Cypress, TX

Oak Meadow Park DGC

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3.955(based on 20 reviews)
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8 0
c_a_miller
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 11.9 years 299 played 207 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Don't Throw into the Rough 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 9, 2019 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Oak Meadow DGC is a very well balanced course. Almost half of the course plays more out in the open and the other half plays in a more tightly wooded area that puts an absolute premium on good accuracy. The lack of accuracy is punished at Oak Meadow probably more than any other course in the Houston area, even Texas Army Trail.

The course has three tees, the concrete tees are the middle, white tees while the other tees are marked with blue and red bricks when they applicable. The red tees make the course much easier, while the blue bricks make it more difficult. Just as different tees should be.

The course plays near the lake with a few holes coming into play of the lake. Other holes feature the creek that may sometimes have water in it. No hole is the same here. Hole 12 is my favorite hole as it is the longest hole on the course. It has a lone tree right near the tee that may get in a players head. The basket sits on the other side of the creek, so you may think twice about going for it on your second shot.

Cons:

I have played here a few times over the years always in the spring, growing season. This most recent time, I was playing with a gentleman who threw his disc on a more wooded hole into the brush. The disc could not have been more than 5-7' from the fairway. He spent 5 minutes getting to it because the brush was so thick, and when he emerged his arms were cut up and bleeding like I had never seen before. This was from the thorns that are prevalent throughout the course.

The baskets are Mach 2's, which I do not think catch as well as some of the newer baskets on the market (probably better than Prodigy baskets though)

The course is private to residents only except for tournaments, which is a bummer, but I do understand why they do that.

Other Thoughts:

This is a great course that does a lot of things right. It is very difficult and technical, but the birdies are there.

The players who live in the neighborhood are very willing to take people through this course to give them an opportunity to play. They also run tournaments throughout the year giving people an opportunity to play this solid course that isn't often played.
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7 0
Pizza God
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 36 years 1689 played 554 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Wow 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 14, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

Kiosk map at the parking lot
Good tee signs on all the holes
Cement Tee pads
GREAT use of natural fairways
Bathrooms at the parking lot

Cons:

Pretty flat, but what little elevation there is used well.

Other Thoughts:

Wow, what a course, I am SO glad I made arraignments to play here. Lucky I live in Texas and know a lot of Houston Golfers, they helped me find someone who was going to be out playing on a Saturday (the weekend of Texas States) in the rain.

This is one of several courses that are considered private courses of HOA's. You are suppose to be a member of the HOA or be with someone in the HOA to be able to play the course. Whiles it frustrates me that this is a huge trend, I have been able to get on most of the courses I have come across.

To keep this review short

1 - nice longer shot with several large trees around the fairway.
2 - Sweet green that is just over a little creek, trust me, stay left of the rough, tough shot out of there.
3, 4 and 5 are good tunnel shots if different lengths.
6 is back out in the open over drainage ditches.
7 nice squeeze 1/2 way down the fairway, hit that for the easy 3, land in the rough and you are in trouble.
8, 9, 10 throw with the lake off to your right. Don't turn it over or bye bye disc.
11, goes around the trees, pretty open right to left hole. Stay right and you will be fine.
12, longest hole on the course, no tree's in the fairway, ditch right in front of the basket.
13 is back into the woods for some shorter birdie opportunities.
14 has a hidden basket, go inside or the longer outside route around the middle rough.
15 another tight birdie opportunity.
16 well defined fairway right to left shot.
17 longer hole with the basket tucked to the right of the fairway
18 last birdie opportunity. Nice defined fairway, but open enough to really go for it.

I can not say enough nice things about this course. It was raining, but with the exception of hole 6, I had zero problems getting around in my waterproof shoes. Not as much mud as I would have expected.

Would I play here again?

Yes, if there is a tournament on this course where I can play again, I would do it. This course is challenging without being ridiculous. Rewards good shots and punishes bad ones.

I would put this course in my top 10 Texas courses I have played so far
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0 8
benjamin3
Experience: 4 played 3 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 8, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

It's a very nice course. Well designed, concrete tee pads, wide variety of shots, and it really makes you think a lot before every throw.

