It is easy to describe a golf course as a ‘hidden’ gem.

The Escondido Golf & Lake Club lying about a 45-minute drive from Austin, Texas is not only a hidden golfing gem but also ‘hidden’ in name given the word ‘Escondido’ is Spanish for ‘hidden’ or ‘hidden treasure’.

Indeed, the course is located at Horse Shoe Bay and overlooking the waters of Lyndon B. Johnson Lake on the Colorado River that runs also through the heart of the Texas capital.

Escondido was designed by legendary Tom Fazio in 2006 who has designed golf courses across the U.S., as well as in the Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Canada and Mexico as well as a renovation of the famed Waterville in Ireland.

Escondido Golf Club – A stunning Tom Fazio design close to Austin, Texas.

In fact, no living designer has more credits on U.S. Golf Digest’s list of America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses and Golfweek’s collection of America’s Best than 71-year old ‘Hall of Fame’ Fazio.

More recently, Fazio worked with his uncle George Fazio to redesign Major Championship venues at Inverness and Oak Hill along with the Seaside Course at Sea Island and host to last November’s RSM Classic.

However it was not to after going solo that Tom Fazio became one of the most sought-after designers in golf, known for his consistently eye-pleasing and strategic courses that sit seamlessly on nearly any landscape.

And this also is at the heart at Escondido as virtually every hole is a picture postcard setting and made that more impressive by a stunning clubhouse and with the two nine holes located either side of Pecan Creek that gently slices its way through the Escondido estate.

There’s the choice of four tees at Escondido – Tee 1 and measuring 7,165 yards.  Tee 11 is a test of 6,641 yards while Tee 111, and our choice of tee this day, meant tackling a course measuring 6,117 yards.  The course of Tee IV is 5,257 yards.

The outward nine plays to a par 36 and you’re home in 35.

No chance of experiencing any pain at Escondido Golf Club,

The opening hole is a wonderful introduction to Escondido presenting a good chance for a birdie before facing the No. 1 index hole, the par four second measuring 482-yards of the ‘Tee 1’ but on this day as we played the course of the ‘Tee 111’ tees it measured two yards short of 400-yards.

The third presents the first of the four par threes, a slightly uphill tester of 151-yards and well-guarded by a large bunker slightly left off the line.

The fourth is a great par five measuring 535-yards but then guarded just short of the green by a large three and at the green itself by another mature oak.

The starter’s Hut at Escondido Golf Club.

At the side of the fourth green there’s the first of two comfort stations offering ‘nostalgic goodies’ including the chance to experience, after travelling back and forward to the States in over 25-years, my first ever peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

The second of the par three’s is the fifth hole and ranked 17th on the card before the course leads you to the uphill par four sixth hole.  One of the more picturesque holes over the opening half is the 331-yard par four seventh hole where water runs much of the way down the left side before forming into a large hazard area to the left and just short of the green making the hole even more appeasing to the eye but then also more challenging.

At the completion of the outward nine you cross back over Pecan Creek to be greeted by the sizzling sound and tempting smells coming from the bar-b-que.

Snack time – What’s on offer for golfer’s in a small hut to the side of the 4th hole.

In over 25-years travelling to the States my first peanut butter and jelly sandwich & part of the ‘nostalgic’ snacks available at the side of the 4th green.

But then the break from golf also somewhat distracted me, and that’s my excuse, as I made a bit of a mess of the great uphill par three, 163-yard 10th hole and as expected ranked No. 18.

I had my focus cap back on for the 11th and probably the more challenging of the tees given the very large presence of water you have to carry to the fairway at this No. 2 ranked 510-yard par five challenge.

Two of my favourites at Escondido are the back-to-back par four 14th hole and the downhill par three 15th.

Stunning house at the back of the 5th green at Escondido Golf Club.

A good drive at the 14th, and a hole measuring 420-yards in total, should get you to the brow of the hill on the fairway from where you enjoy great views of the Texas countryside. It also presents a picture of the second shot challenge playing to a superb and quintessential Tom Fazio raised green where two trees, one centre left of the green and the other back left, stand like sentinels watching over those taking on the challenge.

But then all the trouble here is right of the green with two bunkers, one a bit like the map of Italy and the smaller one placed in a way to somewhat mirror the position of the island of Sicily as well know it.  I took a bogey ‘5’ here and could not have been happier.

Moving then onto the third of the par threes, the 180-yard 15th where you’ll find the largest of the ponds at Escondido, and looming very much in full view off the tee. And if you should avoid the water, Fazio has placed a bunker between the water and the green to help keep you honest.

View of the 4th green at the Escondido Golf Club near Austin, Texas.

The stream that feeds from the lake at the 15th then crosses the 16th just off the tee and runs much of the way down the right side of the 378-yard 16th before presenting a real challenge for those going for the green in two.  You see, the stream crosses from right to left within pitching-wedge distance from the green and ahead of this stream snaking its way in front of the 17th.

The 141-yard par three 17th is a great example where a par three need not be 190-yards plus to be challenging.

Here you are two holes from home and you’re on the tee looking a raised green where there is a small line of trees down both sides of the hole.  Running at the base of the raised green is the body of water you avoided left at 15 and also managed to clear in tackling 16.

View of the 14th green at Escondido Golf Club, Texas.

It’s a bit like the ‘Postage Stamp’ but with the extra muscle of trees and water. It’s one of the delights in playing a Tom Fazio course as he always seems to present a work of art to round off his par 3s.

But then in walking off this hole with a par was one of the highlights of the round.

There’s more water in play at the last and that’s Pecan Creek running as it does all the way down the left side and keeping you on your toes for all of the 525-yards but then what a closing hole and what an experience.

However the experience of playing the course is only half the pleasure as once you step into the clubhouse to savour the old world charm of the Tuscany-like surrounds.  But don’t take my word and check out a full selection of photographs taken over the course of a wonderful visit to a stunning golf club.

A very special thank you to all at Escondido Golf & Lake Club.