The PGA Tour is back inside the loop. Memorial Park, a municipal golf course near downtown Houston, was awarded the Houston Open starting in 2020. The event moved from well north of town in Humble at the 36-hole, semi-private Golf Club of Houston to just inside I-610. Prior to the move, the golf course underwent a $15 million transformation that was completed in late-2019, quite incredibly within a year's time. The Astros Golf Foundation raised the money for the project and commissioned architect Tom Doak and player consultant Brooks Koepka to totally redesign the existing 18 holes.
The result is a 7,292-yard design with five par 5s, including a risk-reward 16th hole that runs along perhaps the most drastic change from the previous design by John Bredemus. A large collection pond was installed for both drainage purposes and for strategic elements on the 16th and 17th holes that hug it. Irrigation canals were also dug out or deepened and add a new aesthetic to this classic layout within the 1,500-acre urban greenspace.
Doak's greens are often times elevated with collection areas and runoffs. There are only 19 bunkers, down from 54, and three of them border the 18th green.
For resident golfers, Memorial Park is one of the best under-$50 golf experiences in the country. Non-residents pay closer to $150 to play. The result is that tee times can be very hard to come by and often times booked within minutes of becoming available.
Tour the new Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston:
-
Par 5 | 522 yards
![]()
The first hole is a reachable par 5 that plays towards the Galleria skyline. Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR -
Par 3 | 167 yards
![]()
The scenic par-3 2nd hole shows off the drainage work undertaken by Tom Doak's team. Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR -
Par 5 | 587 yards
![]()
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 13: A course scenic view of the third hole green during previews for the Vivint Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course on October 13, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR via Getty Images) Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR -
Par 4 | 490 yards
![]()
A course scenic view of the fourth hole green during previews for the Vivint Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course. Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR -
Par 4 | 393 yards
![]()
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 13: A course scenic view of the fifth hole green during previews for the Vivint Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course on October 13, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR via Getty Images) Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR -
Par 4 | 443 yards
![]()
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 13: A course scenic view of the sixth hole green during previews for the Vivint Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course on October 13, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR via Getty Images) Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR -
Par 3 | 216 yards
![]()
Enhanced trench and drainage work is a noticeable visual feature of the new Memorial Park. Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR -
Par 5 | 625 yards
The Houston Open posted this flyover of the narrow and lengthened par 5 at Memorial Park:
-
Par 3 | 182 yards
![]()
The 9th hole has one of Memorial Park's more perilous green complexes. Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR -
Par 4 | 456 yards
![]()
The par-4 10th hole has two bunkers down the left and a large grass bunker on the right. Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR -
Par 3 | 237 yards
![]()
Memorial Park's longest par 3 is the 11th hole. Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR -
Par 4 | 496 yards
![]()
The 12th hole should be one of the toughest on the course: a long par 4 with a shallow green. Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR -
Par 4 | 333 yards
![]()
Big-hitters will take a poke at the drivable par-4 13th hole. Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR -
Par 5 | 529 yards
![]()
A course scenic view of fairway bunker on the 14th hole, a reachable par 5 at Memorial Park Golf Course. Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR -
Par 3 | 155 yards
![]()
The sneaky tough 15th is relatively short but has a deceptive and deep green. Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR -
Par 5 | 576 yards
![]()
High drama awaits on the par-5 16th hole, which is reachable but very water heavy, including a peninsula green. Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR -
Par 4 | 382 yards
![]()
The 17th hole hugs the large pond shared by the par-5 16th hole. Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR -
Par 4 | 503 yards
![]()
There are three bunkers guarding the gently elevated 18th green, a long, slight dogleg right. Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR ![Memorial Park GC]()
