As long as runners run, hikers hike, revelers revel, troubadours make crowds swoon and barbeque pit masters draw long lines, Austin will always earn high marks for its livability and lovability. However, as the Capital City grows increasingly cosmopolitan and– let’s face it– crowded, discriminating homebuyers and prospective country club members are looking to posh outlying communities that still put the country in Hill Country. The acclaimed Cimarron Hills Golf & Country Club in Georgetown, founded in 2003, somehow still has the sheen of a new property and delivers an entertaining array of luxury recreational, social, fitness, wellness and dining amenities along with a world-class golf experience on its 18-hole 7,302-yard Jack Nicklaus Signature course.
Nestled along the south fork of the San Gabriel River, this 1,000-acre upscale development has grown healthily along with the rest of the areas north of Austin and is more accessible than ever to Cedar Park, Round Rock and even downtown Austin can be reached in a half-hour drive from the gates of Cimarron Hills. Members and residents enjoy active outdoor lifestyles in this tucked-away, oak-forested 1,000- acre development that was home to a working ranch before golf and high-end residential offerings transformed a beautiful place into a beautiful place to share with friends and family.
“You’re only 30 minutes from the heart of Austin, and being a few miles west of I-35, you can easily see we’re at the beginning of the Texas Hill Country. The land has some nice roll and elevation, but it’s subtle and gentle,” said director of golf Chris deKeratry. “The peaceful, natural setting here, along with the maturity of the land and wind through the oak trees, lends to our members feeling like they’re on a little vacation every time they enter the gates.”
Cimarron Hills provides of activities for every age group and refined amenities that easily rival any resort’s approach to enrichment, recreation and wellness. A full-service spa offers treatments, massages, and skin care. Activities for all ages include hiking and biking trails, organized activities and a bustling social calendar, a fitness center with the latest equipment, and expansive swimming center. Osage Trace restaurant in the clubhouse features a diverse menu and a lively crowd. deKeratry says Osage Trace has become the perfect gathering for so many families, couples and groups of friends in the community.
“We’re proud of the welcoming and friendly culture here. So many of our members have an obvious appreciation for the club amenities and the unspoiled commune with nature this club and community offers,” said membership director Lily Jones. “Our general manager Robbie Kearney puts it best when he says ‘Cimarron Hills is an inclusive club with exclusive amenities and levels of service.’ There’s a diverse mix of age groups and a really welcoming culture throughout this club. The clubhouse is the heartbeat of the entire community, especially during Men’s League, Women’s League and any holiday. Easter and the Fourth of July are special times here.”
The Nicklaus Signature distinction piques elevated expectations, and the golf course at Cimarron Hills Country Club lives up to the reputation, especially with its creeks meandering through the property, excellent tree cover and a clever routing that makes engaging use of six dogleg rights, six dogleg lefts and six straight holes. Playing Cimarron Hills with success will mean you’ve played the appropriate angles on your tee shots and played some bold shots into some stout pin placements. A part of Troon Golf’s exclusive class of Prive’ properties, Cimarron Hills maintains championship-quality conditions year-round thanks to the capable talents of new superintendent Mike King. With the Troon Prive’ affiliation comes access to the full roster of luxury private clubs in the Prive’ portfolio, like The Club at Cordillera near Vail, Colorado, Silverado Resort and Spa and Marin Country Club in Northern California as well as destinations around the world, such as Palmilla Golf Club in San Jose del Cabo in Mexico and The Grove, outside of London, England.
“This is a challenging golf course but the members are pretty wise about playing the right sets of tees,” deKeratry said. “There’s a real strategic use of the water features and there’s no fall-off to the round. Any three-hole stretch could be anyone in the foursome’s favorite. This golf course has as good a three-hole finishing stretch as any course in the state. From the all-carry approach over the creek bed at 16 to the picturesque par-three 17th that plays over a wide pond and the brawny par-four 18th where you play one of the most thrilling approach shots over water to end your round.” If you need more after that finish, the nifty 72-yard 19th hole provides a chance to settle bets or simply put an exclamation point on the day before you head into Osage Trace for a drink.
An extensive golf course renovation in 2017 saw new Champion Bermuda greens replace the less heat-tolerant Bentgrass surfaces, as well as a bunker renovation utilizing state-of-the -art capillary concrete™. Additionally, every green and bunker was restored to the shapes and sizes designed in the original routing. Pay no attention the Dallas Morning News’ ranking of Cimarron Hills as the 71st best course in the state. It’s solidly in the top 30. The more raters that see it, the higher it will rise.
Beyond golf, Cimarron Hills is also home to the world-renowned Cliff Drysdale Tennis Academy with world-class management and amenities. The tennis program is led by Director of Tennis Cal Loveridge and his dedicated staff and features year-round programs for all ages and abilities to help our players make the most of every match.
Luxury real estate options within the 1,000-acre development have been moving quickly but a variety of options are available, from lock and leave Villas up to Estate homes on ¾-acre lots and select offerings in between. All built in distinctive styles that marry Mediterranean influences with native Texan stone and the latest finishes and design features.
“People who gravitate to Cimarron Hills put lifestyle first and they’re seeking access to nature as well as the top-level amenities offered at the club,” says real estate sales associate Amberly Ward. The community serves a variety of needs for its residents, including many young families seeking a rich quality of life away from the city, while custom floor plans in a number of sizes appeal to retired buyers and empty nesters wishing to downsize their living space without compromising custom finishes and layouts.
Future residents have the flexibility to work with the architect and builder of their choosing or may enjoy the ease of working with one of the trusted and reputable builders that have tremendous experience in the community. Sitterle Homes, Pinnacle Custom Homes and Goodner Brothers have built a wide variety of homes in Cimarron Hills with superior craftsmanship and customer service that residents rave about for years to come.
The more Austin grows, the more informed homebuyers are going to gravitate to the allure of the Hill Country with ever-increasing shopping, dining and community comforts popping up all over Georgetown. Cimarron Hills is redefining luxury living and communal fun in way that echoes the spirit of Central Texas and appreciation for the good life. As deKeratry says “People hear Cimarron Hills and they think it’s probably a stuffy country club straight out of Caddyshack, but this is one of the most consistently fun and welcoming places I’ve ever seen in all my years in the golf business. It’s genuinely a place that lives up to its billing and exceeds it.”
If you get the chance to see Cimarron Hills firsthand, don’t hesitate. It’s a tremendously satisfying place to spend the day, or perhaps even a lifetime.
By Marc Hall