Friday Night Lights Golf Weekend
Austin, TX
by Fat Guy
There's just something about the fever surrounding Texas high school football. Call it romance, call it religion, call it unhealthy fanaticism, but there's an undeniable real life passion. I'm originally from Western PA where high school football is just about as big, so I can certainly relate.
Let's face it; the TV show was way better than the movie ever hoped to be. It was best show on television for 5 years, despite network and time slot changes. I read the book back when it first came out in the early '90's (it's a true story and a great read by the way). I thought the movie did the book some justice on certain levels, but the acting wasn't consistently great, there was a little too much Hollywood storyline thrown in, and there was just too much going on in the book to capture it all in 2 hours of screen time.
The TV show had more time to explore some of the nuances of small town life, high school, and football. I became a big fan as soon as I saw the pilot. The show had the best writing on TV during its run, some of the best directing and camera work, a great cast (most of whom you'd never heard of before the show, which somehow added to the realism), actual good acting, the football scenes were realistic without the cheesy over-the-top hits, and the story arcs pulled at real-life heartstrings most other TV dramas fail to grasp. Plus everything was filmed on location in Texas, lending an authenticity that most shows couldn't touch.
And to top it all off, they cast some of the most effortlessly sexy women on TV.
Unfortunately, two of the four best reasons to watch Friday Night Lights left after Season 3: Original cast members Minka Kelly (above left), who played the most gorgeous high school cheerleader ever, moved on to a broken engagement with Derrick Jeter, then briefly became a new Charlie's Angel; and Adrianne Palacki (center) who played the sexy town hussy, then left the show to pursue a movie career, but has only a failed FOX series and a role in the 2010 remake of Red Dawn to show for it. Aimee Teegarden (right) stayed with the show through the end of the series, and redefines adorable. Even Connie Britton (below), who played Coach Taylor's wife, was MILFy. A couple of the girls in the seasons 4 & 5 casts were cute, but they couldn't hold a candle to the original four. So if you never got into this show, at least the first 3 seasons are easily worth a rainy hungover Saturday day-killer rental. And once you watch those 3 seasons, you'll be plenty hooked on the show to watch seasons 4 & 5 too.
Unfortunately, after struggling to market the show to a female audience, being saved from cancellation only by rabid fan campaigns, and a network change despite winning Emmy awards, 2010-11 was the final season for the show (www.directv.com/fnl).
For a full Friday Night Lights golf weekend, book a flight to Austin TX (which doubled as fictional Dillon TX on the TV show) for a great town and great golf, and hit a few of the show's filming locations while you're at it.
Where To Stay: Austin's motto is "Keep Austin weird." Most of the cast and some of the crew lived in condos just off Austin's famed South Congress Ave. Travel Channel says book a stay at the way-hip, spartan chic Hotel San Jose (1316 S Congress, $75-$225/night, www.sanjosehotel.com), where '50's Austin meets the postmodern martini crowd. The cement floors only add to the colorful industrial feel, with top notch linens, wireless internet throughout, and a cozy outdoor cafe/bar kicks out non-guests at 10:30. Hit next door Jo's Cafe for breakfast, or beers on nights where the featured band plays a few tunes then picks a movie for everyone to watch from lawn chairs on a big screen TV in the parking lot. Or, crash at the ultra-hip Austin Motel (S Congress), who's slogan is, "So close, yet so far out."
Where To Catch a Texas High School Football Game: The nearby Pflugerville Panthers' facilities (and uniforms) have been used for alot of the football scenes. Check their home schedule at www.pflugervilleisd.net/PHS/athletics. The stadium of the East Dillon Lions from Seasons 4 & 5 is Del Valle Staduim (2406 Shapard Lane, Del Valle).
Where To Play: Austin golf legend Ben Crenshaw recommends: "Grey Rock GC is an excellent daily fee course designed by Jay Morrish. It sits in the Texas Hill Country and is framed by some really striking oak trees. The old Austin CC, now known as Riverside GC, is also still open. It's a Perry Maxwell design that Tom Kite and I played a lot growing up, taking lessons from Harvey. I'd be remiss not to mention Lions Municipal GC as well. It was built in 1924 and is only a few blocks from where I grew up. The university owns the property, and in recent years there's been talk about possible land development that might affect the course. Hopefully, though, one of Austin's historic gems will be preserved."