Cons:

For some reason, people find it necessary to kick you off the course if you're not a resident of Bridgeland. I was about to start hole 1 when someone asked if I lived in the neighborhood or not. Even after explaining that I drove a long way to get there, just wanted to play a round, and wasn't going to litter, she still threatened to call the authorities. It was very rude

Other Thoughts:

Basically, go there and ask everyone you see if they are a resident, before they can ask you ;)
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6 0
La_Flama_Blanca
Experience: 10.1 years 76 played 4 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 22, 2016 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Oak Meadow is a well balanced course. There are a lot of technical holes as well as a few that really let you air out your drive.

Holes 1 and 2 are a great for building a little confidence.

Hole #1 is a straight forward hole with one giant oak tree between you and the basket. Easy 3 for most.

Hole 2 is pretty straight forward as well. The basket is tucked to the right. Again pretty easy 3 for the most part.

After that the holes are not crazy long to where you have to have a cannon to be competitive, but you can get into trouble in a hurry.

Holes 3-5 are in the woods. #3 and #4 have a tight line off of the tee box through "tunnels" of trees.

6 and 7 are both par 4 holes and fairly open.

8, 9, and 10 are all along he lake, which would be on your right hand side.

11 and 12 are heading towards the woods but are pretty open. Especially 12, it is the "bomber" hole of them all. It is wide open but very long. Around 600+ft. Enjoy it because the remaining holes are all in the woods.

One of the residents described it very well the other day. "The fairways are fair and the rough is rough."

There are concrete tee pads on every hole, which is very nice. They are large enough to allow a good run up.

The course itself is typically mowed and kept free of trash. There are multiple trash cans on holes 1, and 15. (I may be leaving some out).

There are bathrooms at the clubhouse at the first hole near the practice basket.

Cons:

There are not a lot of negative things that I can say about this course.

The course is private, so if you are looking to just play a casual round you will need a resident with you. There have been issues in the past with people sneaking on and playing while leaving trash behind and damaging the course.

So naturally there are people who will boot you upon arrival if you cannot prove that you are a resident. Some people do not like this but the residents pay a pretty hefty HOA fee to have the park kept as beautiful as it is. So please respect the course and the course rules.

The Bridgeland Flight Club members are very willing to host players to come out and play a casual round with them. Just make sure to contact them ahead of time to nail down a time and day. Otherwise I would caution against sneaking on.

As with most courses during the summer months be sure to watch out for snakes. Like other courses in the area and in Texas there are poisonous snakes lurking in the weeds. Be careful!

Other Thoughts:

Overall I love playing this course, it is one of the best in the greater Houston area in my opinion. This course will make you a better player overall with its diversity.

The only thing it is lacking is elevation changes, which is not typical in Texas.
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9 0
JR Stengele
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 23.9 years 251 played 191 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Oak Meadow DGC 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Sep 21, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

Oak Meadow DGC, located in Cypress Texas, is a beautifully manicured 18 hole course that challenges all skill levels. Established in 2006 by Disc Golf Consultants, this course was built in the beautiful neighborhood of Bridgeland on the outskirts Houston. Oak Meadow's layout has disc golfers throwing on fairly flat land that is moderately wooded. Periodically, players will be throwing over and around a large body of water (five holes) which adds to the overall difficulty. Par for the course from the cement pads (white) was 58, with holes ranging anywhere from 264 - 654 feet.

Most of the wooded holes, although they lack distance, have defined fairways that require precision. I often found myself using a buzzz because it allowed me to stay out of the rough and gave me a solid shot at a birdie. With the exception of the long wide open holes, there really was no need for a high speed driver in the woods. On the longer holes, a 400 foot drive often times put me in great shape for an accurate upshot and then a birdie putt. There was no hole on the course I felt I couldn't birdie assuming I was able to execute my shots correctly. Of course this is always easier said than done! For my first time playing the course I was able to shoot four under from the whites, which apparently is a pretty solid round, so I was very pleased.

Cement tee pads were quite large and in great shape, allowing for big run ups when needed on those open holes. The Mach II baskets were all intact and helped add to the overall quality of the course. There was absolutely no garbage to be found and when I was there I saw work crews mowing, trimming and cleaning up the park which showed how much money went into the upkeep of the course.

