Tag Archives: Golf

Guide Dogs of Texas Golf Classic set for May 18

By North SA Chamber Editor
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Guide Dogs of Texas logoEnjoy a wonderful day of golf and support Guide Dogs of Texas.

Sign up now for the Guide Dogs of Texas Golf Classic on Sunday, May 18 at the award-winning Canyon Springs Golf Club.  Tee-time for this wonderful event is at 1:30 p.m. and will include guide dogs and puppies walking the course, blind-fold putting contest, blind golfing contests, amazing catering, some big-name players, silent auction, and the good will of supporting this worthwhile charity. Each player receives snacks on the course, a player gift, generous buffet dinner, door prizes, stuffed goody bags, green fees and cart.  Dr. Andrew Geller, owner of South Texas Veterinary Ophthalmology, is Tournament Chairman.

DSC_0008Whether you play golf or not, you can support Guide Dogs of Texas AND buy some incredible gifts by participating on the tournament’s online auction process from May 1 through May 27 at http://www.32auctions.com/guidedogsoftexas.  Items include San Antonio Spurs tickets for the 2014-2015 season, an autographed basketball, Miranda Lambert autographed guitar, an original painting from John Bramblitt and much more!

Former International Blind Golf Association World Champion Bruce Hooper will play in the tournament.  Proceeds from the tournament will fund the successful programs and services of Guide Dogs of Texas, the only guide dog school in the state of Texas and one of only 11 in the United States.  Guide Dogs of Texas provides quality guide dogs for Texans who are visually impaired to increase their freedom, mobility, and independence.

Guide Dogs of Texas is 100% donor supported through corporations, foundations, churches, civic groups and individuals. It does not receive government funding nor insurance payments. In compliance with international certification, when a client receives a dog, the charge is $1 for a highly trained service dog, ongoing training for the client and aftercare visits for the team.

 

 

TMI Panther Scramble tournament aids student athletes

By North SA Chamber Editor
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TMI_logo_20yrsThe annual Panther Scramble golf tournament of TMI – The Episcopal School of Texas, held April 4 at the Resort Course at La Cantera, netted more than $39,000 to benefit the school’s athletic programs, an increase beyond last year’s total.

Increased participation at a new venue, new and returning sponsors as well as a silent auction and hole contests helped raise interest as well as proceeds. An added feature this year was entertainment by REMAX World Long Drive Finalist Kody Zurek, sponsored by Charity Golf International.

TMI_pantherscrambleFirst place gross score foursome (pictured above), who won golf for four at Oak Hills Country Club, comprised Chris Kahanek, Eddie Ramon, Julian Solis and TMI senior Cole Solis, who has won three high-school tournaments so far this season. First place net score foursome, for golf for four at Fair Oaks Ranch Country Club, was made up of Jon Beitz, Rob Devlin, Clay Michel, and Doug Monaghen, TMI parent Mike Holmes won the men’s longest drive contest, and TMI Athletic Director Becky Geyer won the women’s contest.

Tournament proceeds will make it possible for the Athletic Department to purchase equipment for a new pole-vaulting program, a softball pitching machine, strength and conditioning equipment and other new or upgraded items.

“On behalf of the Athletic Department, we would like to thank all who supported Panther Scramble,” said Geyer. “Impacting the lives of our student athletes is truly a blessing.”

Panther Scramble 2014 sponsors included Frost Bank, Norton Rose Fulbright, Batchelor Cadillac and Mercedes-Benz of Boerne.

TMI offers 12 sports at both the Middle and Upper School levels, plus cheerleading in Upper School.

About TMI
Throughout the 2013-2014 school year, TMI is celebrating the 120th anniversary of its founding in 1893. The flagship school of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas, TMI is a private, co-educational, college-preparatory school for grades 6-12, with optional Junior ROTC and boarding programs. For information, visit www.tmi-sa.org or call 698-7171.

Catch a wave – closer to home

By North SA Chamber Editor
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HyattHCResort_logoLooking for the perfect vacation to relax and recharge, featuring activities to delight everyone in your family? Whether you have surfers, swimmers, golfers, stargazers or someone just looking to float their day away or enjoy a relaxing massage, the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa is the answer to spring break fun for the whole family.

