Harbor Lakes: Treasure unearthed in new Phelps water-laden layout

By David R. Holland, Senior Writer

GRANBURY, Texas - OK, so the outlaw Jesse James wasn't buried in Granbury as somedreamers tried to convince the world. And maybe it isjust another Tall Texas Tale that Billy the Kid livedto and old age in nearby Hico.

Tourists don't need those kind of Texas tales to havea reason to come to this historic area and visitTexas' No. 1 town square and courthouse - especiallygolf tourists. Something of value was unearthed hererecently and it wasn't some old gunslinger's bones - it's called Harbor Lakes Golf Club.

Veteran designer Dick Phelps can discuss "unearthed"in a totally different perspective. "When the contractor started he wentdown no more than three orfour feet and ran into water, so they just took thatsoil and used it for housing pads." And that was thebeginning of some great strategic lakes dottedthroughout this new golf course about 30 minutessouthwest of Fort Worth.

Simply put, Harbor Lakes is the best new daily-feecourse in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex for 2003.

Harbor Lakes measures 7,239 yards at par 72 - bigenough for the long ball, but there are plenty ofstretches on this strategic layout where pinpointaccuracy is needed to avoid the water - in particularnine and 18. These hazards are bulkheaded adding tothe beauty and in the distance Comanche Peak rises andLake Granbury, a fisherman's paradise, is also insight.

No. 9, only 361 yards, has water all down the rightside, and it's risk-reward, you can cut off as much asyou dare on the man-made lake. No. 18 at 401 yards,has water on all sides of the approach and the fairwaynarrows down to sliver. Come up wide right or left andshort on the second shot and you pay the price.

A corner of Lake Granbury comes into play on holes 13through 15 with the lake just five steps from the backof tee No. 14, a 600-yard par-5 dogleg right.

But perhaps the thing you will like the best is thecondition of the brand-new gem. The Tifsport Bermudagrass fairways are near perfect and the ball sits upcleanly. And the Tifeagle Bermuda greens are rollingtrue. Management used a full year for grow-in.

"I think most golfers have a love-hate relationshipwith this much water in a layout," said Phelps, amember of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame. "But it addsa lot of beauty and strategy to the golf course."

Harbor Lakes' director of golf and general managerRobert McMillan played on the Asian Tour and theEuropean Tour for six years, including an appearanceat the 113th British Open at Royal Birkdale. He wasraised in Glasgow, Scotland and worked at Turnberry,living only 11 paces from the first tee box of theAilsa Course.

One would think golf experiences would be all downhillfrom there, but McMillan is thrilled about his job inTexas. "People from the Dallas-Fort Worth area used tocome to Granbury for the antique shopping, but nowtravel golfers are coming here to spend the night andplay Harbor Lakes.

"This is an amazing Dick Phelps layout. It will neverbe Turnberry or Medinah, but for Texas this is thebest course I've seen. Hole for hole it is outstandingand playable. And when you get on holes 13-15 on thebanks of Lake Granbury you must stop and enjoy theview. We won't call it 'Amen Corner' but we need tocome up for a name for that stretch of holes,"McMillan said.

Tim McNutt, vice president of Prime Golf, whichmanages the course property, says a 10,000-square-footclubhouse, now under construction, will add even moreto Harbor Lakes.

The bottom line? Harbor Lakes is now a must-play inTexas.

Harbor Lakes Golf Club
2100 Clubhouse Drive
Granbury, Texas 76048
(817) 578-8600
harborlakes.com

Historic Granbury

Granbury's historic Courthouse Square is a great daytrip from the Metroplex. Jesse James and Granbury? In1995 there was a exhumation of an assumed Jesse Jamesburial site with nationwide press. The gravediggersthought they would prove through DNA matches ofdescendants in James' family tree that indeed theoutlaw was buried here and not in Missouri. No proofwas ever substantiated.

The town, no doubt, loves legends and lore. Anotherstory surrounds the suspicion that former residentJohn St. Helen was really President Lincoln's assassinJohn Wilkes Booth. Can Texans dream 'em up or what?

Where to stay

Granbury has more than 20 Bed & Breakfast inns. Checkthem out at granburytx.com along with places todine, the famous Granbury Lake and other things to doin this historic city.

Other golf options in the Granbury area

De Cordova Bend Country Club, Granbury, (817)326-4505
Granbury Country Club Golf Course, nine holes, semi-private, (817) 573-9912
Hidden Oaks Golf Course, Granbury, (817) 279-1078
Pecan Plantation's Nutcracker and Old Course, private, (817) 279-0936 or (817) 573-2645
Starr Hollow in Tolar is an unusual private course on a ranch, (254) 835-4581
Three Oaks Golf Course, nine-hole par-3 course in Acton, (817) 326-5563
Squaw Valley Golf Course in Glen Rose, (254) 897-7956
Sugartree Golf Course in Dennis is a GolfTexas.com hidden gem, (817) 596-0020.

December 15, 2003