Camp Logan and the first nine
Memorial Park’s golf began with a nine-hole course with sand greens near the Camp Logan hospital, built for convalescing soldiers. The course’s own history dates it to 1912; the Texas Golf Hall of Fame says 1918 12. Camp Logan itself was established in 1917, so the earlier date is hard to reconcile; we report both.
The 1936 course
The Works Progress Administration chose a golf course at Memorial Park as its first government-sponsored project in Houston 2. John Bredemus redesigned the course in 1935 and it opened in July 1936 1. The course lists Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Jimmy Demaret among the players it has hosted 1.
The first Houston Open era
Memorial Park hosted the Houston Open 14 times, in 1947 and from 1951 to 1963. Winners included Arnold Palmer, Bobby Locke and Jack Burke Jr.; Bob Charles’s 1963 win was the first PGA TOUR win by a left-hander 3.
Restoration and rebuild
A restoration began in 1994 and reopened in 1995 1. In January 2019 Tom Doak began a renovation with Brooks Koepka as lead consultant, funded by the Astros Golf Foundation; the first phase opened in November 2019 4. PGA TOUR describes a $34 million project that added a double-decker, night-lit range, a First Tee facility and a short course 3; earlier reporting gave phase figures that add up differently, so we report the TOUR’s figure with that caveat 4.
Two tour events at a city course
The Houston Open returned in November 2020 and has stayed 3. In 2026 the LPGA’s Chevron Championship moved to Memorial Park from The Club at Carlton Woods; the course’s site congratulates Nelly Korda on the 2026 win 56.
Common questions
Can anyone play Memorial Park Golf Course?
Yes. It is a City of Houston course with public tee times. Houston residents pay lower rates with a Resident Pass; the course closes around its tournaments.