Golf Club of Houston Review (2026): Can the Old Houston Open Course Still Justify the Price?

The first thing you need to know in any honest Golf Club of Houston review is that people still talk about this place like the Houston Open never left. That matters, because nostalgia is doing a lot of work in the public reputation. The Tournament Course is still very good. It is still one of the more serious public tests in Texas. But if you show up expecting permanent PGA Tour perfection, you are likely to grade it too harshly or spend too much for the wrong reasons.

My short answer is that Golf Club of Houston is worth it in 2026 if you want a demanding, tournament-style public round near the city and you do not mind paying for pedigree. The Tournament Course remains open to the public. The Member Course does not. That split is the heart of the club now, and understanding it helps you book the right expectations before you ever reach Humble.

This review covers the old Redstone legacy, what the public Tournament Course still does well, where recent value complaints come from, and who should play Memorial Park or a cheaper Houston option instead. If you want more comparisons, browse all our golf club reviews.

Golf Club of Houston still feels like a pro-golf venue. It just no longer gets a free pass because the tour trucks are gone.

Club Overview

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What I Liked

• The Tournament Course still gives you a legitimate big-event feel. Rees Jones and David Toms built this layout to host professional golf, and it still carries that DNA. Strategic bunkering, expansive landing areas that tighten in the wrong places, and greens that ask for full commitment make the round feel more “test” than “outing.”
• The practice facility is the kind of amenity most public players rarely get. GolfNow’s course details highlight a double-ended range with nine targets and an extensive short-game area including a 10,000-square-foot putting surface. That matters. If you care about preparing properly before a serious round, Golf Club of Houston gives you room to do it.
• You get a strong sense of place without fighting downtown traffic. Despite being close enough to Houston to work for a day trip, the property feels removed once you are on it. Native wetlands, cypress, live oaks, and pine trees make the setting calmer than many visitors expect.
• It rewards good players without becoming unfair for everyone else. The Tournament Course is long at 7,422 yards from the back, but the better quality here is how the design makes you think. This is not just a brute-force yardage exercise. Positioning matters, approach control matters, and lazy course management gets exposed.
• The public-private split can work in your favor. Since the Member Course remains private and the Tournament Course handles public access, the booking experience is clearer than people assume. If you want the former Houston Open atmosphere without needing a member connection, this is still one of the better access points in Texas.

What I Didn’t Like

• The Houston Open halo can inflate your expectations beyond what the daily public experience delivers. The event moved to Memorial Park years ago. Golf Club of Houston is still the old Houston Open venue in spirit, but it is no longer maintained on a weekly tournament clock for TV golf. If you pay like you expect that standard, you may come away frustrated.
• Recent value complaints are not random. GolfPass review snippets include golfers saying the round was “not worth the price,” with specific gripes about slow pace, missing basics like towels or sand bottles, and public-day service not matching the rate. Those complaints do not define every visit, but they are consistent enough to matter.
• This is a pricey public round for Houston. GolfPass shows public rates starting at $125.99+, and local golfers discussing the course still frame it as a $150 to $200 decision. That is a serious number in a market where there are cheaper, easier, and in some cases more forgiving public options.
• The weather window is not generous. Houston heat and humidity can flatten the experience fast. This course is more enjoyable when you can appreciate the test instead of surviving it. In the thick of summer, that line gets thin.

Membership & Fees

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The membership side of Golf Club of Houston is private, and the club does not publish dues or initiation fees publicly. If you want the full two-course member experience, you need to speak directly with the membership team. That is standard private-club practice, but it means you should ignore any old internet guesses unless you confirm them yourself.

For public golfers, the relevant number is the Tournament Course. GolfPass currently lists rates from $125.99+. Local Houston golfers discussing the course still put many real rounds in the $150 to $200 zone depending on timing. That means the value conversation here is different from a standard public round. You are paying for pedigree, practice facilities, and a more serious golf test.

The smart way to think about it is this: Golf Club of Houston is one of the few public-access rounds where you are really buying a former PGA Tour host environment. If that matters to you, the premium is easier to defend. If it does not, you may be happier spending less and playing something more relaxed.

If you are evaluating alternatives, Memorial Park has the current Houston Open name, but its tee-time access can be a project. Golf Club of Houston is often easier to book and feels more self-contained. It just comes at a higher public rate than many Houston golfers want to pay every weekend.