And yes, we did say “surfers.” But you don’t have to hit the coast or brave a crowded water park to catch some waves. The Hyatt Hill Country is the first Texas resort—and one of only three hotels in the United States—to have a FlowRider® wave machine on its property, offering perfect waves every day of the year. Let the fun flow and make Hyatt Hill Country fill your spring break with fantastic memories, not crowds or traffic.

Hyatt Hill Country_A_903_retLocated just 16 miles northwest of downtown San Antonio and the San Antonio International Airport, the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa offers a retreat that feels a world away, but the convenience and fun of San Antonio is just outside your door. Built in 1990, the AAA Four-Diamond resort features a 500-room luxury hotel, championship 27-hole golf course, a full-service state-of-the-art spa. The resort also boasts a tennis court, award-winning dining, walking/jogging path and nature trail, health club facility, five-acre water park with a FlowRider® wave machine, tower water slide, three swimming pools and cascading waterfalls, two outdoor whirlpools, Camp Hyatt children’s program and a 950-foot Ramblin’ River intertwined with lush gardens.

The resort’s traditional Hill Country architecture complements the site’s inherent beauty, highlighted by thousands of native Live Oak trees, limestone-banked creeks, mossy springs and rolling wildflower meadows. This natural, secluded, pastoral setting makes the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa an ideal location for relaxing family vacations, fun-filled weekend getaways and the perfect place for a spring break filled with fun for every member of the family, including Fido. That’s right—the resort offers a canine guest program with “barking lot” access, treats, bowls and doggie beds awaiting your pet upon check-in.

Hyatt Hill Country_A_1247Jump In, The Water is Fine:  Five Acres of Water Fun Awaits
Long known for its ever-popular water playground featuring three swimming pools, cascading waterfalls, a sandy beach, a tubing river and more, the Hyatt Hill Country’s new FlowRider® wave machine turns up the fun meter for anyone who enjoys riding the waves. The exciting new attraction simulates a “barrel-less” wave; complete with a sloped wave surface featuring 40,000 gallons of water being driven up at a rate of about 18,000 gallons per minute. What does that mean? Perfect waves, all year long, ready for guests to flowboard their day away.

Hyatt Hill Country_A_1126_retFlow boarding resembles surfing, but is a combination of skateboarding, wakeboarding, boogie boarding, snowboarding and surfing—a fantastic mix of fun for any board sport fan. The wave machine spans an impressive length of 54 feet and is 22 feet wide, with a water depth of between 3 to 4 inches, perfect for body boarding, knee boarding or stand-up boarding. The FlowRider® can be heated seasonally, meaning guests will be able to enjoy this adrenaline-packed thrill all year long, though guests must be at least 42 inches tall to boogie board and 52 inches tall to stand-up ride/surf.

In addition to the wave machine, the resort added a 22-foot-tall tower waterslide to its already amazing water park, which now offers five acres of hydrated fun and relaxation. Perfect for guests more than four feet tall, the slide is a great complement to the water park’s 950-foot Ramblin’ River and sandy beach. The park also features an activity pool equipped with water volleyball and basketball, an adults-only Texas-shaped pool, 2 hot tubs and a zero-entry kiddie wading pool, ensuring wet fun for everyone, no matter what their height.

Clubbing It:  The Hill Country Golf Club
If water sports leave you dripping, an afternoon on the links at the Hill Country Golf Club is sure to dry you off. In its first year of play, the 27-hole course was named one of the top 10 new public courses in the U.S. by Golf Magazine, and Golf for Women named the course Top Fairways list of most “women-friendly” golf courses. Today, the course continues to be honored with the awards from various golfing and travel publications. Most recently, Hyatt Hill Country Golf Club was selected among the world’s best golf venues in the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler Golf Poll and is consistently among the 100 favorite golf destinations worldwide.

The Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort’s championship golf course appeals to a broad spectrum of golf enthusiasts, with holes that demand strength and strategy, but with four sets of tees to accommodate players of every skill level. The greens vary in size, shape and slope, with the shortest game further challenged by strategically placed bunkers and grass hollows.

