Texasduffer,

Wow. That's no good re: Meadowbrook.

Another west side alternative if you don't mind a drive is Stephen F. Austin golf course in Sealy, believe it or not. It's like a mini-River Ridge at 1/3 the price. Their greens were flat perfect that last time I played out there a couple of months ago... not sure right now.

Played Pinecrest yesterday at 32 bucks (Shot 36-36--72 with 35 putts... first round of par or better out there on my 20th try or so). It's a decent near town course and I certainly prefer it to Jersey Meadow. JM may be one of the worst courses for close and parallel fairways that I've ever played. It can get flat dangerous out there. I'm playing Clear Creek on Sunday which is pretty high in the running on my personal list of dangerous courses as well.

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I played Meadowbrook Farms for the first time yesterday and was hugely disappointed. To charge that kinda money for horrible greens and unplayable bunkers is a crime. Hermann Park is in better shape than that dump.

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I played out there on Thursday also, and I agree that it was in bad shape. But to compare it to Hermann Park is just wrong. The two bunkers that I hit in were perfect .... best sand I've seen in a while. But my playing partner had a couple of crap lies, and I agree that some of the bunkers looked below average.

77 at Meadowbrook Farms. Double bogey on 2 from the fairway, and I did all I could not to birdie two of the par-5s. On 4, I 3 putted from about 40 feet on the fringe. On 18, I flew the creek with my drive and did not make birdie from about 170 on my 2nd shot. A couple of stupid bogeys from perfect position on easy holes.

74 at Cinco Ranch on Friday. Again, some really stupid bogeys from the fairway with wedge or short irons. Hit a 380 yard drive on the par-five 6th, hit a wedge to inside 15 feet, and 3-putted for par. Failed to make birdie with an 8-iron second shot on par-five 4th. Golf is really frustrating right now, but I am starting to hit a lot more fairways.... just need to get my wedge game going.

Cinco is our go-to course lately on the west side and we sprinkle in Stephen F. Austin, River Ridge, Pine Forest, Rio Colorado, The Wilderness, etc. for some variety.

Playing at The Falls next Friday with my dad for our birthdays. Anyone been lately?

This is strange about Meadowbrook Farms. I played out there just 3 or 4 weeks ago and didn't think it was in bad shape at all, as I mentioned last page. There were maybe 2 or 3 greens that could have used some work, but I didn't think it was complete crap. Do you think something happened between now and then? I don't see how it could have went that bad that quick.

On a side note, I played the Palmer Course at La Cantera in San Antonio on Friday. If you've never played there, I highly suggest it. That course is well worth the hefty green fees. The quality of course combined with the elevation change is truly one of a kind.

Just got fitted for some new clubs and just placed an order for the TaylorMade Tour Preferred irons. The TM just felt right.

And here's one reason to watch the new season of The Big Break on the Golf Channel:

Blair O'Neal



[This message has been edited by roundaboutway (edited 4/20/2009 8:21p).]

Watched it tonight. Her bio said she was a quarterback in the lingere bowl.

I let myself get talked into Wildcat today. T&P for my back, please. I'm planning to destroy that turf and drop at least 3 balls into the water.

New poster here. Wife and I live in Katy and I play Meadowbrook quite often. The greens have getting worse. We are actually thinking going private. Is anyone a member at Willow Fork, Falcon Point, or Pine Forest?

I'd choose Falcon Point, of those three.

Played in a 2-man scramble yesterday at Cinco Ranch.

The winning team came in with a 57 and won by a ton. Evidently, they have a long history of cheating, according to people who've played with them before. Guess they really needed that free round of golf for 4 or similar that 1st place paid. You'd have thought that the other 2-man team playing with them would have kept them honest...oh, they were their friends and took 2nd place.

Anyway, everyone had a good laugh about it.

Supposedly they pencil whip their way around the Golf Galaxy tour if any of y'all play in that.

Thanks Hou. Why Falcon Point. I was a member at Willow Fork a few years back and it wasn't bad. I will either go back there or venture out. Don't know yet.

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I'd choose Falcon Point, of those three.

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Falcon Point would be a brutal home course, in my opinion. There are several really tight holes with OB really close to one side of the fairway & water on the other side. The par-5s are really difficult with a combination of forced lay-ups off the tee and water/sand around the green. I seem to play pretty well out there (between 72-74 the 3 times I played), but it is a course that will make you pay if you are even a little off with your tee ball on several holes. Good course though, but lots of wind.

Willow Fork has a bunch of doglegs and interesting holes. Probably not as good of a course as Falcon Point.

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The winning team came in with a 57 and won by a ton. Evidently, they have a long history of cheating, according to people who've played with them before... You'd have thought that the other 2-man team playing with them would have kept them honest...oh, they were their friends and took 2nd place.

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Pretty sad. What tees did you guys play? I played out there yesterday morning, so I am trying to think of how good two guys would have to be to shoot that. I think the only way is if you had a guy that killed it off the tee & a guy that was a great wedge player and putter..... and a combination of both would obviously be helpful. The easy birdie holes yesterday were: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15. I was not swinging overly hard yesterday (at least by my standards) and had approach distances of: 30 yds on 1, 55 yds on 2, 120 yds on 4 (par 5), 180 yds on 6 (par 5), 85 yds on 7, 30 yds on 8, 110 yds on 11, 120 yds on 13, 50 yds on 14, 200 yds on 15 (par 5). The wind was up too, so it would be really tough to post that kind of score.

