On April 7th, The Dallas Morning News released its much-anticipated Texas Golf Section complete with what’s considered by many as the most objective statewide golf course ranking.  The 2013 rankings put the Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course at No. 5 on the list of the state’s best 100 courses, holding its spot from 2012.  After being named as the top new golf course in Texas in the 2008 ranking, Cordillera Ranch’s stunning Hill Country track has held steady between the 4th and 5th spots on the overall list each year since opening.

In addition to the overall course ranking, the sixteenth hole at Cordillera Ranch was voted as one of the 18 “Most Beautiful Holes in Texas” and one of the “Best Holes in Texas” by the panel for the fifth year in a row.  The ranking puts Cordillera Ranch as the top rated golf course in the Austin/San Antonio/ Hill Country region and also the top golf course in Texas in a residential community.

“People in the golf community look forward to The Dallas Morning News ‘Texas Golf’ publication each and every year,” said Marc DeWall, head golf pro at Cordillera Ranch. “It is certainly one of the most comprehensive and thorough golf course rankings designated by a group of respected panelists from across the state. It is a huge honor to secure the No. 5 ranking when looking at the many great courses in our state.”  Nearly 100 panelists comprised of high-ranking amateurs, to golf design experts, golf journalists and others in the industry across the state submit votes for the “Texas Golf” rankings. This year marks the 25^th year that The Dallas Morning News has published “Texas Golf.”  The carefully selected raters judge based on various criteria including design uniqueness, playability, challenge and aesthetics to name a few.

PGA Tour pro Jimmy Walker, a Cordillera Ranch resident and club member, concurs with the accolades and says, “The golf course tee to green turned out awesome. You can’t find a better putting surface anywhere in south Texas than here.  I don’t think there is anything in the area that competes with this place.”   Drew Gillen, one of the panelists and amateur golfer from Tyler adds, “I have played a lot of golf courses around Texas, and the course at Cordillera Ranch is as good as any I’ve seen.  It’s the kind of course that is incredibly challenging but still fair.  What makes it so unique is that each hole is so memorable.  The natural beauty of the course makes it something special.”

Course designer Jack Nicklaus was asked what makes the Cordillera Ranch golf course so special and unique.  “First of all, it’s a good piece of property — no, a great piece of property.” Nicklaus said.  “Because of the quality of the existing property, we had to move very little dirt to create good golf. The terrain had a lot of natural elements that were just terrific. There were great trees and wonderful little streams that ran through the property. And then there were some dramatic rock outcroppings that allowed us to create a lot of diversity and interesting and fun golf shots.”

National golf experts also took notice of the Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course at Cordillera Ranch. Golf Inc. magazine selected Cordillera Ranch as one of five finalists in the “Private Club” category of the magazine’s 2007 “Development of the Year” competition, and LINKS magazine recognized Cordillera Ranch among “America’s 100 Premier Properties” in its 2007-2008 special issue on golf real estate.

In 2009, the final piece of The Clubs of Cordillera Ranch was completed.  A forty thousand square foot clubhouse, which includes incredible dining opportunities, beautiful outdoor terraces, four swimming pools overlooking the Guadalupe River valley, fully appointed men’s and ladies locker rooms and a state of the art fitness facility.  The clubhouse is perched on a hilltop overlooking the par-72 Nicklaus-designed Cordillera Ranch golf course. With its cascading water features and natural limestone canyons, the course embraces and captures the authentic Texas Hill Country beauty and character to provide an extraordinary golf experience.

Frequent Club visitors will be happy to learn that a new menu is rolling out with Chef Brad at the head of the exciting dishes being introduced. Four new appetizers are rounding out the Starters, beginning with the Spicy Cilantro Hummus served with raw vegetables and grilled flatbread to help fight the kick. If you’re looking for a starter with more substance, the Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps or Smoked Chicken Spring Rolls will fare you well. The Ahi Tuna Tartar has departed from the menu, but in its place is an even more decadent seared Ahi Tuna Stack with crisp wontons, avocado, and jicama salad ginger-tabasco. Lovers of spice will adore the new Cordillera Green Chili soup, but for those of you who can’t handle the heat, the Club is reintroducing the favored and greatly missed Soup of the Day.

