Bayou Golf Course

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 | 140 | 360 | 100 | 460 | 377 | 2874 | 409 | 339 | 345 | 139 | 322 | 477 | 144 | 428 | 313 | 2916 | 5790 |
Red M: 66.0/113 W: 71.3/121 | 421 | 300 | 282 | 281 | 150 | 296 | 94 | 418 | 323 | 2565 | 326 | 331 | 330 | 135 | 313 | 438 | 134 | 411 | 278 | 2696 | 5261 |
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 |
Course Details
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Reviewer Photos
People need to give this course a break!
This is a fun layout with a nice blend of interesting holes at every skill level. Yes, there are some areas damaged by tidal waters, but except for one hole, it didn't detract from the play. The area had two days of strong rain storms a couple of days ago and except for some casual water, it played fine. You can't beat the rate. I would recommend not playing hole #6 unless you can hit a carry shot about 200 yds. For duffers like me, it's too much. But overall, I enjoyed it a lot.
Good people, course less so
Staff are friendly and helpful. Since it’s a municipal facility, expectations have to be adjusted downward. The greens are decent. Some of the fairways are rough—large dirt/mud areas which make it impossible to get a good shot even with a good drive. I will play here again as it’s inexpensive relative to other nearby courses. Just be patient with the course.
Fun course, but...
I live on the other side of Houston, but enjoy playing here now and then. The course was in pretty good condition, but there were some fairways that were bare in spots, I'm guessing because of the nearby saltwater, but what do I know? The greens were in great shape, a little faster than when I've played there in the past.
My only complaint was the pace of play, due mainly because of a 5-some that was allowed to play on a crowded weekend. That should never happen. I witnessed a couple golfers quitting on the back nine because of the pace of play. I'll be back, but hopefully without the 5-somes.
Great Course, Lots of Work to Do
First time playing at Bayou. The front 9 is very rough conditions, for the fairways are all dirt and mud. The water does not drain well and you’re not hitting in any grass. It’s manageable to play on. BUT the greens and the area around it are perfect. The back 9 is in perfect shape.
So, for $30 on a weekend for 18 and a cart for a public course, it can use some work on the fairways on the front 9, but it’s a great bang for your buck, especially when you get to the back 9.
Kp
Great value for the price. Wished they woul work on reseeding the fairways on the front 9.

Bayou review
The course is in good condition, the recent rain has helped, could still use a little more.
DEFINITELY get what you pay for...
Booked this course as it was the best deal in the area at the time and I was playing with a new golfer. We get to the course around 25 mins before our tee time to discover that they aren't selling drinks of ANY KIND. In the middle of a record-hot summer in Texas. So I had to leave the course to go buy water and Gatorade at a gas station. Made it back just in time for tee off, and we struggled finding the first tee. This was my 3rd time playing here, but it's been several years since my last visit. There is absolutely no signage of any kind showing you were to go. We encountered another golfer who was also trying to find the first tee.
Once we teed off, things went smoothly for about 2 holes. We then had to let 3 SINGLE GOLFERS IN A ROW play through our threesome. 3 in a row! Why was this allowed in the first place? What kind of course allows that many singles to go ahead when they know there are multiple groups ahead of them?
Course quality is ok for the price, but a few holes are laughably bad. GIANT mud pits in the middle of fairways. I mean huge. The greens were all ok.
Overall, I definitely understand why it's so cheap to play Bayou. I hope they can turn things around soon.
Can't beat the price
Greens were good. Fairways were mediocre at best. Allot of dried mud. But for the price. Can't beat it.
Fun place for the price
Bayou is a decent place to play for the price. Lots of grassless dead patches where there should be fairways, but the greens are in good shape. I appreciate that they put the money into the renovations a few years back. It’s a fun little track, but could really benefit from having a nice cafe/snack bar and other amenities. I’m guessing they just don’t get enough traffic to justify it. The only problem I’ve had is booking early morning tee times and the pro shop attendant shows up late on a daily basis, which doesn’t give you time to hit the driving range, and barely allows you to get a cart key before you’re supposed to be teeing off.
It’s ok
It’s not a great course, but it is the cheapest around. Just wish they would give notice somehow about not having food or drinks for sale.