Briggs Ranch Golf Club
San Antonio, Texas, USA
Hole 15 / 206 Yards / Par-3
Architect: Tom Fazio (2001)
The impact of Tom Fazio in golf course design is truly noteworthy. The renowned architect has designed a plethora of highly successful courses domestically in the United States and elsewhere globally.
His success stems originally from working side-by-side with his Uncle George Fazio. In the years that followed, his stature has grown dramatically when moving ahead under his own banner.
One of his more noted designs is Briggs Ranch in San Antonio. The course is owned by The Dormie Network which operates several facilities throughout America all intersecting under one roof.
Briggs Ranch plays just over 7,200 yards to a par of 72.
The layout is located on scintillating terrain providing sufficient movement but never in an abrupt manner.
One of the more compelling holes comes at the 15th. The par-3 plays 206 yards and on first glance appears quite straightforward. The reality is quite complicated.
The green runs on a slight diagonal from lower left to back right. The right side is fortified by a massive deep bunker that serves in the same manner as the shark in “Jaws.”
Missing wide left of the putting surface finds little to celebrate either. A small dip exists between the green and players in that area will need to demonstrate the deftest of touches in the hope of leaving with a 3 on the scorecard.
The genius of Fazio comes with the internal contours of the green. The very front of the green leaves a smallish landing spot — akin to landing a jet fighter on the deck of an aircraft carrier. The area is also fortified by a devilish false front. Any shot that comes up the slightest bit short will see a reverse movement away from the green.
When the pin is located in the rear third of the green one must deal with a fall-away area that can easily propel an approach over the back of the 6,000 square foot target and into a daunting perilous position.
Mike Frost, head golf professional at Briggs Ranch, offered the following. “Hole 15 is a difficult par-3 that requires both accuracy and distance control to hit the narrow green. Both sides are well-defended. Making par will earn you shots against the field in any competition.”
Wind patterns can fluctuate but generally players deal with a headwind that blows across the left side of the hole. Approach shots not resolutely played can easily get pushed to the right and encounter the aforementioned false front and cavernous bunker on that side.
Par-3 holes can provide low numbers when played smartly. However, hole 15 at Briggs Ranch does not give away anything. In simple terms – you must earn it.
Images courtesy of Briggs Ranch
