Thursday, July 23, 2015
Friday, July 10, 2015
The Best 16 Hole Course in Houston
At the Houston Country Club, a major renovation is going on. The golf course, built in 1956, is on the banks of Buffalo Bayou. Over the years,there has been some subsistence along the sides, which cuts into part of the course. As you will see, the bayou like Mother Nature, has a mind of its own. The club decided to build a retaining wall (at great expense) to hold back the bayou. The bayou had other ideas.
The wall, unfortunately, was not engineered correctly and failed. Large chucks of land and golf sloughed off into the waters. So at even greater cost of time and money the project had to redone. It's now on track for Fall 2015 completion.
As a result, holes 8 and 10 have been closed and under construction for over 2 years. When I was here last summer, number 8 looked like a "bankrupt subdivision" according to Sean. A year later, it's shaping up as hole. When complete it will be a par 4 instead of a par 5. The second shot will feature a nice long carry over part of the bayou, which should make it difficult.
When I first started playing golf in 1978 at the Houston Country Club, "Old" number 8 was a par 5, nearly C shaped to the left. Off the tee, there was originally a large tree on the left that only the biggest hitters could attempt to carry. It also crept out to the right. So the tree, very Harry Potter-ish, caught or blocked many a drive on that hole. It was a significant landmark.
On the right and short off the tee, was a gully that I sliced into more than once growing up. So between the Harry Potter tree and the gully, it was a hard driving hole which encouraged a safer shot off the tee. Since it was a par 5, it made the hole that much longer.
The second shot was nearly always a layup, as the hole bent around so much that it was a blind shot. As with most blind shots, golfers hold the blind shot with a special contempt. The game is hard enough when you can see the ball. So that was a second strike against number 8 for many.
The third shot was a fairly straightforward wedge to a large flat green. While the bayou was always on the left, it did not come too much into play. No drama, somewhat anticlimactic. Strike 3 for number 8.
Over the years,the large tree died, a victim of growing so close to the living, breathing bayou. (Foreshadowing of 2012?). At about the same time, the course was remodeled somewhat in 1988 by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore, some of their early work. They took the opportunity to modify the hole. Since the tree was no more, the tee box was move slightly back making the drive able to cut the corner a bit. There a large building in the background which is a good target. As Sean put it, "Some course have mountains, we have high rise buildings".
For a big driver it was possible to get closer to the green on a second shot but not practically able to hit it. The green was reworked considerably to make it smaller and more sloped, making the wedge shot in a more precise affair. An improvement to be sure, but it still didn't fit the mold of a reachable, risk/reward par 5. Always the bridesmaid, number 8. The Lady Edith of the Houston Country Club.
Now the third iteration is on its way. Number 8 has always been somewhat controversial and that will not change. You don't know what you've got, till its gone.
Get well soon Eight- we miss you!
The wall, unfortunately, was not engineered correctly and failed. Large chucks of land and golf sloughed off into the waters. So at even greater cost of time and money the project had to redone. It's now on track for Fall 2015 completion.
As a result, holes 8 and 10 have been closed and under construction for over 2 years. When I was here last summer, number 8 looked like a "bankrupt subdivision" according to Sean. A year later, it's shaping up as hole. When complete it will be a par 4 instead of a par 5. The second shot will feature a nice long carry over part of the bayou, which should make it difficult.
When I first started playing golf in 1978 at the Houston Country Club, "Old" number 8 was a par 5, nearly C shaped to the left. Off the tee, there was originally a large tree on the left that only the biggest hitters could attempt to carry. It also crept out to the right. So the tree, very Harry Potter-ish, caught or blocked many a drive on that hole. It was a significant landmark.
On the right and short off the tee, was a gully that I sliced into more than once growing up. So between the Harry Potter tree and the gully, it was a hard driving hole which encouraged a safer shot off the tee. Since it was a par 5, it made the hole that much longer.
The second shot was nearly always a layup, as the hole bent around so much that it was a blind shot. As with most blind shots, golfers hold the blind shot with a special contempt. The game is hard enough when you can see the ball. So that was a second strike against number 8 for many.
The third shot was a fairly straightforward wedge to a large flat green. While the bayou was always on the left, it did not come too much into play. No drama, somewhat anticlimactic. Strike 3 for number 8.
Over the years,the large tree died, a victim of growing so close to the living, breathing bayou. (Foreshadowing of 2012?). At about the same time, the course was remodeled somewhat in 1988 by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore, some of their early work. They took the opportunity to modify the hole. Since the tree was no more, the tee box was move slightly back making the drive able to cut the corner a bit. There a large building in the background which is a good target. As Sean put it, "Some course have mountains, we have high rise buildings".
For a big driver it was possible to get closer to the green on a second shot but not practically able to hit it. The green was reworked considerably to make it smaller and more sloped, making the wedge shot in a more precise affair. An improvement to be sure, but it still didn't fit the mold of a reachable, risk/reward par 5. Always the bridesmaid, number 8. The Lady Edith of the Houston Country Club.
