Champions Golf Club

Champions Golf Club
Club information
Champions Golf Club is located in the United States
Champions Golf Club
Location in the United States
Champions Golf Club is located in Texas
Champions Golf Club
Location in Texas
Coordinates29°58′59″N 95°31′52″W / 29.983°N 95.531°W / 29.983; -95.531
Established1957, 67 years ago
TypePrivate
Total holes36
Events hosted1967 Ryder Cup
1969 U.S. Open
Tour Championship (5)
Houston Open (5)
1993 U.S. Amateur
2020 U.S. Women's Open
Websitewww.championsgolfclub.com
Cypress Creek
Designed byRalph Plummer (1959)
Chet Williams (2018 renovation)
Par71
Length7,301 yd (6,676 m)
Course rating75.1 [1]
Slope rating135 [1]
Jackrabbit
Designed byGeorge Fazio and
Tom Fazio (renovation)
Par71
Length7,021 yd (6,420 m)
Course rating74.2 [2]
Slope rating135 [2]

Champions Golf Club is a 36-hole private golf club located in Houston, Texas. Established in 1957 by multiple major champions Jack Burke Jr. and Jimmy Demaret, who were both raised in the city, Champions carries a long history for Houston golf. Burke (1923-2024) won the Masters and PGA Championship in 1956 and Demaret (1910–1983) was the first to win three Masters (1940, 1947, 1950).

The Cypress Creek course was designed by Ralph Plummer and opened for play 65 years ago in 1959. It was the site of the 1967 Ryder Cup, 1969 U.S. Open, five PGA Tour Championships, and the U.S. Amateur in 1993. It also hosted the Houston Champions International on the PGA Tour five times, which is now the Houston Open.

In 2018, the Cypress Creek course temporarily closed for a renovation in advance of hosting the 2020 US Women's Open. The renovation was completed by architect Chet Williams, known for his work across Texas including the design of Whispering Pines Golf Club in Trinity, TX.

The first hole of the recently renovated Cypress Creek course.

The second course is the Jackrabbit course, which is used in qualifying rounds for the various USGA Championships the club has hosted, while Cypress Creek is the primary tournament venue. In 2020, golfers for the U. S. Women's Open played the first or second round at Jackrabbit with the other rounds at Cypress Creek because of the December tournament date caused by a global pandemic. The Jackrabbit course opened in 1964 and was designed by George Fazio, later renovated by nephew Tom Fazio.

The competitive course record at Cypress Creek is held by Chad Campbell, who shot a 10-under-par 61 in the third round en route to winning the Tour Championship in 2003,[3][4] the last held at Champions.

  1. ^ a b "Course Rating and Slope Database™ - Champions GC - Cypress Creek". USGA. Retrieved March 27, 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Course Rating and Slope Database™ - Champions GC - Jackrabbit". USGA. Retrieved March 27, 2017.
  3. ^ "Mmm, mmm, good! Campbell takes over tournament with 61". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). wire reports. November 9, 2003. p. C2.
  4. ^ "Campbell wins Tour Championship going away". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). wire reports. November 10, 2003. p. E2.