The PGA Tour descends on Texas for the Houston Open. As the defending champion Tony Finau tries to maintain his reign, there are others on the field, like world no. 1 Scottie Scheffler and the ever-consistent Collin Morikawa, who might look to steal his throne away from him. As this is the last game in March, before the Augusta showdown, a few players decided to sit out of it, most probably to take rest or practice.

With the weather looking fairly clearer as of now, the event will most probably be concluded without any hinderance at the Memorial Park Golf Course. With the players looking forward to go head to head for $9.1 million, let us take a look at the course where all the action will take place.

How did Memorial Park GC became 18-hole course from a 9-hole course?

Memorial Park GC boasts a rich history that dates back to 1912. Originally designed as a nine-hole layout with sand greens, Camp Logan was the site of this golf course’s humble beginnings. Initially the course was built near a hospital, but then in 1935, the hospital was shut down.

As a result, the course underwent a major makeover under the direction of renowned architect John Bredemus and reopened in 1936. Bredemus’s idea became a championship-caliber 18-hole layout that was widely recognized across the country, and he regarded the course as his “greatest golf course ever.”

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The course now receives approximately 60,000 visitors every year.  This was no ordinary course, as it evolved into a tournament venue for the elite in golf. The ashes of Dave Marr (1933–1997), a Tour professional and winner of 1965 PGA Championship, were spread over the course, as it was where he learned to play the game.

The first Houston Open, held in 1947, included notable players like Ben Hogan and the winner, Bobby Locke of Britain. After the first edition at the Memorial Park, Houston Open was held at a couple of different courses. It returned to its now home in 1951, and stayed there till 1963. Notable golfers such as Jack Burke Jr. and Arnold Palmer have graced the greens of Memorial Park’s. Beginning in late 2019, the course underwent a major renovation, and hence there was no event that year. The reconstruction was ideated by Tom Doak.

How does Texas Children’s Houston Open’s home look after the renovations?

The overabundance of trees and the carefully positioned bunkers had vanished, having grown trite over time. Doak replaced them by widening the fairways, which encouraged more aggressive play off the tee but required exact accuracy on approach approaches. Now totally restored, the greens feature dramatic undulations and subtle slopes that demand accurate club control and skillful putting. The clever placement of water hazards adds a sense of reward and risk without seeming excessive.

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Stretched to an appropriate 7,435 yards, the course now compares favorably to other Tour locations. But length is only one element of the puzzle. Doak designed a course that rewards calculated risk-reward choices and careful shot selection. With challenging short-game tests, devious fairway bunkers that must be carefully avoided, and doglegs that demand smart navigation, the renovated Memorial Park is sure to challenge the top players in the world.

Who will emerge victorious the the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open? It remains to be seen!

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