Now the third iteration is on its way. Number 8 has always been somewhat controversial and that will not change. You don't know what you've got, till its gone.
Get well soon Eight- we miss you!
Back in Houston
I'm in Houston for these 4 days primarily to go to a UH Law event tonight. But I am managing to: Play 2 rounds of golf at the Houston C.C., visit my friend John, visit my parents, see the sights, meet new people, see a lot of old friends here and there.
One of my interns asked: "Do you like Houston?" I told him "I was born there, grew up there (to age 14), went to UH Law, lived there for many years (1988-2002) and met my wife and raised our daughter there". So... yeah.... I like it. Love it!
Houston as I always say is a city of great opportunity. It doesn't matter if you're from East Texas or East Pakistan, there's a place for you here.
One of my interns asked: "Do you like Houston?" I told him "I was born there, grew up there (to age 14), went to UH Law, lived there for many years (1988-2002) and met my wife and raised our daughter there". So... yeah.... I like it. Love it!
Houston as I always say is a city of great opportunity. It doesn't matter if you're from East Texas or East Pakistan, there's a place for you here.
Monday, July 6, 2015
South Padre Island - Class of 2015
Back from South Padre Island, we had the pleasure of Sarah coming with 6 of her college friends. In addition to Travis, there was Parker, J.D., Grant, Austin and Price. Very nice young men, I enjoyed being around them and they were welcoming to their host.
Looking back, I guess we used to drink like they do, but I (thankfully) don't remember it. Many 30 packs of beer, two bottles of whiskey, and enough Red Bull and Coke to keep the spark lit for the next round. The beer bong and the"Jager-bong" [legally called a high capacity drinking device, illegal in some parts of the USA] were well used. When they came back from the last night, I got the picture of naked beer bonging at night on the beach. Can't make this stuff up!
In the meantime, they stayed at the beach in the sun, got sunburned, ate whatever was provided, slept when the opportunity arose (or not), boot and rallied, and got up and did it over again until it was time to go back.
All in all, a great time had by all. It was fun just watching it! But glad that was as close as I got.
Quote of the trip from Price: "This 4th of July, I'm going to the beach, drink a lot of beer, and enjoy all of this Freedom" God Bless America!
Looking back, I guess we used to drink like they do, but I (thankfully) don't remember it. Many 30 packs of beer, two bottles of whiskey, and enough Red Bull and Coke to keep the spark lit for the next round. The beer bong and the"Jager-bong" [legally called a high capacity drinking device, illegal in some parts of the USA] were well used. When they came back from the last night, I got the picture of naked beer bonging at night on the beach. Can't make this stuff up!
In the meantime, they stayed at the beach in the sun, got sunburned, ate whatever was provided, slept when the opportunity arose (or not), boot and rallied, and got up and did it over again until it was time to go back.
All in all, a great time had by all. It was fun just watching it! But glad that was as close as I got.
Quote of the trip from Price: "This 4th of July, I'm going to the beach, drink a lot of beer, and enjoy all of this Freedom" God Bless America!
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Milestones Falling
All sorts of milestones are tumbling in the past 30 days which makes me think if you predicted them 5 years ago, how crazy people would think it was:
1. Confederate flags coming down
2. Gay marriages begin done all across the country
3. Legal marijuana in 4 states ( OR, CO, AK, WA) + DC
4. New awareness of etiquette for transgendered persons
And so forth. I recall speaking on gay marriage 2 years ago. The response was "will never happen". Wrong
And Now Donald Trump is getting his a__ handed to him on saying that "All Mexicans are rapists". Not a good idea to mess with millions of industrious people. Much of the country is majority minority now. Open your eyes.
There's a storm brewing and the Baby Boom Generation is not going to be ready for it. In fact, they're hoping that they ride it out due to sheer numbers. But we are on an unsustainable path as to spending, tax collection, social security, budgets compared to counter forces of demographic change, technology increases, and a shrinking job market. I just hope that I can stay in front of the rolling ball.
1. Confederate flags coming down
2. Gay marriages begin done all across the country
3. Legal marijuana in 4 states ( OR, CO, AK, WA) + DC
4. New awareness of etiquette for transgendered persons
And so forth. I recall speaking on gay marriage 2 years ago. The response was "will never happen". Wrong
And Now Donald Trump is getting his a__ handed to him on saying that "All Mexicans are rapists". Not a good idea to mess with millions of industrious people. Much of the country is majority minority now. Open your eyes.
There's a storm brewing and the Baby Boom Generation is not going to be ready for it. In fact, they're hoping that they ride it out due to sheer numbers. But we are on an unsustainable path as to spending, tax collection, social security, budgets compared to counter forces of demographic change, technology increases, and a shrinking job market. I just hope that I can stay in front of the rolling ball.
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