Played on January 3, 2021
Reviewed by the Pink Putter
We had the amazing opportunity to play Cool Crest during the off season on our road trip to Texas in Winter 2021. As the story goes, the course got its name from the sloping hillside that it was built on and that even in hot Texas weather, it manages to catch a breeze that always makes it feel nice and cool. There are two courses on premise at Cool Crest Miniature Golf, the “Old Course” circa 1929 and the “New Course” circa 1959. This review focuses on the “Old Course” which is one of the oldest fully operational miniature golf course in the country. Because its history is so rich, here is an excerpt of its story from the Cool Crest website:
The earliest records of Cool Crest’s existence, according to city researchers, suggest that the golf course initially opened its doors for business in 1929 just as the country’s first Great Depression began. The period between 1929 – 1930 also marked the onset of a miniature golf craze that swept the United States the following decade. The city of San Antonio itself boasted of having no fewer than a dozen miniature golf courses, mostly scattered around the downtown metro area.
Harold Metzger, a retired trucker, and his wife Maria, leased the property from the original owners in 1937. At that time, there was only one 18-hole course on the property, built mostly of wooden rails lining its fairways. The Metzgers quickly went to work refurbishing the course. No doubt due in part to its expertly terraced setting on a gently sloping hillside, and the lush tropical landscaping and stylish Art Deco look the Metzgers gave it, Cool Crest quickly became one of the city’s most popular recreational venues, hosting many a party attended by the city’s social elite.
In 1959, the Metzgers re-engineered the original 18-hole course that runs alongside Fredericksburg Road. Now using concrete as its structural foundation, the business was also expanded at the same time with the addition of a second 18-hole course.
A couple, names unknown, play through the course at Cool Crest circa 1970s. Courtesy of the Metzger Estate.
After Harold’s death in 1998, Maria Metzger continued to run the course until 2007. She died three years later and the course remained closed. The course began to fall into disrepair and then in 2010, Cool Crest was designated as a historic landmark. This designation protected the property against demolition and alterations that would destroy its historic integrity. And then in 2012, the Andry brothers, who once played on the course as kids, stepped in to become the proud new owners of Cool Crest.
The Andry brothers took on the course as a labor of love and restored it in an effort to give people the authentic Cool Crest experience. The put tons of work into the landscaping, the turf, rebuilding benches and scorecard holders and restoring the original sign, amongst many other details. They reopened the course in 2013.
When we reached out to Cool Crest, we heard back from one of the Andry brothers, Mitchell. Even though the course was closed for the season, he warmly invited us out to visit. Once we arrived, he gave us a tour and some history and let us play both courses at our leisure. We were treated with such kindness and hospitality. We even went home with bags full of fresh lemons and grapefruits picked that day from trees on the course. We are so grateful for the work that Mitchell and his brothers put into restoring this gem of a course.
We’d also like to note that this Cool Crest Miniature Golf has no relation to Cool Crest Family Fun Center in Independence, MO. And as you can probably figure out, San Antonio’s Cool Crest has been around a lot longer.
Rating
In all my years of playing mini golf, I’ve never once used the word elegant to describe a course, until now. Everything about this 1929 course is the epitome of Art Deco elegance. Despite the concrete being over 70 years old, its clean, white surface with hardly a visible crack flows smoothly from one hole to the next, undulating up and down curved staircases and tiered levels of play. Large, black deco-style lights hang overhead the holes. Teal benches and stylish triangular scorecard holders dot the course. An original fountain sculpted by a local artist gently trickles water. Every hole is surrounded by banana plants, which we can only imagine look splendid in their full summer glory.
The fairways are long and challenging, with game play designed around natural slopes and simple obstacles. One hole in particular stood out from the rest – a jump shot over a bridge and onto a lower putting green, where using a driver is recommended.
This course is all about sinuous curves, smartly placed angles and primary shapes – triangles, circles, rectangles and octagons. This visually simple course design, paired with the contrast of the deep green turf against the crisp, white concrete, along with touches of the iconic “Cool Crest” teal paint really creates a distinctively classic deco aesthetic.
In addition to its historical significance, this course holds a nostalgic place in the heart of thousands of locals. It’s clear to see what is so special here. This is a bucket list course that we’re so glad we got to check off and look forward to visiting again in the future. If you’re anywhere near the San Antonio area, this is a must-play course that is well worth going out of your way to visit.
1402 Fredericksburg Rd, San Antonio, TX 78201
Pros
Historic course
Elegant Deco design
Unique and challenging game play
Full restored with authenticity at the forefront
Well maintained
Cons
We played during the off-season, so didn’t get to experience all the landscaping and greenery in full bloom
Nerdy Notes
- 18 holes, Par 53
- rubber covered putters
- no flags in cups
- $10 Adults (ages 13-54), $9 Seniores (ages 55+), $9 Military (with ID), $8 Kids (ages 4-12), Free for kids 3 and under (children 10 & under MUST be accompanied by an adult)
- Metzger Biergarten on premise
- Established 1929
- Designated Historic 2010 by the City of San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation
