HSB in midst of $60 million capital program

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Horseshoe Bay Resort is in the midst of a gigantic economic undertaking — a $60 million, multi-year capital improvements plan expected to solidify the legendary resort's reputation as the destination of choice for visitors to the Texas Hill Country.

Resort vice chairman, president and chief executive officer Ron Lynn Mitchell recently presented an update on the capital improvements plan to members of the Horseshoe Bay City Council.

“The capital program is guided by a set of ownership goals, that being the refinement of existing amenities and construction of compelling new amenities reflecting current lifestyle patterns of the club membership and destination guests, while respectful of the legendary heritage of the resort’s development,” Mitchell said.

“The end results were designed to reflect added value to club membership and a competitive edge in the destination resort appeal, thereby also adding value to individual property owner investments, the City of Horseshoe Bay lifestyle offerings, and the alluring of future development within the cities of Horseshoe Bay and Marble Falls.

“The premises for development of repositioned and new amenities was simple — a capital program designed around incorporating a variety of resort offerings centered on unmatched social and recreational amenity infrastructure and service,” Mitchell added.

Golf

The resort is especially putting a lot of capital into renovation of three of its golf courses — Apple Rock, Ram Rock and Slick Rock — all of which are premier Robert Trent Jones Sr. designed courses.

In fact, Horseshoe Bay Resort boasts the largest complex of golf courses designed by the late Robert Trent Jones Sr. in the continental United States and all work on the courses are being done in conjunction with the United States Golf Association (USGA) and Robert Trent Jones Jr. to make sure the work complies with the exacting standards of the elder Jones, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame who also designed the famed Spyglass Hill, Oak Hill, Hazeltime and Baltusrol courses, and whose philosophy of golf design was “hard par, easy bogey.”

* At Slick Rock, Horseshoe Bay Resort just finished $1 million in renovations, which includes resurfacing greens, reshaping tee boxes, refurbishing sand traps and fairways, adding new irrigation and putting in a Par 3 on each hole. Upgrades were also made the course's rest stations.

Slick Rock includes the famous Hole No. 14, also called the “Million Dollar Hole,” with a cart path which takes golfers on a ride through a waterfall which empties into Slick Rock Creek. The course was built by Robert Trent Jones Sr. in 1971 and includes more than 71 sand traps and 12 water hazards as well as multiple tees on every hole.

Meanwhile, the Slick Rock Golf Clubhouse completed Phase One of its renovation with a complete interior and exterior remodel of the 14,550-square-foot clubhouse building, including new furniture, fixtures and equipment (FFE). Phase Two will include rest station renovations, locker room renovations, landscaping and parking lot renovations as well as a golfer's den and driving range renovations. It is scheduled for completion next spring.

* Ram Rock Golf Course is currently closed for renovations and scheduled for completion in May after some $2.5 million in renovations. The resorts has cored new green cavities within the existing green completes, removed existing greens and put in new drainage systems. New irrigation loops have been put in between the greens, which have been seeded with 007 bentgrass, while tees have been seeded with Bermuda grass 419 after being redesigned and leveled with sod.

Greenside and fairway bunkers have been renovated. Cart paths and bridges have been repaired or replaced and extended as needed to provide a continuous path layout, while lakes have been dredged and lined with stone retaining walls as well as various fountains, including some up to 24 feet in height.

Known as the “Challenger,” Ram Rock is known for its narrow fairways, natural dry creeks on six holes and its rolling greens, including its challenging Par 3 No. 4 island green.

* Much like Ram Rock, Apple Rock will have greens seeded with 007 bentgrass and will have new irrigation loops put in between the greens. Tees are being redesigned and leveled and greenside and fairway bunkers will be renovated. Cart paths and bridges will be repaired or replaced and extended as needed to provide a continuous path layout, while lakes will be dredged and lined with stone retaining walls and new lake water features.

A Par 3 is being added to each hole, while new landscaping will be planted and old landscaping removed. The work at Apple Rock is scheduled for a fall 2018 completion.

Apple Rock was first completed in 1986 and was named “Best New Resort Course” that year by Golf Digest. Its back-to-back par 5 holes on No. 10 and No. 11 offer a dramatic elevation change.

* At the Cap Rock Golf Complex, the resort is building two new practice putting greens as well as a 360-degree short game practice facility, which will include a chipping green and practice bunker. At the far end of the driving range will be new teaching tees and a future academy facility is being planned. Rest station upgrades will take place along with the planting of new landscaping. It is expected to be finished in May 2018.

One of the most-awaited projects has to be the Cap Rock Falls Golf Pro Shop and Pavilion. The existing pro shop is being demolished and a new pro shop and abutting outdoor pavilion is being built.

The Pro Shop will serve both Ram Rock and Apple Rock courses and includes a reception desk and retail space. The 4,000-square-foot Pavilion will seat 300-350 people and is designed to host large golf tournament and social activities. Both the Pro Shop and Pavilion are scheduled for completion next fall.

* The 10,000-square-foot Summit House will house the Summit Rock Golf Pro Shop and Clubhouse and will include the pro shop, restrooms, dining rooms, a private dining area, bar and bar dining as well as multiple decks and patios, men and ladies locker and card rooms and cart storage. The project is scheduled to begin in May.

