Moody Gardens, Just A Chip Shot Away!

by Nancy Correro
The Times of SWLA


     In this fourth installment of “Just a Chip Shot Away,” we travel to beautiful Moody Gardens Golf Course on Galveston Island, Texas. The renowned golf course architects of Jacobson Hardy created a new design for the 6,900 yard, 18 hole, par 72 course in late 2006. Their focus was to keep the historical features while improving certain holes and overall course flow. The course is designed to be player friendly and has 5 sets of tees for all playing levels. The redesigned course features new turf grass, green complexes, elevation, irrigation, drainage, and cart paths. Other improvements include a larger driving range, new golf cart fleet, Pro Shop, and remodeled clubhouse.

     Although Hurricane Ike hit Galveston on September 12, 2008 and Moody Gardens had just re-opened June of 2008 with fresh renovations, you’ll be pleased to know that they are back up and running according to Bill Pushak, Moody Gardens Golf Course General Manager. Their greatest nightmare having been faced, and not to minimize the impact of Ike, it seems as if it was a mere bump in the road for them.

    Their recent renovations to the course aided in the quick recovery. Superintendent Steve Yarotsky had overseen the seeding and maturation of the salt-resistant paspalum grass that covered the 135,000 square feet of the course. The grass did better than expected. It was a green beacon to many of the locals who went out and played the links about a month after Ike. Pushak said that “the grass was very resilient. It was completely underwater and they had no irrigation for two weeks, but the grass stayed green. When viewing the Island from a plane after the hurricane, the golf course was the only green in sight.”

    Pushak said that “there are 64 bunkers in all and they only need to repair 15” to be completely past the damage from Ike.  He said that the new golf cart fleet was saved because they relocated them before the storm. Since the buildings had to be built high, they weathered the storm.

     Upcoming events include “Moody Madness 3” a Golf Tournament and Salsa Competition where you can golf and bring your own salsa for judging—Golf and salsa, now that sounds like fun. This will be held Saturday, May 9, 2009. You must register by April 29.  Registration begins at 7:30 AM. The cost is $65 per person with green/cart fee, range balls, fiesta lunch, and prizes per flight included.

    For those of you who are not into golfing, perhaps you would like to indulge in Moody Gardens other attractions.  There is a spa, IMAX 3D theater, 4D Special FX theater, tropical rainforest, aquarium, and interactive futuristic movie ride. They also have Spring Break and Easter events coming up. For more details see the Moody Gardens website since event dates and movie times change.

    You’re “Just a Chip Shot Away” from Moody Gardens, Spring is here, and the freshly mowed grass is waiting for you to tee off.