Blake Howe, Author at Boot Ranch

$2 Million Course Enhancement

Blake Howe on September 18, 2017

On June 1, we closed the Boot Ranch golf course to undertake a major renovation of the bunkers and greens, tweaks to the layout, and improved aesthetics. The course will reopen for play by primary members on Friday, September 29 and we’ll welcome vertical members and guests on Saturday, September 30. The project could not have gone better, thanks to a dedicated team and excellent growing conditions.

Course designer and PGA Championship winner Hal Sutton was on-site to oversee this project along with Boot Ranch Director of Club Operations Todd Huizinga, Head Golf Professional Emil Hale, Superintendent Deven Baughn and our contractor Heritage Links.

Sutton’s focus in this project was to enhance the playability without altering the experience. “My key was to figure out a way to challenge the best players while offering higher-handicap golfers the chance to play golf and have fun,” explained Sutton.

The course was designed by Sutton to be the ideal course for the devoted golfer; a place where golfers can refine their game, take on some of golf’s most difficult challenges, and learn everything they will ever need to know about the game of golf.

“I wanted to build a course that if for some reason I wasn’t around to teach my son how to play golf, he would have a chance to learn all the shots he’d ever need right here.”-Hal Sutton

Don’t take these improvements as a sign of reduced difficulty to our nationally acclaimed course. While one aspect may seem easier than usual—like reduced difficulty when hitting out of bunkers—another will make up for it, in our case that is with faster, firmer greens.

“We’re really making the good player think, says Sutton. “If he hits it good, we’re going to reward him. If he hits it bad, we’re going to punish him.”

The course will be put to the test this fall with the Member-Guest tournament October 13-14, the Club Championship on October 21, and the Covey Buster Invitational November 6-8 which attracts pros and their members from top private clubs around the country. We’re expecting great reviews.

Updates to the Course

Greens

All of the greens used at Boot Ranch for practice and play have been converted from bentgrass to TifEagle Bermuda, to not only provide a superior playing surface but also to better tolerate the Hill Country climate and irrigation with reclaimed water. Many of the greens had their slope and undulation reduced to counteract the faster conditions created by the newly installed Bermuda grass.

Bunkers

The majority of the course improvements were to the bunkers, including raising the base of each bunker by four inches and installing new Bunker Solutions liners and irrigation.

The fairway bunkers were filled with a mix of bright “bunker white” sand blended with the slightly reddish native sand, and native grasses and grass islands in waste bunkers were removed.

To increase the landing areas around the greens, many bunkers were either reduced in size or eliminated.

Rough

To combat the longer native grasses that have previously plagued golfers who miss the fairway, an intermediate cut of inch-and-a-half-deep Bermuda grass has been installed.

18^th Hole

This par 4 has been lengthened, transforming one of the toughest finishing holes in Texas into a challenging par 5.

Updates off the Course

Putting Park

We also invested an additional $1 million this summer in Metzger Park, creating a one-acre putting park designed by Chet Williams. This putting park, with the largest green in Texas, will be a center for family fun and friendly competitions. Adjacent to the putting park is a huge new play lawn for kite flying, soccer ball kicking and special events.

Boot Ranch property purchases include a multi-generational Club membership that extends privileges to five generations of the member’s family. Plan now to experience the Boot Ranch member lifestyle and explore real estate opportunities by scheduling a Discovery Visit this fall.

Breaking Ground: Village Homes at Metzger Park

Blake Howe on September 12, 2017

Construction has begun on the first condominium residences at Boot Ranch, Village Homes at Metzger Park. Designed by renowned Hill Country architect Don McDonald with interiors by Donna Figg, each Village Home has the exterior appearance of an 8,000 square foot estate home, while housing three luxurious single-story residences. Private garage options are available, as are private pools and outdoor kitchens. Three plans are offered, from just over 2,000 to nearly 4,000 square feet, each with a large open great room with gas fireplace, beautifully appointed kitchen, and oak flooring in all living spaces. No home at Boot Ranch would be complete without outdoor living spaces to enjoy the Hill Country scenery and ever-present breezes. Each Village Home residence includes a covered outdoor living area with a fireplace, an optional private pool, and a view of the 9th hole of the golf course. First level residences, available with two or three bedrooms, include a private entry courtyard with covered outdoor living area, and private covered terrace off the master bedroom. View our first floor plans, HERE Penthouse residences have exclusive access to a private elevator and feature a large private master suite, a junior master suite, a guest room and a bonus room that makes an ideal office, study or wine room. View our Penthouse plan, HERE

