life at the 15th hole

Steak 48 spoils Houston Open VIPs with food, cocktails, and improv rap tributes

Over four days 138 players will compete for their share of a $9.1 million purse at the Texas Children's Houston Open.

Photo courtesy of Texas Children's Houston Open/Instagram

With the popularity of Netflix's Full Swing series, many have turned their attention to the Texas Children's Houston Open, which tees off Thursday through Sunday in Houston.

This PGA tournament is a warmup for many pro golfers who follow it up by playing in the famed Masters Tournament at Augusta National. Over four days, 138 players will compete for their share of a $9.1 million purse at Memorial Park Golf Course, which has recently seen a $34 million renovation spearheaded by Jim Crane and the Astros Golf Foundation.

Ahead of the serious tournament play, many players participate in the Texas Children's Houston Open Cadence Bank Pro-Am, where amateur golfers get to play a round with a professional. This VIP ticket comes with a hefty price tag of $10,000, which is donated to the Astros Foundation and several other beneficiaries, including the City of Houston, Memorial Park Conservancy, and Texas Children's Hospital.

Orbit tees off at the Cadence Bank Pro-Am. Photo courtesy of Texas Children's Houston Open/Instagram

The Pro-Am is a way for golf pros to prepare for the tournament, spend time on the course, and schmooze with sponsors. For amateurs, it is the chance to feel like a VIP, play in tournament conditions, and be treated to the perks professionals see regularly.

Tournament sponsors rolled out the red carpet for Pro-Am participants with several tents offering open bars and food ranging from barbecue and hamburgers to seafood. Players also had the opportunity to pick up tournament swag from select apparel and sports equipment companies. Personalized head covers, embroidered Astros gear, and other golf ware were all up for grabs.

Steak 48, a sponsor of the Pro-Am for the past three years, was one of the most sought-after spots during the day-long event. Set up on Memorial Golf Course's signature 15th hole, a par 3 with a sloping green and water views, players were treated to a fully stocked bar, tasty bites, and live music.

After teeing off, golfers snagged mini versions of Steak 48's crowd-pleasing bites, including New York strip with hash browns, lobster rolls, meatball grilled cheese, and vanilla and caramel cakes.

Meatball grilled cheese, anyone?Photo by Katherine Ross

Taking the opportunity for a more personalized approach to community giving, Steak 48 also partnered with golf star Wyndham Clark for a celebrity dinner at its locaiton in River Oaks District earlier in the week.

"Houston is a fantastic city, and it did not get that way by accident. There are so many philanthropic people and foundations that do amazing work to make it the special place that it is. The Astros Foundation and the Texas Children's Houston Open certainly fall into that category," Steak 48 founder and CEO Jeff Mastro tells CultureMap. "We are so fortunate for the opportunities and success that we have been provided here, and in turn, understand the responsibility and privilege that we have to give back to a community that has been — and continues to be — so supportive of us."

The 15th hole was also the only place on the course with customized live music to accompany each player. Kelley James of Tee Box Freestyle hopped on the mic and improvised a rap as each player had their turn on the tee box. Half jokes and half well-researched anecdotes about the players, James made sure each golfer got noticed.

Ben Griffin, a professional golfer out of North Carolina, said between great views, delicious food, and James' music, the 15th hole was one of his favorites during the Pro-Am. "It is fun and different from what anyone expects on a golf course. It's a nice twist and definitely adds some flavor."

Many players participate in the Texas Children's Houston Open Cadence Bank Pro-Am. Photo by Katherine Ross

Although much of the attention at the Pro-Am centered around big names like Scottie Scheffler, Will Zalatoris, and Houston's own Sahith Theegala, VIPs of a different kind also took center stage. A handful of patients from Texas Children's Hospital who have golf dreams of their own had their chance to learn from the best, including Wyndham Clark, who spent time with the teens and gave them pointers on their golf game.

Aside from the luxury treatment, large winnings, and celebrity sightings, the Houston-based tournament is all about seeing the Texas Children's Hospital patients starry-eyed and smiling on the course with some of the best golfers in the world.

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The Texas Children's Houston Open takes place March 28-31. For tickets and more information, visit the tournament's website.

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preserve Houston's history

Preservationists stage last-ditch attempt to save historic Houston theatre

Courtesy of Arthouse Houston

Community members rally to preserve the Garden Oaks Theatre.

Houstonians residing in the Heights, Garden Oaks, and far beyond were thrown into a tizzy last week by the abrupt news that the Garden Oaks Theater had been purchased by commercial developers in a $7.1 million, off-market deal.

Within a matter of days, demolition permits were granted, sewer lines disconnected from the city, and — as of Monday night — construction fencing was placed around the property. Both Preservation Houston and Arthouse Houston, an offshoot of the Friends of River Oaks Theatre, have voiced concerns over the apparent plans to raze the Art Deco building before the community has had time to react to the news.

Built in 1947, the Garden Oaks Theater is one of several post-war Houston theaters designed for the Interstate Circuit by H.F. Pettigrew and John A. Worley of the Dallas firm Pettigrew & Worley, alongside its sister cinema, the River Oaks Theatre. It is a classic example of streamlined Art Deco design — an architectural gem that connects Houston’s everyday streetscape to its cinematic past.

Arthouse Houston has been sitting on preservation plans for the theater for years, waiting for it to be sold by the church that had owned and utilized the building since the 1990s. The 700-plus seat theater, along with its stage, has retained its original architectural details and features throughout the years, save for a short stage extension project carried out by the church.

Developers have not responded to proposals by Arthouse Houston to either buy or lease the movie theater to return it to its original use while simultaneously operating as a community arts center and much needed “third place.”

According to State of Texas records, parties involved include the Heights Equity Trust, Sage Equity Partners, and Heights Investment Fund, LLC. None of these entities have responded to CultureMap’s request for comment about their plans for the property.

Jim Parsons, programs and communications director for Preservation Houston, issued this statement to CultureMap:

“The Garden Oaks Theater and buildings like it give the city a sense of identity. People don't just recognize these places, they remember them. Houston is always changing, but when we treat historic architecture as disposable, we risk losing the landmarks that anchor neighborhoods and give them character.”

Maureen McNamara, Arthouse Houston’s co-founder and director, is hoping that developers took note of the “save the theater” rally that took place at the theater on Sunday, February 15, and may have a change of heart. Coverage of the rally by ABC13 was widely circulated on social media, so it’s unlikely that the developers are unaware of the public outcry to save the theater — and is what likely led to fencing going up only a day later.

“We feel like we’re pretty well poised to step in and help investors to incorporate the theater into a larger project, and the first step is to make sure that we win them over,” McNamara tells CultureMap. “Part of winning them over is making sure they know how much the community cares, and seeing how beautiful and dynamic restoring our historical buildings and theaters can be.”

The restoration of River Oaks Theatre and the attention that project has brought to the area is something McNamara is confident she can replicate.

“There are nonprofit organizations all over the US saving and running historic theaters as community arts centers, and arts and film centers — there are models for this. Austin just did a big push with the Paramount Theatre,” says McNamara. “I’d like for it [Garden Oaks Theater] to exist for its original purpose — at least in part, as a movie theater — with some live theater components as well.”

A petition on change.org has already garnered more than 1,000 signatures. In addition, Arthouse Houston will attend a Houston City Council meeting on Wednesday, February 18, at 9 am to discuss what there is to be done about this situation. McNamara encourages people to join them.

“We would love any help we can get getting people there, signing up to speak if possible — it would be great to have a crowd there.”

Courtesy of Arthouse Houston

Community members rally to preserve the Garden Oaks Theatre.

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