MARCH 20, 2024 www.wintertexantimes.com 12 WINTER TEXAN TIMES 956-580-3370 Serving Valleywide for 35 years Sales • Parts • Rentals • Onsite Service Easy Ride Golf Cars Drive Around In Your Brand New Golf Cart Today! ezridegolfcars@sbcglobal.net www.easyridegolfcars.com 2508 W. Interstate Hwy 2 Mission, TX 78572 COME IN &MAKE AN OFFER Inventory reduction on all used and new cars Used Ezgo RXV priced at $2,000 New Yamahas $8,800.00 awaits you, whether you had a spectacular round, or one you want to forget. It gives the entire experience an A-plus. Like the show “Cheers,” it’s truly a place where everybody knows your name. And just a fun place to experience. Treasure Hills – Second Place, Harlingen No golf course has done more to remain alive – and thrive – than Treasure Hills. Owners saw the potential in the beautifully designed course and, with some tender loving care, have turned this into a fabulous golf course that gives golfers a unique experience. It has all the ingredients of greatness – elevation changes, wide open holes that really aren’t wide open – just a mirage to let you believe you can grip it and rip it. But always plan ahead because danger GOLF From pg. 1 lurks with strategically placed pins and trees that are more than happy to send even your best shot of the day bouncing in all sorts of directions but where you aimed. Tierra Santa – Third Place, Weslaco The course that had at one time the most well-known finishing hole has been undergoing major renovations. They, like many Valley courses, have invested in their operation and the returns have been terrific. They even flip-flopped its front and back nine, at one point meaning No. 18 turned to No. 9. The good side is that even if you have a bad No. 9, you still have nine more holes to recover – and can make a stop at the clubhouse along the way. The pro shop has been remodeled as well as the restaurant. The course has been in immaculate shape for several years and the layout is fabulous. You could play this course over and over and never get tired of the challenges, or the beauty of several holes. It’s no wonder this continually ranks among the most favorite golf courses in the Valley. It has 14 lakes, strategically placed sand traps and provides multiple shot selections for almost every hold. Par 3s are easily reached but where they land – even if on the green – can make the difference between a birdie and a bogey, or something else. UPPER VALLEY Los Lagos – First Place, Edinburg Winter Texans chose three completely unique courses as their favorites in the Upper Valley, led by the biggest risk/reward course of all, Los Lagos in Edinburg. This course is a unique experience that can be frustrating or super rewarding. Moguls, elevation changes and, of course, Valley wind are the triple crown of golf and Los Lagos has them all. The moguls leave you to believe that you’re not playing on a more than usual flat Valley course. Fairways lean toward water or other danger zones but also give you plenty of paths to get to your destination. There’s just something about this course that calls out to golfers at all levels. It’s visually appealing, incredibly challenging but a course that must be played at least once – but once you play it, you’ll be struck with the Lagos bug and want to keep returning. And something else common about the Upper Valley favorites, they all have great food options. Champion Lakes – Second Place, McAllen This is a course that just refuses to sit still – now the home of UTRGV golf and with team lockers and golf bays. Now it can be a favorite to play, or to go out and watch a Division 1 Tournament. A few years back, when the Winter Texan numbers were shrinking, City of McAllen Golf Director Carlos Espinosa went in search of, “Why.” His reaching out to golfers has made a huge difference and Espinosa said it was important to see what the golfers wanted and what he and his staff could do to appeal to the Winter visitors. Of course, it helps that the course is always in amazing condition with a layout that is visually enchanting but both challenging and unique. It also boasts the biggest lighted driving range in the Valley. And don’t forget to grab a burger while you’re there. Tierra Del Sol – Third Place, Pharr This is not your father’s Tierra Del Sol. Ever since the course underwent a major facelift, it continues to draw Winter Texans from its surrounding parks and across the Rio Grande Valley. Greens were restructured. Grass Tierra Santa Golf Course. Photo by Anastasia Brunson Tierra Del Sol Golf Course. Photo by Henry Miller
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