Best Public Course in Houston Area...

[biggys]

[quote name='rockinar' timestamp='1334476208' post='4724466']
[quote name='EasyDDI' timestamp='1309787026' post='3363174']
I have very fond memories of Memorial Park GC in the center of Houston, but it was 15 years ago I last played it (used to study for my master in UH) :P No love for it anymore, something changed? I remember that getting a tee time could be difficult.
[/quote]





Getting a tee time can be difficult, the course is "OK". The people you play with leave a lot to be desired as do the people that work there. They are all idiots. I live 3 blocks away and won't play there. That's how bad I think it sucks.
[/quote]


Come to think of it you are right. I played there maybe 6 months ago and the old man in the clubhouse seemed bothered that he had to take my money..Usually the starter guy is nice if you're nice to him first...

[rockinar]

[quote name='biggys' timestamp='1334703416' post='4740612']


Come to think of it you are right. I played there maybe 6 months ago and the old man in the clubhouse seemed bothered that he had to take my money..Usually the starter guy is nice if you're nice to him first...
[/quote]



The 2nd to last time I played there. I rolled up to the box at my exact start time (starter was not around). Nobody was around. Then a threesome came up so I guessed I was with them. We introduced, and all teed off. The starter then came up and told me I started with the wrong group. He did not seem happy about it. He said i was supposed to be in the next group. I was like "Well I started at my tee time". He said "OK," scoffed and left. Then the next time i played there I was inside Becks getting snacks. My tee time was not for another 15-20 minutes. They start calling me over the loudspeaker telling me to go to the box. I was like "WTH"??? My start time is not for another 15 minutes at least. I head twords the 1st tee and the starter tells me "Your group is on the tee" as if I was running late. I look over and they are all finishing.


It's just unorganized and a mess. I have since got a membership in The Woodlands. Have not been back to Memorial since. I don't miss it.

[bigd65]

Woodforest is really good. The greens there are great.

[rockinar]

[quote name='bigd65' timestamp='1334716636' post='4742176']
Woodforest is really good. The greens there are great.
[/quote]



Woodforest would get my vote for best public course in Houston.

[bigd65]

Me too by far!

[Jag80]

Any recent updates on course conditions? I lived in Houston for years and have played quite a few of the courses mentioned. Thinking about coming over this weekend and want to play a decent layout. Anyone with suggestions?

[sTmGolfer]

[quote name='Jag80' timestamp='1341545429' post='5224726']
Any recent updates on course conditions? I lived in Houston for years and have played quite a few of the courses mentioned. Thinking about coming over this weekend and want to play a decent layout. Anyone with suggestions?
[/quote]

I've heard that two of my favorite courses (River Ridge out west in Sealy, and Eagle Pointe in Mont Belvieu) have not been in great shape lately. I find that hard to believe but have not been out to either. I plan to go to Eagle Pointe soon as I have never seen that course in bad shape, and the greens are always terrific.

Also, try to the Moody Gardens course in Galveston. It's an incredibly fun course and the greens were as good as I've ever seen in Houston, aside from Woodforest. Played there at the beginning of summer and was very pleased with my experience and would not hesitate to go back soon and often.

Timber Creek down in Friendswood is also a good option. 27 holes and I've heard they have it in great shape lately (though again, I haven't played there in about 4 months).

[bigred90gt]

I haven't played Eagle Pointe in several months, but according to 2 friends of mine who have, one of which is very picky about conditions, it is in rather good shape.

I've been a member at evergreen for a few years, and am considering letting that membership expire an pick up at Eagle Pointe. they are just about the same price. Evergreen is a more challenging course, but Eagle Pointe is ALWAYS in phenomenal condition.

[golfingchuck]

Not in any particular order

I lived literally less than 10 minutes from
1. Tour 18
2. Redstone. Really with it if you can play right before or after the Shell

Fish creek
Willow creek
TPC Woodlands
Palmer course in The Woodlands (private though)
Black Hourse was a tough track
Cypress wood tradition course is a solid course

I lived in Humble and never played to many courses south or west of Houston

[W2_Golfer]

At memorial once you get through the starting fiasco, the course has a nice layout. It doesn't have great greens but you can still make putts. I usually get paired with someone i like. Becks prime is a nice addition.

