3 Houston golf courses score best in the state title by Texas Monthly

who's your caddy

texasmonthly.com

Anyone who swings a Callaway or TaylorMade in Houston knows our fair city usually boasts 12 months for great golfing. No surprise, then, that three of the best golf courses in the Lone Star State are located in the Houston area, according to a new 2023 guide by Texas Monthly.

Texas owns the fifth-most public golf courses in the country, with about 600 tracks spread out throughout the state. With that in mind, the Texas Monthly team traveled thousands of miles to collect their data about the most unique, reasonably-priced, and accessible golf courses in Texas.

The three Houston courses all fit this criteria, while offering some of the best experiences for players of any skill level.

The first golf course on the lists is BlackHorse in Cypress, a 36-hole complex distinctly designed by Jim Hardy and Peter Jacobsen as an appreciation of East Texas' wetlands. The combined space between the South and North Courses add up to nearly 14,500 yards, with the South Course taking the shorter length but compensating with a more challenging design.

Out of the total three dozen holes, Texas Monthly explains the sixteenth and seventeenth holes are the most memorable.

"The former, a short par 4, dares big hitters to drive over a beautiful marsh, and the following par 3 is effectively an island — a wooden bridge just above the waterline takes you from tee box to green," said senior editor Josh Alvarez. "The spectacular wetland landscape and resident waterfowl provide consolation for any splashed shots."

Next on the list is the oldest 18-hole course in Houston – Gus Wortham – which the Monthly says was just "an afterthought" to the city. It was only after locals expressed disagreement over turning the course into a botanical garden that the Houston City Council decided to revamp the course into what it is today.

"Thanks to some TLC over the past six years, Wortham boasts a freshly rebuilt clubhouse, an all-grass driving range, resplendent fairways, and attractive, constantly beguiling greens," the guide said.

What sets this course apart, according to the Monthly, is how it hasn't lost its edginess through the years, even with the city's reinvestment.

Last, but certainly never the least, Memorial Park has had time in the spotlight before when it earned a title as one of the best municipal courses by Golf.com. So it comes as no surprise that the famed course would be included in Texas Monthly's guide – going so far as to say Bayou City golfers should be counting themselves lucky ("if not downright spoiled") for such a well-maintained, conveniently located, and affordable course.

Since Memorial Park's renovation and reopening in 2019, the course has become only one of two municipally-owned courses on the PGA Tour, in addition to being a formidable host for the Houston Open.

"Those who fear the sand will rejoice at seeing fewer than twenty bunkers during the round, but in exchange players must carefully navigate grass hollows, deep ravines, and thick Bermuda grass that clutches balls when they miss the fairway," Alvarez said. "Make use of the double-decker driving range to get your iron distances dialed in, because the greens can be unkind."

And don't forget to grab a Bill's Burger from Becks Prime after the round is over.

The remaining 15 courses in Texas Monthly's "A Guide to Texas' Best Public Golf Courses" can be found on texasmonthly.com.

Memorial Park hosts 'Biggest Picnic in Texas' to celebrate game-changing land bridge grand opening

a day at the park

After years of construction, Memorial Park's game-changing Land Bridge is set to officially open to the public. To toast the milestone moment, Memorial Park Conservancy and its partners are hosting what's (fittingly) dubbed "The Biggest Picnic in Texas" at 10 am Saturday, February 11.

This free, family-friendly bash at the park grounds (7575 Picnic Ln.) will serve up picnic baskets full of park-friendly provisions from H-E-B (free while supplies last), plus additional food and drink for purchase. Visitors can look forward to live music, face painting, self-guided tours of the Land Bridge and Prairie project, and more, per an event announcement.

Exploring the 100-acre site is encouraged, so much so that all who traverse the bridge, its 35-foot-tall hills, and the prairie can collect stamps in a personal passport booklet and even score prizes as part of the event's hunt, "The Great Prairie Adventure." The event comes courtesy of the conservancy, as well as the City of Houston, Houston Parks and Recreation Department, Kinder Foundation, and Uptown Houston.

While enjoying a park day, residents and visitors can also learn about the conservancy's work on the area in what's now the largest urban prairie restoration in Texas. Guests will also learn about the vital role the prairies play in the Gulf Coast’s cultural and ecological history.