Longhorn Lake is New Destination for Outdoor Family Adventures

Blake Howe on August 12, 2017

It’s summertime in the Texas Hill Country and Longhorn Lake is officially open! Members and special guests convened at our newest amenity expansion over

Dorado Magazine Photo Essay

Blake Howe on June 4, 2017

Boot Ranch recently caught the attention of Dorado, a beautiful print and online magazine that celebrates the eclectic spirit of Texas and the Southwest. Dorado published an online photo essay that features a delightful Boot Ranch vacation home whose Canadian owners used a light color palette throughout, complemented by simple Texas accents of hides, horns, and art. The home maximizes eastern views of a pond, the 11th Hole of the golf course, and the distant Hill Country with a deep covered porch that spans the back of the house and features a linear fireplace. The lower level wine cellar opens to another outdoor seating area surrounding a fire pit. Enjoy an online private tour of this 4,800 square-foot Hill Country haven here. Photos by John R. Rogers and Blake Mistich.

Texas Monthly Show Home

Blake Howe on May 21, 2017

Boot Ranch hosted the 2017 Texas Monthly Show Home, which sold during construction for more than $1.6 million. The stunning show home opened for two exclusive weekends of ticketed tours May 13th-14th and May 20-21st, raising nearly $7,500 for the Gillespie County Historical Society which provided volunteer tour docents. It remains open as a model home for real estate prospects who tour Boot Ranch with a member of the Boot Ranch Realty team.

Set on a 1.75-acre high-elevation homesite in the center of our community, the Show Home takes advantage of distant Hill Country views that can be enjoyed from almost every room and features large entertaining spaces as well as very private guest accommodations for visiting friends and family members.

Inspired by the original home designs of the Fredericksburg area, the design firm Design Visions combined historic massing and materials with an open interior to create elegant scale in the Show Home. Slaughter Design Studio selected finishes and furnishings that complement the home design with a cool palette and rich textures. The home was build by Mabery Contracting.

Major sponsors Daltile and The Container Store contributed the home’s exceptional tiles, countertops, storage solutions and closet systems. Several works of art in the home have been purchased from sponsor Insight Gallery for the Boot Ranch permanent collection, and additional art and sculpture was loaned from the gallery.

Take an online look at the stunning Texas Monthly Hill Country Show Home in the gallery below, or call (830) 997-6200 to schedule a private in-person tour of the home and the entire Boot Ranch community.

Breaking Ground: Metzger Park

Blake Howe on April 27, 2017

Metzger Park, our newest residential enclave, is in the center of the action—located between the Clubhouse Village, the Ranch Club, the Practice Park, and the 9th hole of the golf course. And in the center of Metzger Park, you’ll find five manicured acres of green space for active recreation, including the largest putting park in Texas. Residential offerings include Village Homes (our first condominium residences) from the $800,000s, shared-ownership Sunday Houses starting at $325,000, and custom homesites that surround the putting park and play fields. Award-winning Hill Country architect Don McDonald is completing plans for our newest offering—Summer Houses—that will take full advantage of these amazing lots.

Additional amenities at Metzger Park will include a general store and the community mail center. Purchase reservations are now being accepted for all Metzger Park properties. Contact Sean Gioffre or Eric Metzger at (830) 997-6200 to schedule a tour.

Longhorn Lake: The Newest Destination for Outdoor Family Adventure

Blake Howe on April 27, 2017

The new two-mile Longhorn Trail and Longhorn Lake amenities bring back the days of simple, unplugged, summer adventures—bike riding ‘til dark, fishing, swimming, climbing trees and making new friends. Here you will find two massive treehouses in grandfather oaks, complete with slides and fire pole exits, connected by a swinging wood-and-rope bridge. Kayaks, paddleboards, and canoes are ready for exploring the lake, as is a raft that you can pull across the lake, Huck Finn style, to get to the jumping platforms on the far shore. For lakeside gatherings, the perfect spot is The Landing, a large covered pavilion with fireplace and picnic tables, next to a swim beach with scoops and buckets for the kiddos.

Members who enjoyed a sneak-peek of the area in late March tell us that it will be their summer-fun headquarters this year. There’s still a bit of construction to complete on bridges, restrooms and parking areas. We’re keeping fingers crossed for a Memorial Day weekend opening celebration.

