AUSTIN, Texas -- Holes on courses designed, routed or master-planned by Bechtol Golf Design principal Roy Bechtol make up 13 of 96 featured listings of top holes in the state of Texas in the brilliant coffee-table book Spectacular Golf of Texas, published by Panache Partners, LLC, of Dallas.

Spectacular Golf of Texas, subtitled “An Exclusive Collection of Great Golf Holes in Texas,” features the state’s most scenic, inspiring, challenging and unforgettable golf holes. The book is a visual masterpiece of Texas’ finest signature golf holes at private country clubs, resorts and public courses.

From golf fanatic to the casual participant, there is something for everyone in Spectacular Golf of Texas. Each hole is showcased in a beautiful two-page spread with world-class photography from renowned golf course photographers. Editorially, the book informs readers about each hole’s challenges and history as well offering strategic tips for conquering its defenses.

Spectacular Golf of Texas is the inaugural book of a series that will be expanded to other great golf regions across the country, including holes in North and South Carolina, Arizona, Southern California, Florida and Colorado. “It is a real honor to have holes from our courses portrayed in such stunning fashion,” Bechtol said. “This is a book that I would be honored to have in my home, even if there was not such a group of our holes contained in the photos and text.

“Looking at these pictures reminds me of the times I walked the raw land and had a vision of these holes in my mind,” Bechtol added. “Obviously, from what we see in these pages, that vision became reality on a grand scale.”

In this collection of books, the individual golf hole is the star, not the course, although any of these courses will keep golf enthusiasts entertained for the entire round. In all shapes and sizes, about 100 different holes are featured in a dramatic 9-inch by 12-inch, high-quality book that will recall fond memories or inspire travel plans for avid golfers. The book is separated into three Texas (and Texas-sized) regions—North Texas, Hill Country and South Texas.

Spectacular Golf of Texas publisher, Panache Partners co-founder and golf enthusiast Brian Carabet relates, “This series is a nice complement to our shelter-industry titles, as all of our publications are designed for readers who enjoy the finer things in life. “Over the years,” Carabet continued, “my business partner, John Shand, and I have conceptualized quite a few book series ideas on the golf course, so publishing a book about golf holes was enjoyable on many levels. Being able to feature so many creations of Roy Bechtol and having the privilege of Byron Nelson writing the foreword made the publishing journey all the more meaningful.”
Ten of the 13 holes and courses influenced by Bechtol featured in Spectacular Golf of Texas are in the Hill Country region:

• The par-5 fourth hole at Riverplace Country Club in Austin (renovation with Tom Kite).
• The par-4 16th hole at the Canyons Course at Barton Creek Resort and Spa in Austin (master planning of community, course routing with Tom Fazio).
• The par-4 16th hole at the Foothills Course at Barton Creek Resort and Spa in Austin (master planning of community, course routing with Tom Fazio).
• The par-4 ninth hole at The Club at Comanche Trace in Kerrville (design with Kite and Randy Russell).
• The par-4 fifth hole at The Golf Club at Circle C in Austin (routing of course and design with Jay Morrish).
• The par-4 18th hole at the Resort Course at the La Cantera Resort in San Antonio (routing of course designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish).
• The par-4 seventh hole at The University of Texas Golf Club in Austin (design with Russell).
• The par-4 15th hole at The University of Texas Golf Club in Austin (design with Russell).
• The par-3 seventh hole at Hills Course at The Hills Country Club in Lakeway (routing of course designed by Jack Nicklaus).
• The par-3 second hole at the Flintrock Course at The Hills Country Club in Lakeway (routing of course designed by Nicklaus and Jack Nicklaus II).

The three other holes influenced by Bechtol featured in Spectacular Golf of Texas are in the South Texas region and all are on the famed Ambush Course at the exclusive Lajitas Resort in the Big Bend Region. The book features spreads on the par-5 18th (which is also featured on the title page), the par-3 13th and—on the book’s final pages—the unique par-1 hole No. 11A, on which players tee off in Texas and play to a green that is across the Rio Grande in Mexico.
“It is neat that Spectacular Golf starts and ends with holes designed by Bechtol Golf,” Bechtol concluded. “Those are my kind of bookends. We are really happy to be included in such a special book and that people will recognize our work from these pictures and stories.”

About Bechtol Golf Design
Bechtol Golf Design’s principal, Roy Bechtol has designed more than 50 golf courses throughout the United States either as the lead architect or as a collaborator with other golf course designers. Bechtol Golf Design (www.bechtolgolfdesign.com) combines cutting-edge technology with creative, traditional design practices to determine the best possible plan for land development.

Upcoming projects include courses in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, in the mountains of Panama, in the Colorado Rocky Mountains near Vail, on the coast of Mexico, in the hills of western Virginia, in the Texas Hill Country along the upper banks of Lake Travis and on Mustang Island on the Texas coast.

Bechtol Golf Design’s completed projects, together with those via Roy’s continuing relationship with World Golf Hall of Famer Tom Kite, include:

The Waterford Club (Smithwick, Texas)
Gaillardia Country Club (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
The Club at Comanche Trace (Kerrville, Texas)
Legends on Lake LBJ (Kingsland, Texas)
Riverplace Golf Club (Austin, Texas)
The Golf Club at Somersett (Reno, Nevada)
The University of Texas Golf Club (Austin, Texas)
The Golf Club of Texas (San Antonio, Texas)
The Golf Club at Star Ranch (Hutto, Texas)
Black Bear Golf Club (Delhi, Louisiana)
ShadowGlen Golf Club (Manor, Texas)
The Ambush at Lajitas (Lajitas, Texas)
ConCan Country Club (North Uvalde County, Texas)
Saddle Creek (Copperopolis, California)
Great Hills Country Club (Austin, Texas)
El Paso Country Club (El Paso, Texas)
Diamondback Golf Academy (San Antonio, Texas)

Media contact
Steve Habel
Bechtol Golf Design
512-474-0806 (office)
512-535-6120 (direct)
512-699-2133 (cell)
stevehabel@hotmail.com

About Panache Partners
Spectacular Golf of Texas is a Panache Partners publication. Brian Carabet and John Shand founded Panache Partners in 2003. With more than 25 years of experience in the publishing industry and upwards of 100 books and magazines published in their careers, they are drawn to providing high-end publications to readers who simply demand the best.
Panache Partners creates spectacular series and custom publications for discerning readers and specializes in coffee-table books showcasing luxury lifestyle subjects, including high-end interior design, custom home building, architecture, golf, wine and luxury travel. For further information on Spectacular Golf of Texas or to request review copy, please contact Julia Hoover at 615.519.9966 or jhoover@panache.com.

Spectacular Golf of Texas
Retail Price: $39.95, Hardcover
ISBN 1-933415-26-6
Trim Size: 13x10
Pages: 208
200 color photographs