1 Hope Blvd, Galveston, Texas 77554, US
(409) 683-4200
Location Map

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
1027 Reviews (1027)

Reviewer Photos

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Great Course

Love the layout and the paspalum greens. The course is challenging but fair, there are plenty of scoring opportunities on both 9's. The greens roll fast and true

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Fun to play

Very nice course, in great condition, fun to play. Light on amenities (towels, tees, free water), smart aleck starter who told me they had towels inside (for sale). Otherwise friendly staff. Food and beverage leaves a lot to be desired.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Used cart

A Must Play

This was only the 2nd time playing this course; it was in beautiful shape; the greens were almost perfect. If you miss a putt it's your fault.
Played on an overcast day in under 3 hours. Staff friendly even though I paid through GN.
It was worth the 2 hr drive.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Average weather
Used cart

Well Maintained

It's what you expect from Moody Gardens G.C. A well-maintained course with tight fairways and a sea-breeze that doesn't stop.

About half the holes play into the wind, half of them with it.

It was July and 12:45pm so it was hot and humid, but tolerable thanks to the breeze. None of this was unexpected though. Just a fun day of golf at a nice course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 13
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Moody Gardens - Galveston

Course is in great shape. Greens are best I have seen on all courses in the area. Will definitely return.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Beautiful course

Roughly half of the course plays into a strong headwind which adds some challenge. The course is beautiful. We got stuck behind a slow group. We played after a week of bad rainstorms but the course did not show much if any residual water. Would recommend to anyone asking.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Average weather
Used cart

What a course

very big course, great views, wind can be challeng

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

ONE OF THE BEST COURSES ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF TOWN

I HAVE PLAYED THIS COURSE SEVERAL TIMES AND FEEL IT IS ONE OF HE BEST PUBLIC COURSES ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF HOUSTON. THE GREEN ALWAYS ROLL TRUE BUT NOT SO FAST THAT IT MAKES IT TOO HARD. THE COURSE LAYOUT IS FUN AND IF THE WIND IS BLOWING IT WILL MAKE IT A CHALLENGING ROUND. THE PACE OF PLAY IS ALWAYS GOOD AND THE COURSE IS BEAUTIFUL.. IN MY OPINION IT IS A MUST PLAY.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Marshall

The course was beautiful. Had a great time playing this course. Just Marshall was rude when he told us for no reason to pick up the pace of play. We were not even playing slow. He was just plan rude.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Fair
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Best course in area.....A must play

There is wind and water...sometimes on both sides of fairway. you will not hit out of better fairways anywhere in Houston. enjoy the course and Galveston.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 15-19
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Great course - they overbooked on a holiday

Great course, fun and challenging(mostly due to the strong wind). I played Memorial Weekend and they way overbooked. The back nine ran two and a half hours behind pace,,,, Outside of the over booking issue it was a great place to play when you are in Galveston,,,

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Lush Greens, beautiful fairways

I love playing this course! Moody Gardens has the amazing Paspalum grass and it's in 5 star condition. The bunkers have that nice fluffy sand and the greens are fast and true. NO brown patches, NO hardpan. WIDE open fairways to compensate for the regular 10-15 mph winds. Water in play on 1, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18.
The practice facilities are excellent. Huge driving range, large fast putting green and chipping area with sand trap. Play was only 4 hours on Memorial day!
The clubhouse has a full bar and 3-4 large HDTV's . VERY clean and inviting! For $8 i got 2 large hot-dogs, fries and Dr. Pepper.
Play this course. It will test your nerves, but it's in better condition than any other course within 50 miles and I've played them all. (with exception to 'The Wilderness' in Lake Jackson, beautiful there too!) Thanks Golf Now, I played Moody Gardens for only $30 on a freaking holiday!!!

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Default User Avatar
Commented on 06/03/2014

We can only play 1 course this Fri in Galveston and have the option to play GCC or Moody. Husband is a scratch golfer. Which course is better? Harder?

Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Golf Fun At Moody Gardens

Great course! Challenging holes. We just picked a busy holiday weekend and followed some slow players. Enjoyed it!

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

No doubt this is the best muni around

The greens were immaculate and noticeably slower than other local courses at this time (excellent irrigation). I was playing solo on Memorial Day weekend, and was paired up. This course had an abundance of water around nearly every hole, and for my first visit, I left with too many lost balls. I'd strongly recommend to first-timers not to play with expensive balls because the fairways are, at times, narrow, and the wind was far stronger than other courses in the area. The large greens were well designed to be moderately challenging. I paid $43 plus tax, which is more expensive than most munis in the Houston area, but really worth it considering the overall experience. The worst part of the day was the traffic getting to the course, being that the traffic jams were lengthy. Next time, I'll be going down on a weekday when Galveston is less crowded.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 06/03/2014

GCC is Moody. They took it over and improved it. Moody is the only course on the island

Default User Avatar
Commented on 06/03/2014

We can only play 1 course this Fri in Galveston and have the option to play GCC or Moody. Husband is a scratch golfer. Which course is better? Harder?

Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great course

Course was in great shape! Can't wait to play it again!!!

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Average weather
Used cart

Good Golf

The course was in really good shape. Enjoyed the round but oh the wind!!

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 22
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Average weather
Used cart

one indy ourse

have played wildcat and Blackhorse, high end courses with excellent conditions and moody beat both of them. winds were 20+ but extra wide fairways helps. if the cheeseburger at the end hadn't been such a dud this was 5+

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

It is a MUST in Galveston

Nice course, sand trap filled with nice type of sand (smooth). Cart are equipped with cooler and there is ice available at the beginning of the course (keep the beer cold!!!)

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice course

Greens were great! Lots of hazards. Course was in very good condition

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Hidden Gem

Awesome layout! Challenging hole@9 loved it! Older classy course could use a little facility maintenance but excellent greens and fair fairways... Please mark #14! I get lost every time! I would highly recommend this course for great golfers and those who wish to improve their mental game!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
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