Memorial Park

[snagy2000]

With the sign off from Houston's city council today, and closure expected within the next few days, does anyone know what significant changes are going to be made to the course or the layout?

[RXGolf86]

Here is a pretty good article about the upcoming changes:

 

https://www.golfadvisor.com/articles/tom-doak-embraces-his-first-opportunity-to-create-a-pga-tour-course

[dbdors]

Does this mean the course will be closed a few months each year to get ready for the tourney?

[Luke.Sutton]

It’s going to be closed for a year to renovate and then 2-3 weeks a year for the PGA event.

[dbdors]

It's going to be closed for a year to renovate and then 2-3 weeks a year for the PGA event.

Thanks I knew that it would be closed for the renovation, but i did read that they are shooting to have it back open by Oct 2019. Also shut down for 2-3 weeks for the tourney sounds good.

 

That place is going to be even more packed after the reno. Can you imagine getting to play on Tour quality greens! Going to be nice.

[HTXBear2012]

Was there last week to use the range and drove the loop around the course, hard to see much from the street, but they are taking down a lot of trees. Have to have space for spectators I imagine. Will also open up the few holes on the front that were tight off the tee (my driver hopes).

 

Would be great if a few other courses in the city got under HGA or some other entity continued to buy courses from the COH and renovate/reopen them.

[cjblake09]

Can't wait to see the finished product!

[CCTxGolf]

This is gonna be cool. No doubt Jim Crane is the right man for the job. I was skeptical at first but is seems that they are jumping in with both feet and are truly going to make this course update special and pga tournament ready. It’s amazing what a passion for golf and a pretty large bank account can accomplish! Jim Cranes the man!!

[NativeTX]

First glance at the new layout


 

[snagy2000]

Wow, a lot of changes.

[scott_Donald]

wow looks awesome from the map. lots of changes, I always loved the layout but hated the condition.

 

What are they doing with the range and clubhouse etc? I am normally at the range there 3/4 times a week.

 

Back home in Scotland for the month right now but back to the routine there through the summer, still hoping to practice there since don't seem to play that much in Houston.

[cjblake09]

Weird they took the pond out of 7 but i like the look of 16 and 17.

[cpriceAP2]

Lots of trees missing is an understatement. Went by there yesterday and got some insight on what’s going on. From the first green you can now see the 6th green, that’s a lot of trees and underbrush. Most of the fairways will have sod on them in the next couple weeks and greens are getting “sprigged” over the next few weeks. It’s going to be an awesome track!

> @HTXBear2012 said:

> Was there last week to use the range and drove the loop around the course, hard to see much from the street, but they are taking down a lot of trees. Have to have space for spectators I imagine. Will also open up the few holes on the front that were tight off the tee (my driver hopes).

>

>

>

> Would be great if a few other courses in the city got under HGA or some other entity continued to buy courses from the COH and renovate/reopen them.

 

 

[cjblake09]

I went by this week as well and could not believe how many trees were gone. After they went through the reforestation a couple of years ago i was surprised they let them take them out.

[scott_Donald]

IS it still on track for October? looking over the fence yesterday it didn't look like it but I don't have a clue.

[ATXHorn]

> @cjblake09 said:

> I went by this week as well and could not believe how many trees were gone. After they went through the reforestation a couple of years ago i was surprised they let them take them out.

 

Great news, thanks for sharing and keep those updates coming.

[scott_Donald]

seems like a lot of the greens are now green, was trying to get pics yesterday from the edge of the range but they turned out terrible.

[tiderider]

doak talks about it a good bit on a recent fried egg podcast: https://thefriedegg.podbean.com/e/yolk-with-doak-episode-15-a-new-course-at-tara-iti-a-memorial-park-update-and-renaissance-club/

[CougarRed]

Thanks for the link.

 

Doak says all the holes are shaped. Clearing, grading, shaping all done. Sand-capping right now. Finishing greens and starting to plant grass. Little behind schedule due to weather. So the creative part has been done since May. Will visit again soon before greens are planted. Course supposed to open in late October.