As parking at Memorial Park is coveted even on a regular weekend, expect this event to be jam packed with very little onsite parking. Ride sharing, off-site parking, and public transportation are ideal for the event that promises to see thousands.

A free shuttle to the event is available, with paid parking available at Lot H, 1643 Memorial Dr.

Those opting for a bus can find stations at these stops

Woodway Drive at Memorial Drive (an 8-minute walk)
W. Loop North at Woodway Drive (a 12-minute walk)
N. Post Oak Lane at Woodway Drive (a 16-minute walk)

Specifically, the bus lines to Memorial Park are:

20 Magnolia Park Transit Center (Eastbound)
84 Northwest Transit Center (Northbound)
47 Northwest Transit Center (Northbound)

More details can be found at the grand opening extravaganza's event page.

Shellye Arnold, CEO of Memorial Park Conservancy, has ushered the land bridge and prairie transformation and tells CultureMap that "giving this gift to Houston will create memories for people immediately. " As soon as that ribbons are cut, people will start enjoying this special special space, a space that was once dominated by the by the road."

Indeed, for years, the park was dominated and bisected by Memorial Drive. Now, visitors and resident wildlife have a safe, scenic connector, one that merges the idea of a forest and green ecosystem with Houston's car town identity. "It's like a little state park in the middle of a city," Arnold explains — an apt description of Houston's crown jewel that — at 1,500 acres — is nearly double the size New York's Central Park.

As CultureMap has reported, The Land Bridge and Prairie is the next milestone project of the Memorial Park Master Plan, thanks to the pivotal Ten-Year Plan, meant to set Memorial Park and Houston on a national and even international stage. A study of weaving nature with urban development, the project utilizes green infrastructure — even stormwater management — to grow a new 100-acre ecological gem.

A transformative element for human visitors, the land bridge, prairie, and park improvements are crucial for its animal dwellers. Most recent estimates reveal 79 species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, plus 60 species of birds at the park, meaning that animals will also have a safe respite from unforgiving cars and potentially intrusive human traffic.

Arnold adds that standing atop the land Bridge and its hills is rewarded with scenic views and breeze, with air that's not thick with dust and emissions, a common complaint of runners, hikers, bikers, and all who traverse the area.

Houston has watched the land bridge develop bloom from frustrating Memorial Drive traffic diversions and major construction to the now impressive land feature. Those who enjoy public green spaces and Houston's great outdoors should not miss this picnic and crowning moment, one that will resonate with generations of park lovers to come.

(Full disclosure: CultureMap editor Steven Devadanam is a member of the Memorial Park Conservancy advisory board.)

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Superstar singer and 'sentient tuxedo' Michael Bublé hands out his new whiskey in Houston

try this tuxedo's whiskey

A major tenet of journalism is to not bury the lede, meaning, don’t bury the most important info and just get straight to it. So, at risk of doing just that, here’s the top-line info:

Charming singer/actor/pitchman Michael Bublé will host a fan meet-and-greet and tasting event for his Fraser & Thompson Whiskey from 4 pm to 5 pm Thursday, December 7 at Spec’s - Fountain View (2020 Fountain View Dr.).

That means fans should plan for a long line, arrive early, and be ready to sip the Canadian showman’s celebrity spirit at what’s dubbed the Fraser & Thompson “Easy, Now” pop-up lounge within the store. Always one to spread the love to his fans, Bublé is expected to pass out sips only — officially, he’s not slated to sign bottles or pose for photos.

But, knowing his love for fans, there’s no telling if he’ll grab a phone for a selfie — or suddenly start “correcting” certain sparkling water bottles with a Sharpie (as displayed in this ad):

Smooth, subtle, and Bublé-backed — all for a mere 30 bucks!

We mention his love of fans specifically because Bublé’s whiskey retails for a mere $29.99. Hardcore whiskey purists might raise a judge-y eyebrow at the price, which to some, could suggest a rough bottom note. However, the blend, according to press materials, is crafted with “hand-selected aged liquid” to create an “inviting whiskey,” with “sweet fig and blood orange on the nose, and a subtle finish of caramel, vanilla, and a hint of spice.”

Wait…“hand-selected aged liquid?” Ummm...

