Uploaded By: ChrisMacG
Hole #7 (Taken 2/2010)
Hole #7 (Taken 2/2010) 
3 / 219ft. 3 / 240ft.
Par / Distance:
Hole #7 Basket: Sits along rows of pines planted over ten years ago.
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Reviews: 11
Avg. Rating:
Details
Avg. Rating:
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Elevate your fun in Houston
Pros: Mason is a fun, fun course with elevation in good ole flatland Houston. I really had a blast playing it. In general the fairways are tree-lined and narrow with up and down slopes on the course for some variety and challenge. On several holes you have to get through some distant, narrowed-down openings to hit the basket area. There is a good balance of hyzer and annie fairways. I am a RHBH player. In general the older pix on DGCR do not do the course justice. I was expecting a much less playable and fun course from those. I was in Houston to pick up my son at Hobby and just picked Mason to play because it was close to the airport. DikkaD assured me there was no potential crime- problem playing Mason, despite its location in an old part of Houston and one incident several years ago, and he was absolutely correct. All the walkers and dog walkers were friendly, even the dog who took my approach disc on #9. The excess brush in the DGCR pix has all been cleared, so you really only have to worry about the trees. Tees are grass/dirt, but very firm. My favorite holes are the elevated tee #8 to the narrow opening way below. #2 cause I just think it is neat, and #7 up the hill. The elevation changes really make the course. Two tees - red and green. Both are fun and challenging. Discatcher baskets.
Cons: Low basket on #9. #3 is kinda ridiculous. You either throw a big hyzer way right through an opening, or throw straight at the tree line protecting the front of the basket and pray. I'd move the basket to the right or left of the opening on the right of the hole. You would still have the big slope to roll down as a punishment. Hole signs at the tees would eliminate new players wasting time trying to locate the basket. New baskets would really spruce up the course and show Houston Parks and Rec is serious about Mason.
Other Thoughts: There are restrooms handy of the porta-let variety. Parking right next to #1. I did not see any water fountains, but there may be some at the buildings. Tables are in a couple of places where you could sit a spell. I stopped at Burke-Crenshaw a few times, but Mason is much more challenging and fun. I wish it were near my home, cause I would play it a lot. I'll be back.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.
Report this Review mosquito hell
Pros: Many Challanging holes
Elevation change
daunting hole #1
nice park by the bayou
has a pool!
Elevation change
daunting hole #1
nice park by the bayou
has a pool!
Cons: Completely overgrown
mosquito hell
hard to navigate without a map
mosquito hell
hard to navigate without a map
Other Thoughts: This could be nice with a little maintance
0 of 2 people found this review helpful.
Great little gem
Pros: Played from the longs
+Each hole had a thoughtful layout, save for two. You were offered one or two obvious choices for lines and approaches
+Varied elevation makes for fun golf. Nothing drastic for the most part, but not flat as a board.
+Elevation also means drainage. While some courses were waterlogged, Mason was pretty dry.
+The hole design was excellent, making you think about what you wanted to do. When you pull a disc, take another look, and consider a different disc/line, the designer has done well
+Lots of parking
+Each hole had a thoughtful layout, save for two. You were offered one or two obvious choices for lines and approaches
+Varied elevation makes for fun golf. Nothing drastic for the most part, but not flat as a board.
+Elevation also means drainage. While some courses were waterlogged, Mason was pretty dry.
+The hole design was excellent, making you think about what you wanted to do. When you pull a disc, take another look, and consider a different disc/line, the designer has done well
+Lots of parking
Cons: -Dirt pads
-Only 9! I want 9 more holes like these!
-Signage; while both tee positions had posts (and differently colored) they lacked distances, even sharpied by a helpful local.
-Hole 3
-Single chain on some baskets
-Print the map, would be hard to navigate without it
-Only 9! I want 9 more holes like these!
-Signage; while both tee positions had posts (and differently colored) they lacked distances, even sharpied by a helpful local.
-Hole 3
-Single chain on some baskets
-Print the map, would be hard to navigate without it
Other Thoughts: Played from the long tees, had a strong wind from over the water, felt most on 5-9.
1: From the long, you have to shoot over a creek/ditch/ravine/whatever, but you have to shoot through a 15'-20' gap in the foliage, which you can see the basket through. It's a good accuracy challenge, not easy, but doable . Its hard in that even if you make it, you will likely only make it 20' past the gap. Though you might be able to go over it all with a big hyzer for more D, I'm not sure. And if you make it past, don't go down, through, and up the ditch. Just go the extra 50' around to the right.
