Southwyck Golf Club

Southwyck is new and improved after re-opening in the summer of 2002 with new fairways, tees, and greens. This links-style track features prominent bunkering, water in play on 14 holes, and is known for its difficult back nine.
Southwyck first opened in 1988 on the prairie lands east of downtown Houston-at the time, it was the only true links-style track in the area. Like the Scottish courses, this track is susceptible to the wind, and Kavanaugh did a nice job of confusing golfers off the tee, as it's difficult to determine exactly where you want to hit the shot. Depth perception is difficult, and local knowledge is helpful.

The course once served as the home course for the famous University of Houston golf team, and it served them well with its difficulty. Large mounding prevents level lies, and water comes into play on 13 holes. Tall native grasses line the fairway and require desperate hacks into the fairway when errant shots become buried in the heather.

No. 5 is a monster par 3 at 250 yards, but the par 3 No. 11 might be more difficult because of the long carry of a ravine down to the green 212 yards away. No. 3 might be the toughest in Houston. It rolls 467 yards into the wind with fairway bunkers lining the right side.

Getting there : From Hwy. 288 south find the Hwy. 518/Pearland exit. Turn left and look for the Silver Lake Subdivision. Take that road to the course.