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Chaparral course much harder than it appears
By Gean Leonard
Correspondent
Published October 25, 2009
Originally known as the “Santo” (Monsanto) Club, a private club offering swimming, dancing and golf for its members, the Chaparral Recreation Association is now semiprivate, and the swimming pool is likely to become a putting-chipping area — eventually.
The bimonthly dances were discontinued years ago.
But, this is an article about golf.
The golf course opened Feb. 6, 1971, and Arthur “Art” Summers made the first hole-in-one in club history on Aug. 14 that year.
Art now serves as manager, president, superintendent and chief cook and bottle washer as the owner/member with the longest tenure.
There is no initiation fee to join the association — a prerequisite to golf membership.
Annual membership fee is $150, and golf dues for an entire family are $70 a month.
For a total of about $108, a family can play unlimited golf, ride on their privately owned cart and store it at the facility. That’s unmatched in the greater Houston area.
Nonmember golfers who don’t mind walking the 6,400 yards (championship tees) can play all day for $12 on weekdays.
Whether walking or riding, most golfers play the flat, 6,400-yard nine-hole layout using the regulation tees for the first nine and the championship tees for the back.
First sight of the Chaparral may cause even the casual golfer to salivate, anticipating that perhaps his best score ever lies just ahead.
Those high expectations likely will be in pieces before mid-round, as the fairways are about as narrow as any U.S. Open course you’ll see on television; and missing the fairway means out of bounds, re-tee and a penalty.
Just a slight miss to the right on most holes results in an OB at worst and a lateral hazard at best.
And there goes the career round.
The 37-year-old greens are slightly reminiscent of Pinehurst — round and crowned — and very small. Plans are to replace turf on them with a more modern and durable Bermuda hybrid; however, they likely will retain their size.
One of the most difficult to hit and putt is the signature par-3 sixth hole, which plays up to 160 yards over both water and sand with a steep drop and tough up-and-down for those who sail it over the back.
Meanwhile, both the par-5 can be easy birdies after a good tee shot, even for mid-handicappers.
Ability to play the British style bump-and-run can be a great advantage on most holes.
Soft spikes are required, and play is generally on a first-come basis.
Aside from that, there is virtually no dress code, albeit “proper golf attire” is preferred.
Players who like to warm up will need to make an intermediate stop on I-45 South from Houston or north from Galveston to find a driving range.
Back on the highway, Exit 17 leaves about a 1.5 mile drive to the parking lot.
Post-round burgers will mean returning to the road, as only drinks and snacks are available.
All told, the Chaparral is a unique golf experience for all and a great value for any cost-conscious golfing family.
Learning the playing habits of regulars is of great benefit, as there are time windows when the course can be played at breakneck speed.
A poorly timed arrival can be frustrating, as players starting their second nine have the right of way.
Try it; you might just want to try it again.
Gean Leonard writes the “Birdies, Bogeys and Badges” column for The Daily News. E-mail Gean.GDNgolf(at)gmail.com.
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Scouting report
Chaparral Recreation Association
302 Ave. J, Dickinson
I-45 Exit 17
Phone: 281.337.2411
Nine holes-par 36
Green Fees: Weekdays $19/$22 with cart; Weekends $22/$25
Walkers: $12 weekdays and $15 weekends
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