2. A nice tunnel anny, with a roll in the hill. If you OAT, you still get a look due to more than one lane to the pin.
3. WTF. The first 90% of this hole is good, trees look dense, but the lines are there. However, just a few feet in front of the pin, is a whole line of pine trunks spaced about 2' apart. All you can do is hit the line, and then cross you fingers on whether you discs finds a gap. Infact, from the other side, it looks like its a pin for a hole going the opposite direction (like for 6...because I threw it at before realizing)
4. Another light anny tunnel, opens up in the back
5. The existence of a "Fair"-way here is debatable
6. A long hole along the bayou, despite the line on the course map. The trees from the long tee encourage a line parallel to the water. The long tee grass was very long and slick. For some reason not mowed with the rest of the park. No clear tee area, also didn't seem like it was actually flat around the marker. Felt not used very often.
7. An uphill anny, with lanes to the pin at the end
8. Fun shot! Slight downhill, but with a huge tree in the direct line to the pin. A big Hyzer is needed to clear the tree. With the wind, the tree, and the elevation change, you actually need to go around the tree, but not over it, or else you'll hyzer too far left. Gives you a tingle cause you have to aim at the water, though you won't actually go over it.
9. Trees provide a ceiling, but you can choose either direction to approach the pin from.
1: From the long, you have to shoot over a creek/ditch/ravine/whatever, but you have to shoot through a 15'-20' gap in the foliage, which you can see the basket through. It's a good accuracy challenge, not easy, but doable . Its hard in that even if you make it, you will likely only make it 20' past the gap. Though you might be able to go over it all with a big hyzer for more D, I'm not sure. And if you make it past, don't go down, through, and up the ditch. Just go the extra 50' around to the right.
2. A nice tunnel anny, with a roll in the hill. If you OAT, you still get a look due to more than one lane to the pin.
3. WTF. The first 90% of this hole is good, trees look dense, but the lines are there. However, just a few feet in front of the pin, is a whole line of pine trunks spaced about 2' apart. All you can do is hit the line, and then cross you fingers on whether you discs finds a gap. Infact, from the other side, it looks like its a pin for a hole going the opposite direction (like for 6...because I threw it at before realizing)
4. Another light anny tunnel, opens up in the back
5. The existence of a "Fair"-way here is debatable
6. A long hole along the bayou, despite the line on the course map. The trees from the long tee encourage a line parallel to the water. The long tee grass was very long and slick. For some reason not mowed with the rest of the park. No clear tee area, also didn't seem like it was actually flat around the marker. Felt not used very often.
7. An uphill anny, with lanes to the pin at the end
8. Fun shot! Slight downhill, but with a huge tree in the direct line to the pin. A big Hyzer is needed to clear the tree. With the wind, the tree, and the elevation change, you actually need to go around the tree, but not over it, or else you'll hyzer too far left. Gives you a tingle cause you have to aim at the water, though you won't actually go over it.
9. Trees provide a ceiling, but you can choose either direction to approach the pin from.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful.
Fun 9-holer
1 
10/18/2011 
10/18/2011
Review By: scuddyp4 Played: 29 Reviewed: 11 Exp: 6 Years
This review was updated on 10/19/2011
Pros: Mason Park is a really fun, technical 9 hole course. There are many reasons to check this course out.
-Alternate tees that give you not only more length, but in most cases changes the shot shape that you will need in order to reach the basket.
-Woods. The designer used the wooded area of this course to it's fullest potential to give a us a great course that will be hard to completely master.
-Elevation. Elevation is something most Houston area courses don't have. So for me, elevation gives courses a slight advantage in comparison to other courses in the area.
-Scenic Park. This course is in a very nice park that is well used (more about that in the cons section). This is one of the nicer parks that I've seen in Houston as far as scenery goes.
-Great lines on some holes. There were some very nice lines that were required on several holes that rival some of the top courses in this area. The green tee at #1. Both tees at #8. #4 and #5 are both very technical and require some needle threading as well.
-There seemed to be ample parking. I went on a Tuesday morning and there were plenty of parking spaces then. This may not be the case on the weekends and afternoons.
-The baskets were all in decent shape. You could tell they had seen their share of discs, but all were intact with no chains missing. They were all standing up straight and none of the baskets were bent or crooked.
-Alternate tees that give you not only more length, but in most cases changes the shot shape that you will need in order to reach the basket.
-Woods. The designer used the wooded area of this course to it's fullest potential to give a us a great course that will be hard to completely master.
-Elevation. Elevation is something most Houston area courses don't have. So for me, elevation gives courses a slight advantage in comparison to other courses in the area.
