Houston Trip

[Wolfhammer]

Hi Friends,

 

I am coming into Houston in mid February via Hobby airport. Looking at staying close to the airport and playing 36 on a Saturday/Sunday and I'm looking for course recommendations. I'd like to stay close to the airport and my main requirement is that the course isn't packed/pace of play is good. I'd be fine playing a local muni with ok conditions if it meant not waiting on every shot. I know this might be a tall order on a weekend. Any recommendations from you locals? Are courses usually jammed in mid February on the weekends?

Edited November 8, 2023 by Wolfhammer

[oneunderbogey]

Staying by hobby is not recommended, maybe go south and stay by NASA or head into the city.  Public courses will be busy assuming the weather is decent.

 

Moody Gardens, Wilderness Lake Jackson are the best publics on the southside but they are 45+ mins from the airport.  Gus is good too, get a tee time early it gets very busy.

[ND2005]

Seconded - would not advise staying near hobby. Either stay in town, or (if golf is the motivating factor here) fly into IAH instead of Hobby and stay up there - much better public golf on the north side. 

 

If you were staying up north that opens up Highland Pines, Cypresswood, Golf club of Houston, High Meadow Ranch (although a little farther)

 

The two decent muni options are Gus Wortham and Memorial Park. Both are very hard to get decent tee times at. Memorial charges a non-resident rate that IMO makes it a rip off and wouldn't advise. 

[Wolfhammer]

3 hours ago, oneunderbogey said:

Staying by hobby is not recommended, maybe go south and stay by NASA or head into the city.  Public courses will be busy assuming the weather is decent.

 

Moody Gardens, Wilderness Lake Jackson are the best publics on the southside but they are 45+ mins from the airport.  Gus is good too, get a tee time early it gets very busy.

 

21 minutes ago, ND2005 said:

Seconded - would not advise staying near hobby. Either stay in town, or (if golf is the motivating factor here) fly into IAH instead of Hobby and stay up there - much better public golf on the north side. 

 

If you were staying up north that opens up Highland Pines, Cypresswood, Golf club of Houston, High Meadow Ranch (although a little farther)

 

The two decent muni options are Gus Wortham and Memorial Park. Both are very hard to get decent tee times at. Memorial charges a non-resident rate that IMO makes it a rip off and wouldn't advise. 

 

Thanks! Are courses generally busy in mid February? Is there a time when course traffic slows down?

[CAT GOLFER]

38 minutes ago, Wolfhammer said:

 

 

Thanks! Are courses generally busy in mid February? Is there a time when course traffic slows down?

Highly variable, it could be 75 and sunny in Feb, or you might be here the one week it is actually chilly like 40 and overcast,no way to know.

 

if it is colder, you will see less course traffic.  We can golf all 12 months, so the dedicated still go out early and fair weather golfers tend to go out after them.  Later tee times will probably be much less crowded.

Edited November 8, 2023 by CAT GOLFER

[oneunderbogey]

If it is nice day than February will be busier than mid summer.  Less nice days, less sunlight and the heat scares some people off mid summer

[dugue4]

Depends on the weather 

 

[SEP1006]

3 hours ago, dugue4 said:

Depends on the weather 

 

 

 

That describes Houston weather to a tee !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

[CCTxGolf]

If the weather is Golfable then you will have to wait on every shot. Especially in February. Texas has the most potential for beautiful weather in the spring and late winter. Courses will be packed on the weekends. 
 

shoot I would bet they will be packed if if it’s over 45 and not raining sideways.

Wildcat, Gus and even Herman Park are not to terribly far.

 

All will be packed.

 

Traffic will generally slow down in the afternoon. Once twilight tee times start you will see another jump in traffic on the first tee so you will want to get out before that. Without knowing the specific course sometime 1-3 is somewhat slower. Sort of the no man’s land between full price and twilight rates 

 

Edited November 10, 2023 by CCTxGolf
Addition

[The Milkman]

Getting 36 in at two different courses will be a challenge and not as relaxing as I'd want a day to be. If you had the first tee time of the day, you could be done a little before lunch, and then assume you'd drive 30 minutes to another course, maybe you'd tee off by 12:30, but then you'll be in the mid afternoon heavier crowds. You'll probably assume to finish around 5 as the sun starts to get low. 

 

A better idea of a day in Houston would be staying not near Hobby, having a mid morning round, followed by a brewery and a great dinner. Depending on if its early/late February and the weather you may be able to get the start of crawfish season. 

[TJ_Bam]

Like others I recommend against staying around Hobby.  If it’s possible for you to fly into/stay around IAH, Highland Pines is an excellent public track, probably one of the best public in the greater Houston area imo.  It is a good bit north of town.

[2Bogey]

Any recent feedback on Gus, GC of H, or Highland Pines?

[ND2005]

19 minutes ago, 2Bogey said:

Any recent feedback on Gus, GC of H, or Highland Pines?

 

Gus: Always in good shape, fun course but certainly not what I would call destination golf. It's good for what it is - a value muni for locals

 

GCOH: I've just never been a huge fan. Tournament style architecture. Conditions are good. Pace of play is bad. One of the most expensive rounds in town. Have had issues with theft, car break-ins, etc. 

 

Highland Pines: This is one of the most fun layouts in town. Really doesn't feel like a typical Houston course at all. Only drawbacks right now are:

1. that the greens have very severe slopes and are not mature - so the greens can get a bit silly in spots. In a year or two will be much better

2. pace of play is a problem. 9 minute spacing and they will allow fivesomes for "members". We teed off before 8am and the pace of play was still nearly five hours. 

[SC-TX 88]

24 minutes ago, 2Bogey said:

Any recent feedback on Gus, GC of H, or Highland Pines?

Played highland pines on thanksgiving day and on Black Friday. Course was in great shape, greens were probably some of the fastest I have ever played (talking 13++). 

[SnowbirdTom]

Gus has always been superb whenever we play there.

[elbellet]

Definitely don’t stay by Hobby…stay literally anywhere else.