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First day after a rain and the staff was on top of course conditions. When I first showed it was cart path only on the back nine. By the time I was about to head out to my cart, they passed word that it was 90 degrees from the cart path for the whole course. I was careful not to run over any wet spots, otherwise I got normal roll on the fairways and the greens were excellent. Pace was so good, I had time for a great cheeseburger at the grill. The 12 minute wait was worth it…fresh and hot with fixings on the side. I was able to maintain my usual quick pace and played well. Tees were well placed for the northerly winds. Can’t wait to play Southwyck again soon.

Someone got overly aggressive on shaving the greens. They were impossible to putt when faced with downhill putts. The resulting slow play produced a round taking four and a half hours, forcing our foursome to finish the last hole in dark…and causing me a couple of lost golf balls. I do enjoy the layout and I’m a big fan of how you get people organized before teeing off. Great cheese burgers.

I last played Sienna 4 weeks ago and each time Icouldnt have been assigned better golfing partners. Pace and knowledge were superb. You have to strategically think your way around this course. Greens and fairways were in good shape.

I cut it kind of close with my 115 pm tee time, finishing in four and a quarter hours thanks to our foursome moving up to the red tees on the back nine. One of our group had only just begun golfing. I felt bad for him. As for me, it was another 90…four pars and four double bogeys. Hole 10 is harsh with a big water carry and a down hill lie. The green slopes severely. I enjoy the last two holes which will reward you for using strategic shots. Greens were bumpy and fast starting out. Sand was applied on number one. Fairways were in good shape.

We had a popcorn machine at the weather service office where I retired from six years ago in Lake Charles. It was a tough and cool weather day at Houston National with north winds gusting over 20 mph. That makes the first two challenging holes even tougher into that wind. Those two double bogeys were joined by three more. Pace of play was great as two slower groups waived me by. I returned the favor as two big hitters went by on the back nine. I eventually had to move up (I’m a senior) after my last double bogey into the wind on 15. Playing from the red tees made it a fair fight especially on 17 and 18. This course drains well and is my go to course after recent rain. All that and a bag of fresh popcorn.

Other than breaking 80, the best qualities of Quail Valley are the first class facilities followed closely by the top notch staff. The community center and pro shop combined with the clubhouse tavern are without parallel. The piano music is a nice touch for a cheery atmosphere.
Marshall’s patrol the courses continually. I appreciated being waived thru as a single by the Starter at the first tee as a foursome was getting ready. As for the layout…ninety degree doglegs around water are tough on seniors.

I had doubts when the predicted 15 mph winds hadn’t shown up until near the end of my round but the cups of ice at the start and at turn kept my hydration levels up with my three bottles of water and allowed me to swing comfortably. The greens had been aerated and were back to their superb condition. It has to be tough during this early heat wave. So easy to burn the greens. The heat scared off many golfers on a Wednesday…and they should be careful with 107 degree heat but…a 12 mph wind and constant hydration kept this 72 year old body operating to the point where my short game, requiring touch, was never better.

This is my go to course on most fridays when courses near me are either booked up or a bit expensive. Hole number eight drives me nuts. It’s a short par 3 that I find awkward. My favorite is the par 5 14th which has a creek about 110 yards from the green.which is small. The staff is welcoming and the grill makes a great cheeseburger.

Sunday evening, the day before my golfing day, having found that nearby golf course availability was becoming a problem, I thought it would be wise to use my golf now app to arrange my golf on that Monday. I found hot deals at both Blackhorse north and south. Selecting each deal resulted in a “cannot complete transaction “ notice. So I find another hot deal at Houston National. The price was a bit too high but I was able to redeem a coupon bringing it to a barely affordable $51. So I show up at the golf course, and the pro shop guy asks why I didn’t get a senior rate. I told him it wasn’t offered on the app (often it is). He said I should have called. Yeah right, and you’d be open at 9pm the night before. The course was empty, the guy looked like he hadn’t seen many customers. The economy of raising prices on green fees appeared to be a failure. How ca. they make money when golfers refuse to pay? So now I’m hearing that the golf now app is obsolete at good golf courses. That we should call and arrange tee times. Not good.

