golf courses | Texas Tweeties by Bob Zeller

Who says that I only photograph birds? Actually, before I got into birding and photographing birds, I leaned toward landscapes, flowers, etc. But one thing that I always loved was the game of golf. San Angelo has one of the most beautiful courses in the area, and that is the San Angelo Country Club.

I was privy to be able to play it a couple of times as a guest of a few friends. I did pretty well. I got around the course without falling into the water hazards. My favorite shot was the explosion shot off of the first tee, and I always tried to keep my putts low.

I really admired the gorgeous landscaping on some of the holes, so I approached Jason Hase, the pro, and got permission to use one of their golf carts and go around and photograph some of them.

Although the entire eighteen holes are things of beauty, six of them really stood out, as they each had some feature that made them more photogenic.

For your enjoyment here those images:

Hole Number 1. This hole has a pond just short right of the green, in the trees. It shouldn’t come into play unless you have a bad slice. I captured this scene from behind the pond, looking towards the green and flag.

Hole number one – San Angelo Country Club

Hole number 3. This photo was taken from the right side of the green. I loved the tree in the foreground and the background view of a pond on an adjacent hole. The play on this hole comes from the left as you look at the image.

Hole number three – San Angelo Country Club

Hole number 4. For this photo, I was standing behind the green. A nice view of the pond fronting the green.

Hole number four – San Angelo Country Club

Hole number 6. This a pretty little par three hole with a pond with a fountain in front. Be sure to use enough club. I photographed this one from behind the tee, trying to put the flowers and shrubs into the foreground.

Hole number six – San Angelo Country Club

Hole number 10. Another three-shot hole to begin the back nine. Again you need all carry to reach the green. I photographed it standing on the tee. The blue that you see in the trees way right of the green is the Concho River.

Hole number ten – San Angelo Country Club

Hole number 15. I love this pretty little par three. It has this gorgeous pond to the left front of the teeing area. It doesn’t come into play, of course, but adds to the beauty of the hole.

Hole number fifteen – San Angelo Country Club

Yesterday, Jason contacted me and we arranged for the club to purchase the rights to these image for their new website. I hope to someday to get back there and perhaps photograph the remaining holes.

I hope you enjoyed these photographs. Click on any of them to see beautiful enlargements.

I had you going there for a minute, didn’t I. I bet you thought I was going to tell you about another birding hotspot. Today, this post is about the other golfing avians, birdies, eagles, albatrosses. 🙂

Lately, with the temperatures turning so nice for a bit, I sometimes remember my days of enjoying a round of golf. Golf is a sport that you can get out, enjoy the outdoors, and forget all of your problems. I haven’t played a round in about five years. I was a pretty decent player. I was pretty short off of the tee, though. When everybody was smoking their tee shots a hundred yards pass me, I was just steady down the middle. I was given a nickname, “three pecks and a putt”. I hit a lot of “walkers”. Walkers are shots that aren’t hit far enough to get back into the cart and ride to. I never hit into the rough, either. I couldn’t hit the ball that far. 🙂

But what I enjoyed most about the golf courses was the beauty of them. And that is what inspired me to photograph some of the course around here. San Angelo Country Club is one of the prettier ones, and I have sold many of my images of a few golf holes, in the pro shop. Here are a few samples.

San Angelo Country Club - Hole no. 1

San Angelo Country Club - Hole no. 6

San Angelo Country Club - Hole no. 10

But I am not convinced that I want to play again. I feel the real birds calling me so I will probably find myself outside this afternoon searching for another elusive lifer.

So enjoy the photos, click on any of them for an enlargement, and I’ll maybe have some more birding photos for you next time.