DESTINATION GUIDE

Golden Buckle,
i.e. Houston, growing into golf hot-spot

By Shane Sharp,
Contributing Writer

Brad Pitt's bit part in "Thelma and Louise" was first offered to George Clooney. The role of Indiana Jones was first offered to Tom Selleck. The role of major port city on the Gulf coast of Texas was first offered to Galveston, but Houston stole the part in an odd twist of fate, and has since gone on to become one of the largest, wealthiest cities in the U.S. Chances are, Houston doesn't top most golfer's lists as a must-visit golf destination. But Houston and its environs, collectively dubbed the "Golden Buckle," are home to one of the most robust collections of daily fee golf in the U.S.

Consider this: The Houston metropolitan area has more than 150 golf courses and a third of them are quality daily fee tests designed by some of the country's best architects. As a winter destination, Houston is a bargain. With a climate that's pretty much identical to Orlando, Fla., winter rates in the Houston area typically go down. In central Florida, they usually triple, even though Orlando is as susceptible to a blustery winter day as Houston is.

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The Houston area also offers about as much variety in golf courses as any locale in the country. That's because the northern part of the city is situated on the southern end of the East Texas Piney Woods, while the southern part of the metro area extends into the Coastal Bend down to Galveston Island. On one end, it's tree-lined fairways; on the other, it's wind-blown, often links-style golf. Take your pick.

Oh yeah, and if you're looking for something to do other than golf, Houston offers a legendary night club scene, literally four restaurants on every corner, and the beach just 40 minutes south of downtown. With two airports and an abundance of inexpensive hotels, it's an easy destination.

The Golden Buckle offers many outstanding courses. The Memorial Park Golf Course has become a prime example of Golden Buckle golf since an extensive overhaul a few years ago. It now includes contoured fairways, resurfaced tees and greens, reinstallation of bunkers, and new landscaping. The course's Spanish-colonial clubhouse has become something of a landmark in the area. Memorial Park is just a five-minute drive from downtown Houston and is rated as one of the best municipal golf courses in Texas.

Another fantastic public course on the far west side of Houston. Bear Creek Golf World is a Houston standard. The course, which opened the first of its public courses half a decade or so ago, just opened a second course it calls the Masters, and it's outstanding.

A great variety of courses continue to pop up throughout the Golden Buckle. This makes it one of Texas' newest and most exciting golf areas.

Houston Destination Guide