-Scenic Park. This course is in a very nice park that is well used (more about that in the cons section). This is one of the nicer parks that I've seen in Houston as far as scenery goes.
-Great lines on some holes. There were some very nice lines that were required on several holes that rival some of the top courses in this area. The green tee at #1. Both tees at #8. #4 and #5 are both very technical and require some needle threading as well.
-There seemed to be ample parking. I went on a Tuesday morning and there were plenty of parking spaces then. This may not be the case on the weekends and afternoons.
-The baskets were all in decent shape. You could tell they had seen their share of discs, but all were intact with no chains missing. They were all standing up straight and none of the baskets were bent or crooked.
Cons: Even though this course has a lot of great things about it, there are some that aren't so great as well.
-Trash. There was a good bit of trash on the course. Especially on hole #5.
-Crowded. I went on a tuesday morning and there were people all over the place. I'm sure it's insane on the weekends. There were several times when I had to wait for a break in the runners/walkers in order to throw. Holes #3, #6 and #8 (if you take the outside hyzer route around the trees).
-Hole #3. This hole was not a well thoughtout hole at all. There's really no way to get to the basket. You just kinda throw and hope that your disc makes it through.
-Hole #6. The walking path is basically the fairway for hole #6. I had to wait a few minutes to throw on this hole because the path of your shot flys over the walking path for almost the entire hole.
--Crossing the creek/ditch on hole #1. There is really no easy way to get across it. As someone else mentioned there is a log to walk across but it's still not pleasant.
-No benches on the course. There are some in the surrounding park but they are well off the course.
-No course map or yardage on tee posts.
-I think it would be difficult to find the next tee without a map on some of these. There should be signs or something that at least point to the next basket.
-Trash. There was a good bit of trash on the course. Especially on hole #5.
-Crowded. I went on a tuesday morning and there were people all over the place. I'm sure it's insane on the weekends. There were several times when I had to wait for a break in the runners/walkers in order to throw. Holes #3, #6 and #8 (if you take the outside hyzer route around the trees).
-Hole #3. This hole was not a well thoughtout hole at all. There's really no way to get to the basket. You just kinda throw and hope that your disc makes it through.
-Hole #6. The walking path is basically the fairway for hole #6. I had to wait a few minutes to throw on this hole because the path of your shot flys over the walking path for almost the entire hole.
--Crossing the creek/ditch on hole #1. There is really no easy way to get across it. As someone else mentioned there is a log to walk across but it's still not pleasant.
-No benches on the course. There are some in the surrounding park but they are well off the course.
-No course map or yardage on tee posts.
-I think it would be difficult to find the next tee without a map on some of these. There should be signs or something that at least point to the next basket.
Other Thoughts: On several holes I would suggest a spotter. Holes #6 and #8 are two that you should probably use one on.
I tend to stay away from most 9 hole courses. But I figured I would check this one out because of the reviews. I may not play this course as much as some of the nicer 18 and 21 hole courses, but I'll probably try to make it out there about once a month. If you live close this might be your new favorite course. It's got the potential to be a really fun round.
I tend to stay away from most 9 hole courses. But I figured I would check this one out because of the reviews. I may not play this course as much as some of the nicer 18 and 21 hole courses, but I'll probably try to make it out there about once a month. If you live close this might be your new favorite course. It's got the potential to be a really fun round.
4 of 6 people found this review helpful.
The Lewis and Clark Expedition OR Pocahontas Left Us Again?
Pros: This course is laid out on a diverse piece of land. It has a little elevation, wooded areas, wide-open spots, and the sparse tree like areas as well. The pin placements were mostly in clever locations (except for a couple). I actually think the baskets locations were really the only bragging portion of this course. There is decent parking. This place does have potential with the way the park is set up and the variety of terrain.
Cons: The baskets were of a single chain type and not in the best shape, the tee pads were rough, and the wooden tee-sign posts (the ones still there) have just the number on them (mostly). Navigation was a bit of a nightmare. Where is Pocahontas when you need her? The logic of the holes layout was bit odd as very few holes flowed like you would expect. I doubt this really getting maintained that often. The grass was shaggy in many locations, but this is a big park. There did seem to be the occasional pedestrians walking around and through the course. So keep safety in mind.
Other Thoughts: The Fun Factor is above average. Now that I said that, it was a tough decision. Once you figure the place out, the holes can seem quite fun, but the conditions just wear you back down (single chain baskets, and poor tee areas). This could really be something if more time was taken and some adjustments were made. If you had a guide, I would play it anyway.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful.
