Want to play a spectacular, brand new golf course designed by none other than Tiger Woods himself? Texans are in luck. Bluejack National, the first U.S. course designed by Woods, opened in November 2015 in Montgomery, about 45 minutes from downtown Houston. Dozens of eager golfers got their introductory playing test, including the first player to challenge the course, former President George W. Bush.
President Bush opened course play with Bluejack land developer Michael Abbott in a special seven-hole preview round. Former PGA Champion Dave Stockton and his son, Dave, Jr., gave a clinic on the driving range. The full front nine holes opened at Bluejack in early January, and the full world-class course opens this spring.
“This course will define a new Tiger Woods,” Abbott said. “When people see this course and what has been created, they will not only think of the golfer with 80 victories, but a skillful architect as well.”
Located on 755 acres of gently rolling countryside within the Piney Woods, Bluejack also includes 386 private residential units. The golf club is limited to 550 memberships, available by invitation and application only, and will offer luxury lifestyle amenities including a spa, a wellness center and The Porch, a casual clubhouse with dining options.
It’s not all about golf at Bluejack. The property includes tennis courts, 35 acres of fishing lakes and seven miles of hiking, biking and running trails. There are also plans for a bowling alley, movie theater, game room, zipline and ropes courses, archery range and fishing dock.
Through his company, Tiger Woods Design, Woods accentuates the beauty and drama of Bluejack’s natural terrain, using his vision and vast experience as a professional player to create a course capable of challenging the game’s best players. Golfers have to think and make decisions through their rounds, and successfully challenging hazards will reward players with preferred angles of play for their next shot. Green contours have been kept simple to allow for fast speeds, and the areas around the greens are maintained for optimal shot options and creativity from the chipping areas. In addition to the 18-hole course, there’s also a course for short-game practice.
Despite its challenge for accomplished golfers, Bluejack National will also be fair and accessible to golfers at every level. “The turf will be maintained at a single height of fairway cut, the undergrowth will be cleared and the forest floor will be covered with pine straw, making it easy to find and play wayward shots,” said Woods.
“Bluejack National has one of the best natural settings for golf I have seen,” Woods added. “With its changes in elevation, the beautiful pines and hardwoods, Bluejack National is reminiscent of the pinelands of Georgia and the Carolinas. The opportunity is here to create a golf course unlike any other in the Houston area, and our goal is for it to be among the best in the nation.”
4430 SOUTH FM 1486 | MONTGOMERY
