Does anyone know of any Houston area links style courses?

Magnolia Creek in League City. Club Corp property

Wildcat

Not from Houston, but I played Southwyck in Pearland once years ago. Was nothing special, condition back then was decent (no idea how it is now), but the biggest drawback was that I think they were conducting a mosquito breeding program on site. But technically links style, so there you go.

I live less than 10 minutes from Southwyck. Definitely nothing special. But haven't played in a while so can't speak on condition.

Maybe Houston National/Sterling Country Club could be considered 'linksy'..

Meadowbrook Farms also is kind of like a hybrid course where one side feels parkland and the other has a linking feel.

Magnolia Creek, League City. I would agree that Houston National/Sterling is kind of "link'sy". Isnt there one right by the river up in Conroe area or up that way that is links style, has something like "fork" in the name.

Any courses on the north side… north of 610 loop?

Played Southwyck a few weeks ago. Was in the worst shape I've ever seen it. Whole course had a raw sewage smell also. Won't be back there anytime soon which is a shame because it used to be one of my favorite courses in the area.

I'm not sure that's sewage. I think it's the special chemical they use to help the mosquitos multiply more quickly

Jusssst a bit to the East there's a new links course in Lake Charles. Mallard Cove.

In great shape. Greens are new so hard as a rock. No new clubhouse yet just a temp spot. Golf carts are top of the line with built in Bluetooth and speakers along with the GPS.

price is good too.

Houston National is a links style course. It's been a couple years since I've played out there so no idea what kind of shape it's in right now though

What defines a links style course?

Only one i'd describe as linksy is Magnolia Creek.

Its a clubcorp course so you have to know a member.

WhoopN06 said:

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What defines a links style course?

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The one in Lake Charles has no trees at all and the deep rough is knee high waste areas.

A friend plays often, he says it's in fantastic shape.

I play Southwyck often it's a goat ranch. They are currently having problems with broken pipes. When you nice green turf it's basically a broken pipe that they eventually dig up and fix. There are only about 5 decent greens the rest are trash. Although with the recent rains the course is getting "better".
I play there because I got a good group to play with and it's a convenient drive for me. If Wildcat had a membership program I would join there. Southwyck has a players program that's $50 Month which gets you free range balls and discounted green fees. I can play weekend mornings for $30.00.

Wildcat was always described this way. I really don't think there are any in the Houston area due to the grass involved. None are really receptive to the ground game like I think of with links golf. Some are more open, wind, etc. but the turf is what I think really separates links golf from parkland style.

It's really sad southwyck is trash, played that course so much 10-12 years ago or so and it's one of the more interesting layouts in town imo

Its been a while, but Wildcat used to have a monthly membership. Idk if its still around or not. But it was something like $400/month for unlimited everything.

Of course the bad part about that is Wildcat does more tournaments than any course in the area, so even with an unlimited membership, you'd have to compete for a spot on the tee sheet.

The Loch 9 at Gleanloch has some long, waterless, bunker-ful holes. Not exactly "Links" since the fairways aren't mogul-y, but it's a fun stretch.

Don't a lot of links courses have moguls and humps in the fairway?

OP, if by "links" you mean "no trees" then there isn't much like that on the North side of town. While I guess Houston National is pretty much tree-less, it's almost entirely subdivision golf… and not usually very well kept at all.

Cypress Lakes has minimal trees and is self contained… so that might be what you're looking for.

I was playing the Pines last Thursday and got rained out on the 7th hole and my back nine was to be the Loch.

Played a round out at Mag Creek Scotland/Ireland this afternoon. Was in great shape. Played pretty tough out there with the wind whipping.

Not exactly Houston, but close enough and I don't think it has been mentioned. Wouldn't Moody Gardens be considered link style (sort of). Doesn't have the undulations and contour that the fairways have a Magnolia Creek but it is wide open, lots of wind like you would expect in a links style course.

Drove by Houston national the other day and it's burnt. Even the greens were looking iffy.

There used to be a poster that worked there, but don't know if he's still there or not

Houston National has gone downhill since they put their efforts into the private course, Sterling.