Memorial Park - Houston

[pkwilli1999]

There has to be a better way to handle tee times.. No tee times available for the next 2 weeks and they're immediately snatched up immediately after being released. Showed up as a single this morning at 7 AM and was already the 13th single to sign up. By the time I left at 9:15, none had gotten on. Really just looking to vent here, but does anyone know if the tee time system is legitimate? Are there bots at play? Are regulars being handed preferred tee times before they're publicly available?

[Spitballin25]

I lived in Houston for about 3 years and played Memorial Park weekly. I always had a feeling that there are some auto booking bots out there, but there’s also some guys who have been playing there for years and book those times right when they are released for each day. No one gets handed a tee time, everyone has to go through the same system. 
 

My best advice is just to be flexible. The pro shop opens at 6:30 everyday, and on the weekend there will likely be people waiting for them to open the door at 6:30. I would usually get there just after 6 and grab a seat. Sometimes you get out at 7:30, sometimes 9:30. You’re playing a PGA tour course for $38, so just enjoy the experience and look to see if you can make in roads with the folks who spend the time to get those early tee times.

[Texas Golfer]

The current system at Memorial is more than frustrating.  You now get soaked for an extra $20 per person to schedule a tee time more than 3 days in advance.  And you now have to pay for parking.  Many times it’s cart path only regardless of weather.  As a lifelong Houston resident, it’s not nearly as accessible as it once was.  
 

Here’s the current policy on walkup play:

Walkup play will only be allowed if a tee time is not booked or if the players for a time do not show. There is no longer early morning walkup play. You may book a tee time the same day of play outside 2 hours if space is available.

Edited April 22, 2024 by Texas Golfer

[ND2005]

Something has changed recently. Every day 100% of the tee times are booked. Not almost 100%, actual 100%.

 

Up until a few months ago most days there would be random middle of the day times and always twilight times and stuff but now it is just a blank screen. 
 
Makes me think bots or brokers 

[pkwilli1999]

13 hours ago, ND2005 said:

Something has changed recently. Every day 100% of the tee times are booked. Not almost 100%, actual 100%.

 

Up until a few months ago most days there would be random middle of the day times and always twilight times and stuff but now it is just a blank screen. 
 
Makes me think bots or brokers 

Okay I'm glad I'm not crazy, because there definitely used to be random openings. Might have to do a little digging and see what I can find out

[YellowV1x]

The problem right now is that between today and May 8th the course is only open three days (April 25, 27, and 28).

[FlaShFTW]

Lot of outings that the course will do (which I find annoying for how often they do them tbh, never really had this problem at Torrey Pines. Too many oil and gas energy sponsors of the course makes them get all these outings). My recommendation is if you're hoping to walk on, you need to get there at 6 minimum to reliably get on. Usually on weekends and good weather days, most people will start lining up outside the shop (honor system, you show up and people will sort of know who came when) around 6:15. 

 

Memorial holds the half hour tee times (8:30, 9:30, 10:30, etc) open for walk-ons typically, but I have a friend who works for the Astros Golf Foundation and he knows the GM of the course and thus can sometimes snatch a time or something that might be held for walkons (though usually I think he grabs the 9:20 tee time so it's not impacting walk-on play). And typically, it's very rare that people don't show up for their tee times here. Good luck out there. 

[YellowV1x]

Seems like the course is back to “normal” opening days now.  As long as you don’t mind paying the extra $20 to make tee-times 4-14 days out, there are plenty of available tee times right now in the 11-14 day range (at least on weekdays)

[MerryTex]

Thanks for the update. I'm looking to travel to Houston to play MP soon. I'd love to experience it in the morning if I can. If not, I'll try my luck later around 4-4:30. 

[nutmegchoi]

I'm visiting Houston from New York at the end of this month.

I didn't play golf in Houston when I lived here, so I would like to play a few rounds.

One of them is Memorial Park and I was wondering about my chance to play as walkup twosome on Tuesday or Thursday.

[ND2005]

2 hours ago, nutmegchoi said:

I'm visiting Houston from New York at the end of this month.

I didn't play golf in Houston when I lived here, so I would like to play a few rounds.

One of them is Memorial Park and I was wondering about my chance to play as walkup twosome on Tuesday or Thursday.

course is closed on Tuesdays. 
 
check the calendar on their website - lot of upcoming closures for tournament prep. 
 
You’ll be able to get on as a walk on, but you might have to wait an hour or two. You could also make an advance reservation but there’s an extra fee for that and you have to log on exactly at 6am 14 days in advance to snag anything before twilight. 
 
IMO it’s not worth the non-resident fee, would look elsewhere. 

[nutmegchoi]

1 hour ago, ND2005 said:

course is closed on Tuesdays. 
 
check the calendar on their website - lot of upcoming closures for tournament prep. 
 
You’ll be able to get on as a walk on, but you might have to wait an hour or two. You could also make an advance reservation but there’s an extra fee for that and you have to log on exactly at 6am 14 days in advance to snag anything before twilight. 
 
IMO it’s not worth the non-resident fee, would look elsewhere. 

 

Thanks for the input.

I'll keep it in mind.

[nutmegchoi]

We got to play Memorial, thanks to a local who helped us secure a tee time.

 

It was 72°F with a light breeze, and the course was in fantastic condition.

We saw the stands being set up and had an amazing time!

 

I played decently until the 16th hole, a par 5.
I went for it on the second shot—water.
Tried again—water again!
With a 9 on the 16th hole, I finished with a 44/48, totaling 92.

 

My boyfriend made a mistake at the pro shop by saying, "One item, anything you want!"
I picked the carry bag and absolutely love it!

 

Since it was cart-path-only, I decided to carry and walk.
Very happy with the (slightly forced) gift!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 5 by nutmegchoi

[MGN01]

Welcome back to Houston.  I used to play MP a lot back in the late 90s.  The course looks a lot different now with lots of the trees gone and with the redesign.  Greens became much more punishing with the redesign; I played it a couple times since the redesign.  Living in the burbs now and with the differentiated tee times for Houston versus out of Houston players, I don't suppose I will be playing MP much anymore.  Had some great memories out there. 

[MerryTex]

I just played the course last Friday and enjoyed my time. I was paired up with three other singles who were walking the course. Although it was hot, we received some much-needed cloud coverage starting on the 10th. I loved the design of the course. My takeaway is that it is a second-shot golf course. Off the tee, you have some room to miss if you're not on, and if you aren't too far off the fairway, you always have shots into the greens. That being said, the green complexes offer variety and can require some thought before reaching for your normal club for that specific shot. I found myself playing different shot types into the greens once I figured out the slopes and asking what the greens will do depending on the flag location for the day. I didn't pay the resident green fee, but I'll be back again when it's not so brutal with the heat and humidity.