Golf in Houston?

[Joe Hancock]

You guys need to get a room....

 

[Sam Morrow]

Casey, The other thing besides the high value of your course was the nice lunch and drink you threw in with the round. I'm used to $100 rounds in the Chicago area when playing the public courses. I also feel as though the service is sometimes unfrindly and the pace of ply awful. My visit to your club was a pleasant surprise. The elevation changes surprised me for the Houston area. Hope to return this year.

Jack, thanks again!  Can't wait to see you again.  I might try to do the Waterwood outing with y'all if I can swing it.

Apply the pressure Casey, get him to fly down and play Waterwood!

[Mike Nuzzo]

Come on down.
This week was perfect.
Should be more of the same this month...

Nothing is above a 6 in Houston.

My favorites are Memorial Park and Blaketree.
Memorial Park is a great walking course - always plays under 4 hours & 10 minutes even on the weekends at peak times.
The 5th & 7th holes are my favorite holes.
The 6th has a very good green to make up for the pond - as does the 15th.
Many of the greens are very good - and varied - unlike much else of Houston.
Actually some of the best contoured greens in Houston.

I haven't commented on the Blaketree thread as I'm more in line with Mr. Hodson.
It could be soooo much better....

Other public courses with some interest - Magnolia Creek, Wildcat Highlands (not the lakes), BlackHorse, Cypresswood Tradition (has one great hole - my second favorite in Houston - the par 5 12th? - all else just decent and no housing).

I haven't been to High Meadow Ranch in a couple years - underwhelming for me - although I can't forget Baxter getting up and down from in the greenside creek to win the match.

River Ridge wouldn't be worth the trip for me again - nothing memorable.

Redstone - great conditioning - horrible walking course - weird strategy in several holes don't test the pros but make it tough for the average player - weird as it was designed to test the pros and be a resort course...?  Some very good greens however.

The other munis are not worth the time.

Personally I'd go play Teeth of the dog instead of coming to Houston....

[K. Krahenbuhl]

Personally I'd go play Teeth of the dog instead of coming to Houston....

I think you hit the nail on the head there Mike.  I would go a little farther for better weather and better golf.

[Steve Lang]

  Yeah, but the food is great and golf is realtively plentiful, cheap, and enjoyable if you don't need gca notches in your belt..

[Mike Nuzzo]

Steve,
Were you with us in the Dominican?
Have you been?

How is going to the teeth belt notching?
The only belt notching I recall was after having pina colodas in the pool....

[Sam Morrow]

Mike what don't you like about High Meadow and River Ridge?

[Mike Nuzzo]

Sam,
Both High Meadow and River Ridge were on very nice looking properties - they had more texture overall than Memorial (which is a nice park setting).

High Meadow had what seemed to be an awful lot of saucer bunkers.  The green complexes and shaping didn't seem as good as Memorial.

River Ridge (I only played 18) did have one very good hole.  The others seemed a little anti strategic or bland or artificially shaped.

Not that memorial is without flaw.  The bunker construction the last time around was average.  It is flat - except for #5.

I only play a few rounds in Houston a year - I'm not inspired enough to get out the door more often - Memorial is only 15 minutes away and Champions only a little further.  I haven't played any where else in a couple years - except the new Redstone.

Meadowbrook Farms could also be put in my earlier group of 5s.  A few good holes and a nice setting.

[Sam Morrow]

Sam,
Both High Meadow and River Ridge were on very nice looking properties - they had more texture overall than Memorial (which is a nice park setting).

High Meadow had what seemed to be an awful lot of saucer bunkers.  The green complexes and shaping didn't seem as good as Memorial.

River Ridge (I only played 18) did have one very good hole.  The others seemed a little anti strategic or bland or artificially shaped.

Not that memorial is without flaw.  The bunker construction the last time around was average.  It is flat - except for #5.

I only play a few rounds in Houston a year - I'm not inspired enough to get out the door more often - Memorial is only 15 minutes away and Champions only a little further.  I haven't played any where else in a couple years - except the new Redstone.

Meadowbrook Farms could also be put in my earlier group of 5s.  A few good holes and a nice setting.

Did you ever get to play Old Orchard? I loved Old Orchard and I've discussed with several people that it and River Ridge have very much the same feel. I really enjoy Meadowbrook Farms, there are a few very good holes on that course.

[Mike Nuzzo]

Yes.
I played Old Orchard a handful of times.
Such a quaint place and a hell of a barbecue.
Individually the holes weren't great - but a nice setting.
I would have recommended that as a 5 also if it were still there...
Blame it on Shadow Hawk and The Houstonian raising property values I guess.

The bulk of my rounds at Memorial were only $17 too - hard to argue against the value too.  Now it is a whopping $27 to walk on a weekday.

