The total par at Memorial Park Golf Course is 70, a number that tells a story of strategic design and championship-level challenge. This article will break down what that Par 70 means, why the course is laid out this way, and provide actionable tips to help you understand and navigate this unique test of golf.
Before we look at Memorial Park specifically, let's quickly review what "par" means. In golf, par is the predetermined number of strokes a scratch golfer (a player with a zero handicap) is expected to need to complete a hole. It's the standard, the benchmark you measure your performance against on every hole and for the entire round.
This number isn't arbitrary. It’s calculated based on the distance from the tee to the green, with the assumption that a player will take two putts once on the putting surface. The logic generally breaks down like this:
Most regulation 18-hole golf courses add up to a par of 72, typically composed of four par-3s, ten par-4s, and four par-5s. This is why Memorial Park's Par 70 stands out - it signals a different kind of architectural challenge.
Memorial Park Golf Course, especially from the championship tees used for the PGA Tour's Houston Open, plays to a stout Par 70. This score is a result of a layout intentionally designed by the famed golf course architect Tom Doak to test the best players in the world.
Here’s the composition that gets you to that Par 70 score:
Right away, you can see the differences from a "standard" Par 72 course. Memorial Park features one extra Par-3 and one fewer Par-5. This isn't an accident. It's a deliberate design choice that redefines the a player's strategy and asks different questions of their game.
Essentially, the course trades away one of the traditional birdie opportunities (a Par-5) for a demanding an iron shot into a complex green (a Par-3). This places a tremendous amount of pressure on ball-striking, forcing players to be precise with their irons rather than just overpowering the course with a driver.
"Muny" courses, or municipal courses, often get a reputation for being simple and straightforward. When Tom Doak and his team re-imagined Memorial Park in 2019, they shattered that stereotype. Doak's philosophy focuses on creating interesting, strategic golf holes that require thought and present players with options and consequences. The Par 70 layout is central to this vision.
The goal wasn't just to make the course hard, it was to make it *interesting*. It was about forcing players to make decisions. Should you try to drive the short Par-4 and risk bringing big numbers into play? Can you navigate the tight fairway to get the best angle into a cleverly guarded green? This mindset replaces the simple "bomb and gouge" strategy that can dominate modern golf.
By only having three Par-5s, Doak magnified their importance. On a typical Par-72 course, four Par-5s offer ample opportunity to score. At Memorial Park, you feel like you must take advantage of holes 3, 8, and 16. If you walk off one with a bogey, it feels like a double bogey because you know those opportunities are limited. This psychological pressure is part of the challenge.
The five Par-3s at Memorial are a brilliant test of mid-to-long iron play. They vary in length and require different shot shapes, making it impossible to get comfortable. The holes aren't just about distance, they're about controlling your ball flight and landing it on the correct portion of the green.
This configuration means one-quarter of your full shots are approaches on Par-3s. A player with a weak iron game has nowhere to hide. You must be in control of your golf ball to score here.
Understanding a course's par is one thing, knowing how to play it is another. Instead of being intimidated by the Par 70, you can use it to build a smart game plan. Let's look at how you should approach this course from a coaching perspective.
Before you even step on the first tee, forget about the official Par 70. This number is for elite professionals. Your goal should be to play to your "Personal Par." If you are a 90s golfer (a handicap of around 18), your personal par is a bogey on every hole. An 18 handicapper shooting 90 is eighteend over par... or even par for their personal course. This simple mental shift is transformative:
When you stand on a tee, ask yourself, "What's my personal par on this hole?" and then build a strategy to achieve that, not what the scorecard says.
With only three Par-5s, you need to approach them with a clear plan. Don't just pull out the driver and hit away. Decide your strategy right from the tee box.
The average golfer should not be "pin-seeking" on Memorial Park's tough Par-3s. The greens are large and sectioned, and a miss in the wrong spot can be a disaster.
The backbone of Memorial Park's challenge lies in its ten Par-4s. They vary wildly from the tantalizingly short 15th hole, to the behemoth 18th. The common thread? Placement off the tee matters more than power mostof the time.
Memorial Park Golf Course’s Par 70 is more than just a number, it’s a brilliant reflection of a strategic design that values thought over force. Its unique layout - with five Par-3s and only three Par-5s - demands excellent iron play and smart course management, offering a genuine championship experience accessible to everyone.
Developing that course management skill, especially on a strategic layout like Memorial, is what separates a frustrating day from a rewarding one. With today's technology, I've seen how quickly players can improve this skill. For instance, players using Caddie AI can get instant, high-level strategic advice tailored for any hole, any lie. When you’re facing a tough decision like 'should I lay up on the 8th?' or figuring out the right play from a tricky bit of rough, you get a clear, simple recommendation in your pocket, helping you think like a pro and manage your way around the course more wisely.
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