Good 9 Holer
5+ 10/9/2012 10/14/2010
Review By: crashzero Played: 38 Reviewed: 3 Exp: 6.1 Years
This review was updated on 1/20/2013
Pros: The best features of this course are the rolling hills that set it apart from most Houston courses. Plenty of up and down shots, blind basket placements, good balance of left and right turns. I also like the fact that the rough areas are not that rough. Hole #5 used to be a messy grassland but now the parks department seems to have really cleaned all the holes up. The rows of trees create some nice tunnel shots that arent too ridiculous for the most part.
Cons: Hole #3: basket needs to be moved, the shot makes no sense
Hole #5: the tees should be moved to create a reasonable line to the basket
A foot bridge or some kind of clearing in the middle of hole 1 would also help as people mentioned before, after you throw your drive you must cross a nasty ditch area.
Hole #5: the tees should be moved to create a reasonable line to the basket
A foot bridge or some kind of clearing in the middle of hole 1 would also help as people mentioned before, after you throw your drive you must cross a nasty ditch area.
Other Thoughts: This course posesses some of the strongest holes and some of the weakest. But that can be easily corrected with some simple adjustments to tees or baskets.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.
MISQUITO PIT 
Pros: Close to Downtown, Parking, the other downtown course, Buffalo Bayou I could not even find a place to park. Looks like you just pull over on the side of the express way and hope for the best...so at least here there is a parking LOT....THATS THE BEST THING I CAN SAY ABOUT THIS PLACE.
Cons: Fist tee is hard to figure out, Looks like you throw through woods with no vissable opening...then how do I get across this tick infested drainage ditch, there was a tree that fell over...then you find a rusty single chain basket. No since of direction on where to go next, and its hard to think cause you will spend most your time swatting Misquitos. It only get worse from there...
Other Thoughts: We did have fun after getting fed up after 4 holes we headed back to car, seen this spunky squirel so why not see if he'd like to take a ride on a Roc, Man that dude had moves quick dodge to the right a back flip and a nija stance showing us he had no fear....So I thow another disk his direction,,,THis guy gives chase....he went after that disk like he was going to thow it back! Thank God for that squirl it was the most fun we had...
0 of 9 people found this review helpful.
Damn This Little Course is Good 
Pros: Wow, that was the word I kept hearing from my fellow disc golfers as we played the first mini at this course since it's resurrection. To say this course was a surprise would be an understatement. I had read the previous reviews of the course before it being renovated and I really didn't know what to think, but now that I played it, all I can say is this course is good, its real good.
I think the one thing that struck me first was all the elevation this course has. For someone who is used to your typical flat Houston track this little course is a welcome departure. There are tight tunnel shots up hills like #2 and #7 and a picturesque dare I say beautiful down hill hole #8. Hole #1 also uses the elevation masterfully and is definitely my favorite, its pin location is deceptively tough to get to. Also of note is the alternate or "short" tees really change the course up, mixing up lines and changing some holes entirely.
The teeboxes are natural grass and have, as of yet, not been torn up, making them wonderful for driving. Being that this course is built on and around a hill, it drains really well and might be the driest course in Houston. In fact I played this course a day or two after some pretty substantial rains and it was incredibly dry considering that MacGregor was completely underwater, just 2 miles away.
I think the one thing that struck me first was all the elevation this course has. For someone who is used to your typical flat Houston track this little course is a welcome departure. There are tight tunnel shots up hills like #2 and #7 and a picturesque dare I say beautiful down hill hole #8. Hole #1 also uses the elevation masterfully and is definitely my favorite, its pin location is deceptively tough to get to. Also of note is the alternate or "short" tees really change the course up, mixing up lines and changing some holes entirely.
The teeboxes are natural grass and have, as of yet, not been torn up, making them wonderful for driving. Being that this course is built on and around a hill, it drains really well and might be the driest course in Houston. In fact I played this course a day or two after some pretty substantial rains and it was incredibly dry considering that MacGregor was completely underwater, just 2 miles away.
Cons: The baskets here are single chain old Discatchers and as such are susceptible to chain outs and slip throughs. But for being as old as they are they still do a pretty decent job with one exception. The basket for #9 is a munchkin basket and its catching area is about 4-5 inches to small, making for some pretty hairy putts. This course is in a pretty rough part of town and drug paraphernalia and prophylactics have been known to show up in fairways. Just keep an eye out and dont let little Timmy to far out of sight if you bring him with you to the course. I'd say 8 of the holes out here are good to great but hole #3 is a Plinko hole and really needs its basket to be moved for it to be anything other than pure luck.
