From batting practice to golfing and sewing, check out 14 business updates from the Lake Travis-Westlake area.

Now open

BuildLabs: The design and construction company works on custom homes, tiny homes and ADUs, multifamily homes and golf simulators. BuildLabs utilizes an in-house team to manage design, procurement and construction at a fixed price. The company’s first Texas residences will be at Travis Club.

• Opened in August

• 3503 Wild Cherry Drive, Bldg. 2, Ste. A, Lakeway

• www.buildlabs.com

Coming soon

Infinite Hitting - Lake Travis

Infinite Hitting - Lake Travis provides batting cages, pitching machines, and a dedicated training area with advanced equipment, including high-speed cameras and launch monitors. Beyond the facilities, the company offers private coaching along with hitting camps and clinics.

• Opened Oct. 12

• 22111 Hwy. 71, Bldg. 701, Spicewood

• www.infinitehitting.com/locations/texas/lake-travis

In the news

Chalk Training

Chalk Training in Westlake is celebrating its 10-year anniversary in September. The gym is a small-group, semi-private and personal training studio that provides training and nutrition guidance for all fitness levels.

• 515 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., Ste. 120, Austin

• www.chalktraining.com

The Mackenzie Club is slated to open next year for prospective members interested in a private golf club experience.

The backstory: The club was founded by Dave Rogenmoser and is named after Dr. Alister MacKenzie, a golf course architect. Initially slated for a late 2026 opening, Rogenmoser said the club is now targeting a spring 2027 opening.

About the project: The club will span 33,000 square feet across three stories. Designed by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture, amenities will include:

• 8 Trackman simulator suites

• A PuttView putting lab

• A performance lab for club fittings and golf lessons

• A recovery suite with a sauna, cold plunge, steam room and red light therapy

• Outdoor patio with fire pits and family programming

• A dining room with a restaurant and craft beverage bar

• Golf-specific fitness coaching executive workspaces and meeting rooms

Also of note: The club will offer individual, family and junior family membership tiers. Per the club website, interested members can request an invitation for a private tour which is where pricing and current availability will be shared.

In 2015, the Texas Legislature passed a law changing the amount of time students are required to spend in public schools from 180 days to 75,600 minutes per school year.

More than a decade later, some state senators are considering again mandating the number of days schools are open, citing concerns about student performance in districts that use condensed weekly schedules.

The details: At least 181 districts and 572 campuses used four-day school weeks in the 2024-25 school year, per Texas Education Agency data.

A TEA study found that during the 2022-23 school year, students attending school four days per week had lower performance in certain subjects on the annual State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness than students at five-day schools.

"There is not a benefit that I see for a four-day school week for the child," Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, said. "We know there's learning loss. What is the advantage of a four-day [week]? Because I see none except to please somebody who wants to be off more days."

Read six trending Austin-area stories from Oct. 5-9.

1. Scrambles now open in Pflugerville

2. Gringo's Mexican Kitchen coming to Northline

3. COTA sets sights on water park, resort

4. Project LeanNation now open in Georgetown

5. Ascension Seton acquires 3 Family Health System facilities

6. Austin leaders look to local preparations as air taxis take off in Texas