Closed last year when original owner Gil Hodge decided to get out of the golf business, San Antonio’s Golf Club of Texas is set to reopen in the spring under a new proprietor.

David Doguet, owner of nearby turf supplier Bladerunner Farms, along with a number of partners including Tom Bevans of course operator Outlaw Golf Group, has bought the club and is investing over US$3.5 million in getting it ready for play once again. Droguet says he expects nine holes to be ready for play by March, with the full eighteen following around May time.

Original architect Roy Bechtol has been retained to work on the renovation project. “We’ve done enough here that I think there will be 10 holes that will really surprise people,” Doguet told the San Antonio Express-News. “Better tee locations on some holes, every bunker has been redone, and we’ve removed some and found better spots for new ones. Several greens were reshaped, and water has been added on a couple of holes. The practice facility has a short game area and is twice the size it was.” The two nines have also been reversed.

Bechtol and Droguet are grassing the course with zoysia strains grown at Doguet’s farm – which also supplied the Zeon zoysia for the Rio Olympic course designed by Gil Hanse. Doguet says he expects the zoysia to make a significant contribution to the course’s sustainability, with lower maintenance requirements, less need for water and fertiliser and less mowing. Indigenous plants are being used in native areas.