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Bayou Golf Course
Rating Snapshot
About
Joe Finger laid the Bayou out in the 1970s. The links-style course he carved out of the 200 acres along Moses Bayou has plenty of water and elevated tees and greens. The Galveston Bay winds affect this open course, so the 6,665-yard, par 72 plays significantly longer. Every par 5 is over 500 yards, and four of the par 4s are over 400 yards.
On the front, the long par 4 No. 6 is tough because the approach must carry the bayou to a tiny green. And No. 10 involves a lake off the tee and on the approach.
The back is what really tears into the soul of a golfer, though, presenting a 580-yard double dogleg on No. 15 followed just a short while later by the ridiculous 475-yard par 4 17th. This hole is lined on the left by old Moses, and water hazards creep into the fairway. The inevitably long approach goes into an elevated green guarded by water.
Getting there : From Hwy. 146 south, turn right on Loop 197, and head over to Ted Dudley Dr. Turn right, and the course is on the right side of the street.
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | 72 | 6665 yards | 71.0 | 114 |
| White | 72 | 6251 yards | 69.4 | 111 |
| Red (W) | 73 | 5448 yards | 70.0 | 118 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue M: 72.5/123 | 511 | 366 | 414 | 335 | 180 | 414 | 134 | 502 | 412 | 3268 | 481 | 361 | 368 | 164 | 349 | 562 | 191 | 459 | 393 | 3328 | 6596 |
| White M: 70.7/120 W: 75.5/130 | 490 | 352 | 395 | 318 | 167 | 385 | 117 | 487 | 393 | 3104 | 419 | 349 | 355 | 149 | 332 | 506 | 161 | 444 | 333 | 3048 | 6152 |
| Gold M: 68.8/118 W: 73.6/126 | 462 | 310 | 370 | 295 | 150 | 360 | 100 | 460 | 377 | 2884 | 409 | 339 | 345 | 139 | 322 | 477 | 144 | 428 | 313 | 2916 | 5800 |
| Red M: 66.0/113 W: 71.3/121 | 421 | 300 | 282 | 281 | 140 | 296 | 94 | 418 | 323 | 2555 | 326 | 331 | 330 | 135 | 313 | 438 | 134 | 411 | 278 | 2696 | 5251 |
| Handicap | 10 | 8 | 4 | 12 | 14 | 2 | 18 | 16 | 6 | 15 | 9 | 11 | 17 | 5 | 7 | 13 | 1 | 3 | |||
| Par | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 36 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
| Handicap (W) | 10 | 4 | 12 | 6 | 16 | 2 | 18 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 15 | 7 | 1 | 17 | 13 | 11 |
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Reviews
Reviewer Photos
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Photo submitted by aahawkinssr on 12/27/2025
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Photo submitted by aahawkinssr on 12/27/2025
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Photo submitted by aahawkinssr on 12/27/2025
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Photo submitted by u000007582830 on 08/25/2025
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Photo submitted by Zeuswon on 07/28/2023
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Photo submitted by Zeuswon on 07/28/2023
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Photo submitted by Zeuswon on 07/28/2023
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Photo submitted by u8870046 on 06/13/2022
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Photo submitted by ShibTx on 10/18/2021
Bayou
Great course for the money, front 9 is hit or miss back. Back nine is tremendously better. Great greens!!
This is locals go to spot!
Front 9 & Back 9 Are Very Different
The first hole’s fairway is mostly sand.. I played on a really rainy day so the front 9 was basically a swamp.. So much so that the Marshall felt the need to move me over to the back 9 instead of issuing a raincheck. I’m sure this course plays better on a sunny day.. but I ended up shooting extremely well in the soggy conditions. I even surprised myself. I was happy with it because I ended up playing about 27 total holes of golf for $23. And that included a cart. I’ve only ever played this course on a golf now, so I don’t know what full price for a round there is. But I wouldn’t be happy with paying that until the mucky and muddy fromt 9 is back in order. Apparently it’s been like that for years.
Course conditions
Front 9 was not playable due to standing water. Was told to play back 9 twice. Back 9 should not have been considered playable either. 1” of standing water on the majority of fairways mushy greens and tee boxes, standing water in bunkers. Not that its controllable but mosquitoes were horrible, to the point where shots could not be effective played.
Course rating
While the back 9 was a pleasant part the front 9 was in horrible conditions tons of dried out spot due to flooding from the sea water it made it hard to play in spots due to hard grown,. Had to move ball to sister ground. The club house was OK, small but at least they had a snack bar and snack cart. The only thing that really turned me off is that use well water but there ice was yellow which tells me filters are old and full of sulfur. It smelled and not very good. The only best thing was the back 9. Beautiful sight, challenging enough for an amateur golfer.
The back 9 was ok but the front 9 is in terrible shape. Half the fairways on the front are just mud.
First timer
Had a really good time
Good layout. Tough greens, played longer than expected. But had a really good time
Decent course for your money
We played this course a few times for 4 years. We have gone when the course has good days, and we have gone when it is bad. It has nothing to do with the staff nor the course in general, it has to do with the rain and/or storm surges. A bayou runs the length of the course from the north side, and this drains into Galveston Bay. If there are any storms in the area, there is a possibility of water being on the front 9 of the course. It is playable, but makes the fairways that much smaller. Overall, if you choose a time where there is minimal amount of rain, the course is perfect.
Confused
The staff was not friendly. The front nine was a mud pit. The greens were terrible. Nothing good about the front nine. The back no was like a completely different course. The cart paths were asphalt, the fairways were nice, and the greens were decent.
Slow
We got behind three young kids and waited over ten minutes between shots. Miserable
Fun
Good course, some rough spots that need to grow out on a few holes. Enjoyed the holes with water, Staff friendly.
Improved Conditions
Course condition is much better than thae last few times we've played it. Maybe because of rain, partly because of maintenance. Not a pristine course, but it's a great value! Pace of play was great. Played 18 and did not wait on a single hole!
Decent Course… needs some work.
This could be a great course with some work on the front 9. The back 9 are in wonderful shape and were laid out well.
Enjoy my time at Bayou
The course is my go to spot as I live in the area. I enjoy the challenge and the proximity to my home.
The course is on cart path at certain times due to rain and very high tides but the staff work deliberately to make it known. All and all I enjoy my time there.
Great day for golf
The course is in much better shape than the last time I played here. Fairways were in pretty good shape. Greens were really fast and for the most part rolled true. The staff has always been great from the first time I played there (1978).
No enough golf cars
The golf course is nice, and the staff is friendly. The only downside is that there are not enough golf cars to go around. We have to wait 40 minutes past our scheduled tee time. The same goes for other groups, and many decide to walk the course.
Horseshoe Bay Resort Stay & Play Package