[rocker40]

[quote name='Iplaxidentlyshotmyself' timestamp='1342274455' post='5273760']
At memorial once you get through the starting fiasco, the course has a nice layout. It doesn't have great greens but you can still make putts. I usually get paired with someone i like. Becks prime is a nice addition.
[/quote]

How hard is it to get a tee time at memorial?

[rockinar]

[quote name='rocker40' timestamp='1342617649' post='5298786']
[quote name='Iplaxidentlyshotmyself' timestamp='1342274455' post='5273760']
At memorial once you get through the starting fiasco, the course has a nice layout. It doesn't have great greens but you can still make putts. I usually get paired with someone i like. Becks prime is a nice addition.
[/quote]

How hard is it to get a tee time at memorial?
[/quote]

You can't set up a tee time there in the traditional sense. You have to enter a lottery for the time you want on the Houston Parks website. If you play as a single during the week, odds are pretty decent you will get your time. As a group on weekends...forget it. Impossible Another thing that sucks is you have to enter the lotto 3+ days in advance. Memorial is not worth doing that much planning for. The course itself is so-so. But the people who work there are idiots, and the people who play there are hacks with zero etiquette who are looking for the cheapest game possible...meaning high school kids and grumpy seniors. It's just not worth the headache. I live within walking distance from it and refuse to play there or use the range. Too many thieves there too who will steal any club or bag unattended.

[guyswhoisawesome]

Memorial Park all the way!!!!

[PuttLeftHitRight]

Played River Ridge back in the spring and it was good, not great. It was way better than a lot of other courses I have played on, but it seemed a bit pricy for the condition and distance from town. All the trees were dead if that matters to anyone.

[sTmGolfer]

I got a chance to get out and play Eagle Pointe today. Previous comments were made that it was not in the best of shape, but it was in FANTASTIC shape today. They said they got roughly 9'' of rain over the last 2 weeks or so, which has helped make things a little greener. The greens ran incredibly true and were quite fast ... not as fast as they can get them, but pleasantly fast. They added a tee box on one of the par 4's (can't remember which hole) for the back tee box, and it made it play quite a bit more challenging.

Go out and play. It will not disappoint!

[jrsharp21]

Rarely new to the area. Moved to The Woodlands from Sacramento, CA. I like The Village up near the Conroe area.

[rockinar]

[quote name='guyswhoisawesome' timestamp='1343193892' post='5348442']
Memorial Park all the way!!!!
[/quote]

Everyone knows Herman Park course is the best.

[RickK]

Another very good golf course and pretty easy to get on is the Eldorado course at Quail Valley. If you play it from all the way back, it is about all the challenge you can ask for. Move up a tee box or 2 and it gets a little easier. The greens were punched and sanded around 1st of August so by end of this week should be just fine. Still not bad right now.

[sTmGolfer]

[quote name='RickKimbrell' timestamp='1344269531' post='5416434']
Another very good golf course and pretty easy to get on is the Eldorado course at Quail Valley. If you play it from all the way back, it is about all the challenge you can ask for. Move up a tee box or 2 and it gets a little easier. The greens were punched and sanded around 1st of August so by end of this week should be just fine. Still not bad right now.
[/quote]

+1. I played there about 2 months ago for a friend of mine's bachelor party and had a great time. Granted, I started +7 in the first two holes ... but still managed a 79. That's what no warm up will do! Greens rolled true, fairways in good shape.

[rockinar]

[quote name='oliversax' timestamp='1301160135' post='3090488']
Redstone TPC
Fish Creek
Meadowbrook Farms
Timber Creek
Eagle Point
Blackhorse
Highmeadow Ranch
River Ridge
[/quote]

I have played Meadowbrook Farms. That course sucks and nowhere near as nice as anything else on that list. It's a goat ranch that charges $65. On top of that, they have a stupid "no singles" policy. They turned down a guy who showed up to play as a single. WHT? The course was empty. He was toId "We don't allow single players, you have to have a pair". I think there was maybe 10 cars in the parking lot and there was almost nobody there, and they are turning down players and their money in this economy??? LOL Management must think highly of the course.