Cons:

Again, as mentioned in almost every other review, the fact the course is private is a shame. My cousin lives across from Bridgeland in another beautiful development and warned me about possibly being kicked out but we went for it anyway since it was a weekday (Friday). Fortunately we were still able to play a full round and every time we encountered a local DGer or worker they were very kind. We just made sure we were respectful and left the course cleaner than we found it! Oak Meadow is the perfect candidate for a "Pay to Play" course as it would help alleviate some of the HOA dues that go to the course as well as continue to keep off most of the "Huckers."

As I mentioned in my Texas Army Trail review, being from the Pacific Northwest (Seattle) where we have no poisonous snakes west of the Cascades, it is always a bit alarming to be playing DG in areas with VERY poisonous snakes hanging out near bye. Although most of them stay out of the way, it often made me think twice about my disc selection when throwing through those wooded holes.

Last, the course tends to have a lot of issues with drainage. When the hard rain comes through the area it takes days if not weeks to dry up and can fester, allowing for mosquitoes to take over so make sure you plan accordingly!

Other Thoughts:

Oak Meadow DGC is easily one of the best courses I have played in the state Texas. Even though there are some drawbacks to it being that the course is private, the pros by far outweigh the cons. This area would be ideal for a home course due to its mixture of open and moderately wooded holes. Its proximity to the other courses is a huge bonus as well. This course can be played fairly quickly and with a map, is quite easy to navigate from the white tees. Although I didn't see any marks for the red and blue tees, it is a great addition for the local players and tournament play.

I have wanted to play this course ever since my cousin moved into his home across the way and it didn't disappoint for a second. Although it was Africa hot the day I was there playing, I brought plenty of water and sunscreen and was just fine. The local club and HOA have done a tremendous job with the upkeep and there seems to be a great DG following from what I saw. Hopefully this course is able to stay permanent for years to come as it adds a lot to the local DG scene in Houston and would be missed greatly by all who have played it. I am just thankful I was able to play this course while I had the chance!
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5 2
LoPan12
Experience: 13.8 years 35 played 10 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Pretty fun, but wet 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Feb 5, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

+Long or medium length holes with clearly defined fairways, with small islands of ROUGH to play around. The varied cover limits routes in a good way.
+Use of terrain forces specific lines, but still gives you multiple routes.

Cons:

-Like much of texas, its flat, so after a whole day of rain previous, lots of the course was under atleast an inch of water.
-The rain results in pond overflow, which causes a run-off ditch/creek to come up, which precludes use of one of the tee pads (due to excessive long walk to get the normal route's landing area).
-Some of the holes were wide open on the sides, giving you room for error, but as a result, not forcing you to hit a particular line.

Other Thoughts:

A great course, it was lots of fun! Despite the long holes, there were lots of Buzzz shots.
Too bad you have to be a development resident to play there, but the guys I met up with were great, and I had a ton of fun. Thanks to JRW III for showing my around! Wish my neighborhood had its own DG course!
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1 5
MrNiceFella
Experience: 17 played 15 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Bored Soccer Moms 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 11, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Course is big, well maintained, has a nice layout, tee pads are excellent. The park is beautiful with lots of trees and a couple lakes.

Cons:

Some soccer Moms with nothing better to do have taken it upon themselves police the course and find out if you are a resident of Bridgeland or not. I believe that the more people that play a course, the better that course becomes. This course is mostly flat and the distances are too long to be a par 3.

Other Thoughts:

Soccer Moms should start to fill some of their vast time with playing disc golf so that they will stop chasing off peaceful players.
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14 0
notapro
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 20.7 years 568 played 281 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Intermediate/Expert 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 29, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

