Texas Children’s Houston Open Course Preview
Memorial Park- Course details, past champions, field overview, course comparisons
Texas Children’s Houston Open
Welcome to the slightly modified atmosphere of the 2024 Texas Children’s Open at Memorial Park Golf Course, as the PGA TOUR makes its grand return to Houston. With defending champion Tony Finau poised to defend his title, the spotlight also shines brightly on world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, fresh off consecutive victories on the PGA TOUR and eager to make his mark. As the fourth consecutive year of play at Memorial Park unfolds plenty of action awaits with money to be made.
The Course- Memorial Park
Par - 70
Yards – 7,435 yards
Cut- top 65 and ties
Field- 144
Greens – Poa trivialis
Fairways – perennial rye overseed
Rough- perennial rye overseed 1.25”
Water in play – 4 holes
Bunkers- 21
Average Green size- 7000 sq ft
Memorial Park Golf Course, with its rich history dating back to 1912, underwent a significant transformation in 2019 under the direction of Tom Doak, ushering in a new era for this municipal gem. The PGA TOUR’s return to Memorial Park after nearly six decades has brought attention to its challenging layout, measuring 7,435 yards as a par-70, featuring a mix of three par-5s, five par-3s, and 10 par-4s.
The recent renovation saw holes both lengthened and shortened, alongside the removal and re-working of trees and bunkers, creating a stern ball-striking test for competitors. With half of the par-4s stretching over 490 yards, players face a formidable challenge navigating the course’s length and strategic hazards.
Despite its length, the par-3s offer some respite, although challenging, with a ranking in the bottom five for average length. However, scoring remains tough, with only five holes boasting a scoring average under par, emphasizing the demanding nature of Memorial Park’s layout.
One of the course’s defining features is its typically fast, large greens surrounded by tight runoff areas, which demand precision and finesse in approach shots and short game prowess. The firm conditions and Texas winds further elevate the difficulty, reflected in Memorial Park’s consistent ranking among the top 10 most challenging courses from around the greens.
Moving the Houston Open to late March has allowed for overseeding throughout the course, resulting in tighter mowing, particularly around the greens, highlighting detailed design features. The presence of native areas akin to barrancas or ditches adds an element of unpredictability to wayward shots, amplifying the challenge for players throughout the week.
With its length, strategic layout, and demanding green complexes, Memorial Park promises to provide a captivating test for players at the 2024 Texas Children’s Open in Houston.
Course Comparisons
Torrey Pines South Course (San Diego, California)
Quail Hollow Club (Charlotte, North Carolina)
PGA National Resort & Spa - Champion Course (Palm Beach Gardens, Florida)
Past Champions
2023: N/A
2022: Tony Finau
2021: Jason Kokrak
2020: Carlos Ortiz
2019: Lanto Griffin
2018: Ian Poulter
2017: Russell Henley
2016: Jim Herman
2015: JB Holmes
TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOUSTON OPEN FIELD LIST
Baddeley, Aaron
Barjon, Paul
Barnes, Erik
+Bennett, Sam
Berger, Daniel
Bhatia, Akshay
Björk, Alexander
Blair, Zac
Bramlett, Joseph
Brehm, Ryan
Bridgeman, Jacob
Buckley, Hayden
Burgoon, Bronson
Campillo, Jorge
Campos, Rafael
Cauley, Bud
Champ, Cameron
Chappell, Kevin
Cink, Stewart
Clark, Wyndham
Coody, Parker
Coody, Pierceson
Crowe, Trace
Dahmen, Joel
Davis, Cam
Day, Jason
Detry, Thomas
Dougherty, Kevin
#Droemer, Jesse
Dumont de Chassart, Adrien
Duncan, Tyler
Dunlap, Nick
Endycott, Harrison
Finau, Tony
Fishburn, Patrick
Fox, Ryan
Furr, Wilson
Ghim, Doug
Gotterup, Chris
Greyserman, Max
Griffin, Ben
Griffin, Lanto
Gutschewski, Scott
Hadley, Chesson
Hale, Jr., Blaine
Hall, Harry
+Hammer, Cole
Hardy, Nick
+Harrington, Padraig
Higgo, Garrick
Highsmith, Joe
Hoey, Rico
Hoge, Tom
Holmes, J.B.
Horschel, Billy
Hossler, Beau
Hubbard, Mark
Hughes, Mackenzie
Jaeger, Stephan
Kim, Chan
Kim, Michael
Kim, S.H.
Kim, Si Woo
Kisner, Kevin
Kitayama, Kurt
Kizzire, Patton
Knapp, Jake
Laird, Martin
Lashley, Nate
Lee, K.H.
Lindheim, Nicholas
Lipsky, David
List, Luke
Lower, Justin
MacIntyre, Robert
Malnati, Peter
McCormick, Ryan
McNealy, Maverick
Meissner, Mac
Mitchell, Keith
Montgomery, Taylor
Moore, Ryan
Moore, Taylor
NeSmith, Matt
Noren, Alex
Norlander, Henrik
Norrman, Vincent
Novak, Andrew
Olesen, Thorbjørn
+Palmer, Ryan
Pan, C.T.
Pendrith, Taylor
Pereda, Raul
Perez, Victor
Phillips, Chandler
Rai, Aaron
Ramey, Chad
Reavie, Chez
Riley, Davis
Rodgers, Patrick
Ryder, Sam
Scheffler, Scottie
Schmid, Matti
Shelton, Robby
Sigg, Greyson
Silverman, Ben
Skinns, David
Sloan, Roger
Smalley, Alex
Snedeker, Brandt
Spaun, J.J.
Springer, Hayden
Stallings, Scott
Stevens, Sam
Suh, Justin
Svensson, Adam
Tarren, Callum
Taylor, Ben
Teater, Josh
Theegala, Sahith
Thompson, Davis
Tosti, Alejandro
Trainer, Martin
Vegas, Jhonattan
+Ventura, Kris
+Walker, Jimmy
Wallace, Matt
Whaley, Vince
Whitney, Tom
Woodland, Gary
Wu, Brandon
Wu, Dylan
Xiong, Norman
Young, Carson
Yu, Kevin
Yuan, Carl
Thank you for reading
David Slinger (Jackie Paper)