Health fiends, we’ve thought of you too. The new Grilled Chicken Spinach Salad is chock-full of nutrients along with baby spinach, feta cheese, strawberries, toasted almonds, sesame seeds, and raspberry-balsamic vinaigrette.

The sandwich menu has been completely overhauled and four sandwiches are making their debut. The Caprese Panini is perfect for a light, fresh lunch, with mozzarella, basil pesto, and balsamic tomatoes on pressed sourdough. The Maple-Brined House-Smoked Pulled Chicken Sandwich is a heftier and equally delicious meal, comprised of roasted poblano peppers, shredded lettuce, citrus vinaigrette, and BBQ sauce on a toasted poppy seed roll. The Prime Rib Wrapper is a unique and ingenious addition; shaved prime rib, caramelized onions, pepper-jack cheese, and horseradish mayonnaise all rolled into a spinach wrap. Our Grilled Reuben Sandwich, with its shaved lean corned beef, swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and thousand island dressing, will be your new favorite Reuben–we guarantee it.

To stay in line with our “nouveau American” cuisine, the traditional American favorite of homemade meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and mixed vegetables has been added to our list of Entrees. Dubbed as “Brad’s Meatloaf,” you’ll be able to taste the love in every bite of this classic dish.

We proudly present our new menu as having a little bit of everything, so that no matter your mood we’ve got a fresh, well-prepared, beautifully cooked meal for you to enjoy. We hope to see you down at the Club soon. Trust us, you’ll want to try every new dish at least once!

Click here to view the full C-Star Ranch Menu.

Between 2007 and 2009 the housing market experienced a nationwide collapse that dramatically impacted home values and mortgage rates. Though Boerne, San Antonio and Austin all slowed considerably during the downturn, it was not nearly as severe as the rest of the country which has helped shorten the recovery time.

The San Antonio area is considered a leader in the state’s housing recovery according to Metrostudy’s expert, Jack Inselmann.  Texas real estate has recovered so well, in fact, that shrinking availability of single-family homes and developed lots is a realistic possibility for San Antonio’s future. Inselmann cites a 15.4-month supply of developed lots, culled from a report of the 100 most active subdivisions in San Antonio-  that is well below what is considered equilibrium lot supply which can range from 18-24+ months because of the long lead times required to develop lots.

Cordillera Ranch, northwest of San Antonio near Boerne, is experiencing a similar uptrend. New home construction activity is up in Cordillera Ranch with 29 homes currently under construction and another 26 in design review.  Lot sales activity is also up 23% from 2011, with 54 lots sold in the community through the during 2012 compared to 44 for the same period in 2011.  “We attribute the positive trends to job growth in the area driven by the Eagle Ford Shale which has drawn several large corporate relocations to San Antonio.  Cordillera Ranch’s array of amenities and Hill Country beauty gives people that ability to enjoy an unmatched lifestyle just 15-20 minutes from the city’s new energy corridor in northwest San Antonio,” according to Charlie Hill, Vice President Marketing and Development for Cordillera Ranch.

There’s no doubt that San Antonio is a leader in the state that is leading the U.S. out of the recession, and Cordillera Ranch is in a league of its own within the San Antonio area.

Between 2007 and 2009 the housing market experienced a nationwide collapse that dramatically impacted home values and mortgage rates. Though Boerne, San Antonio and Austin all slowed considerably during the downturn, it was not nearly as severe as the rest of the country which has helped shorten the recovery time.

The good news is that Texas – and particularly the San Antonio area – is ahead of the curve in economic recovery. The third quarter of 2012 boasted 14.2% more home sales in Texas than the same quarter last year. Also seeing improvement within the last year was the median price of homes sold, with a 6.5% increase across the state (1). Texas is rebounding partly due to the fact that the state is leading the country in job growth and because housing did not totally collapse in Texas like it did in other parts of the country.

