2016 Texas Conditions Thread

[txeconomist]

On the Southwest board there is a good Phoenix thread about local conditions and I think something similar on the Texas board would be helpful. I just quit my private club in Houston and am trying to reassimilate myself. After you play a course please post regarding conditions, etc.

 

2/12/16 - Played Cypresswood Tradition. I think this is probably one of the best public courses in the Houston metro area and I guess everyone else thinks so too. Great layout, pretty good shape for February but terrible pace of play. Took 5-5.5 hours to finish... Little miserable out there.

 

2/13/16 - Played Memorial Park walking on as a single. Took about 30 mins to get on and conditions were decent. Not as good a track as Cypresswood but definately had a better time out there. Great place for the money.

[cjblake09]

Memorial has been overplayed this winter because of the good weather so it will be interesting to see how it holds up this summer. I live in North Houston and Augusta Pines and Gleanloch Pines and both in good shape. Blackhorse out in Cypress is always in good shape and you can find some good deals if you don't want to play in the morning. Fish Creek is another one up north that might have the best greens in Houston.

[txeconomist]

Played Memorial Park on 2/20 (shot 74) and 2/21 (shot 79). Was able to walk on pretty quickly both rounds and both rounds had good pace of play. Conditions still sort of mediocre...

[cjblake09]

Augusta Pines punched some their greens(which was weird) last week so i would wait to play there.

[jflores8]

Gave up your membership at Riverbend? How come?

[J_Birdie]

Brackenridge Park is in pristine shape

[txeconomist]

Yea gave up Riverbend. I started playing with some friends at other courses fairly frequently so the per round cost was starting to get kind of high (only got out there ~2-3 times per month but still managed to spend 500-600 every month and never hit balls there). I think the downturn in oil prices kind of gave me an excuse to tighten the belt a little bit as well. Definately miss going out there though as they always kept it in great shape.

[jflores8]

Yea gave up Riverbend. I started playing with some friends at other courses fairly frequently so the per round cost was starting to get kind of high (only got out there ~2-3 times per month but still managed to spend 500-600 every month and never hit balls there). I think the downturn in oil prices kind of gave me an excuse to tighten the belt a little bit as well. Definately miss going out there though as they always kept it in great shape.

Not a bad reason to drop it, especially if not getting any use. Too bad we never got a a round in, if want to get out there again let me know we can work something out.

[SilverBullets]

I am heading to the Houston area next week and am trying to setup a round for the Sunday morning that I am there. Im staying with friends out in Kingwood that weekend. I saw Cypresswood and then saw this thread. Any other options that aren't too far from Kingwood that are in good shape this time of year?

[snagy2000]

I am heading to the Houston area next week and am trying to setup a round for the Sunday morning that I am there. Im staying with friends out in Kingwood that weekend. I saw Cypresswood and then saw this thread. Any other options that aren't too far from Kingwood that are in good shape this time of year?

 

Golf Club of Houston is in great shape and getting ready for the upcoming Shell Houston Open. If you don't mind spending on the higher end, I recommend playing the Tournament course.

[SilverBullets]

I am heading to the Houston area next week and am trying to setup a round for the Sunday morning that I am there. Im staying with friends out in Kingwood that weekend. I saw Cypresswood and then saw this thread. Any other options that aren't too far from Kingwood that are in good shape this time of year?

 

Golf Club of Houston is in great shape and getting ready for the upcoming Shell Houston Open. If you don't mind spending on the higher end, I recommend playing the Tournament course.

 

That's the course I really want to play but one of the guys (the guy I am staying with) is not a huge golfer and won't want to spend $150 for the round. Cypresswood is around $75 and Tour 18 is $90.

[jflores8]

Tour 18 is alright can get bogged down at times, Traditions is a good choice in that area.

[texasdave]

Brackenridge Park is in pristine shape

 

Cedar creek is in good shape , fairways are nice and greens are great right now.

[raholland71]

I am heading to the Houston area next week and am trying to setup a round for the Sunday morning that I am there. Im staying with friends out in Kingwood that weekend. I saw Cypresswood and then saw this thread. Any other options that aren't too far from Kingwood that are in good shape this time of year?

 

Golf Club of Houston is in great shape and getting ready for the upcoming Shell Houston Open. If you don't mind spending on the higher end, I recommend playing the Tournament course.

 

That's the course I really want to play but one of the guys (the guy I am staying with) is not a huge golfer and won't want to spend $150 for the round. Cypresswood is around $75 and Tour 18 is $90.

