An hour from hipster haven in downtown Austin are hills, lakes and greenery – perfect for a golf buddy trip and more….
Picture this: you and your passive/aggressive buddies roll into the Texas Hill Country, clubs in tow, looking to escape the everyday grind and golf until you figuratively drop. But this is not just any trip — it’s one that artfully mixes championship golf, a little serene lake life, and some good vittles and imaginative drinks to boot. That’s exactly what I recently found at Horseshoe Bay Resort on the shores of Lake LBJ, just a casual one-hour drive from brisket-and-blues downtown Austin.
Day one of our trip started auspiciously: 18 holes at Ram Rock Golf Course, affectionately called “The Challenger.” It’s narrow in spots, with dramatic elevation changes that force you to pick your club like you really mean it. There are also ten water hazards to keep you honest and aimed true. This Robert Trent Jones, Sr. championship course has hosted the Texas State Open and USGA qualifying events, thus it is no pushover, but is eminently fair, with capacious valley views and immaculate conditioning. Putts run truer than anything spoken in Washington D.C., which ain’t saying much these days!
The variety of golf at Horseshow Bay is a major reason to visit.
The next morning started crisp and early. After a remarkable breakfast at J’s Restaurant adjacent to the main lobby, we hit one of the resort’s marquee courses: the 18-hole layout known as Apple Rock Golf Course. Designed by the selfsame Robert Trent Jones Sr., it winds through Hill Country terrain and finishes along the shores of Lake LBJ. The tee boxes sit high, the fairways slope, and there are enough visual breaks to soak in big views. I still remember the par-3 on the lakeside stretch where the water glinted at sunset. I don’t care to remember the great shot that I failed to make – save that for my Proustian remembrance of tragic golf shots past.
After a great burger at the Clubhouse, we tackled Slick Rock Golf Course – also Jones Sr. It’s got drama. Think 70 + bunkers, 12 water hazards, and that signature “Million Dollar Hole” where a tee shot crosses a 35-foot waterfall. It’s scenic, but it also keeps you honest. As with the other course, the shot values here keep you guessing but reward canny club selection. And the views are Texan in scale and grandeur – I kept looking for old Lorne Greene to turn up on his trusty steed Buck to survey the back 4000 acres and knock a few wedges off the barn wall.
Not just great golf, but a great putting course as well!
After a spirited dinner at Whitewater 360 Sports Club – replete with 16 big-screens — we stepped away from the bar and onto the well-lighted putting green—literally. At the resort, there’s a one-of-a-kind, 18-hole putting course known as Whitewater Putting Course. But don’t confuse it with your typical pitch-and-putt. This one plays like a real course: bunkers, water hazards, zoysia grass fairways. Imagine a relaxed version of golf, but good enough that you still care about your score (and the mocking that ensues when you knock it off the track). Good for wagering and laughs and is certainly no pushover!
Water, water everywhere
The next morning, we switched gears entirely and headed to the lakeside docks. At Horseshoe Bay’s marina you can charter a pontoon or leisurely boat out across Lake LBJ – constant level water, nice breeze, and no narrow fairways to negotiate. We boarded a 20-foot pontoon (capacity 8) and just chill-cruised while a cool local high-schooler and lake-life veteran called us “sir” and proved to be an ultra-deferential host. I’ll never forget one moment: the sun hitting the limestone bluffs, cold drinks in cooler, and our group just staring across the water quietly for a few minutes. An intrepid Eric Woods even deigned to jump into the lake for a much-needed beer chaser. Not I.
Eat, Drink and golf, in that order.
Let’s talk food and drink—because if you’re planning a golf-guy trip, you know that the after-round imbibing is half the fun. The above Cap Rock Clubhouse is for members only and has some of the best food on property. Slip someone a twenty and sneak in!
- For a hearty start: we hit J’s Restaurant and Bar daily. Think Hill Country flavors, and yes, a standout is the “Bad Donkey” BBQ. Slow-cooked meats, crisp sides, casual bar vibe—ideal after early tee time.
- For a lakeside repast: we stopped for a glorious lunch at the Yacht Club (inside the resort), which feels upscale but is actually quite relaxed. Steaks, seafood, cocktails, deck views of the lake. The wedge salad was exceptional, as were the fries.
- When we needed a quick post-round beer & wings fix: the sports bar — Whitewater 360 Sports Club — came through. Pizza, cold beer, flat-screens, mini-golfers still talking about their lip-outs.
- Poolside or dockside: you can’t skip the frozen margarita or craft cocktails while looking over the water. There’s an easy vibe for that.
The point? After 18 holes or 36 or 54, you don’t want to wander for food. The resort nails the “one-stop” for gear, golf, lake, eats and sundowners.
To summarize: Here’s what I’d tell you and your crew: this is a destination built for adult men on a golf buddy getaway. No little league tournaments pressing, no “what about the kids” distractions—it’s golf, lake, laughs. Is anything wrong with this picture? And the rooms are capacious and cozy at the same time – and just steps from the main lobby and shuttles awaiting you and your weapons of grass destruction.
And if you need further proof of the quality of golf at Horseshoe, Season 24 of Big Break – Big Break x Good Good – will premiere on Golf Channel in August 2026 and will take place at Horseshoe Bay Resort, the AAA-Four Diamond and Conde Nast Readers’ Choice Award-winning resort, a part of the Crescent Hotels & Resorts Latitudes collection, in Horseshoe Bay, Texas.
Why it works
- Multiple top tier courses in one place: Apple Rock, Slick Rock, Ram Rock. Variety keeps it fresh.
- A lake break that gives you bonding time (or silence) among your group, not just rounds.
- Food & drink that cater to your pace: serious golf dinners, relaxed wings & beer nights.
- The putting course is the perfect wildcard for a “fun round” or a bet amongst friends.
To sum up, this trip is a stone cold winner all around.
As the last day wrapped, we found ourselves back in the clubhouse, logos on the scoreboard, tall tales about bunker escapes and the tee shot that kissed the hazard. We stayed a little longer than planned, sipping the last cocktail, waiting for the sun to dip behind the ridges of Hill Country.
If you and your buddies are planning a golf vacation—where you want to play well, relax hard, and laugh louder—Horseshoe Bay Resort checks all the boxes. It’s a place where the courses earn your respect, the lake earns your pause, and the food and drink earn your loyalty.
Pack your sticks, leave the inbox behind for a few days, and bring your best mismatched belts (or matching ones). This is the kind of trip that makes you glad you’re still doing this—still playing, still celebrating the game, still chasing the next great round together.