South Shore Harbour Resort is located near the coast of Texas halfway between Houston and Galveston. The main draw for a stay at this convenient hotel is exclusive access to a 27-hole private golf club, South Shore Harbour Country Club, operated by ClubCorp. The hotel features over 200 guest rooms and a select amount of spacious, luxury suites.…
North of Houston, The Woodlands Resort features 402 guest rooms and access to two private, ClubCorp-operated golf courses at The Woodlands Country Club. Amenities at this four-star property include a spa and fitness center and large outdoor aquatic complex that includes a 1,005-foot lazy river, plus two additional pools and three whirlpools. This…
Houston is one of America's largest cities and also has the country's most diverse population. These days, the oil & gas hotbed sprawls well beyond the I-610 loop, heading into far flung suburbs like Katy to the west and The Woodlands to the north. The metro area has just over 80 golf courses, and a higher percentage of them are private compared to other metros in the Texas Triangle. The city has also suffered a reduction in golf course facilities in the previous decade due in part to several major hurricanes and flooding events. These private clubs include historic River Oaks and the more modern Whispering Pines. Tiger Woods' first U.S.-based golf course, Bluejack National is also in the market, about an hour north in Montgomery. Champions Golf Club, founded by Jackie Burke Jr., is considered one of the most reputable clubs and has hosted the U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open and a Ryder Cup among other prestigious tournaments. Golf legend Jimmy Demeret is also from Houston and many others have called the city home during their playing career thanks to its plethora of private clubs, warm climate and easy airport access.
Thanks for cameras on the course and some good fortune, Golf Club of Houston catches vandals and sends message to anyone else thinking about riding ATVs on its greens.
Recovery in the aftermath will be a tough road for Hurricane Harvey recovery. Resident Mike Bailey offers some insight into what to expect in the aftermath.
Nobody appreciates the angles on the golf course more than those who designed them, reports senior writer Mike Bailey after spend a couple of days playing with members of the ASGCA.
The Houston area has just one course that's routinely more than $100 to play, and that's the Golf Club of Houston's Tournament Course. So golf in Houston is fairly affordable, but some courses are more affordable than others. In fact, they're bargains. Longtime Houstonian Mike Bailey offers up eight courses that offer fairly low green fees, good design and above-average conditions.
You can't enjoy a round of customer golf -- or as many call it, taking care of business on the golf course -- just anywhere. It needs to be conducted at an impressive golf facility, not necessarily over the top but one that offers comfort, good food and drink. Houston has more than its share that fit the bill.
So maybe you've got a long weekend or three afternoons during the week in Houston and about $200 to spend on golf. Not a problem, because $200 goes a long way in the Bayou City, and best of all, there's more than 100 courses from which to choose. All but one of them can be played for less than $100. So with that in mind, let's set our goals a little modestly. Choosing just three courses isn't easy, but my picks don't take you too far out of town, fit well within budget and are courses that say Houston all over them.
When you think of Houston, you think of the energy industry, the port of Houston and maybe the Galleria -- not golf resorts. But yes, Virginia, there are golf resorts in the Houston area but not many. And while none of them are spectacular, there are actually some pretty good values. Veteran Texas golf writer Mike Bailey has more from the Bayou City.
LostGolfBalls.com harvests and sells balls from more than 2,400 courses. The truth is, balls are so well made today that they can spend a few nights or even weeks in the water and come out just fine.
Home of the Houston Open, the Rees Jones-designed Tournament Course at the Golf Club of Houston is one of the best conditioned layouts in the Houston area.
Twenty-seven hole Timber Creek Golf Club in Friendswood, Texas is one of Jay Riviere's best courses. The late architect from Houston took advantage of the rolling terrain that meandered around creeks and natural water hazards. Best of all, there are no homes on the property.
Coming off a two-year renovation by architect Jeff Blume, Pearland Golf Club at Country Place has a new look to go with its slightly new name, and it's one of the best values in the Houston area.
Augusta Pines Golf Club in Spring, Texas -- which boasts features inspired by Augusta and Pinehurst -- remains one of the Houston area's best public plays.