Summit House will serve the Jack Nicklaus Signature members-only Summit Rock Golf Course, which opened in October 2012 with the “Golden Bear” himself shooting a combined 3-under on holes 10-13.

Spa and Fitness
* An interior and exterior remodel of the Marina Del Bay Motion and Exercise Hall has been completed, including a state-of-the-art cushion dance and exercise floor and new sound system. This building is adjacent to the main Bayside Spa and Salon and the cost of renovation was about $130,000.

* Speaking of the Bayside Spa and Salon, a $1 million interior and exterior remodel of the old fitness center at the resort includes new FFE, a new relaxation room, a new salon room and added ADA access. It is scheduled for completion by February.

Yacht Club and Grounds

The Yacht Club has several projects going on, all of which should be completed by next spring. The new $2 million ADA-accessible Yacht Club Pool Bar and Boardwalk will be built at the site of the existing bar cabana. It includes a new pool outdoor bar with large seating and lounge capacity as well as private cabanas, decks, fire pits, a function lawn and a boardwalk.

Phase One of the Yacht Club remodel includes new restrooms, an elevator and storage and office space as well as upgraded lower-level function space.

The Yacht Club Dining Yacht has been rebranded the “Ladybird” and has a new exterior and interior with new FFE and a new exterior skin, railing repairs and new lighting. It has seating for private parties as well.

Tennis/Fitness

The new $400,000 Paseo Members Fitness and Tennis Club has been completed. The new fitness facility and tennis pro shop is located next to Palm Villa Pool and the new clay tennis courts. The club was constructed at the site of the old Paseo Clubhouse, which lent its name to the building, which has new FFE and a washed stone exterior. The resort also resurfaced the hard surface tennis courts.

Retail/Games

Phase One of the renovation at the Ships Store has been completed and includes a remodeled interior and exterior as well as refurbished retail and the addition of an upper level adult and teen arcade. Phase Two will be completed next summer and includes new flex space for multiple purpose uses, a general store and additional retail space.

Marina

A new $.7 million Horseshoe Bay Resort Marina includes 220 new slips of varied sizes, from 11x24 to 16x40 and includes new hydro lifts, private boat slips and docks. The boardwalk has been refurbished with new lighting and landscaping. Completion of the marina is scheduled for early spring.

Dining and Entertainment

* On Thursday, Dec. 7, Horseshoe Bay celebrated a ribbon cutting for Phase One of its new Whitewater 360 Sports Club — a new sport bar inside the octagon building which anchors the Whitewater putting course and the Palm Pavilion. The new bar has 16 large-screen Smart TVs, a new sound system, decks, patios and fire pits. Phase Two includes a remodel and reopening of the Grill on the Green with outdoor patio eating areas.

* Meanwhile, the two-story Waterfront Bar and Grill includes a total interior and interior renovation, all new FFE and extended slips for boats. It boasts casual lakeside dining as well as a bar venue with upper and lower lakeside decks for entertainment. The project should be completed by the end of next summer.

* The crown jewel should be the $12.6 million Cap Rock Falls Members Club, Pool and Pool Bar and Grill. This 13,500-square-foot, two-story building will have two levels of indoor dining, a private dining room bar and wine dining, a reception foyer and multiple level outdoor decks, new pool bar, a grill and new restrooms. It is scheduled for a completion in fall 2018.

Pavilions and Activity Centers

* In addition to the new 4,000-square-foot Cap Rock Pavilion, the $950,000 Palm Pavilion has been built at the site of the old clay courts and will be a featured site for members and guests for golf socials and festivals. It is expected to allow the resort to host activities in a climate controlled place without needing to build a new banquet center.

* The Highland Kids Club is a conversion of the former Highlands Bar into a first-class Kids Club with climbing walls and other indoor, kid-friendly recreational features. It should be completed by May 2018.

* The Highlands Water Activity Pond includes a new launching dock, spray fountains, paddle boats, canoes and other water sports activities. It is expected to open in March.

Places to stay

* The 99-unit Palm Villas were formerly known as the Paseo Suites and has undergone a total room renovation with new FFE at a cost of $5.1 million. The building has a new exterior stone wash and wood elements have been replaced. There is new landscaping, lighting and sign renovations at this property, which is adjacent to the Tower Hotel.

* The Tower Hotel is scheduled to have a total remodel on 250 rooms in the seven-floor tower, with all new FFE, elevated bathrooms, and in-room service experiences. It is scheduled for completion by April. Meanwhile, the Tower Ball Room, Ball Room Lobby and the Lantana Dining Rooms began renovation of interiors with new FFE and should be completed in the spring.

Arrival and Parking

* The Airport Jet Center terminal was completely renovated inside and out, at a cost of $800,000. In addition to the terminal itself, the FBO and hangar were also renovated.

* A million-dollar welcome entry portal is being built on Horseshoe Bay Boulevard, featuring a fountain, entry portal wall, landscaping and lighting. There will be community identification signage, extended irrigation, lighting and manicured landscapes. Similar work will take place at the intersection of Summit Rock Boulevard and RM 2147. Work is expected to be completed by summer.

* Finally, there will be three additional parking venues with additional capacity of 177 spaces. One will be on 1.66 acres at Free Rein and Village Parkway, while a second will be on Port Street next to the existing lot. A third will be Short Circuit parking next to the Tennis Courts parking lot. All will be landscaped and lighted. Work begins in February.