscles for the challenge that follows.
Following the par-5 2nd — you climb uphill to terrain that ultimately provides the true “summit” experience. The par-3 3rd is listed at 175 yards but the carry to the elevated target makes the hole play a bit longer. Holes 4 and 5 are good but when you arrive at the mega-demanding par-3 6th you face a clear execution requirement.
The hole plays substantially uphill and the green wraps itself around a very deep frontal bunker. The green also features a spine splitting one side of the green from the other. The key is taking sufficient club to make the carry required.
The short par-4 7th is a quality risk/reward drivable par-4. Early on in Jack’s design career the involvement of short par-4s was not exactly a strong point. The 7th plays 323 yards but there’s plenty to decide upon when at the tee. A series of trees near the green mandate awareness in determining how bold or cautious one plays from the tee.
The inward side closes out with two solid par-4s — playing 448 and 419 yards respectively.
When you reach the 10th tee you are now taking on the strength of the course. This superlative par-4 hole of 469 yards slides slightly downhill before rising. The hole features a funnel-like fairway that mandates superior placement. Go too far left and a series of trees will be waiting to block you. Head too far right and a series of bunkers can quickly snare your tee shot.
The green complements the hole in a big-time way. Placed on an angle from the fairway, the green is well-protected by a frontal bunker on the right side. When the pin is cut deep into the green and near the right side it takes nothing less than a jewelers touch to flight one’s approach near to the target. The consequences for failure are swift and certain doom.
The 11th is another long par-4 but plays considerably downhill — again to a green angled and protected by a solitary bunker on the right side. The main drawback with holes 8 thru 11 is that each moves on a left-to-right manner. A bit of variety would have been a real plus.
The downhill par-3 12th is a superb hole. Nicklaus allows the weaker player to use the ground in front of the green to bounce the ball into the target. Two bunkers protect the left side and the green is aided by a rib separation between the front and rear sections. When the pin is placed in the deep rearmost area it takes a laser-like skillset to fly one’s ball all the way to that location.
The short par-4 13th at 347 yards is even better than its counterpart at the 7th. You commence from an elevated tee and the hole plunges downhill. The fairway beautifully pinches in at the 280–290-yard area. Players have to decide how aggressive or conservative they wish to be. The green is also kidney-shaped with a frontal bunker. Given the preceding holes faced — the 13th is an enticing counterpoint hole. The bold play can reap huge dividends but the shotmaking requirements necessitate flawless execution.
The final five holes return to flatter topography and holes such as the par-5 14th and par-3 15th are acceptable but not especially noteworthy.
The long par-4 16th at 478 yards allows for the big tee shot. The key is avoiding a pesky water hazard just left of the green. The par-4 17th is one of the few holes at Summit Rock that turns left in the drive zone. The center-placed fairway bunker must be respected. Strong players can challenge the bunkers on the left and if the play is successful the reward provides a short straight-on approach.
The closing hole at Summit is one of the best par-5 holes I have played from the handiwork of Nicklaus. The hole plays generally into the prevailing wind and at 582 yards the hole also plays slightly uphill. The key rests on the tee shot because without a properly played shot the player will be on the defensive for the remainder of the hole.
There is an unkept native area which cuts across the fairway on a diagonal. Those finding rough after the tee shot have to decide whether the risk to carry the native area is worth the effort. Nicklaus added another devious wrinkle in that the available landing area over the native area is narrow although it widens out the closer one comes to the green.
For those players who do carry the native area the reward will provide them with a rather straightforward pitch shot. The green is sloped from back to front and protected by a bunker on the right side with located in the far left corner.
The Summit clearly has a number of noteworthy moments to relish. The routing is an interesting one as the round starts and finishes on the flatter land near to the clubhouse. For those coming to Horseshoe Bay it’s imperative a round on the Nicklaus layout be high on the agenda.
The other courses at Horseshoe Bay provide varying levels of quality with the Summit clearly residing, as the name states, above them all.
Summit is bolstered by a well thought out development plan in which housing is only visible at certain limited points. As you ascend to the higher ground, the majesty of the Texas Hill Country takes center stage. Providing a lasting memorable connection in which golf and Mother Nature are joined at the hip.
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For more info on Horseshoe Bay Resort: A Golf & Spa Resort Near Austin, Texas click HERE
All photos by Brian Walters
Ratings AssessmentDouble Eagle Not a hole to be missed. Compelling architecture throughout testing mental and physical resolve. Your heart bumps with exhilaration from 1st tee to 18th green. Eagle + Superior shotmaking values in tandem with related turf quality melding an experience of the highest order. Eagle Like its namesake – flies high in the clouds. Consistent variety with strategic holes demonstrating brilliance at various moments. Birdie + Engaging design providing thoughtful intersections with creative results front and center. Birdie Quality architecture exists but held back by limited standout holes encountered. Par+ Has several holes of note but too many pedestrian ones subtract from the experience. Par Enjoyable but like vanilla ice cream – mainly ordinary. Bogey Little substance of note – has design fumbles that are more prevalent than need be. Double-bogey A total mistake — in need of upgrades with substandard holes, inferior routing and substandard conditioning. Triple-bogey An utter mess. Avoid the pain of the experience and the loss of time / money. ***
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