Along the banks of the lazy Rio Grande, in the mountainous Big Bend region of Texas, an ambush was recently sprung�the first since Pancho Villa�s banditos roamed this area in the early 20th century.

But today, participants wield shooting irons of a different sort, and their quarry is the elusive birdie.

The Ambush at Lajitas is an 18-hole golf course at Lajitas, The Ultimate Hideout, a resort community described by owner/developer Steve Smith as �The Ultimate Hideout� for its remoteness and �rugged luxury.� Designed by acclaimed Austin architects Roy Bechtol and Randy Russell, the course is located within 25,000 acres of breathtakingly beautiful Chihuahuan Desert. The Ambush plays to 7,042 yards from the back tees and features four holes on an island in the Rio Grande.

�We designed this course for the holes to slowly build in drama and intensity and reach a crescendo at the end,� say Bechtol, adding that the course is heavily contoured to reflect the area�s mountainous ridges (nearby peaks climb 8,000 feet above sea level). �Golfers are going to get distracted by the sheer beauty of the landscape and we hope that they, like us, will be inspired by the setting.�

One of the most challenging holes on the course is number 18, a double dogleg par five dubbed �Kiko�s Revenge� that requires golfers to keep it straight. Bunkers left and right, a winding creek and crumbling stone ruins are the alternatives.

Although a championship-caliber, 18-hole course, the Ambush actually has a novel 19th hole�an optional �par one� that plays into Mexico. Kiss your ball goodbye when you sling it across the Rio Grande to a south-of-the-border green about 90 yards away. Since there�s no border crossing�and therefore no way to putt out�Bechtol and Russell have sculpted the green into a slightly concave surface that will encourage holes-in-one, thus creating a truly memorable international experience.

On several holes at the base of the mountains, greens and tees are �benched� into the hillsides, creating a stadium effect. And although the Ambush offers ample opportunities for heroism, forced carries are not punitive and multiple tee placements ensure a fair challenge for every skill level.

Hardy Tifway 419 carpets the fairways and tees, while bent grass covers the greens. A variety of native flora has been planted under the direction of a botanist, creating a desert landscape. One of the biggest challenges are the five lakes situated around the course, combining for a total of 13-acres of water that plays on eleven holes. �We�ve also incorporated the resort�s recycled water into the irrigation plan for the golf course,� says Bechtol.

Complementing the golf course is a golf shop where Director of Golf Gavin Heap supervises a staff of professionals and caddies and offers a complete line of golf merchandise. A spacious practice area with chipping green and a large putting green supplied with Pro V1 golf balls is located in front of the golf shop. Slated for mid-2005 is an expansive 30,000 square foot Clubhouse, which will include a fully stocked pro shop, locker rooms, Agave Spa, tennis pro shop, and meeting facilities as well as private facilities for Lajitas members.

Lajitas, The Ultimate Hideout, is a mixed-use development incorporating a boutique resort of 92 luxury accommodations, property sales, private members golf club, 3 restaurants, equestrian center, hunt club and more.

For more information, please contact Anne Bingham at 432-424-5171.

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Media Contact: Anne Bingham Director of Communications Lajitas, The Ultimate Hideout 432-424-5171