Hole-by-hole overview of Houston Golf Club

Built to host the Houston Open, the Golf Club of Houston tournament course plays to a par 72 – 4 par 5, 4 par 3 – spread over 7,400 yards. Cut: Through a natural forest, each hole is framed by trees, bunkers, aquatic plants or wetlands, which provide definition and challenge. The course, a regular stop on the PGA Tour from 2003 to 2019, is a bit tricky with deceptive bunkering and difficult pin locations. The layout will be a challenge for the 54 LIV golfers who are participating this week in the circuit’s eighth event of the 2024 season.

Here is a hole-by-hole description of the 18 holes:

A simple start to the game, but placement off the tee is essential to success. Not very difficult, it’s handicap no. 17.

Again, a well-placed tee shot is important. The generous landing area of ​​this slight dogleg right narrows considerably between opposing fairway bunkers. Deep sand bunkers protect both sides of the multi-level putting surface.

LIVGolf: 10 players to watch

Hole location is essential for planning the optimal approach angle into the green. Water protects the front and left sides of this uniquely sculpted putting surface. Accessing the rear and right pin locations will be particularly difficult.

The tee shot must avoid a large sculpted bunker to the left of the first landing area, to provide every opportunity to reach the green in two shots. The green slopes from front right to back left and is protected by water to the left and a deep bunker to the right. An accurate approach shot required for a legitimate eagle or birdie opportunity.

This long par 4 requires a solid drive, followed by a long and precise approach. A missing tee shot to the right results in an extremely difficult recovery. The fairway bunker is long and straight, with plenty of landing areas between it and the lake guarding to the left of the hole. The left and front left parts of the green are protected by sand. A well-mown hollow lies to the right of the green.

An intimidating tee shot should carry the wet area and avoid the long bunker adjacent to the left of the fairway. A well-struck tee ball, played with a slight draw, gains additional roll and results in a shorter approach to a green protected by water along its front and left.

The first par 3 on the course is also the shortest on the course, but it is certainly not to be taken lightly. Club selection is influenced by tee location and wind. The water awaits any shot taken slightly to the left of the green. Depending on the location of the hole, saving par from the sand on the right can also be a challenge.

Potential birdie or eagle opportunity for professionals, as two well-played shots will hit this deep, receptive green. However, bogey is a possibility, as the approach to the fairway narrows considerably into the green and is flanked by a lake to the right and a group of deep sand bunkers to the left.

This longer par 3 features a wide approach ramp and subtle green contours. Shorting a pin on the left side in the adjacent sand bunker presents some difficult ups and downs to save par.

Regardless of the tee angle chosen for the game, tee accuracy is paramount in setting the desired approach shot into the elevated, multi-level green. Any approach shot short or right of the green will roll to the base of the slope, creating a difficult chip shot.

Perhaps the most demanding driving hole on the course. Water protects the entire right side of the fairway landing area and there is a small sand bunker to the left at the far end of the driving area. The large green is protected by water to the right and deep sand bunkers to the left and back.

This risk/reward gap offers the opportunity for an exciting eagle or a frustrating bogey or worse. The fairway landing area and approach to the green are sized and shaped to encourage driving onto the green. However, any attempt pushed to the right will land in the lake. Safer play, left of the fairway, results in a more difficult approach. The green is deep, responsive and has a lower trough in the center, offsetting the higher plateaus to the front and back.

Precise placement of each successive shot becomes increasingly critical to securing birdie. A series of sand bunkers run parallel to the generous first landing zone. Flirting with the bunkers to the left of the second landing area provides an ideal angle to access the small back right position of the green.

The contours of the putting surface of this picturesque par 3 create distinct cutting areas and reward a precise tee shot with an excellent birdie opportunity. Deep sand bunkers line both sides of the green, creating a difficult recovery to an adjacent hole location.

The first landing area of ​​the longest par 5 has a cross slope from right to left and narrows slightly opposite the left fairway bunker. The second shot should favor the right side of the fairway, near the sculpted bunker, to obtain an ideal angle into the diagonal green.

The angle of play and varying wind conditions will greatly affect the difficulty of the hole. Regardless, the green is receptive to either set of tees and contoured to reward accuracy with a shorter, flatter putt.

This difficult par 4 requires two well-struck shots to reach the green. Carrying the left fairway bunker off the tee results in additional roll and a much shorter approach shot into the elevated green. However, a failed challenge to get over the steep face of this bunker prevents any chance of reaching the green.

Playing the same distance as #17, the final hole is demanding and sets up for a possible dramatic finish. With a lake lining the entire left side, the tee shot challenges the golfer to carry as much water as possible, while avoiding the large bunker carved along the left of the fairway landing area. The approach leaves little margin for error with water on the left and a sand bunker on the right. With a tournament on the line, attacking the left-back hole spot is brave.