Horseshoe Bay (Apple Rock) - Texas - USA

Apple Rock often gets second billing at Horseshoe Bay given the three courses one can play at the resort. Often it's Ram Rock drawing the most attention and frankly, I have to wonder if such a presumption holds validity.

One of the advantages with Apple Rock is that the course provides rolling terrain -- especially on the outward nine holes and is the only course at the complex which actually touches LBJ Lake for a brief moment at the par-5 11th and most especially at the par-3 12th.

The front nine is quite good -- plenty of twist and turns and having a number of putting surfaces with sufficient movement to keep your attention.

The opening four holes put you on notice rather quickly. The downhill dog-leg right opener is a good introduction to what Apple Rock provides. There's a solitary bunker on the right side and playing away from it only assures a lengthier and more problematic approach. The same holds true for the lengthier 2nd -- also a par-4 but playing 463 yards. The par-3 3rd is a worthy challenge with water situated next to the green. At the long par-5 4th you encounter a gem of a hole from RTJ, Sr. The par-5 moves downhill then back uphill to a superb green -- elevated above the fairway and serpentine in shape. A single tree hugs the right side of the green like a pre-schooler clinging tight to his Mom's apron on the first day of school.

The remainder of the side is good -- the lone exception being the pedestrian par-3 8th with its formulaic pond in front of the green. Closing out the opening side is the challenging 9th. The hole is just over 400 yards but the key is securing position on the downhill tee shot. The fairway moves slightly to the left so any shot that overextends itself on that side will bounce away from the fairway into a precarious position. The green is well crafted. Not especially deep but quite wide. Landing the approach requires the wherewithal to marry proper club selection and loft.

The back nine commences with the hole that should have been the opener. The par-5 10th provides commanding view of the nearby Lake and the Hill Country. After back-to-back par-5's you come to the aforementioned par-3 12th. The various teeing areas are well-positioned -- adding more length and a more interesting playing angle. The green provides appropriate contours and when the pin is placed in the deepest position will mandate the finest of plays to get nearby.

The stretch of holes commencing with the 13th thru the 15th are merely perfunctory golf holes. Collectively, they fill out the scorecard but offer little in terms of memorability given the ordinary qualities of the land they occupy.

The split fairway at the par-4 16th changes that storyline quite effectively. Here a barranca runs on a diagonal splitting the fairway. Those who opt for a safe play can do so with an iron or fairway club. The strongest of players can think about flying a tee shot over to the far side but for 99% of players such a thought process is likely to fail.

The final two holes -- the par-3 17th and the uphill par-4 18th are satisfactory but a much more scintillating ending would have really ended the round in a far better fashion.

RTJ, Jr. did a recent renovation and the course re-opened in 2019. The downside with Apple Rock is how the course has its clear moments but simply fails to sustain them.

A pity.

M. James Ward