2019 Houston Open

[redfirebird08]

I hope this won't be a "remove thousands of trees" kind of project a la Oakmont.

 

Agree. With how hot it gets in Houston, the trees are great for the fans who attend the tournament as well as anyone who plays the course.

[bighitlama]

There was a major renovation of the park started some time before the golf course changes were approved. They have already closed one of the entrances off of Memorial drive and opened a new one into a new parking area. They are also building a water feature called the "Glades". There has been talk of relocating softball fields etc... There are 3 softball fields and one soccer field in close proximity to the driving range and clubhouse. If these are relocated there will be plenty of room to do anything they want as far as the driving range and club house/restaurants go.

[Birdie Mac]

Thanks for the info Lama. I just drove through the park for the first time in ages, and saw the changes you were referring to. They're not wasting any time in doing the course renovations. Looking forward to playing there later this year. If you've played Gus Wortham, what do you think about the changes there? I love it.

[bighitlama]

Thanks for the info Lama. I just drove through the park for the first time in ages, and saw the changes you were referring to. They're not wasting any time in doing the course renovations. Looking forward to playing there later this year. If you've played Gus Wortham, what do you think about the changes there? I love it.

I played it for the first time a couple of weeks ago. I loved it too! It's great to see one of the old courses brought up to speed instead of closing it like Glenbrook. It seemed to me all the holes were basically the same as before, same par, similar length etc... but with new greens, new bunkers, new drainage etc... much like they did at Memorial the first time. I think it was #11 though that had a new lake that also bordered 18, I didn't remember that from before. Due to the newness and time of year, the fairways were a little thin but spring will change that. We really enjoyed the course and will play it more. I drive by Memorial on a regular basis and am looking forward to watching the progress. Unfortunately they have built a chain link fence around the entire course now.

[KaTooM]

Wow...I had no idea all this was happening! Thanks for posting!

 

I grew up in SW Houston (but moved away 20 years ago) and mostly played Sharpstown...considered it my home course. But of course played Memorial, Gus, GlenBrook, and Herman a bunch as well!

 

I'm elated that they've re-done Gus and are investing in Memorial...very sorry to hear that GlenBrook closed down.

[KaTooM]

Random opinion on the Houston Open....

 

We used to go all the time and LOVED it when it was at the TPC Woodlands...actually would take Thursday and Friday off from work and make a whole dang weekend out of it! Good times!

 

Anyway, the "stadium" concept was GREAT for the spectator with hills, and mounds and plenty of places to sit and take a load off while still being able to see and watch a lot of golf action. Then I went to the Tour Championship one year at Champions GC...TOTALLY different experience...watching golf was hard there!

 

Considering it's relatively flat, I have a feeling the new Memorial Park will be a similar experience for the spectator . Hopefully the designer/architect takes that into consideration and adopts a quasi stadium concept.

 

I know, probably just wishful thinking!

[bighitlama]

Almost every hole is bordered by trees or lakes. You'd have to take out a lot of trees to turn Memo into a stadium course. They could sure utilize bleachers in many areas like they do at some tour events. With the new location so close into town the attendance could really go up. It will be interesting to see what satellite locations will be used for parking. The Delmar Stadium complex is used for the Rodeo and is much closer to Memorial Park.

[cjblake09]

Parking is going to be be the biggest issue i think. Also, i want to see how the course holds up with so much play and if they are able to keep the rates the same as before.

[Birdie Mac]

Parking will definitely be an issue. There is plenty of room for parking on the other side of Woodway where the bike trails are, and they could have a shuttle running between there and the course. The lots around the course are always crowded with joggers. I'm sure they're working out the logistics.

[golfnhack]

They HAVE to lengthen 18. Some pros could drive that green. Plenty of room behind 18 tee right now. They could also lengthen 9 and switch the nines. I think the front nine is a better nine in any case.

 

I hope they implement a Torrey pines system where only city residents now get to play it at the normal rate and non city residents have to pay a premium.

 

Otherwise every Tom Dick and Harry will want to play it now. It was already difficult to get a tee time.

 

No doubt they will raise rates too. Beth Page Black has raised rates after ever major event held there. Torrey Pines too.

[WHC888]

They HAVE to lengthen 18. Some pros could drive that green. Plenty of room behind 18 tee right now. They could also lengthen 9 and switch the nines. I think the front nine is a better nine in any case.

 

I hope they implement a Torrey pines system where only city residents now get to play it at the normal rate and non city residents have to pay a premium.

 

Otherwise every Tom Dick and Harry will want to play it now. It was already difficult to get a tee time.

