Fazio Foothills, Par 72, 7,125 yards

Tom Fazio has done enough spectacular golf courses that, like a proud father, he doesn’t pick out favorites, at least publicly. But it didn’t take him long to realize when he first stepped on the Barton Creek property, he was standing on special ground. “People ask me all the time if I can see a hole or course when I’m out for the first time,” Fazio recalled of his first visit to Barton Creek for what would be his initial Texas course. “I didn’t envision this course, but I knew it would be a dramatic site.”
His insight and perseverance paid off as the Foothill Course has been chosen as the No. 1 Resort Course in Texas for multiple years, ranked as high as No. 4 in the U.S. The former site of the Champions Tour Legends of Golf tournament has gained honors aplenty since opening in 1986, and has wowed legions of golfers, pros and amateurs, from future presidents to thoroughly hooked hackers, with its beauty and challenge.
Most courses have a single signature hole, but at Fazio Foothills the only argument is which one?
Some golfers surely cast their vote for the dramatic par 3 9th hole which plays over a cascade of thundering creeks and waterfalls, and where golfing legend Chi Chi Rodriquez once made a hole in one during a Legends of Golf tournament round. Others will clamor for the par 4 10th hole which drops nearly 100 feet from tee to fairway. Still others will point out the par 5 15th hole, with deep drop-offs all along the left side. The pretty, but dangerous par 4 16th get its fair share of votes with a tight tee shot giving way to a waterfall guarded green with bunkers left and right and watery disaster awaiting anyone who comes up short on their approach shot.
Last, but certainly not least, is the par 5 18th which plays toward the towering resort, with an authentic former bat cave awaiting the second shot, and a greatly elevated green surrounded by more water and sand at the end of the fairway.
At one time or another at least half of the holes at Fazio Foothills has been listed in a statewide survey as the prettiest or the toughest in Texas.
Forget about a signature hole, at Fazio Foothills, you have a signature course.

No. 1, Par 4, 460 yards (back tees)
The first hole of this original Fazio challenge starts with a slightly downhill, fairly tame looking layout. Beware of the thick trees to the right of the fairway and the scattered hardwoods on the left next to the entrance road. It’s better to be short than long on your approach as it gives you the best chance for an opening confidence boosting par or birdie.

No. 2, Par 4, 381 yards
This is a split level fairway with golfers either choosing to go to the right which can be closer, but also brings the trees into play, or to the left which is longer and safer. Two solid shots are needed to reach the large green. One more chance for early confidence before the real challenge begins.

No. 3, Par 3, 178 yards
This short downhill one shooter can test a player’s nerves and skill in their round. Players fire at a split level green with trouble lurking short, left and right. This is one of the largest greens on the front nine which slopes greatly from top to bottom with the safe shot almost always behind the hole.

No. 4, Par 4, 420 yards
This is another long par 4 where players tee off slight elevated and face a narrow sloping fairway with trees and brush on the right and more trees and trouble to the left. Find the fairway with your driver and you’ll probably have a good shot to reach the green in regulation. Trees encircle the large green which slopes substantially from right to left.

No. 5, Par 5, 611 yards
A downhill par five. A generous landing area leaves the player with a mid-iron lay-up and a decision. The second shot may be played to the lay-up area with two different levels. The upper level is easier, but offers a more difficult third shot than the low road. The short third iron must carry over a small hazard to a green that is deceptively sloped

No, 6, Par 4, 392 yards
The player's club selection off the tee here may vary from a driver to long iron. The farther the drive, the tighter the fairway gets, plus the short iron second shot is uphill to a small, well undulated green. If the player misses right and the ball lands in the greenside bunkers, it is extremely difficult to save par.

No. 7, Par 4, 442 yards
A dogleg left featuring a severe slope and bunkers, forces the player to play an honest tee shot to the right side of the fairway, leaving a long iron approach. Big hitters may want to cut the dogleg and try to take it over the first bunker, but too far left could result in a double bogey. The gently contoured green forces the player to maintain concentration once reaching the putting surface.