- Course is set in a large park, which contains some dense forest, a large lake, and some more open areas. No other activities are present here, I don't think anything would ever interfere with the disc golf.
- Holes that run through the dense forest are carved out very nicely, the lines are well defined and are more or less the only possible route. Very few backdoors, as the rough will gobble up discs or knock them down. Low ceilings and bushy rough make almost every shot feel like a tunnel. Great variety of lines, with plenty of hyzers and anhyzers to be found. A few spots let you choose which way to go as well, which is great feature. Some trickier lines as well, like #4's S-curve.
- Water holes are all good tests of distance and accuracy, with open hyzer lanes over the lake. Good placement is necessary to avoid large, mature trees in the fairway, and the basket of #8 is guarded on the tee side. Good job of making sure that staying right (closer towards the water) will result in an easier second shot.
- The rest of the course does a good job of being difficult even without many obstacles. The undulating fairway on #6 and the end of #12 rewards shots that stay out of the large, deep ditch, and #11 provides another RHBH hyzer-only route.
- Overall, baskets are protected pretty well and require good accuracy. Usually, going too far past (as well as right and left) will result in some roughage. Water is also a factor, like right of #9 and behind #10. Deep ditch on #6 and #12 can gobble up short shots as well.
- Excellent variety of hole length, a good amount around 300' and 400', and three over 500'. Most of the longer holes are open, but not all.
- Great tee signs, baskets, and teepads (the whites at least). This course is well maintained and is a breeze to navigate, especially with the map.

Cons:

- Very little elevation changes throughout the park, it is pretty much dead flat except for the ditch. It is a big factor on #6, and even #12, but that's only two holes. Otherwise, practically nothing.
- Water holes are very good, but are all very similar. Bigger arms may be able to just hyzer these without a second thought, and smaller arms can play it pretty safe.
- Holes in the forest test line shaping very well, but most of the lines are mostly straight, more or less. This can make a few seem very similar to each other, especially with the same type of forestation throughout.

Other Thoughts:

- Definitely a solid course that does a few things very, very well. The holes in the forest are all a good test of line shaping and shot placement, with some tough routes to take. Obstacles in the wooded fairways can provide two different lanes to the basket, or create tough obstacles that require some serious accuracy. Open and water holes are top notch as well, with serious length and protected baskets.
- Course is fair enough where casual players should be able to enjoy the challenge without getting too frustrated. Lines are there, it is up to the player to execute. Blue tees should be long enough for the biggest arms out there, on more than one hole.
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14 0
JRW III
Experience: 15.1 years 51 played 1 reviews
4.50 star(s)

One of Houston's Best Courses drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:May 31, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

- Never crowded; No waiting at 1 to start and rarely get held up by a group in front of you.
- Good variety of holes: open, tight, long, short, and 3 holes (sometimes 5) with water in play.
- Nice concrete tee pads from the whites.
- New Mach 7 baskets (as of October 2019)
- High quality tee signs.
- Has basic amenities: restrooms, water fountains, trash cans (Beginning of 1; End of 1; Beginning of 4; End of 5; End of 14).
- Generally very well maintained.
- Alcoholic beverages, used responsibly, are allowed. However, no glass bottles.
- Personal golf carts that are registered with the HOA are allowed on the course.
- Thick brush creates some great risk reward opportunities. Landing deep in the brush can penalize you severely.

Cons:

- Like most Houston courses, very little elevation.
- Course was designed with multiple tee pads, but the reds and blues have brick markers only and can be difficult to find for a first time player.
- Course favors RHBH throwers.
- Like many Houston courses, it was built on flood plain land. There are many holes that are swampy after a rain (especially 4&5) and at times, the mosquitoes can be unbearable.
- Poison ivy is on almost every single hole.

Other Thoughts:

This course has a unique "private" nature. Oak Meadow Park, which includes the Oak Meadow Disc Golf Course, is owned and operated by the Bridgeland Home Owners Association (HOA). The owner/operator relationship is very similar to the neighborhood pools that are owned by HOA's in Texas. The developer purchased the land, built the park & course and deeded the land to the HOA. Thus, the cost of the land & course was built in to each homeowner's lot price. The HOA dues pay for the maintenance. Similar to most HOA neighborhood pools, access is restricted to residents of the neighborhood. Access to the park is monitored by the HOA. During 2021, the HOA installed a gate at the entrance to Oak Meadow Park. Residents will need to bring their pool access fob to open the gate.

It can be difficult to navigate your first time out. There are maps, and scorecards with maps available for download on DGCR.

