1 Hope Blvd, Galveston, Texas 77554, US
(409) 683-4200
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About Moody Gardens

Moody Gardens is a large resort and attraction area with a hotel, conference center and 18 holes of golf in the coastal town of Galveston, Texas. It is well known for its three pyramids home to an aquarium and rain forest attractions. It has not only an onsite waterpark but is next to Schlitterbahn as well. There are six dining concepts, as well as a spa and fitness center. It's within easy access to historic downtown Galveston, Pleasure Pier and the beaches. The golf course originally opened in 1989 but was totally redesigned by Peter Jacobsen and Jim Hardy in 2008. This watery layout features scenic views of the gulf, bridges and bayous, and the back nine plays alongside the small Galveston airport. The course is links-inspired with gulf breezes and wall-to-wall paspalum turf. Historic Galveston is less than an hour's drive from downtown Houston, making Moody Gardens a popular day trip destination as well as for weekend vacation getaways.

Facts

Price Range$$, $$$
Property Class★★★★
Acres233
Year Opened1986
Number of Units300-500

Amenities

RestaurantsFine, Casual, Bar
Room TypesRoom, Suite
Fitness CenterYes
Practice FacilityYes
Banquet SpaceYes
SpaYes

Services

Kids ProgramYes
Room ServiceYes
ConciergeYes

Rules

Is the resort pet friendly?No
Is resort stay required for a tee time?No

Golf courses at Moody Gardens

Reviews

4.6
1038 Reviews (1038)

Reviewer Photos

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

An awesome day on the course

I am very new to the game myself and was a bit concerned on how things would go. My concerns were quickly alleviated when we spoke with the gentleman in the pro shop. He explained how everything worked and directed us to the starter at the range. This gentleman was also quite friendly and just told us to have fun even though we explained how very terrible we played the game. There was ice near the carts to fill your ice chests and the beverage cart always showed up in the nick of time extra vision fluid. The course was beautiful with some of the nicest fairways I've seen. We were expecting a stuck up atmosphere, but it turned out that everyone we ran into from the staff the other players were as friendly as they could be. I will most definitely play here again!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
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Commented on 06/18/2019

Joe, thanks for the excellent feedback and 5-star review! We're so glad to hear you enjoyed your first round with us at Moody Gardens Golf Course, and we appreciate your kind comments on our course & staff. We can't wait to welcome you back for another round soon. #MGGolfCourse

Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great course

The course was a lot of fun and the layout is great. It seems like every time I play here the course is in phenomenal shape. The greens where tight fast and smooth rolling. I highly recommend playing here, just be ready to deal with some wind.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
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Commented on 06/19/2019

Thanks for the great feedback and 4-star review! We truly appreciate your dedication to playing at Moody Gardens Golf Course, as well as the recommendation. Check out your review shared on our Facebook page and come back soon. #MGGolfCourse

Played On
Reviews 126
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Iowa Advisor
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great Conditions

Moody Gardens Golf Course is the public golf course on Galveston Island. I found it to be a really well maintained course, with great pace of play and a somewhat challenging layout.

The Good:

Moody Gardens is one of the best conditioned public courses I've ever played. There is hardly a blade of grass out of place! The greens roll true, the fairways are lush and fast, and the bunkers are well maintained. There isn't much rough on the course, so that's a plus if you are not a fan of rough.

I played at 7:30 on a Friday morning. I was paired up with another golfer, and a 3rd joined us a few holes later. We played through one group on the back 9, and finished 18 holes in under 3 hours!

The Average:

Moody Gardens is on a flat piece of property with several lakes/ponds. This creates limits in what can be done with the layout. With that said, the layout is very repetitive in my opinion. Most of the holes run in the same direction, with water on either the left or the right side.

The Not So Good:

The course cost me $75 to play. For that price, I would have liked to have had GPS on the cart. Not knowing distance to the penalty area cost me 2 shots on my round, and I would have played a couple holes differently had I known distances.

The 18th hole is my favorite on the course. It's a medium length par 4 that begs you to challenge the left side of the fairway. If you do that you can get a short iron into the green, over water. A really nice way to finish a round.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
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Commented on 06/20/2019

Jake, thanks for the 4-star review and taking the time to share your feedback with us! On behalf of us at Moody Gardens Golf Course, we're glad to hear you enjoyed your recent round with us, but we do appreciate all of your comments as we are committed to constantly improving the experience for our golfers. We hope we have the chance to welcome you back for another round soon! #MGGolfCourse

Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 05/31/2019

Thanks for the 4-star review and choosing to play Moody Gardens Golf Course! We appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back for another great round soon. #MGGolfCourse

Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Moody

Great services and golf course

Be aware wether conditions windy

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 38
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

The cashier had me start on #10 to quickly move around the course. I finished in 2.5 hours. As usual, the fairways, greens and rough were beautifully green and mostly weed free.

The cook made me a burger with fries which was above average for agolf course burger.

Management has 80s rock coming from the outdoor speaks at the clubhouse which I like.