 

This might sound rude, but go without him. You're probably not going to find many other tour stops for that price and the next couple of weeks are the best times to play it

[SilverBullets]

I am heading to the Houston area next week and am trying to setup a round for the Sunday morning that I am there. Im staying with friends out in Kingwood that weekend. I saw Cypresswood and then saw this thread. Any other options that aren't too far from Kingwood that are in good shape this time of year?

 

Golf Club of Houston is in great shape and getting ready for the upcoming Shell Houston Open. If you don't mind spending on the higher end, I recommend playing the Tournament course.

 

That's the course I really want to play but one of the guys (the guy I am staying with) is not a huge golfer and won't want to spend $150 for the round. Cypresswood is around $75 and Tour 18 is $90.

 

This might sound rude, but go without him. You're probably not going to find many other tour stops for that price and the next couple of weeks are the best times to play it

 

haha it's what I want to do but the wife isn't keen on that idea (plus he's got free Rodeo tickets with a suite for Saturday for us so I probably should cater to him a little on this). In all honesty though, it's not a huge deal. I head down to Houston every 6-8 weeks because our headquarters is there. I will likely be back there this time next year as well. It's just the first time I have brought my sticks with me (have only been traveling down to Houston regularly for the last 9 months or so).

 

Appreciate the input from everyone. I think it's going to be Cypresswood. Sounds like it's a decent track and it's fairly close to their house.

 

I have a round scheduled on Friday next week as well at Pine Forest CC as part of a 'business meeting'. I can't find anything about the club but their website looks nice. Any thoughts on what to expect?

[J_Birdie]

Willow Springs is damn near brack level conditions. Very good shape 7 months into the new irrigation system being done.

[Austincountyag]

I am heading to the Houston area next week and am trying to setup a round for the Sunday morning that I am there. Im staying with friends out in Kingwood that weekend. I saw Cypresswood and then saw this thread. Any other options that aren't too far from Kingwood that are in good shape this time of year?

 

Golf Club of Houston is in great shape and getting ready for the upcoming Shell Houston Open. If you don't mind spending on the higher end, I recommend playing the Tournament course.

 

That's the course I really want to play but one of the guys (the guy I am staying with) is not a huge golfer and won't want to spend $150 for the round. Cypresswood is around $75 and Tour 18 is $90.

 

This might sound rude, but go without him. You're probably not going to find many other tour stops for that price and the next couple of weeks are the best times to play it

 

haha it's what I want to do but the wife isn't keen on that idea (plus he's got free Rodeo tickets with a suite for Saturday for us so I probably should cater to him a little on this). In all honesty though, it's not a huge deal. I head down to Houston every 6-8 weeks because our headquarters is there. I will likely be back there this time next year as well. It's just the first time I have brought my sticks with me (have only been traveling down to Houston regularly for the last 9 months or so).

 

Appreciate the input from everyone. I think it's going to be Cypresswood. Sounds like it's a decent track and it's fairly close to their house.

 

I have a round scheduled on Friday next week as well at Pine Forest CC as part of a 'business meeting'. I can't find anything about the club but their website looks nice. Any thoughts on what to expect?

 

Pine Forerst in Bastrop?... It's a fun track. Lots of elevation changes. Well kept

[texasdave]

Willow Springs is damn near brack level conditions. Very good shape 7 months into the new irrigation system being done.

 

Wow, haven't played out there in years may need to check it out.

 

Have you played Olmos lately?

[J_Birdie]

Yes I played it last week.

 

It's in great shape too. Some patches in the back 9 greens but the front 9 seemed flawless. The secondary rough has hard pan still but if the primary rough and fairways were good. Greens good.

 

I'd rank the city course conditions as such:

 

Brack- played Friday. Flawless. Might be best in city behind TPC.

Cedar- played in February

Willow- played yesterday

Olmos- played Thursday

Riverside- played in January

Northern hills- played in February. disappointed considering its price tier within the ACGT.

Mission- biased. I hate this track so much.

 

Canyon Springs punched greens 3 weeks ago or so but I'm told it's back to its normal fast as f*ck greens.

 

Sonterra and oak hills were excellent too in Jan/Feb.

[snagy2000]

River Ridge (River/Parkside) is in pretty good condition.

[txeconomist]

Played River Ridge in Sealy, which I had never played before, on 3/5 and have mixed thoughts. I played the ridge and river 9's. The tee shot on #1 of the ridge nine is maybe the worst tee shot I can think of...just aweful. Other than a pretty so so layout I enjoyed myself enough. Tees, fairways and greens are in pretty good shape. Everything else is a total goat pasture. Hit the ball pretty well and shot 76 from the back tees.