And if you’re looking for a round of family fun, the course offers The Hill Country Family Express Course, an innovative new golf program designed for families who want to experience the game of golf together. “Family Express” tees are located on the club’s three courses, albeit at a shorter distance. One of the nine-hole courses is designated for the Express Course each day so as not to impede play for more experienced golfers, yet still allowing the families to enjoy their time together.

Getting Rowdy: Camp Hyatt Fills Days and Nights with Fun
With 300-acres available to explore, the Hyatt Hill Country is a haven for kids to explore and learn, all while having fun. Rowdy’s Camp Hyatt, the resort’s award-winning children’s program designed for guests ages 3 to 12, offers planned, supervised activities sure to thrill your little ones. The supervised children’s program offers a variety of activities that teach native Texas customs and traditions, like hunting for arrowheads, stargazing, bird watching, learning how to recognize regional animal tracks and indoor crafts are just some of the activities that will delight and entertain your little spring breakers.

In addition to the themed activities, Camp Hyatt offers a special schedule of spring break activities and of course children can also participate in traditional resort activities such as swimming in the Ramblin’ River, making sandcastles at the manmade beach, taking walks on the mile-long nature trails and s’ mores by the campfire.

Flavors to Savor:  Onsite Dining
Wondering how to keep your crew energized for all of that fun. Hyatt Hill Country has you covered with a wide array of dining options sure to satisfy even the pickiest eaters. From the Springhouse Café, a restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner alongside terrific views of the resort’s garden and pool areas, to the fine dining of Antlers Lodge—so named for the magnificent handcrafted, naturally shed-antler chandelier that serves as the focal point for the room—featuring exquisitely prepared steaks, seafood and poultry complemented by seasonal harvests and regional flavors, you won’t have to wander far to enjoy a terrific meal.

The resort’s dining options also include Cactus Oak Tavern, located in the Hill Country Golf Club, featuring traditional 19th hole fare such as cheeseburgers and grilled chicken breast sandwiches, as well as poolside dining at Vince’s Watering Hole and Papa Ed’s Pool Bar & Grill, where plump hot dogs, Texas-sized nachos, chilled salads and cool refreshing smoothies, sodas and cocktails are offered. Additional dining choices onsite include Charlie’s Long Bar, a traditional Texas-style saloon with a masterfully crafted, 56-foot long copper-topped bar, the longest copper-topped bar in Texas; the General Store, combining convenience with the feel and ambiance of an old country store; The Porch brews super-premium fair-trade coffees, hand-dipped ice-cream treats, espresso drinks and fresh pastries; or if you’re just too tired from a great day, the hotel offers extensive hours of service through in-room dining.

Make Your Spring Break Award Winning!
Make sure your spring break takes the top prize—plan your trip to the Hyatt Hill Country Resort and Spa. A few of the resort’s award and distinctions:

  • 2014 World’s Best Family Friendly Hotels, Travel+Leisure
  • 2013 Best Hotels in the USA, US News and World Report
  • 2013 Reader’s Poll: Top 270 Spas in North America, the Caribbean, Hawaii and at Sea by Condé Nast Traveler
  • 2013 Reader’s Poll: Top 10 Family Resorts, Family Fun magazine
  • 2013 Top 10 Family Fun Resorts for Groups, Convention South
  • 2012 Top 121 Golf Resorts in the World, Readers’ Poll, Top 25 Southern U.S. Golf Resorts, Condé Nast Traveler
  • Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, Audubon International
  • 2013 Best Hotels in the USA, US News and World Report
  • 2013 Four Diamond, American Automobile Association (AAA), Resort and Antlers Lodge
  • 2012 World’s Best Hotels for Families, Travel+Leisure magazine

Putting the “Relax” into Your Break:  Windflower-The Hill Country Spa
If hitting the links or riding the waves doesn’t make you relax, there’s no doubt that the perfect spa visit will do the trick. Recently named by Condé Nast Traveler readers as one of the top 100 resort spas in the United States, Windflower-The Hill Country Spa incorporates native stones, authentic wood beams, rough-hewn timber salvaged from abandoned structures and a standing-seam metal roof, all situated amid a secluded grove of native live oaks for a slice of modern country heaven. Customized 50- to 80-minute treatments are offered in 21 treatment rooms housed in the structure’s “renovated barn.” Sixteen of the rooms, including a couple’s room, are used for massage and the more conventional spa treatments, while five of the rooms are designed for “wet” treatments, such as therapeutic baths, body treatments, and Vichy showers. Seasonally, three outdoor cabanas, overlooking a majestic field of wildflowers, are available for massage.