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Forgot to include that I played the one-up tees yesterday because the rest of the group did.

Thanks. I played Falcon Point not that long ago, and it is a difficult course. Willow Fork is fine, but I guess are concern is the club itself. Pine Forest feels like its older, and Willow Fork is slowly getting younger. I would be happy with any of the courses, but we are worried we would be the only late 20's people there.

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Are you from Katy? I think I may have talked to you a while back at the Willow Fork driving range.

Hou, I need the intials of the dudes who allegedly cheated

Most of you know what I think about any potential cheating: I know 100% they are guilty.

Don't remember the initials. JU and I probably came about 10th, so we weren't too concerned with it...just the comedic value of a team coming in 8 or 9 shots ahead of everyone else when one of the players could barely walk. No joke, he had a handicapped sticker and all. He also claimed an ace on the 5th hole, but the group in front of them was standing 75-100 yards away and dispute this claim. Who knows? Even the bev cart girl said she caught them cheating.

I'm sure they were legit though!

I am from Katy. Graduated from Taylor in 99. Was a member at WF from 2004 to 2006.

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Cool, if those are your initials then I think we talked at the range. It was probably like 3-4 years ago. I think they were having a small demo day with some long drive clubs. My wife was Taylor '99 also.

How often do you play out in Katy?

I graduated from Taylor in '99 also.

Just saw your earlier message, proud. We played the one-up tees in the tourney. Didn't tee off until 1:30p and seemed like the wind kept getting stronger and stronger after that. Pin positions were about as tough as they can make them out there on several holes too. My team only birdied 1,4,12,15. We had a horrible case of making the same mistakes as each other. My fault really, bc I hit second.

Small world. That was probably me. Loved hitting those drivers. Are you guys members out there. I try to play once a week if possible. Usually at Meadowbrook on Sunday afternoon. I do the range plan out there.

Proud aggie: what's your wife's name. Was she class of '99

HouAggie: This is Jeff Houston...

We are not members anywhere. I practice out at Meadowbrook 2-3 times per week. I liked their range a lot more before they put those houses in so close on the other end. We'll probably join out at WF or Meadowbrook in the fall if we do not relocate by then (trying to move to Denver).

My wife's name is Page; last name starts with "O". I told her that I met a Taylor grad after I met you at that demo, and she said she remembered you. I think we even got married on the same day (Jan. '06), at least that is what she said.

I remember now. How have you been? Tell Page O. I said hello. Are you guys going to the reunion in June? We are going. We did get married on the same day. Wow, small world.

I am usually at Meadowbrook on Fridays at the range. I get off early in the afternoon and Sunday I play at 3pm. We have been looking a Pine Forest because my boss is a member there, but it feels like we are the only people under 50 there sometimes. The convenience WF and the age group might have me going back there. MB is too expensive for a semi private plus the greens have gotten pretty bad. I do like the range though.

Member at Pine Forest here. We joined in our early 30's and there's not alot of us younger ones out there but that wasn't/isn't an issue for us. We like the family amenities...Pool, fitness club, etc. We like that there's no houses, you can walk the course easily, and 27 holes was a huge plus. On weekend afternoons, there's plenty of juniors walking the course and we like to play with our daughter so that was important to us. And it's pretty clubby and private feeling which gives the right attitude for taking guests and clients out and making them feel special.

I like the course at Falcon Point a lot, but the club aspect was missing a little when we looked at it. We felt like it was just a step above the old yearly Cinco Ranch pre-paid membership deal.

I've personally never liked the course at Willow Fork.

Those are my opinions, ask any questions if you need to.

Also, I like a tough home course to sharpen your game....it's no fun playing a creampuff day after day. And everytime you play elsewhere, you always seem to go low...even if you feel like you're not playing your best.

I may have a warped view of Falcon Point. The only time I've played the course was in a High School event. It was 45 out. The wind was 30. And it was raining. Hard. I teed off on 7 because it was a shot gun start. I was only a freshman so I went 5 foot nothing and hit the ball 250 at most and typically with a wild hook. On 7,8, and 9 I scored 7, 9, 12 respectively. Started quad, quintuple, not even sure what to call a 12 on a par 5, but I was 16 over through 3. I shot 89 on the day and so it was a great comeback but I don't have great memories of the course.

Pine Forest is a really nice track as I remember. It's produced some pretty good players.

Wes,

That's good stuff. Chances are you're right on this one. 57 in a two man scramble is MUCH different than a 4 man group of guys that can play... unless I could play from proudag's drives. Heh.

Small world, proudaggie. Unless there was more than one Page O. at our high school, I remember your wife and am actually friends with her on facebook.

Cool. If you want to give me your initials, I will let her know.

thanks Texasduffer. I am actually going to play in the Junior Day tourney on May 16th. We will make our decision then. Growing up playing Willow Fork all my life, I am used to that course. I do think Pine Forest is better though, and it really feels private.

I am hoping after the Junior Day, the choice will be clear-cut

Are you playing in that?

jkh,

I'm not sure about the reunion. My wife and her friends are trying to decide between going to the reunion and going on a weekend getaway to a golf resort (guys play golf; girls go to spa and hang out at the pool). I can go either way on that, as we would get a room at the Westin Galleria if we go to the reunion.