Ah, further review finds it’s made with“ Canadian Whiskies with Kentucky Bourbon in Bardstown, Kentucky.” And all that crafting comes courtesy of Master Distiller and blender Paul Cirka, who co-founded the brand with Bublé. Whew.

Additionally, Fraser & Thompson also promises “less burn, more Bublé.” Hey, a distilled spirit from a silky-smooth songman has just gotta be smooth, yes?

The greatest press release in the history of Canadian celebrity-backed whiskies for $29.99

Okay, that’s the top-line info; now, let’s talk about this Fraser & Thompson press release. The official press announcement of the brand is very on-brand for the self-effacing superstar. Consider this passage from the release:

This whiskey is a triumph, an achievement, the product of years of hard work and collaborative efforts involving dozens of beverage alcohol professionals, yet we haven’t received much more than a winking emoji from Mr. Bublé when asked how we should advertise it. It strikes us as supremely ironic that a guy with such an extensive catalog of music has mastered radio silence.

We toyed with the idea of constructing an attractive, well-dressed scarecrow stuffed with hay next to a tape recorder playing “Haven’t Met You Yet,” but the coincidental sentiment felt too on-the-nose for our marketing team, whose calls keep getting bounced between assistants.

An attractive scarecrow? CultureMap receives thousands of press releases a week. In this editor’s 20-plus years of experience, this might be the best release...ever.

And it gets better. Bublé, who has his hands full being a superstar, father, husband, bottle editor, and frequent napper, was apparently hard to pin down for marketing. “At some point, from somewhere, he released this very nice statement that we’d like to share with you now,” the release continues:

“I spent many summers with my grandfather at the confluence of the Fraser and Thompson rivers in British Columbia," said Fraser & Thompson founder Michael Bublé. “When I heard Paul’s vision for creating a new kind of whiskey, I knew instantly what I wanted to call it. For the last three years, we worked together to perfect a whiskey blend that is equally elegant and approachable. We can't wait to pour you a glass!”

Meet a “sentient tuxedo of a man”

Well, hey, that sounds earnest enough. But the press team isn’t buying it. The press release responds:

“Isn’t that great? As if Michael is just the salt of the earth, sitting on a porch somewhere talking to the neighbors, and pouring you a glass of his smooth, delicious whiskey? This overbooked, overextended, sentient tuxedo of a man is thousands of miles away telling us, “Easy, now,” like he’s gone fishin’ instead of playing sold out shows in a new city every night.

(Please excuse us as we steal “sentient tuxedo of a man” for our Instagram bio/description.)

Later, as the release describes the Fraser & Thompson brand launch — all while trying to contact its star founder for comment:

Well, there you have it. I guess we just launched Fraser & Thompson. Tell the concierge at Michael’s hotel to pass along a thumbs up from us so we don’t interrupt his beauty sleep. We wouldn’t want to harsh Mr. Bublé’s mellow.

Sheesh, seems like Michael and the PR team might need to hash things out over a glass of a certain Canadian celebrity-backed blended whiskey, one retailing for a mere $29.99.

-----

Michael Bublé will host the “Easy, Now” Fraser & Thompson pop-up lounge/tasting experience from 4 pm to 5 pm Thursday, December 7 at Spec’s - Fountain View (2020 Fountain View Dr.). Event is free; participants must be 21 years or older.

$Michael Bubl\u00e9 Fraser & Thompson tux lawn chair$

Photo courtesy of Fraser & Thompson

Superstar and “sentient tuxedo of a man” Bublé will pass out whiskey here in Houston.

Gift experiences this holiday and you might just win Blake Shelton tickets

Celebrate More, Waste Less

What do you get the person who has everything? Hint: It's not another "thing."

This holiday season, consider gifting experiences instead of items — and you won't even have to wrap them.

According to Take Care of Texas, a statewide campaign to conserve and protect our one and only Lone Star State, about 8,000 tons of wrapping paper is used each year. Most wrapping paper contains glitter or metallic materials —which means it can’t be recycled — and ribbons, bows, and gift tags also aren’t recyclable.

To help you get into this new holiday groove of gifting time together instead of stuff, TCOT has a pretty amazing experience to give away.

Sign the Take Care of Texas pledge this winter and you'll be entered to win two tickets to Blake Shelton's Back to the Honky Tonk Tour, presented by Kubota.