Review updates (6/26/2012):
- The Summer 2011 drought was hard on Oak Meadow Park. Many trees were lost. Several of the holes have opened up from the original design.
- There are probably over 100 trees that are dead, but have not fallen yet. After a wind storm, the dead branches fall. Maintenance on removal of the dead branches can be slow at times.
- Painted brick markers for the reds and blues have been added.
- New signs have been installled.
- Hole number 9's basket has been replaced.

Review updates (8/5/2015):
- The trees that were effected during the summer of 2011 continue to fall resulting in dead trees in the fairway at random times, opening of certain lines, and at other times the fallen trees pushing the brush line further into the fairway.
- Some of the bricks marking the red and blue tees have had grass grown over them and are difficult to impossible to locate.
- The HOA has increased the hours that the park is being monitored. Advise requesting a resident guide before playing.

Review updates (11/7/2019):
- Mach 7 Baskets! The Mach 2 baskets were replaced with brand new Mach 7 baskets. The baskets have long been one of the biggest Cons of this course. With the installation of the Mach 7 baskets, I have upgraded my rating from a 4.0 to a 4.5.
- Registered golf carts are now approved on the course. Residents may register their personal golf carts to be allowed on the course. A nominal annual fee of $25 is required.
- A low water crossing was installed on hole 6. The crossing supports golf carts crossing when the creek has low levels of water.

Review updates (5/10/22):
- The HOA has installed a gate at the entrance of Oak Meadow Park. Residents will need to bring their pool access fob to open the gate.
- Hole 6's basket has been elevated to add another challenge to this par 4 hole.
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0 5
drbeat
Experience: 29.3 years 18 played 2 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 6, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

-18 very long holes which wonderful trails
-Friendly residents
-Hard course to master

Cons:

-Gate guard on the weekends

Other Thoughts:

Be sure to watch the water holes. There have been many a disc that has been eaten by the lake.
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11 0
hognosesucker
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 24.9 years 443 played 85 reviews
3.50 star(s)

championship caliber course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 31, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

-well maintained, semi private course with water fountains, bathrooms, big trapezoidal concrete pads and nice signs
-Some great holes here that require smart play because of the length and the rough, lay ups abound on some of the holes to get the 3. This is especially apparant on the front nine (3,4,5) as it is longer, a bit more open, but with pockets of rough to avoid.
-No real elevation "changes" here, but some cool elevation play around the spillway holes. 6 for instance has a cool lay up spot over the spillway, or risk it and go big to get across the spillway on the basket side.
-Nice use of the lake to mess with the mental part of your game. You don't actually throw over it, except on hole 8, but if your disc gets flippy, it's in trouble.
-The baskets by the lake are very well placed on the edge of the slope down to the lake, good, safe upshots are paramount.
-Back nine rounds out the course by being shorter and very tight on some holes. Add to that the thickness of the rough, and it is very risk-reward.

Cons:

-A couple throw away holes here namely 1 which is just kind f long with one tree in the way and 12 which is long and flat, no trees with the spill way in play on the upshot.
-The water holes are all rhbh friendly from the whites. It's hard to change that up, but I think it could have been done.
-Multiple teepads were not able to be found.
-Course is flat as a board

Other Thoughts:

-Overall this is a very good course, I like the fact that it is private. It keeps the riffraff off the course, and allows it to be underused and therefore really nice looking. I do think it could benefit from being a pay to play which would essentially do the same thing as keeping it private but allow for it to be more utilized. JRWIII was a great guide for this course as well as being a nice guy. Overall the group consensus was that this was the second best course we played on the Houston trip, just a bit above Links, and below Shawshank, although JB CH will be a better course than Oak when it's done.
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12 0
Miller
Premium Member
Experience: 18.8 years 131 played 8 reviews
4.00 star(s)

A wonderful, but private course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 10, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This is probably one of the (if not the) nicest course in the Houston area. It has a few wide open holes, but mostly it's tight and long (with only 3 holes under 300 feet). You really have to be on your game to play well here in my opinion.

There's a good mix of right and left holes with quite a few holes having multiple options. Water comes into play on 3 holes (and sometimes holes 6 and 12 if the water is high) and really makes you trust yourself and air it out.

The baskets are all in good shape, with nice big teeboxes to throw from. There is also a good map for each hole, a course map, and painted spokes to help direct you to the next box. (I wish every course painted spokes to point you in the right direction!!)

