Around the Green

The latest golf-related news, notes, and feature stories from the TGA.

Golfcrest CC to Host South Four-Ball

The first of four South Regional Championships for 2013 will kick off the weekend of February 23-24 at Golfcrest Country Club in Pearland. After hosting a Texas Mid-Amateur qualifying in 2012, Golfcrest CC will host its first Texas Golf Association regional championship with the popular South Four-Ball Championship. Pearland is located in southeast Houston.

Originally designed in 1971 by Joe Finger, Golfcrest CC is known for its incredible greens and challenging players to be precise with their approach shots. Finger moved 160,000 cubic yards of the sandy loam soil to create mounds on the fairways and elevated the green complexes. In the process of designing Golfcrest CC, Finger strategically created lakes and ponds to add to the requirement of thoughtful shotmaking. Finger also incorporated Apple Creek in the layout area along with his man-made lakes on the densely wooded course.

The format for the championship is 36 holes of Four-Ball Stroke Play. Entries are open to male amateur golfers residing in the South Texas region (both players must reside in the South region) as defined by the Texas PGA Sections (31’ parallel, Salado, TX and South is the break point). Applicants must have a certified GHIN handicap index of 10.0 or less and meet the requirements listed in the “TGA Policies and Procedures”.

The 2012 South Four-Ball Championship at Magnolia Creek Golf Club witnessed John Dowdall and Kip Guidry record rounds of 65 and 66 to post a 13-under par two-day total of 131. They were able to better the second place team of James Bartell and Douglas Jones by two strokes. John Dowdall would use that win to propel him to the 2012 South Player of the Year award.