Other Thoughts: Big props need to be given out to HFDS and the Houston Parks department on this one. They did an excellent job on bringing back a course that almost everyone had forgotten about. The landscape of Houston disc golf inside the loop had become pretty boring and this little gem has injected a lot more fun downtown. Mason Park is a damn good 9 hole course.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.
Back to life!
Pros: In early 2010 Birdshot and HPARD set to work on restoring this course and they did a great job. Nestled into a park that is ten years into a reforestation project, the Mason Park DGC is one of the most technical courses in the area. Five of the nine holes play through woods consisting of tight rows of pine trees about ten feet apart. These rows demand excellent disc control otherwise you'll hit a tree and bounce off to who knows where. Almost all of the holes also feature elevation changes to add to your challenge.
The best thing about this course is how fast it dries after rain. Compared to 18 hole courses like MacGregor and Moffit this course has drainage meaning you can play it the day after it rains and still keep somewhat dry.
The best thing about this course is how fast it dries after rain. Compared to 18 hole courses like MacGregor and Moffit this course has drainage meaning you can play it the day after it rains and still keep somewhat dry.
Cons: The park is not the cleanest park in the city. Prior to the restoration the course was in abysmal state and it could still use a clean-up in parts. Finding your way from basket to tee isn't always clear either. Most of these issues can be worked out if the course starts getting regular play again.
Other Thoughts: This course is a unique challenge that will test any player's skills. I can't think of another course like it in the city and will be back to play it often.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.
Recently Restored 2-4 7/5/2009 7/6/2009
Review By: ERicJ 
Played: 170 Reviewed: 143 Exp: 5.5 Years
This review was updated on 8/6/2010
Pros:
Lots of mature and new trees available to make a nice course with some good lines. Elevation changes (a rarity for Houston) make for some cool holes. Unlike many Houston courses this one has a ton of trees and score-punishing off fairway rough. The fairways themselves are generally well defined and, except for #3, tight but fair. Six of the holes are far enough away from the general use areas of the park as to limit pedestrian interference. Baskets are single chain DISCatchers.
Update:
In Feb 2010 the Houston Parks Department repaired all the broken baskets and replaced all the missing tee signs. Birdshot has also installed bricks for the short tee locations.
Lots of mature and new trees available to make a nice course with some good lines. Elevation changes (a rarity for Houston) make for some cool holes. Unlike many Houston courses this one has a ton of trees and score-punishing off fairway rough. The fairways themselves are generally well defined and, except for #3, tight but fair. Six of the holes are far enough away from the general use areas of the park as to limit pedestrian interference. Baskets are single chain DISCatchers.
Update:
In Feb 2010 the Houston Parks Department repaired all the broken baskets and replaced all the missing tee signs. Birdshot has also installed bricks for the short tee locations.
Cons:
This course was in major disrepair for many years and as such didn't get enough play to break in the fairways so they're somewhat overgrown. New trees have been planted since the course was designed which in years to come will greatly increase the difficulty of several holes. The trees have grown up so much near basket #3 that no fairway exists near the basket and getting through them is now pure luck. That hole needs some clearing to make it a legit hole. The basket on #9 is, well, sort of "compact". The tray is bolted too high up the pole resulting in a smaller target area to hit chains. The tee for #9 is located directly behind a tree trying to force an RHBH anhyzer shot to the basket, it results in a rather ugly hole. Several baskets are showing their rusty age, but all are still playable for now.
This course was in major disrepair for many years and as such didn't get enough play to break in the fairways so they're somewhat overgrown. New trees have been planted since the course was designed which in years to come will greatly increase the difficulty of several holes. The trees have grown up so much near basket #3 that no fairway exists near the basket and getting through them is now pure luck. That hole needs some clearing to make it a legit hole. The basket on #9 is, well, sort of "compact". The tray is bolted too high up the pole resulting in a smaller target area to hit chains. The tee for #9 is located directly behind a tree trying to force an RHBH anhyzer shot to the basket, it results in a rather ugly hole. Several baskets are showing their rusty age, but all are still playable for now.
Other Thoughts:
I was happy to get a chance to play Mason in something close to its original condition. Holes #1 and #8 were favorites for difficulty and cool factor respectively. If you get a chance to check out Mason now, you'll probably be pleasantly surprised. It really is a good park with lots of holes different from most Houston courses. Hopefully the vandals don't destroy the course again.
I was happy to get a chance to play Mason in something close to its original condition. Holes #1 and #8 were favorites for difficulty and cool factor respectively. If you get a chance to check out Mason now, you'll probably be pleasantly surprised. It really is a good park with lots of holes different from most Houston courses. Hopefully the vandals don't destroy the course again.
15 of 16 people found this review helpful.
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