Brock Park Golf Course

The Houston Golf Nut has been forced to play Brock Park Golf Course numerous times this past year due to the economical climate.  At $17 to walk on weekends, you really can’t beat the price, but, does the course hold up?

Overall, I’d say yes.  One of the best features of this Houston golf course is a ravine that runs across holes 1, 9, 14, and 18.  It’s great bringing people out to play this course and seeing the look in their eyes when they see what they have to clear off the first tee box (even though it’s probably only 150 to clear).  The ravine really comes into play on the 9th hole and 18th hole – par 5′s.

The toughest holes include the par-3 14th, the par-4 10th, and the par-5 18th.  The 14th hole you’re hitting about 200 yards to an elevated green with sand in the front on both sides.  If you miss right, you’re toast!  Missing left isn’t fun eitther because there’s a huge downslope to a wooded area.

On the 10th, you need to hit a pretty straight drive.  Miss left, you end up in a creek (carefully hidden by a row of trees).  Miss right, you will almost surely have trees preventing a shot to the green, also elevated, protected by bunkers, another ravine, and a severe downslope in front of the hole.

The 18th doesn’t look too hard, but it’s almost always my scorecard killer!  If you don’t hit a straight drive, you will probably have to fight some trees to get in a good position for an approach shot.  Bunkers on both sides of the green.  Many a golfer I’ve seen has flown the green (worried about the ravine carry) and ended up with a tough chip back out of some wicked grass.

Some of the cons of this course:

• Tough to find.  My first time there I got lost (part of the highway was closed) and took me almost an hour.
• Greens aren’t in good shape.  Lots of bumps.
• Because of the relatively cheap prices, you might get stuck behind some slow hackers.
• Beverage girl sometimes will drive right by you and not even ask if you want anything.

All in all, you can’t beat the price and the the challenge.  The locals contend that Brock Park is better than Memorial Park Golf Course.  Brock is definitely more challenging than Sharpstown, Gus, or Hermann.  Brock Park Golf Course is a great place to get in a relatively quick round and get in some great practice at an unbelievably low price.