The 7,001-yard layout is spread over three hilltops, serving up views of the surrounding terrain. Some holes seem like a game of "can-you-top-this," with dramatic elevation changes, carries over ravines, and risk-reward opportunities. But La Cantera pulls this off without being gimmicky because it's the roller-coaster property, not the design, that causes the drama.

Speaking of roller coasters, the seventh hole provides one of the most remarkable scenes in all of golf. The tee shot on this 316-yard par four drops 80 feet down to the fairway, set in the bottom of an old limestone quarry. However, your eyes seem glued to what sits to the left of the hole: The Fiesta Texas Amusement Park, complete with "The Rattler," a huge wooden roller coaster directly on the other side of a fence from the green. Every 40 seconds or so, your concentration is interrupted by the shrieks of yet another group of thrill seekers as they cascade down the coaster's initial drop.

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