Houston Golf Association Taking Over Gus Wortham Park GC

You may recall a few months back the Houston City Council was grappling with whether to convert the 107-year-old Gus Wortham Golf Course into a botanic garden.

So it's exciting to see the Houston Golf Association finalizing a deal to take over the course, renovate it and add to the facilities assuming they can generate $5 million by the end of 2015. The eventual price tag will be steep but the results will be worth it considering the courses legacy.

The full press release:

City approves plans by HGA to operate historic Gus Wortham Golf Course

HOUSTON (January 22, 2005) — Houston City Council unanimously approved a proposal from the Houston Golf Association to lease, manage and restore historic Gus Wortham Park Golf Course. The vote took place on Jan. 21 at council's regular meeting at City Hall in downtown Houston.

Gus Wortham Park Golf Course is the oldest continually operating 18-hole course in Texas and west of the MIssissippi River. The 107-year-old course was the original Houston Country Club.

"We are extremely proud to have this opportunity to preserve and improve the facilities at Gus Wortham Park Golf Course," said Steve Timms, president/CEO of the Houston Golf Association, a 501c (3) non-profit organization best known for annually conducting the Shell Houston Open PGA TOUR event.

The agreement with the City of Houston calls for HGA to generate $5 million by the end of 2015 at which time the HGA would begin operational responsibility at the course. Among the improvements planned are space for junior golf programming, including but not limited to, The First Tee of Greater Houston. New clubhouse, multi-use buildings and new driving range are on the drawing board. Total cost of the project over time ranges from $12-$15 million.

Gus Wortham Park Golf Course is the second City of Houston-owned property that Houston Golf Association will manage. In the fall of 2014 HGA began operating F.M. Law Park, which includes a 9-hole course constructed especially for youngsters in 2000.

In 2014 The First Tee of Greater Houston reached more than 155,000 youngsters with youth development programming through its school program delivered in physical education classes and at its green grass facilities spread throughout the area. The First Tee of Greater Houston is the largest chapter in terms of total community outreach out of more than 170-plus chapters in a worldwide network.

"We appreciate the confidence city officials have in the Houston Golf Association to see this project through," said Timms.