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Rating Index Rating
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4.4
736 Reviews (736)
5 Stars
353
4 Stars
322
3 Stars
47
2 Stars
6
1 Stars
8
Conditions
4.2
Value
4.6
Layout
4.6
Friendliness
4.5
Pace
4.0
Amenities
4.1
95.9%
Recommend this course
707 out of 736 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.4
13 Reviews (13)
5 Stars
6
4 Stars
6
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.0
Value
4.8
Layout
4.5
Pace
3.8
Amenities
3.8
StaffFriendliness
4.7
100.0%
Recommend this course
13 out of 13 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.5
53 Reviews (53)
5 Stars
28
4 Stars
22
3 Stars
3
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.3
Value
4.8
Layout
4.6
Pace
3.9
Amenities
4.1
StaffFriendliness
4.6
98.1%
Recommend this course
52 out of 53 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
Bay Forest delivers outstanding value with a fun, well-designed layout and consistently solid course conditions that drain impressively even after heavy rain. Friendly, professional staff make repeat visits a reliable choice for golfers seeking a quality round.

About

Holes 18
Type Public/Municipal
Par 72
Length 6768 yards
Slope 135
Rating 73.0

Amongst the chemical plants, refinery towers, and wood-lined waterways of La Porte lies the 18-hole Jay Riviere municipal known as Bay Forest. Riviere's design opened in 1988, featuring a tight front nine that opens up on the lake-dominated back side. Water is in play on 16 of 18 holes. Because of La Porte's proximity to the Gulf, the coastal winds make this a long course.

Despite its tight nature, the front nine offers a few nice birdie opportunities, including the short par 3 No. 6. This hole generally only requires a 9 iron to carry the bunker fronting the green.

On the back, the par 5 No. 10 is one of the most birdie-friendly holes on the course. It's followed by the signature No. 11-a great-looking dogleg right that bends around a pond to a well-bunkered green. The play with the approach on 11 is to leave it below the hole.

The par 5 No. 18 is a challenging finisher that requires good golf shots into the wind and the accuracy to avoid the water that sneaks into the fairway in the landing area from the right. The second shot must carry water and a bunker, and the recommended play on the approach is to keep it on the right side of the green.

Getting there : From Hwy. 45 south, take the 610 Loop north. When you come to Hwy. 225 head east and take the Pasadena exit. Turn right, find Hwy. 146 and go south (right). Next, get off at the Fairmont Pkwy. exit and turn left. When you get to South Broadway St., turn right and drive 1 mile to the course. The clubhouse is on the right side of the street.

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Course Details

Year Built 1988
Golf Season Year round
Architect Jay Riviere

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Pull-carts Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex, Discover Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes

Food & Beverage

Bar, Grill

Available Facilities

Conference Facilities

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top Courses in Texas (2022 #5)
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Reviews

4.4
736 Reviews (736)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 15
Patio Dining 9
Brunch 6
Course Challenges Include:
Water Hazards 25
Bunkers 14
Forced Carries 13
This course/club is great for:
Locals 20
Advanced Golfers 18
Seniors 12
This Course's Location is:
Convenient to the City 15
Worth the Drive 14
In the 'Burbs 10

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 15
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Customer comes last

Kicked off coarse with hardly no light left at the end of the day. 2 holes left to complete the round. Young staff worker does not give a warning, just straight you need to leave. He directly sent the message "Customer comes last". The hole before is under repair and you are forced to drive off the cart path. Drove on grass @ a par 3. I undrstand the rules. With back pain after a bad tee shot and hit the ground so hard the back pain hurt so bad i didn't think i could walk to ho get the ball. So i drove to get it then drove back to cart path. The cost for everything has gone up, and to not give a warning so

you can finish the round. You can tell he wanted too go home and does not care about paying customers. Iam glad this happened, because I was going to get a membership there next month. Grass grows back. Tires on the carts are made for that type of grass/ driving conditions. My mind iss made up. Not playing this course but maybe twice a year if that!!!! No reason for a city employee to act this way to a over 50 year old La Porte tax paying citizen....

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Poor
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 44
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Great course

Great course. Definitely challenging. Played in 4:15 minutes on a crowded Saturday.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Response from on 08/12/2025:
We really appreciate the five-star rating! It’s great to know you enjoyed your visit — we’ll keep working to make every experience just as good.
Played On
Reviews 17
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Best Public Course in the Bay Area

Fantastic course for the cost. Great layout, well kept bunkers, and the greens played well. They were semi fast without a lot of bumps in them. Only downside is that everyone else knows how good this course is for the cost, it was extremely busy and the amenities (beverage cart/clubhouse kitchen) were not super accessible.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Bay Forest Golf Club

This is best value you can get for your money. They do a great job keeping up with it. The greens and fairways are in spectacular shape.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 15
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Best bang for your buck

If your gonna play a course in this general area this is the best one for your money, you can find better but you gonna pay.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Response from on 07/19/2025:
We really appreciate the five-star rating! It’s great to know you enjoyed your visit — we’ll keep working to make every experience just as good.
Played On
Reviews 161
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 250 Contributor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great course, great weather, great golf.

Fairways in fine condition. Greens fast and true. A great day for golf!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap Don't know
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Excellent as always

Always enjoy rounds at.Bay Forest. Marshall's are courteous as well as pro shop, grill, and beverage cart staff. Greens are in excellent condition. Price point is great for such a nice course. Definitely recommend and will return soon

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Response from on 07/07/2025:
Thank you for the awesome review! We're so glad to hear you had a great experience and look forward to having you back again.
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Fun round

Only complaint is that there was not a refreshment/snack cart on the course. Can’t remember if it was like the last time I played last year. Had to stop at the turnaround to get refreshments.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 35
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great public course

Great value, great layout. Can’t go wrong with Bay Forest.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 39
Handicap 15-19
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Great track

Been playing here for 30 years and the greens are always excellent. Some maintenance going on but a great value for your golfing dollar.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great value. But very slow on Friday AM.

Really nice value for the money. Very crowded and slow play course. Which should be expected at this value. Just plan on a 4-5 hour round. At least this time they had water available at the cooler stations. Last time I played the course all the water was empty. With majority of players walking I would think the water would be refilled though out the day.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 20
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Fair
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
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