Off the Fringe, “Golf’s best short read.” The award winning newsletter, sent twice monthly, that provides an unconventional perspective on the golf world.
Bob Kennedy
Perry
2009-02-25
$31 (cart included), played on Tuesday, February 2009 at noon
Houston Lake Country Club was a real treat. I am not sure way I had not previously played there. I will correct that error and play this course more often.
The course sits on beautiful land bordering Houston Lake. The setting has nice elevation changes. Upscale housing can be seen but is usually buffered by trees and does not come into play or detract from the course.
In most cases, the course is straight forward with doglegs in positions one would expect and artificial tricks were not created to challenge the golfer. The natural challenges are more than enough.
The Houston Lake course was well maintained, even for this time of the year. Make no mistake; this is a very challenging course. Begin with the greens. They were in great shape. They are in most cases large, protected by bunkers, and further protected by undulations and speed. If you are above the hole you may be in trouble. If you miss the hole you may find your ball picking up speed and rolling off the green.
Hole numbers 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 17, and 18 are water holes. For many of the holes the water can easily be hit over and is more psychological and attractive rather than a threat. On at least two of the holes, #6 and #17, the course slopes to the water and what might otherwise be a great shot has the potential of landing 90 feet from the water and rolling down a slope. I avoided this pitfall, but only by compensating and hitting on the "safe side" of the narrow fairway into the rough. Ouch!
Hole numbers 10, and 18 are beautiful holes. 10 will require from the two back tee boxes a minimum of a 200 yard drive to a very narrow peninsula with water on each side. Even from the yellow tees you need at least 160 yards in the air and you still have the same narrow landing area. This is an absolutely beautiful hole, but if you can not hit them straight, and if water intimidates, you will come to curse this beauty. I confess, I opted to hit from the yellow tees on this one and that was the only reason my shot was successful. I even made the green in regulation. It was the 3 putts that sunk me on this hole. Did I mention that it is not good to be above the hole on a severely sloping downward fast green! Number 18 is a beautiful finishing hole. You hit over water to a fairway that runs at a right angle and away from you. The hole is saying "Hey punk, you feel lucky, go ahead make my day." The farther you hit it to the right the more length you cut off your second shot to the green, The problem, the farther to the right you hit, the longer you have to hit because more water comes into play. This hole can trick you and you could easily bite off more than you should and wind up in the water. Totally out of character, or maybe because I was playing the course for the first time, I played it safe and took the short route over the water.
I paid $31 with cart and with a coupon discount. This was a very reasonable rate for a first class course. I can not imagine anyone not liking this course. It may be too much of a challenge for a new or high handicap golfer. I would advise any duffer or 20+ handicap to move forward one tee box and enjoy a great and comfortable round of golf. For the 5-19 handicappers, you will be very challenged by the blue tees. The back tees are definitely for the close to par golfer and even they will know they have been challenged.
The club house and staff were first rate.
This course is semi-private, open to the public. I recommend this course.
Would travel: 30-60 Miles, Vacation Worthy
Bottom line: I would play again, Ranks with the best in this price level, Best course in the area, Fair priced based on quality and competitive area pricing
Condition of Course, Layout, Price, Pace of Play, Staff, Clubhouse
$31 (cart included), played on Tuesday, February 2009 at noon
Houston Lake Country Club was a real treat. I am not sure way I had not previously played there. I will correct that error and play this course more often.
The course sits on beautiful land bordering Houston Lake. The setting has nice elevation changes. Upscale housing can be seen but is usually buffered by trees and does not come into play or detract from the course.
In most cases, the course is straight forward with doglegs in positions one would expect and artificial tricks were not created to challenge the golfer. The natural challenges are more than enough.
The Houston Lake course was well maintained, even for this time of the year. Make no mistake; this is a very challenging course. Begin with the greens. They were in great shape. They are in most cases large, protected by bunkers, and further protected by undulations and speed. If you are above the hole you may be in trouble. If you miss the hole you may find your ball picking up speed and rolling off the green.
Hole numbers 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 17, and 18 are water holes. For many of the holes the water can easily be hit over and is more psychological and attractive rather than a threat. On at least two of the holes, #6 and #17, the course slopes to the water and what might otherwise be a great shot has the potential of landing 90 feet from the water and rolling down a slope. I avoided this pitfall, but only by compensating and hitting on the "safe side" of the narrow fairway into the rough. Ouch!
Hole numbers 10, and 18 are beautiful holes. 10 will require from the two back tee boxes a minimum of a 200 yard drive to a very narrow peninsula with water on each side. Even from the yellow tees you need at least 160 yards in the air and you still have the same narrow landing area. This is an absolutely beautiful hole, but if you can not hit them straight, and if water intimidates, you will come to curse this beauty. I confess, I opted to hit from the yellow tees on this one and that was the only reason my shot was successful. I even made the green in regulation. It was the 3 putts that sunk me on this hole. Did I mention that it is not good to be above the hole on a severely sloping downward fast green! Number 18 is a beautiful finishing hole. You hit over water to a fairway that runs at a right angle and away from you. The hole is saying "Hey punk, you feel lucky, go ahead make my day." The farther you hit it to the right the more length you cut off your second shot to the green, The problem, the farther to the right you hit, the longer you have to hit because more water comes into play. This hole can trick you and you could easily bite off more than you should and wind up in the water. Totally out of character, or maybe because I was playing the course for the first time, I played it safe and took the short route over the water.
I paid $31 with cart and with a coupon discount. This was a very reasonable rate for a first class course. I can not imagine anyone not liking this course. It may be too much of a challenge for a new or high handicap golfer. I would advise any duffer or 20+ handicap to move forward one tee box and enjoy a great and comfortable round of golf. For the 5-19 handicappers, you will be very challenged by the blue tees. The back tees are definitely for the close to par golfer and even they will know they have been challenged.
The club house and staff were first rate.
This course is semi-private, open to the public. I recommend this course.