Cons:

As mentioned, it's private. That being said there are plenty of people willing to play with you who have rights to be there. Just ask. :)

After a good rain it will get a little muddy and if it's a heavy rain the creek will cover #2.

If you don't stay on the fairways you need to watch out for the thorn bushes as they will make you pay.

Sometimes it's hard to find the Mach 2s, but trust the maps, they're pretty accurate.

The maps do list 3 boxes, but only the middle box has pads. Good luck trying to find the shorts or longs.

Other Thoughts:

Like I said, it might be the best course in the Houston area if you can just find your way onto it without getting in trouble.
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12 1
bluenadas
Experience: 24.3 years 1 played 1 reviews
5.00 star(s)

One of the Better courses 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 30, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Excellent mix of skill needed throughout the course. Some holes are long, some short. Some head left other to the right. A few nice water hazards that make you really think through your play.

Cons:

The park's main intent is water overflow during the notorious Houston rains. So if there is a decent amount of rain you can plan on having some soggy ground and possible running water on the course (Hole 6 has the lake overflow ditches running through it. If the rains make the lake to high then water will be running to Cypress Creek through these). Nature is out there so bring your bug spray and be on the lookout for snakes. Not really a Con but you make spook a deer or other creature from time to time as well.

Other Thoughts:

While it seems the disc golfers feel they are being unfairly punished, I'd just like to say that the reason the park was closed was not due to Disc Golfers. As was mentioned before, the park is a multi-use park and others ruined it for the Disc Golfers by going out there and making fools of themselves. The unfortunate side-effect of that is that those just trying to play a round responsibly have to suffer as well.
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7 7
Dave242
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 29.8 years 393 played 271 reviews
3.00 star(s)

B = Be too long for me to fully enjoy 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 10, 2007 Played the course:once

Pros:

What I personally like and how this course stacks up:
1) Holes with good risk/reward. Fair, but harsh punishment for bad decisions or execution. == B- (overall pretty open without much punishment for bad decisions or execution)
2) Holes that have rewarding birdie opportunities for me. I throw 300' accurately, 360' max. == B (Too many holes that were just out of my reach to be able to make birdie. This added a little boredom for me.)
3) More wooded than open - lots of variety of shots required caused by hole shape and topography == C+ (Several really good holes, but the majority were ho-hum. No terrain for the designer to work with)
4) Natural beauty (Appalachian beauty preferred) and seclusion. == B- (The water adds a very nice touch)
5) Bonus points for multi-shot holes with defined landing zones, good risk/reward and multiple options to play them. == C (Not much strategy added - just length.)

Other Thoughts:

It's all about feeding the addiction, so I ranked this course subjectively based on my own "personal addiction factor". The grades above tell how well the course will draw me back to itself again and again and again. Since I have played a decent number of courses (125 18-hole, 64 9-hole as of mid 2009), my hope is that players/explorers who have similar addiction tastes will find my ratings list helpful as they choose courses to play and explore.

I fully expect others with different tastes/philosophies to disagree with me....that's the fun of things here. See my profile for my rating philosophy.
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9 0
SpringDgLover
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 19 years 107 played 25 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Houston's Finest Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 9, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

This course resides in the very nice suburb of Cypress Texas, just northwest of Houston. It is a well maintained, challenging course with the hole variety disc golf lovers can truly appreciate.

The first thing you will notice is the beautiful park that this course sits on. It has a nice large pond with kayak access something you almost never see in Houston. Once you get past that, you find a nice warm up cage under a large oak tree with adequate shade and varying elevations for good practice opportunities. The tee's have perfect large concrete teepads and exceptional tee signs that accurately depict each hole. When you start hole 1 you can be lulled into thinking that this is your typical Houston course with wide areas to drive and a few trees. Don't be fooled, by hole 3 you will find holes that are lined with dense foliage on both sides and challenging angles of attack. This is definitely a cerebral course where you will need to think 2 shots ahead if you plan on being successful. Once you get to 6 if you're not completely frazzeled you will be treated to a very cool over creek shot for about 500 feet. Where you can vent all your frustrations from the previous holes with a thunderous drive. But beware once that hole is complete it's back into the brambles for more tight shot fun. This is the story of this course, 4 or 5 tight wooded holes then 2 or three large open holes with water hazards. They combine to create the most balanced yet challenging course in the Houston area IMO.