T&L Golf digs the Golf Club at Circle C (***1/2). A few years ago, the Bermuda fairways at Circle C wilted like a rose after Valentine's Day. But new management installed a million-dollar irrigation system, hired a greenskeeper from a top course in Dallas and sharpened the amorphous bunkers to restore the polish of the most intriguing layout in Austin proper. The firmness and flow of the fairways require precise shotmaking. And the understated par-four twelfth features a rippling, organically shaped green that slopes upward at its edges, allowing approach shots to funnel toward the flag; it's marvelously reminiscent of the finest work of golden-age architect Perry Maxwell. Architect: Jay Morrish, 1992. Yardage: 6,855. Slope: 130. Greens Fees: $70-$90, 7401 Hwy 45, Austin www.thegolfclubatcirclec.com. Falconhead Golf Club (www.falconheadaustin.com) near Lake Travis offers mesmerizing views of the Hill Country and a cantilevered green at the par-three seventeenth suspended above an artificial limestone-edged pond. ColoVista Country Club (www.colovista.com) in Bastrop, thirty miles east of Austin, features a pine-draped back nine and a majestic vista of the Colorado River at the par-three fifteenth. Heading northwest, a day trip to Burnet puts you among the bluebonnets and prickly pear cacti at Delaware Springs Golf Course (www.delawaresprings.com), a model municipal layout. The fairways of Star Ranch Golf Club (www.starranchgolf.com) ripple through a maze of dazzling bunkers. Jimmy Clay GC (www.austinpubliclinks.com), a tree-lined Austin muni favorite designed by Joe Finger, was recently renovated.
Where To Booze: Billy Riggins' wife Mindy was a stripper at a Dillon airport joint called The Landing Strip. There's a real life Landing Strip in Austin (745 S Bastrop Hwy), so stroll on in the airplane facade and see if there are any "Mindys" on shift.
Buddy Garrity's Bar from Season 5 is located on Old Bastrop Highway in Austin and might be called Texas 1115.
Trophy's Bar & Grill (2008 S Congress Ave) is where Coach Taylor picked up Julie after her foray into underage drinking. Other bars featured in the show include the Broken Spoke dance hall (3201 S Lamar Blvd) and Casino El Camino (517 E Sixth St), a great dive which doubled as a Capitol City bar. Landy's band played a gig at Victory Grill (1102 E 11th St). Or the Horseshoe Lounge (2034 S Lamar Blvd) is another great hole in the wall featured on the show.
The cast spent so much time in Austin they were practically locals, and actor Zach Gilford (who played quarterback Matt Saracen) recommends blues bar T.C.'s Lounge. "They have beer, but if you bring liquor, they'll sell you ice for $2. Every night there's one dish they put out--from chicken and dumplings to Hamburger Helper."
Where To Grub: Head for EZ's (3918 N Lamar Blvd), which doubled as the old school drive-in diner where Matt Saracen worked. Order the onion rings, wood oven pizza, or shockingly good chicken basil pasta, and a cookies & cream shake. Fran's Hamburgers (1822 S Congress Ave) was also featured as a Dillon team hang. The Alamo Freeze where Saracen proposed to Julie in the final episode was created by putting up fake signs at a Dairy Queen at 5900 Manor Road.
The last two seasons featured real-life Ray's Bar-B-Q (6301 Monsanto Dr, www.rays-bbq.com) prominently. Ray's serves up some legit Texas BBQ, including some great brisket.
For another TV connection, grub at Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant (301 San Jacinto Blvd), which was originally the cast house for the The Real World: Austin back in 2005. Start with the potent margaritas and the New Mexico chili, then move on to the mesquite-grilled fajitas.
Other Fun Spots From The Show: Coach Taylor's house can be found at 6884 De Paul Cove. Matt Saracen's Grandma's house is at 2900 Kuhlman Ave. Riggins' house is at 2501 Lehigh Drive. East Dillon High is at 3906 Avenue B. Capitol Chevrolet (6404 S.I.H. 35) was used as booster Buddy Garrity's car dealership. Cheapo Discs (914 N Lamar Blvd) is a cool discount music store where Landry and Saracen hung out for a scene.