A World Away, But Close to Everything: Nearby Attractions
The resort’s secluded, yet convenient location makes it an excellent point of departure for excursions to attractions for which San Antonio has become famous for, such as The Alamo, The River Walk, SeaWorld/Aquatica San Antonio, Six Flags Fiesta Texas and the Historic Mission Trails National Park, and rock climbing, horseback riding, sailing, fishing and tubing are available within an hour’s drive. Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort is also conveniently located near charming and historic Hill Country towns popular for antique and crafts shopping, scenic state parks, and the state’s growing wine region, making it the perfect starting point for wherever you roam.

About the Hyatt Regency Hill Country
The Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa is located on 300-scenic acres in the heart of San Antonio. The recently renovated 500-room resort features 53,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and 165,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor event space.

Resort amenities include the full-service Windflower-The Hill Country Spa featuring 21-treatment rooms with world-class services, a five-acre water park with a FlowRider® wave machine, 22’ tower waterslide, four swimming pools, Ramblin’ River and regulation sized sand volleyball court. With five restaurants, a lounge and tavern, guests can enjoy superb epicurean dining or cocktails with colleagues overlooking a lushly landscaped 27-hole Arthur Hills-designed golf course. For reservations or information contact 210-647-1234 or visit us at hillcountry.hyatt.com.

Valero Energy Corporation gearing up for Valero Texas Open kick-off

By North SA Chamber Editor
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Valero logoValero Energy Corporation and the Valero Texas Open staff are already working hard toward this year’s Valero Texas Open PGA Tour tournament, which takes place from March 27-30 at the AT&T Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio. The tournament, which is one of the largest professional sporting events to take place annually in San Antonio, is followed up on March 31 by the Benefit for Children – a unique golf event for more than 2,000 players with morning and afternoon golf outings on 11 of San Antonio’s top courses as well as a sporting clays shooting tournament at a first-class course.

It takes a tremendous amount of work to put on the event each year – including the efforts of more than 1,300 volunteers – but it’s worth it. Together, the Valero Texas Open and Benefit for Children events raised $10 million for children’s charities in 2013 to bring the total raised beyond $81.5 million since the tournament was started.

Valero_photoThe funds for charity are raised through sponsorships, and they are distributed to children’s charities in all of the areas where Valero has major operations in the proportions that those areas raised funds. Valero employees in those areas form committees to choose worthy charities to receive the funds. Last year in San Antonio, nearly 100 children’s charities received a share of the $2.7 million allocated to this year as a result of the tournament.

This year the Valero Texas Open and the Benefit for Children will emphasize the “Drive to $100 million” as the 2014 events help the tournament toward its goal of surpassing $100 million raised for charities. The Valero Texas Open has been the top fundraising event on the PGA Tour for the past several years.

PGA Tour players completing this year promise to feature the same kind of big names that vied for last year’s trophy, including Rory McIlroy, Jim Furyk, Charley Hoffman, K.J. Choi, Padraig Harrington, and 2013 champion Martin Laird.

In winning the 2013 tournament, Laird not only got to take home the top purse of more than $1.1 million, but he also was presented with a custom-made pair of cowboy boots to remind him of his success in Texas.

Ticket packages for the upcoming 2014 Valero Texas Open are already on sale at http://www.valerotexasopen.com

Golf much? Run much? Walk much? Give much? Help much?

By North SA Chamber Editor
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EFCST Logo 600Epilepsy Foundation Central & South Texas is proud to announce two up-coming area events benefiting the 130,000 individuals living with epilepsy in our service area! On September 20th, support our 7th Annual Drive Fore A Cause Golf Tournament and treat yourself, your clients, or your employees to the “legendary experience” that only the Hyatt Hill Country Golf Club can provide. Seizures rob people of precious moments of time; moments lost forever… so lace up your shoes and join us Saturday November 16th at Eisenhower Park for our 5th Annual Seize the Moment 5K Fun Run/Walk! For more information on either of these events please contact us at 653-5353 or events@efcst.org.