Cons:

As the previous reviewers have stated, this course is closed to the public. Until this gets rectified that only way to play it is if you live in the neighborhood or have a buddy that does or like I did in a tournament. I agree that something needs to be done and if it has to be pay to play so be it. The day I played there it was still wet from a deluge of rain we had gotten a week before. There were large swampy areas and mosquito's for days. Bring bug spray you will need it. As I mentioned there are quite a few open holes and shade is at a premium so make sure to wear that sunblock. Finally, this course is hard, if you are new to disc golf, be prepared to struggle here. Think of it like this, if you're used to getting 2's and 3's at other Houston courses prepare to get 4's and 5's here. Its just the way it is. Like a previous reviewer stated Par on this course is a great round.

Other Thoughts:

This course humbled me. See before I played this course, I thought I was pretty decent. I'd see other guys at courses and think hey I'm pretty good, I can do pretty well anywhere. Man was I wrong, until I played here my worst score ever was +14 and that was my first time playing. To put that in perspective I shot +21 and +25 respectively here in two rounds. With that being said I am so glad I played it. It told me I have a lot to learn and isn't that what makes disc golf great. I only hope I am lucky enough to play it again and maybe that time I will repay the beating this course laid on me with one of my own.
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21 0
srm_520
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 20 years 156 played 142 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Best Houston Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jan 17, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This is a very well laid out course that brings many environmental challenges into play. The course plays long, has many water hazards, and the non-water holes usually play low and tight with trees and thick brush on either side.

The regular tees are well marked and holes have alternate boxes for juniors and pros (although alt tees aren't marked well.) Each of the water hole pro tees are extremely challenging.

All main tee boxes are 6'(front) 9'(back) x 12'(long) concrete slabs, with high quality signs showing all three tees with yardage. The baskets are solid, but already showing some wear. Eleven pin seems to be installed too low.

BEST HOLE/S: #10; #13

Cons:

After it rains, prepare to get soggy - the non-water holes after a rain are like playing in a swamp, which makes the mosquitoes bad and your shots worse. (The dams and bridges have improved though)

I have had separate run-ins with snakes on this course (one with a Water Moccasin while looking for a drowned disc on 10), so watch where you walk.

There is no real elevation to speak of, and beginners may get frustrated and want to quit playing after the mix of tight holes and windy over-the-water shots. I've lost count with how many discs I thrown into the water on 10 - the wind seems to carry in the open, and the discs drift right if you're not careful.

The biggest issue is the community who believes this should be a private course, and the cop will stop you if your not a resident. Some people, who weren't even disc golfers were caught having sex. I was also told they didn't like people swimming for discs and claim many golfers bring beer and pot, so they closed the course to the public.

My advice is play on a weekday, because I was told the cop basically is just on weekends when golf traffic picks up. I just finished a Friday afternoon round and didn't see the cop once.

WORST HOLES: #1

Other Thoughts:

Truth is most experienced disc golfers would probably say this is one of the top three Houston area courses, and in the top tier for best courses in the state. Basically, if you've shot around par - then you've had a good round.

Overall it's a beautiful course in the right weather, and a fantastic challenge for any disc golfer no matter their experience level. The people actually in charge of the course and neighborhood are nice people, but I don't agree with their decision to closed it to the public. At least make it a pay to play or something, (which could happen in the future, since the management in charge mentioned that, but the HOA is stubborn and they have to work together).

Given that fact - if you are in the area, are willing to dodge or deal with the cop (or hide your car) and you love to disc golf - you owe it to yourself to play this course. If it became a public course again and drainage were slightly better - it would receive a 4.5. No real elevation changes, poor judgment of what is par, and the lack of that "wow I'll remember that one hole" factor prevents a 5 in my book.
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18 0
ERicJ
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 16.3 years 286 played 154 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Closed... for now. 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Sep 7, 2008 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Oak Meadow is a beautiful course in a mostly clean and well manicured park. The white tees have ample sized concrete tee pads and are marked with high quality tee signs. The posted distances are pretty accurate. DGA double chain baskets are in good condition. There are a few holes on which water comes into play. Three holes play along the lake and all favor RHBH throwers with no major hazard from the red or white tees. A couple more holes play along a lake overflow creek which was dry when I played. If water were present it would add reasonable OB challenges (and walking) to those holes. There's a good mix of wooded fairways and open holes to make both style of players happy. The fairways are nice and grassy. Parking is ample and close to the first & last holes. There is a course map and restrooms by the parking lot. There is very little lacking on this course from a disc golf perspective.