 

No doubt they will raise rates too. Beth Page Black has raised rates after ever major event held there. Torrey Pines too.

new #9 will be a Par 3.

[msd71]

I lived in Houston in the early 90s. Back then the front 9 was a par 4-3-4 start and the back was a par 5-3-4 start. Did they switch those when they did the first redo?

 

I seem to remember the final holes of both nines were fairly weak holes, or at least relatively short.

[SC-TX 88]

I don’t know, a drivable driver 4 18th could be an interesting closing hole if there’s a tight leaderboard.

[golfnhack]

I don't know, a drivable driver 4 18th could be an interesting closing hole if there's a tight leaderboard.

 

An easy hole never makes for a good finishing hole. Can't think of a single PGA tour stop where there is an easy 18th hole that has ever had an exciting finish. Can think of many that have a difficult 18th hole where leader has collapsed. Par 5's are excluded from this point, since anything can happen on a par 5.

[SC-TX 88]

I don't know, a drivable driver 4 18th could be an interesting closing hole if there's a tight leaderboard.

 

An easy hole never makes for a good finishing hole. Can't think of a single PGA tour stop where there is an easy 18th hole that has ever had an exciting finish. Can think of many that have a difficult 18th hole where leader has collapsed. Par 5's are excluded from this point, since anything can happen on a par 5.

 

By that logic anything can happen on a driveable par 4 with a legitimate chance for eagle as well. Isn’t it greenbriar that ends on a par 3, chance for ace to win a tournament. One of the best holes in golf is the 10th at Riv, you cant tell me with how much contour that green has it wouldn’t be a good finishing hole to create some drama.

[tiderider]

a well structured driveable par 4 would be very exciting ... the players would, in many cases, be hitting their 2nd shot in front of the crowd ... and that 2nd shot requires a fair amount of touch in most cases ... the fact that there aren't any 18th holes that are short par 4 makes the idea interesting ...

[Hou_Hater]

I lived in Houston in the early 90s. Back then the front 9 was a par 4-3-4 start and the back was a par 5-3-4 start. Did they switch those when they did the first redo?

 

I seem to remember the final holes of both nines were fairly weak holes, or at least relatively short.

 

They did switch them since then.

[lc1342]

https://www.golfcoursearchitecture.net/content/many-bunkers-add-difficulty-for-average-players-but-are-superfluous-for-the-tour-player

[lc1342]

https://mobile.twitter.com/HouOpenGolf/status/1124390628438302720

[tiderider]

probably played the course at least 50 times ... don't know when i'll be out there again, but look forward to seeing and playing it ...

[DrivingChamp]

wonder if ian poulter will return?

[Lagavulin62]

I like that he(designer) is not a fan of water hazards. I think they are way overplayed in today’s courses. I did an informal look at the cards for Houston area better courses(public) and found that most had water in play for at least a 3rd of the card, many meaning carry. I think this is too punitive and even for the pros it restricts how you play. Memorial and Woodforest are two of the fairest venues in the Houston area in that regards, in my opinion anyway.

[lc1342]

Any news of player commitments?

[lc1342]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.chron.com/sports/golf/amp/PGA-European-Henrik-Stenson-Houston-Open-14489179.php

[Darth Putter]

2019 field

 

https://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/houston-open/field.html

[OutBackHack]

I haven't read through all the posts to see if this had been mentioned, but based on the 1st post the thread is about the 2019 being played at Memorial Park.

It's being played at GC of Houston...Memorial Park 2020.

[tiderider]

> @OutBackHack said:

> I haven't read through all the posts to see if this had been mentioned, but based on the 1st post the thread is about the 2019 being played at Memorial Park.

> It's being played at GC of Houston...Memorial Park 2020.

 


 

[OutBackHack]

> @tiderider said:

> > @OutBackHack said:

> > I haven't read through all the posts to see if this had been mentioned, but based on the 1st post the thread is about the 2019 being played at Memorial Park.

> > It's being played at GC of Houston...Memorial Park 2020.

>

> 

>

 

Is there a point to this douchy reply?

[grm24]

> @OutBackHack said:

> I haven't read through all the posts to see if this had been mentioned, but based on the 1st post the thread is about the 2019 being played at Memorial Park.

> It's being played at GC of Houston...Memorial Park 2020.

 

It was mentioned.

[OutBackHack]

> @grm24 said:

> > @OutBackHack said:

> > I haven't read through all the posts to see if this had been mentioned, but based on the 1st post the thread is about the 2019 being played at Memorial Park.

> > It's being played at GC of Houston...Memorial Park 2020.

>

> It was mentioned.

 

I like this reply more, thank you.