Houston golf

« **on:** May 23, 2008, 09:26:22 AM »

A friend is moving to Houston. Any recommendations on courses? Not looking for high-end stuff; carts OK; ease of play -- not anything overtly penal -- preferred.

Thanks!

« **Reply #1 on:** May 23, 2008, 09:30:55 AM »

What part of town is he moving to? That will play a key role. Our course, High Meadow Ranch, is on the far northwest side in the suburbs of Magnolia but is 2 hours from some parts of Houston. It's a huge place so if you can give us an idea of where he will be then we can really help you out.

« **Reply #2 on:** May 23, 2008, 09:32:49 AM »

Memorial Park.

« **Reply #3 on:** May 23, 2008, 09:35:17 AM »

Sam:

Near the Clear Lake/Johnson Space Center area, I think.

Mike:

Where is Memorial Park? It got a mention here the other day, if I recall.

« **Reply #4 on:** May 23, 2008, 09:42:46 AM »

I would second the Memorial Park nod from Mike. It is inside the loop, so probably about 20 minutes drive for your friend.

Given the scope of the area, he'll be looking at a bit of a drive no matter where he plays.

« **Reply #5 on:** May 23, 2008, 09:50:02 AM »

Down there ... Magnolia Creek is the answer then.

As an alternate: Moody Gardens is about to reopen - used to be galveston muni. Jacobsen Hardy redo.

As another alternate: Brauer did Lake Jackson a couple years ago - I unfortunately haven't been there yet. I keep asking Jeff to come down and play with me....

« **Reply #6 on:** May 23, 2008, 10:14:07 AM »

Quote from: Mike Nuzzo on May 23, 2008, 09:50:02 AM

Down there ... Magnolia Creek is the answer then.

As an alternate: Moody Gardens is about to reopen - used to be galveston muni. Jacobsen Hardy redo.

As another alternate: Brauer did Lake Jackson a couple years ago - I unfortunately haven't been there yet. I keep asking Jeff to come down and play with me....

That sounds about right. His location takes the north side out of play.

Mike- have you seen or heard anything on the progress down in Galveston?

« **Reply #7 on:** May 23, 2008, 10:18:17 AM »

Quote from: Mike Nuzzo on May 23, 2008, 09:50:02 AM

Down there ... Magnolia Creek is the answer then.

As an alternate: Moody Gardens is about to reopen - used to be galveston muni. Jacobsen Hardy redo.

As another alternate: Brauer did Lake Jackson a couple years ago - I unfortunately haven't been there yet. I keep asking Jeff to come down and play with me....

We should wait until Wolf Point is open and do a double header!

The Wilderness in Lake Jackson is a good option for those south of Houston. Its a moderate fee public course with a fair degree of quality, if I may say so......John Kavanaugh did a good course on 288 and Ault Clark has their Scottish influence (Magnolia something?) off of I 45.

« **Reply #8 on:** May 23, 2008, 10:18:56 AM »

Phil, my son David recently married a girl who lives in the Clear Lake area and has moved there from Austin. I'm not sure where he has been playing in Houston but I know there are a few courses just west of there. I am not a Houston-knowledgeable guy. Maybe IM me your friend's email and I can get him connected to David.

« **Reply #9 on:** May 23, 2008, 10:51:13 AM »

Kyle,
I visited the site over the winter.
I'm friendly with Rex VanHoose the responsible architect.
It looks good.
It looks hard - significant water and wind.
Paspalum.
I'm up for a visit when it opens next month.

« **Reply #10 on:** May 23, 2008, 11:25:46 AM »

Quote from: Mike Nuzzo on May 23, 2008, 10:51:13 AM

Kyle,
I visited the site over the winter.
I'm friendly with Rex VanHoose the responsible architect.
It looks good.
It looks hard - significant water and wind.
Paspalum.
I'm up for a visit when it opens next month.

Pick a date and count me in. I never played the old course, but I'm looking forward to giving this one a go.

« **Reply #11 on:** May 23, 2008, 11:33:25 AM »

Just talked to David, he has been playing at Timber Creek.

« **Reply #12 on:** May 23, 2008, 07:16:14 PM »

To all:

Thanks for the suggestions; I'll pass them along.

Is Magnolia Creek public? The website is not very helpful -- one of those quasi-publics, with reduced rates for members?

« **Reply #13 on:** May 23, 2008, 07:20:27 PM »

Magnolia Creek is public.
They had a pay monthly play all you want deal.
Very inexpensive last I saw.

« **Reply #14 on:** May 23, 2008, 07:51:26 PM »

Magnolia Creek will soon be closing it's doors to public play as it's now a member of the evil Canongate family.

« **Reply #15 on:** May 23, 2008, 08:24:45 PM »

Quote from: Jeff Spittel on May 23, 2008, 09:42:46 AM

I would second the Memorial Park nod from Mike. It is inside the loop, so probably about 20 minutes drive for your friend.