Cons:

The short (red) and long (blue) tees are completely unmarked other than the picture on the tee sign. There a very few bridges crossing the lake overflow creek. If there's water in the creek you can expect to walk far out of the way to cross the creek. This is a multi-use park so beware of walkers, joggers, etc. though most holes are off the paths enough to not be a major concern. A couple holes had downed tree limbs which were obviously there for a while without being cleared. The baskets are numbered with small neon orange bands around the pole which are hard to read from a distance; this is really minor since there is very little confusion as to which basket is in play.

Other Thoughts:

Currently, the biggest issue with Oak Meadow is that the local residents have convinced the Home Owners' Association to close this park to the public. The park is patroled and guarded such that only Bridgeland residents are allowed into the park. The cause for the closure was debated on the HFDS message board, but the end result is non-resident disc golfers are being blamed for trash and possible drug use to which residents don't want to be exposed. HFDS is working with the HOA towards a possible compromise.
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4 5
modestmusic
Experience: 21.9 years 4 played 4 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 23, 2008 Played the course:once

Pros:

Great layout, perfect landscape for DG, some tight holes through woods, others wide open...beautiful park all around.

Cons:

private course so therefore you cannot play it when the marshalls are there...good luck.

Other Thoughts:

they should open this course up to the public. even if they charged money....it is a great course and would be worth a small fee to play...
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12 0
Texconsinite
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 16.2 years 138 played 77 reviews
4.50 star(s)

One NICE course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Mar 15, 2008 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Well designed course with tons of variety. Nice mix of open fields, tunnel tree shots, water hazards both from 2 rivers including a small waterfall and the large lake. Even some elevation changes from holes that cross the river, or follow the lakeshore (do not overshoot that pin, yikes!). Thus, this course brings a variety of interesting hazards into play, and has considerable elevation for a Houston course.

This technical course will provide a challenge for golfers with a bit of experience under their belt. It's a beginner's worst nightmare. Pars from the long tees are well earned, and many holes have a very unique feel to them, especially the way the water hazards are utilized. This is one of the Houston area's premier DG courses.

Cons:

As mentioned above, shot placement is key. If you land your disc in the rough (ie wooded patches) you will pay, both in added strokes and from the thorn bushes your disc ALWAYS seems to land in.

Beware the lake, it enjoys eating discs when you shoot parallel to the shoreline. There is always a wind blowing down the shore incline onto the lake, which has a nasty habit of bending even hyzer shots (RHBH) hard anny to the right to be swallowed by the deep. Also will need to cross the river several times. Walking down to the lone bridge gets old fast.

On rainy days, the front nine quickly turns into a giant puddle, so unless its dry, be ready to shoot through ankle-deep water on several holes.

Other Thoughts:

Bring shoes you don't mind getting wet (maybe even swimsuit) since there is only one bridge over the river, and several holes where you have to cross over it (its only a foot deep, but a little to wide to jump easily)

Overall, a fun, pretty technical course, very frustrating at times, like anytime you end up in the rough on the front nine. (or when you lose a pink wraith on an open hole with three trees and no water in play). But a solid course with more variety of challenges than any of the other courses I have played in the Houston area
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5 3
gcrussell4
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 19.1 years 146 played 25 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Bridgeland 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 23, 2008 Played the course:never

Pros:

Best course in Houston area IMO. Well balanced course in beautiful setting with lots of different shots required. Trees, water, distance, tunnels all come into play. Punishing rough at times makes accuracy in the woods key. Challenging course rewards the well rounded player. Concrete tee pads, excellent signs marking holes.

Cons:

Left handed friend of mine thinks it favors righties a bit...but I'm not complaining! Like all Houston courses can get swampy if the weather has been wet.
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