My only double bogey came on the last hole when my third shot approach caught the far left part of the huge green, leaving a three putt. Otherwise I played well. Greens continue the recent trend of being great. Glad they saved money sodding over the bunkers. Sand traps are overrated anyway. Friendly staff, cart girl made frequent checks…I needed the extra ice on an 85 degree day. There was some ground under repair around the 9th tee…gold black and gray were moved up…not complaining. I was able to sink a long putt for par on a hole that normally plays like a par 5 as it bends around a good sized pond. This course rewards those who are successful on risk taking. A fun links style layout. The best part of this course are the people working there and those who I play alongside. A great value.

Using Google maps plus Lexus navigation I still had trouble homing in on the golf course. Navigating on the course I again found myself lost, not intending on teeing off on #10 but that said met some very fine people and played nine in a fun foursome. The clubhouse is top notch as is the helpful and friendly staff. We did have trouble with the bumpy and slow greens.. I liked the historical touches complete with a replica of one of the twin sisters cannons from the Texas Revolution and the steel truss bridge shipped from Iowa and crossing the water to the 18th green. It was an hour driving time and add a half hour driving back thru rush hour traffic so not sure when II return but I will.

Greens are in their best shape. Putts rolling true. Had a rain delay a few weeks back.?Cheeseburger was top notch. The staff are so helpful and friendly. I don’t mind getting stuck in traffic on my way home. The manager made a great decision sodding over the bunkers…keeping this a true links style golf course. My only caveat is to carry extra golf balls. It’s easy to lose a ball in the rough.

This course, despite a 45 minute drive on a good day, is in my rotation because the layout is fun, the staff more than friendly, and those I join up both diverse and excellent golfers. The 14th is my favorite on the course and plays perfectly for my skill set. My typical two drives leaves me within 150 yards of the small green over water and native grass. The ninth and 16th I have to play as par fives as they arc around water which at 71 I can’t carry but it’s fun to watch younger golfers try. This is a challenging course that rewards good shots. I sand traps…they’ve been sodded over. This helps keep green fees reasonable.

I was already disappointed when the island green on 9 was out due to repairs. Then I get stuck in the mud off the 22th green. Called the pro shop for a tow at 345 pm. It’s 415 and still waiting. Someone should rope this unseen muddy area off. It appears like deep grass.

Haven’t played this course in eight months but what doesn’t change is the cumulative difficulty this Blackhorse South course puts on a senior golfer like me. I start out playing the whites and by the time I’m finished it’s the greens. Played with two fellow retirees Bill and Mike and we had a blast. Greens were lightning fast. I really like the two par threes on the back nine. They’re elevated with a picturesque carry over water associated with Cypress Creek. White knuckles.

If you play twilight rates like I do, Golf Now will still include free meal and a beverage. The pro shop will advise you that such an offer does not apply to you. I really didn’t have time to stop and eat anyway (I would run out of daylight). Otherwise course conditions were great. Fairways fast, greens rolled true. The 17th and 18th remain two of my favorite holes in greater Houston. Navigating the creek that runs through those holes is a big challenge.

I was just in time on my late afternoon tee time to play freshly mown fairways that were firm and fast after a couple of hot dry days. I was fortunate to score some additional ice from the friendly staff 10 minutes after five, so that I could get through the last nine. On a side note, the best part of playing Southwyck is the people there.

It was 93 and I scored a 90. Temporary green on 9 is beginning to seem permanent after a couple of months. Did hear some grumbling in my foursome over the shortage of golf carts late in the afternoon. We made do with two.

I’ve never seen Southwyck’s greens as good as they were. The recent rains of last month really helped. Also the greens keeper must’ve had them rolled, they were so smooth and fast. The young man working the pro shop never fails to make me feel like a valued customer. The grill has some really good choices. Well worth the 50 minute drive from Katy.