Shelton's only stop in Texas is at the world-class Moody Center on March 1, 2024, where he'll be backed by opening acts Dustin Lynch and Emily Ann Roberts. This is your chance to hear Shelton sing "Austin" in Austin!

The prize package also includes a one-night stay at the luxurious Thompson Hotel Austin, so you can return from the Friday night concert and sleep in style.

To enter, simply click here and take the pledge to help keep our air and water clean, conserve water and energy, and reduce waste.

The contest is open through December 31, and you only need one entry per person. The winner will be drawn on January 2, 2024.

Spring Branch sows Wild Oats with opening of Underbelly's Texas tribute restaurant

now sowing in spring branch

A new option for Texas comfort food has arrived in Spring Branch. Wild Oats has started a quiet soft opening ahead of its official opening day of Friday, December 8.

Previously located at the Houston Farmers Market, Wild Oats is Underbelly Hospitality’s restaurant that pays homage to Texas’ various culinary traditions. After closing its original location in September, Wild Oats has relocated to a new development at 1222 Witte Road next to its sister concept, Underbelly Burger, and The Decoy, a new bar from the owners of Wakefield Crowbar with volleyball courts and a high-energy atmosphere.

Underbelly Hospitality culinary director Scott Muns tels CultureMap that the move gave the company an opportunity to make some changes to Wild Oats’ menu, which was developed by his predecessor, chef Nick Fine. He wanted to respect the restaurant's original vision while expanding to include traditional favorites that hadn't appeared on the menu before.

“There’s room for new items and new ideas,” Muns says. “It’s a new team with a new chef. I wanted them to be able to have a voice in the menu also.”

Those new items start with a wild boar shank that’s braised in salsa verde and served with grits that are treated like masa. For Muns, having a wild game dish on the menu feels appropriate for a restaurant devoted to Texas foodways. “If people think of it as pork, they’re going to be surprised by how much more depth of flavor you can get,” he says.

Muns and chef de cuisine Omar Munoz collaborated on a new seafood boil. Currently, it comes with shrimp, blue crab, and snapper, but the flexible format allows the kitchen to utilize whatever comes in from the restaurant’s seafood purveyors. Instead of a large steak, the menu now offers a smoked short rib as its beef option, which more explicitly pays homage to Texas barbecue.

Puffy tacos, a request from Underbelly Hospitality president Nina Quincy, allow the restaurant to put its spin on a dish that’s identified with San Antonio. In this preparation, the grits gets turned into the masa that becomes the tortillas, which are fried until they’re puffy. Diners can choose from beef suadero, smoked chicken, or pastor mushrooms as a filling.

“It takes technique to get a good puff,” Muns says. “Yesterday was the first day we had it on the menu. From one day’s data, it seem to be something people are going to gravitate towards.”

Menu staples have also been reworked. The chicken fried steak now comes with one patty as a default with the option to “Texas size” it by adding a second patty. When Wild Oats opened, the dish, which is made with wagyu beef from Texas-based R-C Ranch, cost more than $40. Now it starts at $18.

“We’ve tried to be mindful of pricing and making sure things don’t get too high,” Muns says. “The idea of a 40-something dollar chicken fried steak can seem ridiculous, even if you’re using wagyu and expensive products. I don’t want to go out and spend that much money on a chicken fried steak.”

The opening of Wild Oats completes a busy 2023 for Underbelly Hospitality. In addition to opening a second location of Underbelly Burger, the company recently welcomed Comalito, a taqueria developed in partnership with acclaimed Mexican chef Luis Robledo Richards, to Wild Oats’ original location at the Houston Farmers Market. Earlier this year, the company opened Pastore, an Italian seafood restaurant, next to its Georgia James steakhouse in the Regent Square mixed-use development.

“We’re thrilled to plant roots for Wild Oats on Witte Road,” Underbelly Hospitality partner Jeff Lindenberger said in a statement. “Community has always been our core vision for the reintroduction of Wild Oats, and we have drawn inspiration from our neighbors to build a space that reflects the warmth and diversity of Texas. This is a concept and menu we all really love and are eager to share it with our newfound neighbors and loyal patrons.”

Photo by Becca Wright

Wild Oats officially opens this Friday, December 8.

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