2016 in Review

Blake Howe on December 29, 2016

What an incredible year 2016 was at Boot Ranch. We enjoyed record property sales, welcomed many new member families, orchestrated a robust schedule of popular Club events, and began work on our amenity expansion. As we start 2017, we’d like to share some highlights of the past 12 months. We experienced terrific success in real estate, with 58 properties being sold or placed under reservation during the year. We launched two new property types—Country Homes and Village Homes—and both have met with an enthusiastic buyer response. In December we completed Sunday House 5 and welcomed its 8 owners to the Boot Ranch family. The Boot Ranch Realty team gave more than 180 tours of our breathtaking property to those interested in becoming members and owning property. Speaking of breathtaking—the transformation of the Longhorn Lake area into the newest destination at Boot Ranch for outdoor fun is in full swing, and we’re on schedule to complete a two-mile trail segment and all the lake amenities by next summer. The Landing, a lakeside open air pavilion, is nearly complete and will soon be surrounded by a beach area for lounging, a boardwalk, and amazing treehouses. We’ve built an old-fashioned raft for crossing the lake to make a splash at the jumping rocks. We have added to our long list of accolades year. The Dallas Morning News ranked Boot Ranch #8 in its prestigious “Top 100 Courses” issue in May. The 34-acre golf practice park at Boot Ranch was honored for the 5th consecutive year by the Golf Range Association of America as one of the Top 50 Private Golf Ranges in America for 2016. You can learn more about this prestigious award, HERE This year we introduced a new member social format affectionately called the “Boot Up.” These popular Friday evening socials were held at the Clubhouse, the Ranch Club or at Member homes under construction. All featured lively music, an open bar, and appetizers from our culinary team. Boot Ranch was featured in esteemed print and online publications this year, including the Wall Street Journal, Cowboys & Indians,Dorado, D Home, Modern Luxury Interiors, Paper City, Links, and, TanyaFoster.com. Some featured beautiful homes, others focused on golf or our incomparable Hill Country lifestyle. While 2016 was a great year, 2017 will be even better with new property offerings, the completion of the Texas Monthly Hill Country Show Home, and the new Metzger Park neighborhood with its putting park and play field. We hope you’ll plan a visit to experience firsthand the finest private club community in Texas.

Boot Ranch Practice Park Named Top 50 in America

Blake Howe on December 16, 2016

Boot Ranch is honored to have been named one of the Top 50 Private Golf Ranges in America for 2016 by the Golf Range Association of America.This is the 5th consecutive year that Boot Ranch was ranked among this esteemed group of practice facilities.

The Practice Park at Boot Ranch spans 34 acres and consists of a four-sided driving range, which allows for practice into any wind direction; a short range for perfecting chipping, putting and bunker shots; and a three-hole short course to play nine par-3 holes from 80 to 180 yards.

For more information on our Hal Sutton designed Golf course and Practice Park, please click here

Developer Announces Major Amenity Expansion

Blake Howe on October 31, 2016

The developer of Boot Ranch today announced an expansion project that will add 10 new features for outdoor recreation and social activities. Most are planned to be ready for use by members and their guests in 2017.

The amenities will be located around Longhorn Lake at the north end Boot Ranch, and in Metzger Park, a new residential village near the Clubhouse. The two areas will be connected with a new 10-foot wide paved trail that spans the two miles between these areas. Longhorn Lake features will include a covered party deck with fireplace and canoe/kayak tie ups; a swim beach, jumping platforms accessed by raft; and two tree houses connected by a swinging bridge.

At Metzger Park, central green space will accommodate a one-acre putting park and 3.5 acres of play fields. Work will begin in 2017 on the restoration of the 19th century stone Metzger House for use as a general store and mail center.

Boot Ranch, ranked among the top-10 golf communities in America by Golf Digest, currently features a Hal Sutton-designed 18-hole golf course and 34-acre practice park; a 55,000 square-foot Clubhouse Village; and the Ranch Club with three pools, a pavilion that seats 300 and lighted courts for basketball and tennis. At present, Boot Ranch has about 200 Club members, more than half of whom own property in the community.

“Today, Boot Ranch offers a top-tier golf experience and an amazing pool complex,” said developer Mark Enderle of the Terra Verde Group. “Our vision for this expansion is to take full advantage of this extraordinary land with lots of outdoor activities you just can’t do in the city.” The acclaimed private club design firm Swaback Partners of Scottsdale is doing the architecture and planning work.

Enderle added that a freestanding fitness center, a new sporting clays course, and a lakeside clubhouse are also in the early planning stages.