No. 8, Par 5, 505 yards
This long par 5 plays downhill from the tee box with players aiming to the left center of the fairway for the best approach. You must stop in front of a creek on the left side to avoid watery disaster. Avoid the right side of the fairway to make sure you will not be blocked from seeing the green or lay up landing area, a narrow one with danger for any shot left or over the putting surface.

No. 9, Par 3, 175 yards
One of the most famous par 3s at Barton Creek or anywhere in Texas for that matter. Hole used as the Hill Country signature shot for good reason. Golfers face a thundering waterfall short and left off the variety of tee boxes meaning anything short or left is a watery and likely unhappy conclusion to the front nine. The green is fairly flat meaning anyone hitting the putting surface off the tee has a chance for success, but there are many more danger spots than happy endings on this famous hole.

No. 10, Par 4, 424 yards
The start to a very scenic back nine at Barton Creek Foothills. Golfers tee off to a fairway close to 100 yards below the tee boxes. Finding the fairway may seem daunting for the drive, but there’s more room than it looks from the tee. Good chance to reach the green in regulation provided you miss the water and sand on the left and the tree right. Fairly small green can pose a challenge on the approach shot.

No. 11, Par 4, 446 yards
This hole plays usually downwind and is a slight dogleg right. The fairway slopes left and a creek and beautiful waterfall flank the left side of the split-level green. The player's fate could be a three-putt if a short iron second shot does not find the proper level on the green.

No. 12, Par 4, 282 yards
The hole is a classic risk-reward where most golfers can drive the green, but players should not be fooled. This drivable par 4 offers an eagle opportunity, but has enough trouble around the green to cost the golfer two or three shots. An over-shoot will find its way some 200 feet down the hill into Barton Creek canyon while deep pot bunkers guard both sides of the greens.

No 13, Par 4, 477 yards
A right to left tailwind helps the player obtain extra distance; however do not go too far left, as the same drop-off to Barton Creek guarding #12, trails along the left side of this hole. A mid to long iron second puts the ball on one of the largest greens on the course. The front and back of this deep green slopes to the middle which is guarded by a hidden bunker front right.

No. 14, Par 3, 170 yards
A downhill one-shoter where a good tee ball is rewarded with a chance for birdie or par. There is also out-of-bounds if you are too far past the putting surface. Trees come into play right of the green along with some severely small slopes toward the green.

No. 15, Par 5, 537 yards
A long and tough hole with trees and bunkers on both sides of the fairway. This requires three good or two excellent shots to reach the putting surface. The main trouble spot is the huge canyon which runs all along the left side. Any hooked drive will be gone for good and it looks tighter than it may actually be. The green lies close to the canyon on the left side making a proper approach key to a successful ending.

No. 16, Par 4, 422 yards
This hole is annually ranked as one of the toughest and prettiest holes in the state. A tunnel-like driving area leads to a much larger landing area. Golfers should avoid the right side of the fairway as they will be blocked from a good view of the fairway on their second shot. Large watery drop-off guards the front portion of the green with the proper approach shot needing enough yardage to avoid disaster. Once you land on the green the fun really starts as the thundering waterfall can distract you and the beauty overwhelm you.

No. 17, Par 3, 203 yards
This is a long and challenging par 3. Golfers tee off from an elevated tee box to a long and narrow green which puts a premium on accuracy. Missed left and you’re in deep bunkers with the green greatly elevated above your head. Missed right and you’ll find the greenside trees, chipping or putting towards the menacing bunkers. Depending on pin placement, you can have an extremely long putt for birdie, par or worse.

No. 18, Par 5, 560 yards
This a grand finish to a beautifully crafted Fazio design. An accurate drive in the fairway is paramount to achieving success on this hole. Your second shot should be over the abandoned bat cave to set you up for wedge to a greatly elevated, canyon-fronted green. Only the biggest hitters will try to reach the green in two shots and many will pay an ultimate watery penalty. Like many holes at Barton Creek foothills, this may look too fierce off the tee, but good shots and a good strategy can pay off with good results.

written by Art Stricklin

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