From Clear Lake / NASA? Memorial Park might be twenty mins by helicopter.

I haven't played it in some time, but Southwyck in Pearland was not a bad deal. (I think Jeff B. picked the wrong Kavanaugh!)

When I played it it was in good shape, good variety of holes, and I don't remember any clunkers. Houses yes, but they aren't on top of you. It's not much closer distance-wise from NASA than Memorial Park, but (more important) it keeps away from most of the uglier traffic.

Phil , Southwyck will be fairly close if your friend opts to live in Friendswood or Alvin (both a bit W of Clear Lake). Am not familiar with Magnolia Creek.

And as others have mentioned, -anything- in Houston is 25 minutes away. On a good day.

« **Reply #16 on:** May 28, 2009, 01:52:59 PM »

Can I bump this back up to the top...

My brother just moved to Houston a couple of weeks ago. He lives on the southwest side of the city. I don't know a thing about Houston other than that it's really spread out.

Any additional recommendations for places to play, or updates on the courses that have already been discussed?

Thanks all.

« **Reply #17 on:** May 28, 2009, 02:00:25 PM »

Phil, where did your friend wind up playing? David and I drove down to Lake Jackson to play the Wilderness in early April. It was a pretty long drive down there but a lot of fun to play once we got there.

There's a muni right in Clear Lake that is NLE. Bummer, there ought to be a lot of demand considering the population density in the entire area and the relatively high income levels in Clear Lake / NASA.

« **Reply #18 on:** May 28, 2009, 02:10:39 PM »

Quote from: JAL on May 28, 2009, 01:52:59 PM

Can I bump this back up to the top...

My brother just moved to Houston a couple of weeks ago. He lives on the southwest side of the city. I don't know a thing about Houston other than that it's really spread out.

Any additional recommendations for places to play, or updates on the courses that have already been discussed?

Thanks all.

I know that both Brae Burn and Westwood have great membership deals available down on that side of town. If you ever come to visit give me a shout and we'll go out and play and I'll show you the town.

« **Reply #19 on:** May 28, 2009, 04:30:01 PM »

Thanks Kyle, I'm sure I'll be down there to visit at some point. NOT between now and August though. I'll sweat out the summer in the Bay Area.

« **Reply #20 on:** May 28, 2009, 04:56:42 PM »

Quote from: JAL on May 28, 2009, 04:30:01 PM

Thanks Kyle, I'm sure I'll be down there to visit at some point. NOT between now and August though. I'll sweat out the summer in the Bay Area.

Good thinking.

« **Reply #21 on:** May 28, 2009, 05:21:19 PM »

Quote from: JAL on May 28, 2009, 01:52:59 PM

Can I bump this back up to the top...

My brother just moved to Houston a couple of weeks ago. He lives on the southwest side of the city. I don't know a thing about Houston other than that it's really spread out.

Any additional recommendations for places to play, or updates on the courses that have already been discussed?

Thanks all.

Is he in Houston proper [sic] or out toward Sugar Land/etc.? Private or public, and if the former, pls elaborate.

« **Reply #22 on:** May 28, 2009, 07:02:12 PM »

Quote from: Jason McNamara on May 28, 2009, 05:21:19 PM

Is he in Houston proper [sic] or out toward Sugar Land/etc.? Private or public, and if the former, pls elaborate.

I have no idea but I can ask him. He just moved and I don't know diddly poo about Houston. He's just looking to play public, he probably won't be in Houston for more than a few years.

Thanks for the help everyone.

« **Reply #23 on:** May 28, 2009, 07:40:07 PM »

Just a thought , Don't count out the private club options ... Houston has very low initiation fees ... If you are anywhere near Magnolia Creek , check out the Cannongate @ Magnolia Creek option.

Timber Creek is also an excellent option as well for public.

Somewhat downscale from MC & TC will be Southwyck and Clear Creek.

I am biased in favor of Magnolia Creek (original golf development / management company / partner ) ... If you like hard and fast , challenging green complexes , fast Tifeagle putting surfaces , all the length options you every wanted , great mix of 27 holes , wonderful practice facility , nice people ( ask for Matt Stano ) , You'll love Mag Creek .

Having said that , I'm also biased in favor of the north side ... I'm @ Kingwood CC were you can pick an option of anything from 1 course in off times , to full golf on 5 courses.

If you can stand the heat , there are lots of options in H-town

« **Reply #24 on:** May 28, 2009, 08:28:56 PM »

Quote from: JAL on May 28, 2009, 07:02:12 PM

I have no idea but I can ask him. He just moved and I don't know diddly poo about Houston. He's just looking to play public, he probably won't be in Houston for more than a few years.

Just let us know. Houston traffic tends to be brutal, though Memorial Park is more accessible from the west side now that 3+ years of work on I-10 is done. Westwood apparently benefited greatly from tree removal, and was a cool course before then, but I know ownership has changed hands a few times, and it's in a really lousy part of town. (You cross over a culvert to get onto the property, and your first thought is: moat.)

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