Memorial Park Golf Course and driving range

The only thing holding me back from giving this course 5 stars is that there's not really much scenery to this track. The designers of this course recently went in and updated the layout a few years ago to make it more challenging for the pros who play here during the Houston Open. And because it hosts the local PGA tour, it means that this place is very busy. They shut the course down on Tuesdays to let it recover because it's so busy. There is no shortage of business for this place. Please be in the right frame of mind when coming to play here. This is one of busiest public municipal golf courses in the country. They have the luxury to show a dearth of empathy regarding your tee time because they are so busy. There are 10 players lined up on the wait list ready to pounce on the next opening. You will not be missed if you come here and act like a demanding jerk then get yourself kicked out. I shouldn't have to say this, but be nice. They don't care how much you paid and neither does anyone else. That being said, the clubhouse staff here is wonderful and will do their best to accommodate you, within reason. The marshals here tend to be on the aggressive side. I will never understand why they act the way they do. Just don't start anything with these guys, I've seen them threaten to kick people out several times for minor things, so beware.

The price to play here is dependent on whether or not you live in Houston. Local residents will receive a steep discount vs those living outside the boundary line. Check the website for the most up to date information on that subject. My tip for those that want to play here is to show up solo and get on the standby list. There are those who would also suggest to book online, but the prime tee times get swallowed up pretty quickly and are near impossible to get. Also important to know is that the parking lot here is a paid parking lot. You'll need to interact with the parking ticket kiosk to get a stub and place it on your dashboard or you could use the ParkMobile app if you'd rather go that route. The local parking enforcement is strict and they actively roam the area 7 days a week. Sunday is no exception.

The layout is brutal. You will struggle. There's not many places to lose balls. Not a lot of bunkers or water hazards in the latest re design either. But that doesn't mean this course is easy. They've got several "domed" greens to litter your scorecard with snowmen and some brutally long par 4's so you can hit your 3 wood in on your approach shot. This course is designed to beat you up. The agronomy is top notch too. The staff know what they're doing to keep the course in tip top shape.

Do your best to relax and enjoy a nice long round of golf. If your head is in the right place, you'll love this course. The burgers at Beck's Prime are to die for too. Don't miss out on one of those after your round.

An unbelievable oasis, with little or no on course water unfortunately - the midst of Memorial Park in Houston.

This wonderful living testament to community will power amidst City owned municipal golf courses, not to mention the powerful hand of PGA Tour-stop - and has resulted in a spectacular modern 18 hole track The course can be walked in an easy on4 1/2 hours.

This is Southwestern Sojourner's third visit to Memorial - the second since public Astro Foundation and Houston Conservancy Park partnership


$47 for a Houston City proper resident.

.... a higher tariff for out-of Houston proper guests - 125!

But staff and Director of golf and Director of the facility Judy Blume VLOON are all top-notch executives and extremely friendly. This is a very efficient operation!

Not to be confused with the Mammarial Pork Golf Course, which is named after a b**b job essentially.

Very popular and very busy golf course, too busy really, but considering this is a public course it's pretty excellent. It might actually be one of the best public courses in all of Texas, so if you're into Golf come and check it out.

Very impressive indeed. Because it's so good and because it is public and because it's in the heart of the fourth biggest city in the country then you can expect overcrowding and such but it's still good for golf fans.

Memorial Golf Course is beautiful with tons of amenities, 2-deck range, practice green, Becks Prime with beer/wine etc. If you live in the inner city it is an awesome benefit. This said, everything here is overpriced - round of golf, range buckets, food, beer, parking (yes, govt charges you just to park), etc. I guess prices could be worse, and I haven't seen their balance sheets, but I'd be surprised if it doesn't generate revenue for the city with mostly tax paying citizens who use it.

I am a native Houstonian, born and raised here for 52 years now, and I was told that I have to pay non-resident rate .... I live in Houston and my TDL has said Houston, Texas for 36 years !!! II pay my personal taxes and both of my companies that I own pay taxes to Houston.

I had to pay $122 to play 1 round of golf because I am a "non-resident". I can play many other courses just as nice or nicer in "Houston" 2 times for the same price as this. I need someone to explain to me why I am not a "resident" ??? If your TDL which I showed has an address that says Houston, Texas you should be considered a resident regardless of what "zone" you are in.

Joke of a course. Live in Houston and can't get resident rates. Greedy pieces of *hit. $150 to play if you live outside their made up boundary lines. Would give negative stars if possible

This is the gold standard for municipal courses in Houston. The course and attached amenities are hard to beat at their price point and central location in town.

Driving range has more than enough mats, where even on a beautiful day, it won't be more than a few minutes wait. Buckets are about $8 for a large if I remember correctly. All or most of the bays are covered so there's at least a little bit of love when it's blazing hot outside. There's a large chip and putt green attached to the range as well, so you can get your full practice routine in.

Attached to the clubhouse and nearby the driving range, there's a Beck's Prime which covers your beer and burger needs in between buckets or rounds.

The course itself is well maintained. The greens and fairways are typically in good shape and have few scars or dry patches. They're making a big push to take over the Houston Open in the coming year, so there may be even more to praise about if that happens. (After months of renovations and grumbles in between I'm sure)

Only con to look out for is that they are crazy busy at peak hours/days. The course is the easiest to reach for many Houstonians, and that coupled with a pretty agreeable green fee, you're going to be elbowing people for a tee time. There is a lottery system in place that notifies you 4 days out if you've "won" the peak hour tee time you applied for. You could always call in sick to work and walk on for a lazy Tuesday round...

The nicest golf course in Houston. Everything is well maintained. Two drawback, only can use irons on driving range and so hard to get a spot for a tee time.

How sad that Houston let this happen to our community golf course for one PGA Tournament! Lost so many trees and water features. The architect has even decided not to put hole number signs out because "that's not what you do right now". And the continued up / downs and greens are similar to a miniature golf course. I've played this course for years and loved it's character. There is definitely no character left.

In addition, the people in the golf shop are not friendly. Would be so nice to see them smile!

This course just went under a major renovation in order to host a PGA event next year. Opened on 11/5 after being down a little over a year. I played Thursday 11/7 only 9 holes before I got rained out. Here is what I got -

Greens are challenging, fast, not flat. Par 3 #2 green in particular is wild (completely new hole). They moved the tees around to not only make a much longer carry to the fairways but also new angles into the fairway. #3 and #4 can punish you in this aspect.... Removed a lot of the brush that used to line the holes but left trees in strategic places as obstacles. #8 plays 600+ from tips and 700 from tourney tee box - Fun hole. #9 is now a par 3, but you still have to go over the creek with sand lining the green.

One thing I didn't like is they removed some of the water on the front 9. #6 does not have the pond anymore to the front left but it's a deep hole now and long way up to the green. Also #1 no more water on the left.

All in all - great job on the reno, course can punish you just like before and am looking forward to playing the back 9 and finishing a round (hopefully in the 80s). Play the blue tees if you can carry 240 on the drive consistently. Also, I see this course being cart path only no matter what for the foreseeable future. Bust out the push cart.