Bastrop officials set eyes on a city-owned par 3 golf course

She recounted that the Lost Pines Golf Club, a facility that was located in Bastrop State Park, closed permanently in 2015 following financial difficulties from the 2011 wildfires.

“Since the closure of Lost Pines Golf Club, Bastrop lacks a course that is centralized, easily walkable, budget- friendly and quickly playable,” Cervantes, a member of the Bastrop High School Sports Hall of Fame, said. “So this par 3 golf course will meet those key needs for our community.”

The Bastrop High School alumna, who noted she has played at hundreds of golf courses across the country, stressed that a par 3 golf course in Bastrop would not be an elite country club for the wealthy.

“It would rather be a charming, well-landscaped course for individuals of all socioeconomic backgrounds, ages and ethnicities,” Cervantes said.

She highlighted the importance of having an affordable golf course locally.

“At a young age, I remember collecting empty beverage cans to cash in at the recycling center and help pay for tournament fees,” Cervantes said. “A central and affordable course changed the course of my life, and I believe it will do the same for your Bastrop citizens.”

Her father, Gilbert Cervantes, who owns Pete and Son Boot Repair downtown, shared that sentiment.

“I’ve seen tremendous growth in our area, especially in these last few years,” he said. “With that, there’s also a lack of recreational facilities that are depriving our youth. We only have two facilities in this area. Both are private golf courses with a large initiation fee to be a member.”

Some background

In late July, the city of Bastrop submitted a $750,000 grant request to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for assistance with the construction of a par 3 golf course, according to city documents.

“Discussions with [the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department] has yielded the potential to qualify for a grant of $750,000 that can be used for the design and/or development of outdoor activities such as the course,” Bastrop City Manager Sylvia Carrillo-Trevino said in a staff report at the time.

The match amount allocated for this potential project—which would be paid for with bond funding that Bastrop City Council approved a resolution for in late June—is $600,000, according to city documents.

Also of note

Officials listed some of the closest par 3 golf courses to Bastrop, including:

• Butler Pitch and Putt in Austin, 26 miles
• Par 3 at Big Easy Ranch in Columbus, 53 miles
• San Pedro Golf Course in San Antonio, 83 miles
• Riverside Golf Course in San Antonio, 85 miles
• Oak Valley Par 3 Golf Course in Helotes, 88 miles