 

Looks completely different from most of Doak's other courses. Would not guess it was his work. People know an architect's work mostly from bunkers and greens. For a tour event, we have to be more cautious and subtle on the green complexes. There's some tricky things going on, but it's a flat site to start with. So you are not going to have a lot of severe undulation.

 

Fewer bunkers, because the pros don't care about (and sometimes prefer) bunkers. Plus, cleaning up the bunkers after a rain is a nightmare for tour events (or heavy play municipals). Note: I count 12 bunkers on the drawing above.

 

Water is much more in play on several holes than Doak normally builds. City wanted us to capture some of the drainage for irrigation purposes. There was an old pond that did not come up to play on the back nine. 3-4 acre pond now 9 acres. Par 5 sixteen now has to deal with water when going for green in two. And 17 is a driveable par 4 from certain tees, but you have to carry 290 over water. Wanted to create a dramatic finish.

 

10-12 = really hard stretch of holes

13 = driveable par 4

14 = short par 5 with small green (520 yard hole into prevailing breeze - might become a Par 4 for the pros later)

15 = short par 3 with real trouble

16 = reachable (550-580 yards) par 5 protected by water with no bailout

17 = short/driveable par 4 protected by water (280 to 320)

18 = really hard, long par 4

 

 

 

[CougarRed]

[cjblake09]

Good stuff keep posting them.

[tiderider]

hope those slopes off the greens at 17 and 16 are shaved ... at least down to the water's edge ... i've played that course enough times to have every hole memorized, so it will be fun to go back and play a completely different course ... don't see how they can keep the green fees the same, however ...

[scott_Donald]

> @tiderider said:

> hope those slopes off the greens at 17 and 16 are shaved ... at least down to the water's edge ... i've played that course enough times to have every hole memorized, so it will be fun to go back and play a completely different course ... don't see how they can keep the green fees the same, however ...

 

I didn't realise you were Houston, just notice you from your Scotland trip.

 

I practice at memorial most days but only played the course 5 times. looking forward to playing it in October.

[tiderider]

> @scott_Donald said:

> > @tiderider said:

> > hope those slopes off the greens at 17 and 16 are shaved ... at least down to the water's edge ... i've played that course enough times to have every hole memorized, so it will be fun to go back and play a completely different course ... don't see how they can keep the green fees the same, however ...

>

> I didn't realise you were Houston, just notice you from your Scotland trip.

>

> I practice at memorial most days but only played the course 5 times. looking forward to playing it in October.

 

in b'ham, but lived out there for 20 years before moving back home ...

[ND2005]

I'm impressed that this is coming together.

But, and this is to me a big but...

The course can't resume functioning as a municipal with eight billion tee times per day and six hour rounds.

I may have missed it but have they discussed ongoing maintenance budget and plans for controlling the volume of play the course sees?

[J_Birdie]

Why would they need to restrict volume?

[tiderider]

they claim they will keep fees the same, but i see no way of that happening and think they are simply playing to the public, which is fine ... they'll at least go to a resident/non resident fee like torrey and bethpage ... as crowded as they could be on the weekend, they'll be even more crowded ... don't know what they'll do about the 5-6 hour rounds, unless they make it walking only from oct-may ...

[snagy2000]

I've played Memorial hundreds of times and I've never played a 5-6 hour round of golf. For the first year at least, they will limit the amount of play in order for all the turf to take hold and be ready for the PGA in October 2020.

[tiderider]

when i played it, was usually a 5 hour round, thereabouts ... if it's a redesigned course where a tournament is played, i think you can add a 1/2 hour to that, easily ... hope you're right and they restrict play, though i'd like it to be restricted to walk up only (just to be an ass) ...

[ND2005]

> @J_Birdie said:

> Why would they need to restrict volume?

 

Because it will be near impossible to maintain good conditions with the volume of play the course currently receives?