Memorial Park Municipal Golf Course

Rating and Review of Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston

Memorial Park Golf Course is owned and operated by the City of Houston and it has a reputation as one of the most popular and best municipal courses in Texas.  The course was designed by John Bredemus and over the years it hosted many famous golfers such as Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Jimmy Demaret.  It was also home home to the Houston Open from 1951 to 1963. Part of what makes playing Memorial Park fun is that each nine is a little different – the front nine is a tighter and the back nine is a little wider and more forgiving but longer.

Some of what we liked about Memorial Park Golf Course and why we think it’s worth you’re spending 4 or more hours chasing that little white golf ball include:

• the rates are reasonable
• the fairways are wide and forgiving with a wide playable rough 
• the conditions from tee to cup are above average and the course is very well maintained and manicured  
• the bunkers are full of soft sand (some of which is now missing and somehow found it’s way to my pockets, shoes, and hair)
• the layout is traditional and very fair for golfers of all levels
• the marshals do everything possible to keep the pace of play to 4 hours
• the greens are good sized and in good condition with just the right amount of slope and contour

Some of the holes that we liked included:

• #6 is a 388 yard par 4 that dog legs left around a pond and requires a precise approach shot to miss the water and the two front facing bunkers
• #9 is fun with 2 fairway bunkers on the right side waiting for your drive and a slight dog leg left and over a creek to a raised green with a left and right side bunker
• #15 is the signature hole and it’s a beauty – 180 yard carry over a tree lined pond with a fountain to a green with a left side bunker
• #16 is a long 613 yard par 5 with water along the entire right side and a dense tree line on the left – do whatever it takes to stay in the fairway

The fairways at Memorial Park Golf Course were transitioning from winter to summer but were in very good condition, as was the rough.  No homes line any of the fairways but water and trees (lots with that mysterious looking long draping silver Spanish moss) will cause some problems – the good news is the fairways and rough (which is very playable) are wide and forgiving.

The greens are good sized, in pretty good shape (some damage around the edge thanks to some horrible weather), and have very manageable slope and contour.  When we played they were a little bumpy and a tad slow which was primarily due to the recent heavy rains.  All of the greens are guarded with between one to three bunkers, putting a premium on your approach shots.  The greens held the ball well and were easy to read.

The bunkers at Memorial Park Golf Course  were fantastic – in excellent condition, well-manicured, and had soft, thick, fluffy sand. Some are steep and deep and most are large and welcome your golf ball!