[Sam Morrow]

Yes.
I played Old Orchard a handful of times.
Such a quaint place and a hell of a barbecue.
Individually the holes weren't great - but a nice setting.
I would have recommended that as a 5 also if it were still there...
Blame it on Shadow Hawk and The Houstonian raising property values I guess.

The bulk of my rounds at Memorial were only $17 too - hard to argue against the value too.  Now it is a whopping $27 to walk on a weekday.

The day Old Orchard died was a sad day for Houston golf. I should also add that except for a few spots I agree about the bunkers at High Meadow.

[K. Krahenbuhl]

The bulk of my rounds at Memorial were only $17 too - hard to argue against the value too.  Now it is a whopping $27 to walk on a weekday.

Nobody can argue that there is a better value in town.

[Sam Morrow]

The bulk of my rounds at Memorial were only $17 too - hard to argue against the value too.  Now it is a whopping $27 to walk on a weekday.

Nobody can argue that there is a better value in town.

Going the other way our friend Mr. Kirkendall paid $67 at Cypress Lakes the other day.

[Jason McNamara]

Yes.
I played Old Orchard a handful of times.
Such a quaint place and a hell of a barbecue.
Individually the holes weren't great - but a nice setting.
I would have recommended that as a 5 also if it were still there...
Blame it on Shadow Hawk and The Houstonian raising property values I guess.

Given the way that entire stretch of 1464 has grown in the last 10 years, I am not sure you can pin that on Redstone Golf.    Besides, except for the small subdivision on the N side of the Houstonian, I don't think those folks are joining either club.

The crazy $ piece is the land the Corrections Dept used to own - it fronts on the Grand Pkwy and borders SH & The Houstonian to the north-west.

[Steve Lang]

  Mike,

We very nearly did go with the gang to the Dominican Rep.. kinda wish we had, but work came first!.. but IF i really want or need a pete dye fix, i'll head back to Oak Tree or get a quick dose up at Waterwood Nat'l..

As much as i lamment the passing of Old Orchard, its more on principle than real loss golfing inventory in the area.  I agree it was a nice mild setting,.. played in some company outings there.. never could justify the drive back!

It appears that the 30th Parallel Gang needs to come out of hiding and ride again!   Hod is on the injured reserve list but ready.. ready I'm sure to trim Tiger's tail if he's around, TXSport lurks on BSG when not at River Ridge and Blaketree , Lou D. is off in SoCal but with us in spirit.. and there now seems to be a critical mass of young guns hanging out on the golf plains of Harris County looking for adventure???

Perhaps a journey to The Falls in New Ulm, or the Bandit or ?? in the hills  

p.s. Did Baxter have to redo things at Beaumont CC after the big storms passed through?

[Sam Morrow]

Mike,

We very nearly did go with the gang to the Dominican Rep.. kinda wish we had, but work came first!.. but IF i really want or need a pete dye fix, i'll head back to Oak Tree or get a quick dose up at Waterwood Nat'l..

As much as i lamment the passing of Old Orchard, its more on principle than real loss golfing inventory in the area.  I agree it was a nice mild setting,.. played in some company outings there.. never could justify the drive back!

It appears that the 30th Parallel Gang needs to come out of hiding and ride again!   Hod is on the injured reserve list but ready.. ready I'm sure to trim Tiger's tail if he's around, TXSport lurks on BSG when not at River Ridge and Blaketree , Lou D. is off in SoCal but with us in spirit.. and there now seems to be a critical mass of young guns hanging out on the golf plains of Harris County looking for adventure???

Perhaps a journey to The Falls in New Ulm, or the Bandit or ?? in the hills  

p.s. Did Baxter have to redo things at Beaumont CC after the big storms passed through?

Do we see another Bandit fan?

[Steve Lang]

  Or two.. Bill McBride is going to be in the area early-mid March and we're looking at meeting there!

? something greater could materialize!

[Sam Morrow]

Or two.. Bill McBride is going to be in the area early-mid March and we're looking at meeting there!

? something greater could materialize!

I would be interested in that trip.

[K. Krahenbuhl]

Or two.. Bill McBride is going to be in the area early-mid March and we're looking at meeting there!

? something greater could materialize!

As always when it comes to golf...

I'm in  

[Sam Morrow]

Or two.. Bill McBride is going to be in the area early-mid March and we're looking at meeting there!

? something greater could materialize!

As always when it comes to golf...

I'm in  

You need a woman.

[J_ Crisham]

Why? that would cut into the cash available for quality golf!

[Sam Morrow]

Why? that would cut into the cash available for quality golf!

Jack I can relay a funny conversation someday we had yesterday at lunch, we are worried about young Kyle.

[J_ Crisham]

Worry not ! He just needs to hook up with Natalie Gulbis or Christina Kim.

[Sam Morrow]

Worry not ! He just needs to hook up with Natalie Gulbis or Christina Kim.

I'm pretty sure he won't be fond of Christina.

[J_ Crisham]

I meant Christie Kerr- my bad.