I'm looking into joining Sterling Country Club, as I live in the bridgeland area and think it's a better deal than Blackhorse. TAMU Campus Course being a sister club is nice as well.

Anyone familiar? Good or bad, looking to get more info before committing. The members I've paired up with while playing Houston National or run into at the bar have had good things to say.

I've played Houston national once. It's pretty much my least favorite kind of course: lined with houses, busy roads, and not walkable. Maybe the sterling course is different. No idea how much membership is, but can't imagine writing a chunky initiation check for it. Definitely understand the appeal if it's in your backyard, though

Sterling is nicer than National

Greens are normally pretty firm and decently fast

Lots of people and rounds can get long, driving range is nice when on the grass...their mats need to be replaced

Aggie369 said:

---

Sterling is nicer than National

Greens are normally pretty firm and decently fast

Lots of people and rounds can get long, driving range is nice when on the grass...their mats need to be replaced

---

Pretty accurate description. The course is a fun track. Wide open but fun.

If you're on the fence, try the social membership. Minimal investment and gives you access to Sterling for a green fee.

Sooper Jeenyus said:

---

Aggie369 said:

---

Sterling is nicer than National

Greens are normally pretty firm and decently fast

Lots of people and rounds can get long, driving range is nice when on the grass...their mats need to be replaced

---

Pretty accurate description. The course is a fun track. Wide open but fun.

If you're on the fence, try the social membership. Minimal investment and gives you access to Sterling for a green fee.

---

It is only "wide open" in that there are hardly any trees. The course is lined with houses. It's better than National in that they at least take care of it and it's in good shape. It's VERY much subdivision golf, though.

AggieEyes said:

---

Blackhorse is also a turning into a poorly maintained course....Everything the Escalante Group touches goes south.

---

Really? Based on their rack rate of $125 I just assumed it was a top notch place.

As for Houston National and Sterling...HN used to be in the normal rotation but it turned to a goat track with bare ground and hardpan everywhere and we quit going back.

I've heard Sterling is a bit nicer but have heard nightmare stories about 6 hour rounds. Even heard situations were guys were quitting midround because pace was too slow.

OK. I'm talking about playing the course, not watching the scenery surrounding it.

Have played several rounds there and have never been bothered by the houses. It's Houston. Not many courses around here are completely remote.

ETA: have never had an issue with pace of play either.

Sooper Jeenyus said:

---

OK. I'm talking about playing the course, not watching the scenery surrounding it.

Have played several rounds there and have never been bothered by the houses. It's Houston. Not many courses around here are completely remote.

---

OK. It's not scenery when the course doglegs around bar-b-que pits and chimneys. It's a crappy layout and it's not wide open.

PS, all of the courses I play are self pretty much self-contained and/or the houses aren't right on top of you (Tradition, Cypress, Blackhorse, Memorial, Gus Wortham, Houston Oaks, Sandhill, High Meadow, Golf Club of Houston, Grand Lake, Cypress Lakes).

There are lots of houses but it's not a tight course...its pretty open and fairways are big.

There are a few holes u can carry dog legs by aiming over back yards for sure

Poot said:

---

Sooper Jeenyus said:

---

OK. I'm talking about playing the course, not watching the scenery surrounding it.

Have played several rounds there and have never been bothered by the houses. It's Houston. Not many courses around here are completely remote.

---

OK. It's not scenery when the course doglegs around bar-b-que pits and chimneys. It's a crappy layout and it's not wide open.

PS, all of the courses I play are self pretty much self-contained and/or the houses aren't right on top of you (Tradition, Cypress, Blackhorse, Memorial, Gus Wortham, Houston Oaks, Sandhill, High Meadow, Golf Club of Houston, Grand Lake, Cypress Lakes).

---

That's a legitimate issue on one hole, maybe two IF you have the length to carry, which most do not. You don't like it, don't play it. I've had plenty of enjoyable rounds there. Lots of water features so, where the neighborhoods are present, they're almost always limited to one side of the hole.

Without further cluttering the thread on this debate, I'll suggest OP call and inquire about possible membership and ask to play the course. Decide for yourself if it's worth whatever membership option you're considering.

Lot of good info here, appreciate everyone giving their perspective. I'm surprised to hear Sterling has had pace of play issues, they've got a waitlist for a membership right now of a few months. I assumed that meant they were conscious of not overbooking to maintain pace, but maybe not. It's a cheap application fee, so I don't expect it to be perfect.

SnookAG16, my dad is a member at Sterling and I have probably played 40 rounds there over the past 15 years. Other than tournaments I have never had a pace of play issue. There are hard pan areas but the greens are in good shape and have never had complaints. The men's golf association has a lot of members and they generally seem like a good group. There are usually any assortment of skins games you can play on every morning. I have played in the morning 'rack' on Saturdays for $10-$20 and had a good time.

I'm not a member, but my oldest is in the golf academy.

From that standpoint, it's pretty nice, although no frills. The renovated back deck grill is pretty awesome. Great place as a dad to finish up work, catch a beer and a game and watch the kids in the golf academy practice. Her first tournament is this week, so I guess we'll see what the course is on. Not sure if HN or Sterling. I believe there's something like 450 kids in the academy now and they have a kid competing at Augusta for D, C, & P.

As far as culture. It seems like a really good group of guys with lots of opportunities to play golf. They are always gathering on the back deck on Thursday afternoons for a drink while one of their tourneys finishes. Laid back and casual. See and hear lots of people talking about it being a large group where someone is always up for a game.

Seems like a big family course with lots of parents and kids getting in a round after school / work in the afternoons.