Luke is an avid weekend-warrior golfer from the East Coast who plays golf more than he cares to admit.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course, Houston, TX. Learn About This PGA Championship, Course, History, & Why You Need to Visit!
History of the Hewlett Packard Enterprise Houston Open:
The Hewlett Packard Enterprise Houston Open began in 1946, which makes it the third oldest professional golf tournament in Texas.
It was originally called the Houston Open until 2003 when title sponsor HP acquired Compaq Computers. Hewlett Packard Enterprise is headquartered in Palo Alto, California and is one of the leading global technology companies on the planet.
Course Layout & How to Play:
The course layout measures 7,441 yards from the tips and plays as a par 70 with a course rating of 73.7 and a slope of 135.
The first hole is a great opening hole that sets the tone for what’s ahead on this challenging golf course. This is because from the tee box it is a par 5, dogleg right and hitting from the back tees you have to clear a pond that guards the green.
1st Hole at HPEA: 500 Yard Par 5
The second hole is a 200 yard downhill par 3 that features a wide open approach that slopes from right to left. Never take anything for granted on this well-guarded green because nothing comes easy in Houston!
2nd Hole at HPEA: 205 Yard Par 3
There’s no doubt about it, your mid-rounds during this PGA TOUR event are going to be very important; especially when playing these iconic holes.
10th Hole @ HPEA: 394 Yard Par 4 & 18th Hole @ HPEA: 419 Yard Par 4
There is only one thing tougher than hitting a tee shot on number nine, and that’s playing the final hole; especially when you’ve got to fly a carry over water to hit this green. The tough closing stretch at the HPEA always makes for an exciting finish!
18th Hole @ HPEA: 335 Yard Par 4
HP Executive Course:
The course was originally called the “Executive Course” because it wasn’t designed to be challenging for PGA TOUR players and often served as a practice area.
The original course was closed in 2013 and completely redone by Gil Hanse & Brian Curley, with input from Johnny Miller and Tom Watson.
This renovation features new gathering areas, tees, fairways, bunkers and greens. This renovation not only made it a championship course worthy of a PGA TOUR event, but also a truly enjoyable golf course to play.
The Reconfigured Golf Course at Memorial Park:
The aim was for this course to be appropriate for all levels of players except for the most advanced tour professionals (the ones playing this final round on Sunday).
The goal was to make sure there were no super tough holes, combined with no easy holes. The results are a course that is both entertaining for the amateurs and also good preparation for professionals who will be competing in this event on Sunday.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Houston Open Tickets and Pricing:
Tickets are not cheap, but they aren’t over priced when you consider the best players in the world will be playing on Sunday. Ticket prices range from $45-$250 depending on what section of the course you want to watch from.
There are also multiple ticket options for children under 16 years old that can save you a lot of money! So if your planning on coming out to watch some global golf superstars in this years HPEA then bring the whole family because it’s affordable and entertaining for everyone!
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Houston Open Practice Area & Where to Stay:
If your already planning this trip out we know your wondering “Where is a good place to stay?” Well if your looking for somewhere with nice accommodations and a lot of entertainment options you should check out the Galleria, Memorial City Mall and The Woodlands.
The Woodlands is an expensive tourist destination but well worth it if your looking to do everything there is to do in this area.
It’s also only about 25 minutes from the course driving so its extremely convenient for those who don’t want to stay too far away.
Right across highway 99 from the course is the Marriott Hotel and Conference Center which would be my top pick for staying during this event!
Houston Marriott North:
If your on a budget or just want something clean & cheap with great service then I highly recommend checking out Motel 6 located at 1909 W Grand Pkwy South (50). This hotel offers very clean rooms that are not only affordable but also just minutes away from the course!
Memorial Park Golf Course:
Right next to the Executive Course is Memorial Park which offers pay-to-play daily rounds along with many other golfing options.
If your looking for a little more information on this area check out my article titled “Houston’s Most Affordable Golf”“. For now I’ll leave you with somewhere to play while coming up to watch some amazing PGA TOUR action at HPEA !
