Houston Golf Options

[Steve Lang]

   Hey Casey,


Yes, to High Meadow Ranch!  The three 6-hole loops (David Ogrin/Tim Nugent) have some of nicest golf topography in the region and plenty of challenge to anyone's bag of sticks, local knowledge or not...  and finish off things in Oggie's Grille, if you don't go out for another emergency 6.


I play out at HMR several times a year, not just the freebie on my birthday, but seem to have missed ya last year, but keep asking if you're there and look in the office! 


Seems like Steve Kohler was looking for convenience to downtown during his business trip and since it gets dark only at 6:15 now, wasn't thinking he could travel that far out from the loop... 

[Cliff Walston]

Westwood is a Keith Foster design that is the most underrated, but the second best course inside the Beltway IMO (after Memorial Park).  I prefer it to ROCC, HCC, Lakeside, Braeburn (although that membership is the best group in town), and Champions (obv the best players in town).  Carlton Woods (Fazio), Bluejack, and Whispering Pines are all excellent, but they are a hike.

[Don Mahaffey]

Westwood is under rated in the Houston golf scene, IMO.
And I agree about the membership at BraeBurn. We are currently working with Tripp Davis at BB and they’ve treated us very well.  BB will be much improved when it opens back up in Nov ‘21.


Lakeside has retained Jay Blasi and the latest news is they will be working on the course in ‘22


Both BB and LS are in flood prone areas and heavily regulated by the city and county on volumes, detention...etc.  I know everyone falls in love with the sexy sand sites in exotic locals but dealing with flood jurisdictions and still creating high level golf is advanced, but under appreciated, golf architecture.

[Tim_Weiman]

Westwood is under rated in the Houston golf scene, IMO.
And I agree about the membership at BraeBurn. We are currently working with Tripp Davis at BB and they’ve treated us very well.  BB will be much improved when it opens back up in Nov ‘21.


Lakeside has retained Jay Blasi and the latest news is they will be working on the course in ‘22


Both BB and LS are in flood prone areas and heavily regulated by the city and county on volumes, detention...etc.  I know everyone falls in love with the sexy sand sites in exotic locals but dealing with flood jurisdictions and still creating high level golf is advanced, but under appreciated, golf architecture.

Don,


Speaking of Houston, I’m wondering if you are familiar with Bear Creek, now closed since Hurricane Harvey with the Army Corp apparently having no interest in reopening the site.


Bear Creek, despite once holding the NCAA Championship, is not an attractive site and would not be a place to see any even decent golf holes, IMO. It’s only virtue was being a factory, three affordable golf courses for locals to play.


I ask because I wonder if the following would ever make sense: convert the property into one course by digging and creating a large hole that might be attractive to the Army Corp for flood control purposes. Take the dirt and build up area large enough for one course maybe 10-15 feet higher. Ideally the raised area would be along Clay Road and serve as a flood control barrier to protect the homes on the other side of Clay Road.


Sounds crazy I am sure. The Army Corp might be a pain to deal with, but maybe it would have some appeal. What would you think from a purely golf course construction perspective, especially if the Corp actually covered the cost of digging and moving the dirt?

[Don Mahaffey]

Tim, I’m not aware of the C of E doing anything like that but Harris County Flood District has taken on projects like that. We just gave them some budget numbers for a golf course in the city that may be renovated to increase flood storage with HCFD footing much of the bill.  They’ve even bought a course, closed it down, and used the land to create flood storage.

[Tim_Weiman]

Tim, I’m not aware of the C of E doing anything like that but Harris County Flood District has taken on projects like that. We just gave them some budget numbers for a golf course in the city that may be renovated to increase flood storage with HCFD footing much of the bill.  They’ve even bought a course, closed it down, and used the land to create flood storage.

Din,
Thanks for responding. Bear Creek is in Harris County but the land may be owned by the Corp. Not really sure. Anyway, it might be worth asking Harris County. Again, I don’t know and certainly don’t have the contacts. In case you don’t know where the property is, it is at Highway 6 and Clay Road, about 15-16 miles West of downtown Houston. Just think a project like I described might be attractive to the community for both flood control and recreation interests.

[Lou_Duran]

Tim,


Played Bear Creek- Masters over 20 years ago with a perennial Houston Golf Assoc. top 10 amateur.  He thought highly of the course; I never had an urge to go back.  The place was a zoo.  Had a single cut over from another course while we were walking to the 10th tee and when asked what he was doing, got in our faces to challenge us into a fist fight.  My Houston buddy had a hard time finishing the round.  Not sorry to see the course return to nature.


Don,


Played with three members at Royal Oaks years ago and learned that the course was built to drain the surrounding development.  One of the guys was in a green advisory committee and said that keeping the course semi-dry was a top priority that was infrequently achieved.  I recall numerous run-offs into low, damp ground. Curly & Schmidt design as I recall (marketed as a Fred Couples signature) with some interesting golf.  Unfortunately, in Texas, many of the courses were built in flood prone areas not suitable for other uses.

[Tim_Weiman]

Tim,


Played Bear Creek- Masters over 20 years ago with a perennial Houston Golf Assoc. top 10 amateur.  He thought highly of the course; I never had an urge to go back.  The place was a zoo.  Had a single cut over from another course while we were walking to the 10th tee and when asked what he was doing, got in our faces to challenge us into a fist fight.  My Houston buddy had a hard time finishing the round.  Not sorry to see the course return to nature.


Don,


Played with three members at Royal Oaks years ago and learned that the course was built to drain the surrounding development.  One of the guys was in a green advisory committee and said that keeping the course semi-dry was a top priority that was infrequently achieved.  I recall numerous run-offs into low, damp ground. Curly & Schmidt design as I recall (marketed as a Fred Couples signature) with some interesting golf.  Unfortunately, in Texas, many of the courses were built in flood prone areas not suitable for other uses.

Lou,


I played all three courses at Bear Creek. None had anything of architectural merit and there was and is nothing appealing about the property itself. I suspect the place was built because the land was cheap back then. As for the Masters, it has certainly returned to nature.....it looks like a jungle.


But, as I expressed above, for a variety of reasons it seems at least worthy of a discussion with the controlling authority, either Harris County or the Corp to explore whether it would make sense from a flood control perspective to dig out, say, 100.- 120 acres 10 -15 feet and move the dirt to the area along Clay Road as a protection barrier for the homes North of Clay, which during Harvey found themselves 5-6 feet under water. Then, turn that over to some developer to build one golf course on the raised land. I suspect someone could create something better than what existed before.

[Steve Lang]

   Tim,


I played at Bear Creek once back in 1991 with friend from work after coming to Houston, he lived on west side and hung out there... but I don't remember ever going back to play, too many other places to explore in Houston!


All the reservoirs in the Bear Creek area are owned and operated by the Corps of Engineers (COE).  After the various floods, I'm pretty sure they've been more inclined to reinforce the banks and spillways and dig out accumulated sediment or even go deeper for more retention volume rather than cut & fill for a course, that will certainly get flooded again.  Perhaps a low acreage practice facility, minimalistic short course built there?  Demand has to still be there...   


Interesting note about the HCFCD, whom I've dealt with, they're a state agency and not controlled by the local county government, though they do coordinate reviews and approvals.  Interesting dynamic there, which is interesting to watch, if you don't have a project under review!