The San Antonio area is considered a leader in the state’s housing recovery according to Metrostudy’s expert, Jack Inselmann.  Texas real estate has recovered so well, in fact, that shrinking availability of single-family homes and developed lots is a realistic possibility for San Antonio’s future. Inselmann cites a 15.4-month supply of developed lots, culled from a report of the 100 most active subdivisions in San Antonio-  that is well below what is considered equilibrium lot supply which can range from 18-24+ months because of the long lead times required to develop lots.

“Our pipeline has shrunk to almost nothing,” says Metrostudy vice president Jack Inselmann (2), which isn’t necessarily a bad problem to have.  Developers and builders are trying to address the shortage of lots and homes as evidenced by the number of plat submittals increasing as well as an increase in new development lending by banks (2).

Cordillera Ranch, northwest of San Antonio near Boerne, is experiencing a similar uptrend. New home construction activity is up in Cordillera Ranch with 29 homes currently under construction and another 26 in design review.  Lot sales activity is also up slightly from 2011, with 54 lots sold in the community through the first 11 months of 2012 compared to 47 for the same period last year.  “We attribute the positive trends to job growth in the area driven by the Eagle Ford Shale which has drawn several large corporate relocations to San Antonio.  Cordillera Ranch’s array of amenities and Hill Country beauty gives people that ability to enjoy an unmatched lifestyle just 15-20 minutes from the city’s new energy corridor in northwest San Antonio,” according to Charlie Hill, Vice President Marketing and Development for Cordillera Ranch.

There’s no doubt that San Antonio is a leader in the state that is leading the U.S. out of the recession, and Cordillera Ranch is in a league of its own within the San Antonio area.

Jack began his career as an actor after serving in the Air Forces during World War II. A member of the Stanford University graduating class of 1947, he put his Drama degree to use as Marlon Brando’s understudy in the classic film adaptation of A Streetcar Named Desire. By 1952 he was already nominated for an Oscar for his role in Sudden Fear, and by 1957 he won an Emmy for best actor for his part in Requiem for a Heavyweight. With such prestigious acknowledgment of his talent so early in his career, Jack is inarguably an actor deserving of the fame brought to him by his films. His winning streak continued throughout his career with three Academy Award nominations, one for his role as Jack Wilson in Shane, and an Academy Award win in 1992 for his portrayal of Curly Washburn in City Slickers.

Jack’s talents didn’t begin or end with his acting. In his personal time Jack painted landscapes and wrote poetry. He never sought fame in the art world to rival his Hollywood success, though he did go on to publish a book of poetry in 1996 titled The Forest of Love. With Jack’s passing in 2006, his wife Elaine Palance became the guardian of his impressive collection of paintings.

Elaine has graciously decided to share Jack’s artwork and poetry with Cordillera Ranch. The Clubs of Cordillera Ranch is honored to host Elaine on Saturday, November 10, 2012 as she shares a part of her private collection of Jack Palance paintings for what will be the first public showing of his art. His Impressionist style artwork will be showcased in the Clubhouse from 4pm to 8pm, and for those who wish to take a part of Jack’s talent home with them, his original paintings on display will be available for purchase. Alternatively, giclees—high-resolution reproductions of the original artworks transferred onto canvas, hand embellished by Jack—will also be available for purchase. The focal point of the show will be Jack’s painting, “The Forest of Love,” which now graces the cover of his corresponding book of poetry. Every attendee will receive a complimentary CD of the book,The Forest of Love, narrated by Jack.

Join us in a celebration of Jack’s life and talents and benefit the Cancer Center Council while doing so. All ticket sale and partial art sale proceeds will benefit the Cancer Center Council, a supporter of the Cancer Therapy and Research Center. Wine and food will be available, as well as a life-size cutout of Curly—Jack’s character from his movie City Slickers—as a photo op for true Palance fans.

Boerne left the gate with a head start by scoring the fourth highest per capita income in Texas. Business is booming despite the slow, small-town lifestyle that draws residents to live within Boerne’s borders. The town’s educated workforce and multitude of businesses, including approximately 30 shops and 70 restaurants, have created a strong, balanced economy. The unemployment rate sits at 6%, lower than the Texas state average of 7.2% and national rate of 8.3%.

