Fort Sam Houston, Texas

The Fort Sam Houston Golf Facility currently has two 18-hole, Par 72 courses, The La Loma Golf Course and the Salado-Del-Rio Golf Course.

It is believed that golf first appeared in Texas at Fort Sam Houston around 1900.  If this is true, then the golf course is believed to be the first one in Texas and the second course in the military.  The Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois is the oldest military course, opening in 1897.

Golf first started at Fort Sam Houston in 1900.  It is said that soldiers made a golf course using coffee cans as holes on the Army Airfield and the patients at Brooks Army Hospital made a golf course behind the hospital for rehabilitation.

The first 9-hole course was built on the current location by soldiers in 1935.  Green fees were $2.00 per month.  In 1937 A.W. Tillinghast from Philadelphia designed and built the second 9-hole course.  In 1946, Deputy Commander BG Nulsen authorized the formation of the Fort Sam Houston Golf Club.  In 1965, the third 9-hole course was designed and built by General Ralph Mace.  This increased the course to 27 holes.  In 1976 the fourth 9-hole course was designed and built by Ralph Plummer from Dallas to its present layout.  Throughout the years, the course has been updated and improved.  Kevin Tucker renovated the greens and tees in 2006 & 2007.

  This facility hosted the Texas Open in the 50’s and 60’s, making it the only military golf facility to ever hoist a PGA event.

The La Loma Course:   This golf course measures 6,819 yards from the back tees and has a rating of 73.0 and a slope of 126.   The La Loma course is one of two championship quality courses located at the historic Fort Sam Houston.   The course has its fair share of challenges.  There are many tree lined fairways and the greens are medium in size and speed.  This course is more forgiving but there is strategically placed sand bunkers throughout the course.  This course plays a little easier than the Salado-Del-Rio course and runs near the grant national cemetery.

The Salado-Del-Rio Course:   The golf course measures 6,857 yards from the back tees and is rated at 72.6 with a slope of 126.  The course was named after the creek that runs through the course.  This golf course is the more scenic of the two courses offering spectacular views of the rustic countryside.  The historic facilities boast of some of the famous players including Sam Snead and Arnold Palmer.  The layout is quite difficult due to the presence of numerous blind shots and water hazards.  With very tight, tree lined fairways and greens, the course can surprise the best of golfers.

Both golf courses are open to the public.