Moody Gardens Golf Course in Galveston, Texas

Formerly the Galveston Municipal Golf Course, Moody Gardens Golf Course underwent a $17 million renovation project by the Jacobsen Hardy group. The renovation retained the best features of its original layout while improving a number of specific holes and general flow of the course.

The Moody Gardens Golf Course renovation centerpiece is course's new Paspalum turf, grass that is especially designed for seaside courses. The redesign also added elevation and slope to both fairways and greens, various green complexes, and bunkers. Irrigation and drainage systems were also improved to keep playing surfaces in optimal condition. Other amenities include a brand new pro shop, dining areas, and a new golf pro, superintendent and general manager.

The old course surface was stripped and grade raised by 3 to 5 feet all throughout the course. The routing for holes 1-5 was modified and new practice facilities were built. The old driving range was relocated towards the end of the course and enlarged to twice the size of the original. A huge chipping and putting green is now at the back of the refurbished clubhouse.

The redesign at Moody Gardens Golf Course made the course a little easier although still challenging enough for most skill levels. There are 5 tee boxes offering varying yardages of 4549 to 6816 yards. The terrain is mostly flat but meandering through 71 sand bunkers, blue water hazard and 500 palm trees in the natural wetlands of the Syonor Bayou that gives the course character and a uniquely tropical seaside feel

The course's front nine is mostly straight with contoured and open fairways. There are plenty of par 3's and par 5's allowing you to go all out with the driver. The seventh is a fun par-5, 584 yarder along the water with a sharp dogleg right. The eighth is more challenging with a water obstacle that can get you in trouble. The back nine is much more fun, offering greater variety and a better challenge due the narrow fairways with water on at least one side.

No 14, a par-5 575-yarder offers a chance for a real birdie with the course turning downwind until No. 18. This is followed by two par 4 holes before the par-3 142-yarder , No. 17. The finishing hole at the new Moody Gardens Golf Course is a 472-yard monster that is the most challenging hole in the course and possibly one of the best in Houston.

Both greens and fairways are in excellent condition, played fast with enough slope to make it challenging. Moody Gardens Golf Course is the only course in the island but it is worth playing.