It's a pleasure to play here and I highly recommend that golfers looking for a premium, public golf to play consider this venue.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
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Commented on 05/21/2019

Thanks for the 5-star review and great feedback on our course, staff, and services. We're glad to hear we can provide you with a valuable golf experience here at Moody Gardens Golf Course, and we truly appreciate your support. Check out your review shared on our Facebook page and come back soon! #MGGolfCourse

Played On
Reviews 25
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart

Great course, need to rethink green cutting

The course is in great shape. I enjoy the linksy style and the short grass that enables a ground game. The superintendent needs to rethink the patterns they use for cutting the greens. On several there are well defined rows, if not ruts, where the wheels of the cutter. Need to constantly rotate direction and stop/start points.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
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Commented on 05/21/2019

Thanks for the 4-star review and taking the time to share your feedback with us. We appreciate your comments on our greens as they have been shared with our staff for necessary improvements, but we're glad to hear you enjoyed your recent golf experience at Moody Gardens Golf Course. We hope to welcome you back for an even better one soon! #MGGolfCourse

Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 05/16/2019

Thanks for the 5-star review and choosing Moody Gardens Golf Course! Come back soon. #MGGolfCourse

Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great, as usual

Great experience. Great course. Love it every time.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 05/16/2019

Thanks for the 5-stars and great feedback on the course! We truly appreciate your support here at Moody Gardens Golf Course. Come back soon! #MGGolfCourse

Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Great Shape

The course was in amazing shape after two days of thunderstorms. Sand traps were unplayable, but should have been expected with amount if rain. Greens in fantastic shape. My wife's first time there and she fell in love with the course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
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Commented on 05/16/2019

Thanks for the 4-star review and great feedback! We truly appreciate your patience & understanding given some of the course conditions on the day you played due to the recent weather. We're so glad to hear your wife enjoyed her first round with us, and we hope to welcome you both back to Moody Gardens Golf Course again soon! #MGGolfCourse

Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Revist

18 hole is my favorite over the water shot. First time playing here I’ll be back.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
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Commented on 05/14/2019

Thanks for the 5-star review and joining us for your first round at Moody Gardens Golf Course! We're so glad to hear you enjoyed it, and we look forward to welcoming you back again soon. #MGGolfCourse

Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great Course

Great course great condition for this time of year and great staff

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 05/14/2019

Thanks for the great feedback on our course & staff and 5-star review! We look forward to having you back at Moody Gardens Golf Course again soon and appreciate your support. #MGGolfCourse

Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 05/01/2019

Thanks for the 5-star review and playing Moody Gardens Golf Course! Come back for another round soon. #MGGolfCourse

Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Perfect weather
Used cart

AMAZING COURSE

THE best course South of Houston and probably most of Houston. Bring your thinking cap. Fair but challenging. If there's a wind in the range of 15 to 20, bring your low ball flight. Very little protection

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Default User Avatar
Commented on 05/01/2019

Robert, thanks for the amazing feedback and 5-star review! We truly appreciate your support and dedication to playing at Moody Gardens Golf Course, and we're glad to hear you enjoy the challenge of the course. Come back soon! #MGGolfCourse

Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

This is the best kept secret in Texas & the U.S>

Course is always in the very best condition. It is challenging but fair if and only if you play the correct tees appropriate to your handicap. If you're macho than you will pay the price for playing the longer tee and not enjoy the round. This a windy links type course that is always in great condition with good pace of play.

ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 05/01/2019

Thanks for the 5-stars and great feedback on course conditions! We're glad to hear we can provide you with a fun and valuable golf experience here at Moody Gardens Golf Course. Come see us again soon! #MGGolfCourse

Played On
Reviews 25
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart

Fun course to play

Course was tougher than normal playing in a 3 or 4 club wind all day. Greens were a little bumpy but should be great in another month or so. Fairways were in excellent condition. Some tee shots were blind with sloping fairways which rolled out. Hole 18 is a forced carry over water where you need to challenge the left fairway bunker to get a reasonable distance to the green. The shot was into the wind on the day I played but I made it on the green in 2 and 2 putted for par! Great way to end the round. I would definitely make this a must play if you are in the area.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Default User Avatar
Commented on 04/17/2019

Billy, thanks for the 4-stars and great feedback on your recent round with us! We're glad to hear you enjoyed the challenge of the course despite the windy conditions, and congrats on the par! We can't wait to welcome you back to Moody Gardens Golf Course again soon. #MGGolfCourse

Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 04/11/2019

Thanks for the 5-star review and choosing Moody Gardens Golf Course! Come back soon. #MGGolfCourse

Played On
Reviews 66
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
First Time Playing

Nice course horrible Greens.

Fairways and tee boxes ok. Nice layout, narrow fairways. Good views. Greens were bad. Patchy and bumpy. Not worth the price from golf now and it was a hot deal. Would play again only if the greens improved.

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Watch out for tournaments

Unfortunately, we were behind a high school tournament. Had he we known we would have played elsewhere. The Marshall let us play the front nine twice in hopes it would be faster but he routed everyone there so I think it was even slower. Course was ok, I’d heard much bout it and was looking forward to playing. Maybe another time with no slow tournament it might be fun. At least it was a beautiful day

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Default User Avatar
Commented on 03/28/2019

Carolyn, thanks for taking the time to share your feedback with us, but we're very sorry to hear your first experience with us may have been affected by a tournament we were hosting. We appreciate your patience & understanding and hope you were still able to enjoy the day with us. On behalf of our staff at Moody Gardens Golf Course, we hope we have the chance to welcome you back for a much better golf experience soon! #MGGolfCourse

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