If the golfer is accustomed to play on the Alamo City Golf Trail courses, one will find that this…read moremilitary base course is on equal footing as those courses.
This track is located in the northeast corner of the city, opened in the 1950's, having undergone some renovation in more recent years. The range is on grass, with sand bunker practice left of the range. The large putting green fronts the clubhouse, and there is a smaller chipping area adjacent to the green. The fairways and greens are seeded with bermuda, with significant rough outside the fairways on certain holes. Water is found adjacent to some of the 18, and there are carries over creeks fronting greens on a couple of holes. Notable is the adjacent runway, serving trainer jets lifting and landing throughout the day. On two holes, the sound of the jet engines may be discomfiting for some, but in truth, has not been a significant issue for our foursome during our previous plays. The course is laid out on generous land, we have never been concerned with incoming, errant balls threatening our heads.
The summer sun can take a toll on conditioning, but during our most recent outing 3 weeks ago, the fairways were tufted with grass, yet not characterized by deep cushioning of growth underfoot. Several weeks ago, the greens were in horrendous shape, some episode of drying, chemical burn...difficult to say. But the good news is the last play, the greens were in excellent condition, rolling smooth and true. The sand bunkers are well tended, but when wet, the bunker sand is surprisingly heavy, so be advised.
The club house fronts the practice green, and left of the counter are several tables for players to unwind. There is a patio area, covered, that runs the length of the indoor seating area.
We have found the staff to be always welcoming and congenial, but we have rarely seen a marshal patrolling the course. Non the less, rounds usually run 4 hours, most golfers respectful of the time element for play. One detractor is the fact that early tee times are almost never available, quickly taken by the regulars. One very good issue: brand new electric golf carts, fancy new golf carts: horns, lights and brake lights!
Randolph is one of our regular visits, and as mentioned, is very comparable to the city courses in conditioning. We played Silverhorn last week, and by comparison, the fairways were thicker, with rare areas of hardpan, conditioning superior to that of Randolph and the city courses, for comparison.
Would Randolph merit a recommendation? Definitely! For the price, golfing at Randolph Oaks is very good value! Enjoy!!