Facilities & Amenities

• Public Course: Tournament Course, par 72, 7,422 yards
• Private Course: Member Course, par 72, 7,508 yards, members only
• Practice Facility: Double-ended driving range with nine targets and a large short-game area
• Putting: Roughly 10,000 square feet of practice green space according to public course listings
• Setting: Native wetlands, cypress, live oak, and pine framing rather than generic subdivision golf
• Clubhouse Life: Full private-club support around golf, dining, events, and fitness on the member side
• Instruction: Academy and fitting-center resources on site
• Surprise Factor: The biggest edge over many Houston public rounds is how complete the warm-up and tournament-prep experience feels before you even tee off

Best Time to Visit

October through April is the clear answer. The turf, the walk from car to clubhouse, and your ability to think through shots all benefit from cooler air. This is a strategic course, and strategy is a lot more enjoyable when your shirt is not sticking to your back before you reach the 3rd tee.

Late spring can still work, especially if you book early. But once true Houston summer arrives, the course becomes more physically demanding than many travelers expect. Long exposure, humidity, and fatigue can make an already serious layout feel more punishing than it really is.

If you are going to pay public-premium rates here, I would aim for a season when you can actually enjoy the test. On value alone, cool-weather weekdays are the best use of your money.

Dress Code & Etiquette

Golf Club of Houston expects traditional golf attire. Collared shirts are required, and public-player complaints make it clear that t-shirts are not accepted, even for practice use. This is a private-club environment with public access on one course, so dress like you know the difference.

The biggest etiquette mistake here is showing up with casual public-course habits for a layout that expects more discipline. Repair ball marks, keep up with pace, and think through where you want to miss. This course exposes sloppy golf and sloppy golf behavior at the same time.

Arrive early enough to use the practice facility. At many places, the range is an afterthought. Here, it is part of what you are paying for. Skipping it is like buying club-level tickets and standing in the hallway.

Who Is This Club For?

This club is a good fit if you are a better player who wants to test your game on something that still feels close to tournament golf. That is the clearest reason to come.

This club is a good fit if you value practice infrastructure and want a more serious pre-round routine than the average public course provides.

Skip this one if you mostly want a casual, social Houston round with lower stakes and lower spend. The Tournament Course asks too much of you, and the bill may irritate you if that is not what you came for.

Skip this one in peak summer unless you are very comfortable with heat and still want a demanding round. There are easier ways to spend four to five hours outside in Houston.

People Also Ask

Is Golf Club of Houston public or private?

Golf Club of Houston is both. The club itself is private, but the Tournament Course is open to the public while the Member Course remains private. That split is important because many people still assume the whole property is members-only, which is not the case.

How much does it cost to play Golf Club of Houston?

Public rates on the Tournament Course are dynamic. GolfPass currently shows prices starting at $125.99+, and many golfers report real rounds landing closer to $150 to $200 depending on demand. Private membership pricing is not published publicly by the club.

Is Golf Club of Houston still the Houston Open course?

No, the Houston Open moved to Memorial Park, but Golf Club of Houston remains the former longtime host and still carries much of that tournament identity. If you want the old Redstone-era pro-golf feel, this is still the place most golfers mean when they talk about the former Houston Open venue.

What course can the public play at Golf Club of Houston?

The public can play the Tournament Course. The Member Course is private. That matters because the club has two distinctly different layouts, and only one is available without membership access or a private-club connection.

Is Golf Club of Houston worth it?

Yes, if you want a challenging, tournament-style public round and are comfortable paying premium public-course pricing for it. It is less compelling if you mainly want value. The best reason to play it is still the combination of test, pedigree, and practice facilities rather than bargain pricing.

What is the dress code at Golf Club of Houston?

Golf Club of Houston expects traditional golf attire, including a collared shirt. Public feedback indicates t-shirts are not accepted, even around the practice areas. Treat it like a private-club environment with public access, because that is effectively what it is.

Verdict & Score

GCR Score: 4.1 / 5 — Recommended

Golf Club of Houston earns this score because the Tournament Course still delivers one of the more serious public golf tests in Texas. The layout has real championship bones, the practice setup is excellent, and the overall property still feels built for people who care deeply about golf.

The deduction comes from price sensitivity and uneven public-day value. Once the Houston Open mystique fades, you are left asking whether the conditioning, pace, and service fully match the rate every time. That answer is sometimes yes, and sometimes not. Our review methodology explains how those tradeoffs affect the final number.

If you want a former tour-stop round you can actually book, play Golf Club of Houston. If you want the cheapest smart public golf near the city, look elsewhere and save the premium for another day.

Last reviewed: June 28, 2026

Author Note

I have played enough public courses with tournament branding to know how often the logo is doing more work than the layout. Golf Club of Houston is better than that. The challenge here is real. The question is not whether the golf is serious. The question is whether that seriousness is worth the public rate on the day you play it. You can read more of my reviews on the David Luis author page.