Boerne can also be recognized in the field of education. With the completion of Boerne’s second high school in 2009, it’s clear that public education and its growth is a focus of the county. Higher education has also become a focal point for Boerne, beginning with Project Red Apple. High school juniors and seniors now have the option to enroll in classes at their high school that will grant them dual high school and college credit—up to 60 hours, which equates to an Associate’s Degree or two years of a four-year degree plan. Boerne also offers various top tier private school options, including a Montessori school, Geneva Christian School, and a Military Institute.

Rounding out our Boerne adoration is its wealth of amenities such as festivals, concerts, wineries, galleries, and outdoor activities. The Boerne Berges Fest and the Harvest Moon Festival are just two examples of the year-round events. Boerne is located in the heart of the Hill Country and with it comes access to a wide range of fun, family-friendly activities such as hiking, kayaking, tubing, biking, horseback riding, and beautiful, scenic nature trails.

Additionally, San Antonio is a short drive away if residents of Boerne find themselves in need of something only a larger city can offer. And when you’ve had your fill of the big city, quaint and quiet Boerne will be waiting for you to come home.

For more information on Boerne’s ranking on Livability.com, check out their Top 10 Small Towns article here.

Wondering what’s happening in Cordillera Ranch?  Consider this your total resource for the Cordillera Ranch market.  Below are some highlights of recent real estate and club activity in the community.  For more details, click on the blog link at the end.

TRENDING UP…

• In the 12 months ended 8/31/12, there were 52 lots sold in Cordillera Ranch (developer and resale lots).  We have price info on 48 of those and the average lot price was $208k.  That’s more sales than in either of the prior two 12 month periods.
• 22 lots in the Clubs Village sold in the last 12 months for an average price of $246k.

During the last 24 months, there have been 100 lots sold, of which 87 had pricing info available.  The average lot price on those 87 lots was $226k.

HOME CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY:

• Home construction activity in Cordillera Ranch is robust.  With 30 homes under construction or in design, the flight to quality and confidence in the community is evident in these new exquisite custom homes.  Only two of these homes are spec homes.
• Two of our Preferred Builders have spec homes under construction, Authentic Custom Homes and Burdick and Christofilis.  These stunning homes are both located on #6 fairway of the golf course and feature the latest in architectural design features and trends.   Click the renderings below to learn more about these new impeccable home offerings.

HOME SALES:

• In the past 12 months, 14 homes have sold in Cordillera Ranch, for which we have sales info on 12 of them and their average price was $1.07MM ($204/sf).

CR REALTY:

•  Cordillera Ranch Realty represented the buyer on 73% of the lots sold in the last 24 months

CLUBS OF CORDILLERA RANCH:

• The Club has had net membership growth every single year since opening.  That trend has continued in 2012 as there have been 33 new members join the club, with a net member growth of 17.
• Across the board, Club activity has been up in 2012, driven by increased golf rounds and increased dining activity versus the prior year.

Interested in finding out m0re about Cordillera Ranch?  Contact us.

As simple as it would seem to try to affect the least amount of land as possible, it is actually the other way around. The current group of Cordillera Ranch Preferred Builders have collectively built over 230 homes in the neighborhood and are currently comprised of four builders: Burdick & Christofilis, Authentic Custom Homes, Great Homes and Stadler Custom Homes. The Preferred Builders vary in style and design, but do not waiver in skill or craftsmanship and know Cordillera Ranch inside and out – both the land  and the unique design guidelines. The ease of mind and convenience that the home owner experiences when building with a Cordillera Ranch Preferred Builder are incomparable and truly set these four builders apart.

For more information about the benefits of choosing a Cordillera Ranch Preferred Builder, click HERE.

Happy home-site hunting!

The Equestrian Club is nestled in the far Northwest corner of Cordillera Ranch just inside the west gate. It resides on 90 acres of rolling landscape complete with live oak trees, abundant native grasses and beautiful wildflowers in springtime. The focal point of the facility is the rustic King Ranch style barn that features roomy 12×12 stalls with attached 12×40 runs which houses member horses as well as club owned horses. An indoor wash rack with hot and cold water, members only tack room and kitchenette with sink and refrigerator are also available in the barn. In addition to the stable, there is an outdoor arena suitable for many types of riding, a covered round pen, and plenty of pasture for outdoor boarding and turnout. Adjacent to the outdoor arena is the Club Lounge and viewing area. Here members can relax after a trail ride, enjoy cold or hot beverages, or watch their favorite student take a riding lesson.

