Memorial Park Golf Course is a City of Houston-owned, 18-hole, municipal golf course managed and operated by the Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD).
The Astros Golf Foundation (AGF), a non-profit organization, proposes to fund and redevelop the Golf Course for the benefit of the general public and for the purpose of making the Course eligible to host the Houston Open. AGF entered into a five-year partnership with PGA TOUR for the Houston Open beginning with the 2019 event. AGF will operate the event and serve as the host organization for the first year at the Golf Club of Houston and proposes to host the tournament at Memorial Park Golf Course starting in fall 2020.
The Memorial Park Conservancy (MPC) is a party to the agreement in accordance with the Amended and Restated Development, Construction, Operations, Maintenance and Concession Agreement approved by City Council on May 2, 2018 (Ordinance No. 2018-367). The Memorial Park Standards Committee created by the Agreement has the right to review and approve all capital expenditures in Memorial Park including the Golf Course. The members of the Standards Committee are two City of Houston representatives, two Memorial Park Conservancy representatives, two Kinder Foundation representatives, and two Uptown District representatives. The Standards Committee has approved the proposed project.
The proposed scope of work includes redevelopment of the Golf Course designed to meet the standards required by the PGA TOUR. The Golf Course will be closed for the duration of this work, which is targeted to begin in January 2019. The planned re-opening is Fall 2019, so the course can be open one year prior to the tournament as required by PGA TOUR. The planned schedule is contingent on the delivery of permits. Additional improvements to the golf course include a two-story driving range, a new and relocated maintenance facility, and a short course for The First Tee program.
The total estimated project cost is $13.5 Million. All costs will be privately funded by the Astros Golf Foundation.
The cost to maintain Memorial Park Golf Course is expected to increase between $500,000 and $600,000 annually post-redevelopment. The projected revenue increase of $800,000 to $900,000 annually from increased driving range revenues is expected to cover additional maintenance costs. If additional expenses are not covered by increased revenue, tournament proceeds will make up the difference.
Article IX of the proposed agreement generally outlines the terms and conditions for effectively hosting the Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course and protecting Memorial Park. Through that agreement, AGF intends to commit to certain terms and requirements and to pay an annual tournament fee of $250,000 to MPC and $750,000 to HPARD. The terms and conditions in Article IX will be incorporated and more specifically detailed in a Facilities Agreement which will be brought to City Council for approval in Spring 2019.
The proposed project was presented to City Council Quality of Life Committee on November 28, 2018.
Director's Signature:
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Steve Wright, Director
Houston Parks and Recreation Department
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Andy Icken, Chief Development Officer
Mayor's Office of Economic Development