Situated at the center of the Texas Panhandle, amid the sprawling grasslands of the Great Plains, Amarillo is a great little place to live. The city is known for some amazing things like the quirky Cadillac Ranch, Big Texan Steakhouse, nearby Palo Duro Canyon and the 13-block, U.S. Route 66/Sixth Street Historic District that recaptures the heyday of one of America’s most famous highways.
For those looking to get their kicks on the golf course, the recently renovated Amarillo Country Club provides plenty of fun, challenge and a good dose of history to boot.
Established in 1919 by banker and oilman Charles A. Fisk, Amarillo CC was the first of its kind in the Texas Panhandle. The course was designed by William McConnell, who took advantage of the natural terrain of the old Ayers place west of the city to create one of the best layouts in all of West Texas. Warren Cantrell made revisions in 1960, with additional revisions from Jay Morrish in 1983.
After nearly 30 years without any significant upgrades, in 2011 the membership of Amarillo Country Club approved an extensive modernization plan overseen by Weibring-Wolfard Golf Design. The 18-month-long, multi-million dollar project produced some dramatic changes.
Most significant is the opportunity to play a course that now ranges between 5,000-7,000 yards thanks to expanded teeing options. Those familiar with the old course will be surprised to see six completely new holes — three each on the front (Nos. 4, 5, 6) and back nine (10, 11, 12). The course also has a much cleaner look. The sand in the bunkers is bright white, and the removal of more than 350 trees has helped improve turf conditioning and playability.
The artfully renovated course is just one of the amenities members can enjoy. The club also boasts a state-of-the-art driving range that can be turned into a seven-hole par-3 course, swimming and diving, indoor and outdoor tennis, first-class fitness center and some of the tastiest food west of the Mississippi.
Contestants in this year’s West Texas Amateur, which returns to Amarillo CC from July 20-22, will have a chance to test their skills on the revamped Panhandle jewel. It may have a new look and feel, but underneath still lies the traditional character and style that has made the course an exceptional golf experience for nearly a century.
Scheduled for 54 holes of individual stroke play, the West Texas Amateur features three divisions: Open, Senior (55 and older), and Super Senior (65+). The starting field limit is 144 players, with 84 spots allotted to the Open Division, 42 in the Senior Division and 18 for Super Seniors.
At the 2017 championship, played at Lubbock CC, host club member David Bolen carded rounds of 70-62-68 to win the Open Division. John Pierce of San Antonio came from three back on the last day to win the Senior Division. Another host club member, Patrick Pritchett, carded a 1-under-par 71 in the final round to win the Super Senior title by six strokes.
Registration is now open for 2018 West Texas Amateur. The entry deadline is July 16 at 5 p.m.
For more information on the West Texas Amateur, click here.