Houston Trip in 65 hours

April 3-6, 2014:  Flio, Bates, and Richards; a flow, a beard, and a buzz from Boston, New Hampshire, and South Shore.  Our flight to Houston on Thursday afternoon got delayed at least 3 times prior to driving to the airport, making us wonder if our trip would ultimately be cut short.  During our wait, we walked to Galleria Umberto pizza in the North End (greasy, but excellent) and Kyle/Chris lectured me on how to check-in to a Southwest Airlines flight.  I had no clue.

4-hours later than expected, our flight boards at 6pm.  I sit indian style with a 10-K and finance magazine next to friend and my former Rola Language Spanish teacher Ed (so random he was on the same flight), Bates locks into Bose headphones, laptop, and wifi, and Kyle chills to a mystery playlist (what is he listening to?).  The three of us along with surprise guest Ed start an unforgettable, fully packed in trip.  Did we even sleep!?

Kyle, Chris, Kurt - River Oaks CC

Our trip included meeting a 2-time major champion Mark O'Meara (really nice guy, told us he was headed to Chipotle, and making final preparations for Augusta!), Bates seeing PGA tour winner Johnson Wagner, and hanging out with Annie, former Lexington GC member turned professional. Thank you Annie for introducing us to Mark and getting us out at River Oaks!  Additionally, we went to the Toyota Center to watch playoff contenders Rockets vs. OKC Thunder. Toyota Center is a massive, modern arena with an exciting atmosphere and lots of Shiner Bock beer!  James Harden-led Rockets defeated Thunder with a strong fourth quarter performance.

We de-iced from cold Boston and teed it up at four different courses, including River Oaks (private), Wildcat - Highlands, Cypresswood - Tradition, and Tour 18.  Weather was great; low 70s; mix of sun and clouds.  36 holes on Friday and 36 holes on Saturday with many bets going on between the three of us.  Every meal, mostly BBQ and Tex Mex, was excellent with maybe the exception of the Houston Rockets BBQ food served by a very intimidating woman...albeit it was still decent, especially the cornbread!  BBQ food included lots of brisket, pull pork, jalapeno sausage, beans, and mac/cheese.  Bates chewed none of this food, finishing each meal in warp speed.  Also, he methodically eats each food independently on his plate.  We

Tin Roof BBQ

recommend Tin Roof BBQ (true local restaurant), Beck's Prime (quick service; chili cheeseburger), and El Tiempo Restaurant (sit-down service; fajita nachos).

Golf courses:

• Round 1 - River Oaks CC - Exclusive private club in the heart of Houston.  Members include owners of Houston Astros and Houston Texans.  The clubhouse speaks Donald Trump, surrounding homes look like castles, and the locker room has a bar, food service, and a barber shop!  We got an excellent caddie named Andrew. The course itself was a nice layout with good greens.  All three of us broke 80.  Flio - 74, Kyle - 75, Bates - 79.  Amazing experience!  This is where we met O'Meara.
• Round 2 - Wildcat Highlands Course - This is like the Granite Links of Houston, built on an old landfill with views of the city and Houston Texans stadium.  The wind blows hard, blind shots, elevation changes, and silly holes.  I hit 5-iron, 3-wood to reach a par-5.  400 yard+ par-4s where a 200 yard drive was all you could hit.  We battled.  I shot 78.  None of us think we would play there again.
• Round 3 - Cypresswood Tradition Course - Host of the 2014 Shell Houston Open Monday Qualifier.  The leaderboard included the likes of journeymen Tag Ridings, Omar Uresti, Bubba Dickerson, and many more.  I thought the course was a mix of Augusta Pine and Cape Cod, tricky greens, waste like bunkers, and generous fairways.  Kyle did not like the bunkers.  Chris was an almost flawless machine out of the bunkers all weekend.  Solid course; great greens, high quality condition.  Would definitely recommend.  
• Round 4 - Tour 18 - A replica collection of famous holes throughout the U.S. including Amen Corner, Doral 18th, Sawgrass 17th, and Bay Hill 6.  We played double money skins as well as continuation of a birdie pool, weekend long 72 hole stroke play, longest hole out, junk, and match play.  There was a lot of money on the line.  I felt some tournament pressure!  The most notable section of the course was Amen Corner.  I played it two under with a chip-in at 11 from 100 feet right of the pin and a birdie at 13.  Both Bates and I birdied 13.  I had my best round of the trip with a 73.
• Golf Games - I played well throughout the weekend with the exception of my driver.  I hit it maybe 6 times over 72 holes.  The 3-wood was money and my swing felt good.  Most memorable was chipping-in twice (one time to make a big money steal on Bates and Kyle at Disney par-3) and birdieing the last hole (Doral 18) at Tour 18.  Bates was a master bunker player and very sharp with his irons.  Not the usually deft putter, but if you take out his Dustin Johnson like numbers (see DJs round 1 card at Shell Houston), he may have the most impressive scorecards.  For example, after making a quad on the first hole at Tour 18, he still broke 80.  Kyle was hitting great hybrids and rolling in putts from everywhere, probably the most 'polies' on the trip.  With the exception of one round, Kyle played well and will not be getting strokes from me in the summer :)

Special thanks to Chris for doing all the driving and dealing with difficult Houston highways and hooking us up at the Marriott.  And Kyle for finding Tin Roof BBQ and telling Bates I would make the birdie putt at Inverness #18.  

Can't wait to do this all over again next year!  In Houston??

Lets go 2014 golf season!!

Flio