There are many different boarding options to choose from for those members that have their own horse. Board only, board with maintenance and board plus full training. There is also pasture for horses that prefer to live outdoors. All of the above options include feeding twice a day, stall cleaning, turnout for the stalled horses, and blanket and un-blanket in the winter. Along with the board comes full use of the facility including both arenas and the miles of trails that cover Cordillera Ranch from end to end.

For those horse lovers that do not yet own a horse, we have several club owned horses to enjoy. These horses are educated and diversified enough to teach a young child or beginner adult to ride, offer challenge to an experienced rider, or take out on the trail. Our youth and adult lesson program is building bigger all the time. We offer group as well as private lessons. The disciplines offered are, Western  English, basic Dressage and Hunter/Jumper. On most afternoons the EQC is filled with laughter and the sounds of kids enjoying horses. There is something truly magical about a child bonding with a horse, and we firmly believe in perpetuating that relationship. We put together a spring and summer youth horse camp that can only be described as AWESOME! For an entire week in the months of March and July the kids take over the EQC for four hours a day. They groom the horses, they ride, rope, laugh, meet new friends and keep the instructors hoppin! On the last day of camp the families and friends of the campers are invited for an exhibition where the kids can “show off” what they learned throughout the week. This summer, Horse Camp will be offered, June 19th-22nd, July 17th-20th, July 31st-August 3rd and August 14th-17th.

We offer trail rides throughout the entire year, as the weather permits. We enjoy trails within the gates of the EQC and all through the ranch. Most of the trail rides initiate at the EQC and cover the west end of the ranch up to Spring Creek. We are also able to trailer the horses over to the east side of the ranch to enjoy the beautiful Swede Creek park and Guadalupe River park areas. For those that have a lot of ambition and a few hours to kill, we can tour the entire ranch via horseback. Trail riding through the community is a great way to see the ranch from a different perspective.

In November 2009, Jimmy Walker stared down a 5 foot putt that was probably one of the most difficult putts of his life. Playing in the Children’s Miracle Network Classic, Walker was on the 18th green. The last tournament of the 2009 season, the entire season culminated with this last putt. While Walker collected himself, his wife turned off the TV. She couldn’t watch. Walker’s father got in the car and drove to the coast and back. Anything to keep themselves away from the TV. His mother sat at her computer “growing an ulcer” as Walker put it. Bouncing back and forth from the Nationwide Tour to the PGA Tour, this last putt was one that he simply had to make. If he sinks it, he earns the 125th spot on the PGA Tour Money List, securing a fully exempt season for the entire PGA Tour in 2010. If he misses, he’s back to the Nationwide Tour.

With everything on the line, Walker cooled his nerves and sank his putt.

After triple-checking the numbers to ensure that his final round 69 secured the 125th spot, Walker and his wife, Erin, immediately embarked on a holiday vacation in Mexico to celebrate. It was a well deserved break from what has been a grueling schedule for the Walkers, and one that hopefully will be coming to an end.

It was also the culmination of a long journey that began in Oklahoma City, where Walker spent his earliest years. “My dad was my coach. He was self-taught. When he was playing at his best, he was one of the best players around town. I watched him shoot a 60 one day. He was a great mentor.” While Walker had an interest in golf early on, like most kids, he was into a lot of sports. “I was big into baseball, and played a bunch of sports. However, when I was 11, we moved to San Antonio, dad bought a golf cart, and from there, I was hooked. Dad played every day with me, and I learned so much from him.”

As Walker excelled in the junior amateur tournaments, major colleges began to take notice. Eventually, Walker settled on a full scholarship to Baylor. “I majored in business management. I had a golf coach at Baylor, but I didn’t really listen to him. I didn’t feel like I needed to start changing things with my game. A lot of the guys that came in had their own coaches, and I didn’t have one yet, so I just listened to my dad.” As Walked continued to hone his game, he began to set his sights on the PGA Tour. “During my junior year, Bryan Gathright became my coach and he’s still my coach. I knew I wanted to get more serious about turning pro. I went to school for 4 years, left school, and never finished. I was far more motivated to get after it.”

