Courses We Love: The Quarry
The Quarry
The Quarry Golf Club is a 1994 original Keith Foster design set in an old abandoned cement quarry just north of San Antonio, TX. The history of the property goes back to San Antonio Portland Cement and later renamed Alamo Cement and their purchase of 500 acres in 1908 where the course sits today. The front nine of the Quarry is set in rolling terrain with several lakes and lots of native grasses, while the back nine is set in the old quarry with its 100 foot tall walls featuring prominently in the design. While not an overly long course at 6,700 yards par 71 from the championship tees, the wind certainly features prominently on the front nine with its open layout, but even more so on the back nine as the wind tends to swirl within the quarry making the back nine much more challenging. From an architectural perspective, there are several standout holes and the way the back nine is routed through the quarry makes for some dramatic heroic holes. The course is also easily walkable, which is why it makes our list of fun courses in the San Antonio area.
The front nine is much shorter than the back, playing 3,167 yards to a par of 35 and begins with a downhill par 4 dogleg right of about 388 yards. The whole plays much shorter than its yardage and the fairway runs out at 100 yards before playing over a pond to a green surrounded on three sides by water.
Other stand out holes on the front nine include the par 5 5th at 544 yards, a slight dogleg left with water running down the left side of the landing area and a second shot playing back uphill into the prevailing wind. A lone bunker short in the center of the green encourages a player going for the green to play up the left side, which leaves a short pitch up the heart of the green.
The 8th hole is a scenic downhill par 3 with the old cement smokestacks visible in the background. While the lake is not in play for the better players, the bunkers short and long need to be avoided. The green is relatively large, but the prevailing wind is into you and makes club selection tough.
After making the turn, the scenic factor really amps up on the 10th tee with the entire back nine visibly set within the quarry building up to a dramatic finish on the 17th and 18th holes. The 10th is a long par 4 at 474 from the back tees. The fairway has ample room and the green presents an opportunity for a run up approach.
The short par 4 13th is a fun hole. At 363 yards and with a forced carry over a pond with a quarry wall and fairway bunker, it is important to place your drive in the relatively wide fairway to avoid a big number. The green is generous and a good birdie hole with a good drive.
The 15th hole is a great strategic par 5. Climbing back up below the clubhouse, the elevated tee provides a great view across the back nine. The wide fairway allows you to rip driver and set up for a possible go at the green. A single bunker just short of the green dictates strategy on the 2nd shot giving the option to layup to a preferred yardage or take a shot at the green. Keeping your 2nd shot left of this bunker while also avoiding the native grass further left of the green will leave an opportunity for birdie or eagle.
The best hole on the course in our opinion is the beautiful 17th hole. Called 'Reload' and measuring 386 yards from the back tees, you need to pick a line and hit a good drive to avoid a re-tee! Foster invites you to take off as much or as little as you like, playing safely to the right gives you a wider fairway, but leaves a longer shot into the green, while taking driver and the hole narrows considerably the further you pick a line left.
Overall, we really enjoyed the Quarry for its scenic and fun and easily walkable layout. If you're in San Antonio, definitely stop here for a round.