Reed re-opens Ram Rock with ceremonial first drive

By Richard Zowie

The Highlander

HORSESHOE BAY — San Antonio native Patrick Reed is relatively easy to spot: when he donned the iconic green jacket in April after winning the 2018 Master’s Golf Tournament, he did so while wearing black pants, and a pink shirt and black cap that both had the Nike logo on them.

He wore the same outfit May 22, when he helped celebrate the official reopening of Ram Rock by hitting the ceremonial first drive.

Ram Rock, one of the Resort's three Robert Trent Jones, Sr.-designed golf courses, has been restored to its original glory as intended by the designer through his own son’s legacy company, the Robert Trent Jones, II team.

Among the many local dignitaries at the event included Steve Jordan, Horseshoe Bay mayor; Ron Mitchell, Horseshoe Bay Resort vice chairman, president and CEO, Ron Mitchell; members of Horseshoe Bay city council; Anthony Holder, Horseshoe Bay Resort director of golf operations Anthony Holder; Ken Gorzycki.

Ram Rock is designed as a “tough” course with water on 10 holes and bunkers throughout.

Officials described the renovations as including enlarged greens and reclaiming bunkers.

Horseshoe Bay’s guest

Reed, according to his PGA Tour profile, lives in Spring but told the crowd he and his family considers Horseshoe Bay to be a “second home,” where they like to go “to relax and recharge.”

Generally, when not competing in tournaments, Reed, spends his day working on his golf game and then home to relax and spend time with his wife Justine and two children.

“It means a lot to us to come here,” Reed said. “There is a lot of hospitality at Horseshoe Bay and it’s a chance to get away. The people here have been gracious to us. We like to hang out on the lake or at the pool.”

He noted that May 22 was his daughter’s birthday.

The golfer described his schedule since the Augusta tournament as “whirlwind.”

“It’s always nice to breathe,” he said. “But, a lot of obligations come with the victory. It’s been a lot of fun. The biggest thing is to figure out how to manage time.”

Reed credited Horseshoe Bay with helping him relax even when he carries a schedule of a full week of practice and taking care of business.

“It’s peaceful here and mentally it allows you to recover,” he said.

Golf game

Reed described his expectations as a professional golfer as having always been high.

“If I were to exceed my expectations, I’d have to win every tournament,” he said. “They’re so high up there So high up there and heard to reach, it keeps me hungry and wanting to strive for perfection, which’ll never happen. Nobody will ever be perfect at golf, but you always strive to be better.”

Reed described himself as a man with many goals. Besides steadily improving his golf game and winning more tournaments, he also wants to be there for his family, help out children and communities.

Privileges of green

For an entire year, Reed gets to wear the Masters green jacket that he won.

So far, it’s given him several perks. He sat courtside at a Madison Square Garden game (after never having been there before) for a game between the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers.

He also got to go to a Houston Rockets playoff game and even sat behind home plate for a Houston Astros game.

“I’m a huge Astros fan,” he said.

Reed recalled getting to shoot a free throw during a basketball game and navigating the challenges of doing so with the clear backboard and fans moving around behind it.

“I look forward to showing off the green jacket here at Horseshoe Bay,” he said. “To wear the jacket is great and a lot of fun. Even people who don’t know about golf seem to know about the green jacket. We hear lots of stories from fans.”

Winning the Masters

Reed said winning the Masters meant sticking to his game plan and not panicking during challenging shots. This included the day on the 11th hole when he was in the trees and had to chip his way out.

He won by one stroke and described the final two shots on the 18th green as “two putts going downhill.”

Faced with a 3.5-inch putt for the win, he reminded himself of how many times he’d made a putt just like this.

“I didn’t let the moment get into my head of how big a putt it was. I just went and made the putt,” Reed said.