And Walker didn’t waste much time. “I immediately qualified for the US Open in 2001. I had to go through two qualifiers to get there, and that was the moment I knew I was ready to go pro. I won the local qualifying, and then there are 80 guys fighting for 3 spots at the next event. I got the 3rd spot.” Walker was then poised to fully realize his dream of playing professionally. “When you register for the Open, there’s a checkbox for whether you are pro or amateur. I shrugged my shoulders, selected PRO, and have never looked back.”

At a 2005 Nationwide tour event in Salt Lake, Walker was introduced to Erin. “I was in Salt Lake City when I met her. She was a volunteer for the tournament. The company she was working for was the title sponsor of the event. A caddy introduced us.The guy was going to caddy for me in a couple of weeks, and he invited her out to watch me play. So we met, I asked her out, and we went out Sunday night after the tourney. Her parents thought it was cool that she was hanging out with a pro golfer. So she came out for the next three tournaments. We talked a lot on the phone and then she started coming out to see me. She was then accepted to law school, and it was in Australia. I went up to visit her and figured that if I liked her family I probably better marry her. So 5 months after meeting her, we were engaged.”

After getting married, Walker returned his focus to the course. “I had always wanted to get my PGA tour card right after college. But I didn’t get all the way through Q School, so I went to the Canadian tour, and won a tourney there. I started doing Monday qualifiers for the Nationwide tour. I got into a few of them, and then received conditional status with the Nationwide tour. I played half a year in 2003 on the Nationwide tour, and I started getting to play in more and more tourneys. I earned full status for the next season, but I missed my card in Q school by two shots. I had some success and won Player of the Year on the Nationwide tour in 2005. That enabled me to make my PGA tour debut in 2005, but I hurt my neck the first tourney of the year so I played in only nine tournaments. The in 2006 I played on the tour and just played awful, and had to go back to the Nationwide in 2007. I played one good tourney, got my card back and in 2008 just had a terrible year. So back to Q school, and then got my card back. Then in 2009 I started to play really well about halfway through the year. That’s where I was able to make the shot that earned me fully exempt status for the 2010 season. Oh, and we had just learned that Erin was pregnant!”

To say it’s been a wild ride to finally secure a fully exempt season would be quite the understatement. So as the Walkers entered the 2010 season, they were finally able to set a schedule and focus on the Tour as well as growing their family. “Once you start having families, it becomes harder to travel with the guys. The tour has an amazing daycare that travels with them every week and it’s great. The staff travels with the tour, and the perks are wonderful; it’s such a close knit group. But no matter how close it is, you really only have acquaintances. At Cordillera Ranch, we have friends. We’ve been members of the Club now for 6 years, and we’re treated like neighbors. Maybe if Jimmy wins the Masters, it will change things and we’ll be treated differently, but we hope not,” Jimmy adds, ” We could see the vision of what was going to happen here at Cordillera Ranch, and it’s so beautiful. Erin would love to move the horses home. We both obviously love golf, and we hope to teach the kids. The entire lifestyle of it just can’t be beat. We’ve been to the most premier golf courses in the country and we just marvel at what an amazing facility that Cordillera is. There’s nothing like it in the country. You have members that have done amazing things and it’s just not pretentious here. No matter where we travel, we are so excited to get back home!”

Enjoying the prospect of a successful golf career, Walker understands that while life on the Tour is a dream come true, it can still sometimes become a “job”. He explains, “I have to keep reminding myself how amazing it is to do what I do. Sometimes it becomes monotonous. I have to tell myself, ‘Man, I am so lucky. This is an amazing opportunity. This is so much fun. You’re playing golf on the Tour. Do you know how many people would kill to be able to do this?’ I have lost sight of that before, and so I’ve been focusing on cherishing it. You forget about how far you’ve come, and you can lose focus of where you are trying to go.”

As far as where he’s trying to go, Walker has some simple and yet profound goals. “My goal is to win. Hit more fairways, make more putts. Go win, have a baby, and just keep living.”