 

Played Wolfdancer in Bastrop on 3/6. I think this is pretty fun and challenging course...really had it going, +2 after 12 holes and then just fell apart and shot 82 from blue tees. Course was in pretty good shape other than a couple greens had some pretty bare spots. The course is unique, fun and a great challenge but at ~$145 they are charging top dollar.

[jflores8]

I played a few holes at Wolfdance on 3/4, for the money they charge you would think it would be memorable I suppose. I did like the two par 3s on the front, the rest of the front 9 was ok at best.

[bigred90gt]

Eagle pointe in Mont Belvieu is in pretty great shape, as it always is. I joined there when evergreen closed down. It has a couple of army holes, but I've always thought it was a fantastic layout. Although #16 is one of the worst holes in golf.

[lake2195]

Just finished 18 at golf club of Houston tournament course. Course is in really good condition getting ready for the shell and I used golf now and was able to play a 11:30 AM on Sunday for $70 plus $15 fore caddie fee really great track greens are super smooth and firm and rough is challenging but not too crazy.

[J_Birdie]

Olympia Hills has patchy greens with weeds (poa annua?). Anyway, I was not happy with the conditions of the greens, quite bumpy.

 

Randolph Oaks on Randolph AFB is in immaculate shape, greens were smooth, fast. Fairways felt like carpet, was very nice. The only thing is the course holds water and we had a lot of rain 3 days ago, and it still had puddles in some fairways. No biggie though.

[SilverBullets]

Just finished 18 at golf club of Houston tournament course. Course is in really good condition getting ready for the shell and I used golf now and was able to play a 11:30 AM on Sunday for $70 plus $15 fore caddie fee really great track greens are super smooth and firm and rough is challenging but not too crazy.

 

Jealous. I should have done this. The back 9 at Cypresswood was closed. So we played the front twice. They at least cut the price in half. I had a lot of rust on my swing on the front 9. Had an ugly 46. On the second go of the second 9 I played a bit better and dropped a 39 with a bad double on #4. Solid 9 holes overall. The greens were rolling quick by the afternoon when they dried out.

[lake2195]

Just finished 18 at golf club of Houston tournament course. Course is in really good condition getting ready for the shell and I used golf now and was able to play a 11:30 AM on Sunday for $70 plus $15 fore caddie fee really great track greens are super smooth and firm and rough is challenging but not too crazy.

 

Jealous. I should have done this. The back 9 at Cypresswood was closed. So we played the front twice. They at least cut the price in half. I had a lot of rust on my swing on the front 9. Had an ugly 46. On the second go of the second 9 I played a bit better and dropped a 39 with a bad double on #4. Solid 9 holes overall. The greens were rolling quick by the afternoon when they dried out.

 

It sure seems like all the greens in the Houston area are playing pretty firm right now which is surprising with the amount of rain the area got in the last week. Cypresswood is always in good shape however and I think the back 9 is better then the front anyway !

[JMG_02]

Heading to The Bandit tomorrow. Then La Cantera on Thurs and TPC on Friday. Can't wait!

[jsanatx]

Yes I played it last week.

 

It's in great shape too. Some patches in the back 9 greens but the front 9 seemed flawless. The secondary rough has hard pan still but if the primary rough and fairways were good. Greens good.

 

I'd rank the city course conditions as such:

 

Brack- played Friday. Flawless. Might be best in city behind TPC.

Cedar- played in February

Willow- played yesterday

Olmos- played Thursday

Riverside- played in January

Northern hills- played in February. disappointed considering its price tier within the ACGT.

Mission- biased. I hate this track so much.

 

Canyon Springs punched greens 3 weeks ago or so but I'm told it's back to its normal fast as f*ck greens.

 

Sonterra and oak hills were excellent too in Jan/Feb.

 

I agree with this ranking except, I would slide Brack down quite a bit, IMHO, its not worth the $75 they charge, used to be $36 or something like that and they didn't change it a whole lot to justify the increase in price.

I'm heading down to SA the latter part of the first week in May, wife has a conference to attend Thursday and Friday. I think I'll be playing Cedar Creek on Thursday and Willow on Friday.

 

Oh, and on 04/20, I'll be headed to TPC SA to caddie in the Pro Am during the Valero Tx Open, never played the course, but love it anyway.

[bmoores]

Just coming off an injury after a few months in a cast. I've played Royal Oaks and Sugar Creek. Both in good condition right now. The storms over the last couple of weeks appear to have helped.