Skip this dump. It's flat, and so easy that there's no challenge. The greens are so flat that I think the tee boxes had more slope. Great course for kids ages 12-18.

[C. Spackler]

Played Meadowbrook Farms as a single, at least, a dozen times in the past 6 months.

You must be a scratch or better golfer if you find this Greg Norman designed "dump" so easy....maybe you need to concentrate on getting your tour card.

[rockinar]

[quote name='C. Spackler' timestamp='1346620838' post='5575475']
Played Meadowbrook Farms as a single, at least, a dozen times in the past 6 months.

You must be a scratch or better golfer if you find this Greg Norman designed "dump" so easy....maybe you need to concentrate on getting your tour card.
[/quote]


You must be a member there. That explains your defense of the course and how you got on as a single. I don't care who designed it. It's a dump.

[Johnny Hack]

Woodforest is still one of the best values in the greater Houston area. I play there at least twice a month and for the money and the conditions I think it cant be beat!

Steve Elkington design, 27 holes, greens are always fast and in outstanding condition.
Tuesdays is their special days with green fees of $40.00 and if you are a twilight golfer (their twilight starts at 3PM) the green fee is $35.00 Mon-Thur

[url="http://www.Woodforestgolf.com"]www.Woodforestgolf.com[/url]

[jarvis]

I've played a few times at meadowbrook, I liked the course. Don't know about the singles thing tho

+1 on Woodforest/Fish Creek. Cypress Lakes also usually has some great greens

[quote name='rockinar' timestamp='1346624683' post='5575715']
[quote name='C. Spackler' timestamp='1346620838' post='5575475']
Played Meadowbrook Farms as a single, at least, a dozen times in the past 6 months.

You must be a scratch or better golfer if you find this Greg Norman designed "dump" so easy....maybe you need to concentrate on getting your tour card.
[/quote]


You must be a member there. That explains your defense of the course and how you got on as a single. I don't care who designed it. It's a dump.
[/quote]

[mdgoo]

Well its no TP course but Moody Gardens Golf Course on Galveston is a very good deal. I would probably say best bang for your buck. Excellent fairways and true mid speed greens.

[TheMerryTex]

Anyone know what shape Wildcat is in? I'm playing there with two of my buddies this Saturday.

[SEP1006]

As many have mentioned above Eagle Pointe is almost always in good shape with great greens. I have been a member there for almost 10 years now and the ONLY consistent negative is that they water entirely too much. We can be going through a drought and you will have some holes ( especially around the greens ) that are soft and borderline muddy. No chance at all to play a bump and run. And one more thing, in the winter they don't overseed so the fairways are pretty thin.

As the post above mentioned they have added several new back tee boxes ( #9, #11 #17 ) over the past several years that really make it a challenging course.

Steve

[rockinar]

[quote name='jarvis' timestamp='1347083349' post='5606011']
I've played a few times at meadowbrook, I liked the course. Don't know about the singles thing tho

+1 on Woodforest/Fish Creek. Cypress Lakes also usually has some great greens

[quote name='rockinar' timestamp='1346624683' post='5575715']
[quote name='C. Spackler' timestamp='1346620838' post='5575475']
Played Meadowbrook Farms as a single, at least, a dozen times in the past 6 months.

You must be a scratch or better golfer if you find this Greg Norman designed "dump" so easy....maybe you need to concentrate on getting your tour card.
[/quote]


You must be a member there. That explains your defense of the course and how you got on as a single. I don't care who designed it. It's a dump.
[/quote]
[/quote]


Just played Cypress Lakes. It was in good condition.

[cpriceAP2]

Everywhere I've been in the last 2 weeks has been in great shape... Cypress Lakes, Cinco Ranch, Timber Creek, River Pointe.... Going to give Lake Windcrest a try on Tuesday

[jrsharp21]

Just getting back into things after my Achilles rupture. My surgeon gave me the okay to hit the driving range and play on level grounds but I have to play in my walking boot. Went over to The Woodlands golf center today and hit a bucket of balls. Felt great! Took me a few balls to shake off the rust and figure out how to position my feet with the boot.

So now next step is to get a round of golf in. Any courses looking good in The Woodlands, Spring, Conroe area?