Class of 2022

Houston Country Club

Golf Course

Course History

Houston Country Club was founded in 1908, at what is now Gus Wortham Golf Course, by Will Farish & Walter Fondren - founders of Exxon; Howard Hughes, Sr. - founder, Hughes Tool Company, Captain James Baker - co-founder, Baker Botts law firm (grandfather of James A. Baker, III), Joseph Cullinan - founder, Texaco; Jesse Jones - Secretary of Commerce, Head of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation and Houston businessman/philanthropist; and the estate of William Marsh Rice - founding entity of Rice University.

Houston Country Club’s current location was designed by Robert Trent Jones in 1955 and opened in 1957. Coore & Crenshaw redesigned the course in 1988. One of the five founding members of the Texas Golf Association, the club has played host to eight Texas State Amateurs (1911 - first on an 18-hole golf course, 1913, 1916, 1920, 1933, 1981, 2001, 2008) and five Women’s Texas Golf Association Championships (1917, 1921, 1928, 1938, 1961). The course has also held numerous famous exhibitions and USGA qualifiers and played host to the Houston Invitational from 1914-1954 with winners including Francis Ouimet (1922) and Doug Ford (1949). George V. Rotan was the first winner and won the event multiple times. Over the years, Houston Country Club has consistently opened its course to PGA section events and was a primary practice facility for the prolific University of Houston Men’s Golf Team during its championship runs in the 1970s and 1980s.

Two golf inventions originated at Houston Country Club. The original sand wedge was invented and patented by member Ed MacClain (Bobby Jones used it at 1930 British Open). Gene Sarazen modified it later after he got the new design idea from spending time with member, Howard Hughes, Jr. In 1947, member Dick Jackson invented and received a patent for the golf cart by welding a park bench on a Cushman scooter and called it the “Arthritis Special.”

Notable Houston Country Club members include President George H.W. Bush (son President George W. Bush was active at the club while growing up), James A. Baker, III (former Chief of Staff for President Ronald Reagan, Secretary of Treasury, and Secretary of State), and Denton Cooley (renowned heart surgeon who performed first heart transplant).

Legacy Video

Inductee Highlights

One of five founding members of the Texas Golf Association
Hosted 8 Texas State Amateurs- 1911 (first on an 18-hole golf course), 1913, 1916, 1920, 1933, 1981, 2001, 2008
Hosted 5 Women’s Texas Golf Association Championships- 1917 (second one), 1921, 1928, 1938, 1961
Trans-Mississippi Championships- 1982 Four-Ball, 2016 Senior
USGA Qualifiers- U.S. Open Sectional, Men’s Mid-Am, Women’s Mid-Am (recent high frequency), Boy’s Junior
Houston Invitational held from 1914-1954
- Winners include Francis Ouimet- 1922, Frank Stranahan- 1947, Doug Ford- 1949
- George V. Rotan, member, was first time and multiple winner. First Texan to play on Walker Cup
Famous exhibition matches:
- 1913- Ted Ray, Harry Vardon with HCC Pro Willie McGuire.
- 1935- Bobby Jones, Jack Burke, Sr., Ossie Carlton, Willie Maguire
- 1964- Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf- Ben Hogan vs. Sam Snead
Other events hosted- Joe Black Cup Matches, STPGA Major Championships, Assistant Professional Championships, Pro-Junior Championships, Annual Bill Liedtke Tournament (hosted by Arnold Palmer)

The Place to Be

One of the five founding members of the Texas Golf Association, Houston Country Club has welcomed some of the most prestigious people and families in the world while also hosting notable amateur tournaments (eight Texas State Amateurs and five Women’s Texas Golf Association Championships) and exhibition matches, including the epic 1964 Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf showdown featuring Ben Hogan and Sam Snead. In 2004, former club member and U.S. President George H.W. Bush’s memorable 80th birthday weekend celebration, which included his well-publicized parachute jump, brought former heads of state from around the world, including former Prime Minister John Major of Great Britain and former President of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev, together for lunch at Houston Country Club.

From the Courts to the White House

James A. “Jim” Baker, III, whose grandfather helped found Houston Country Club in 1908, was already a well-regarded club-level tennis player when New England native George H.W. Bush made his way to the Bayou City in the late 1950s. After Bush joined HCC, the two were paired as a tennis doubles tandem, and went on to win the club’s doubles championship back-to-back years. The men continued their strong partnership and steadfast friendship for decades when both entered the political arena. Baker ultimately served as Secretary of State (1989-92) and Chief of Staff (1992-93) under the nation’s 41st President.

Blast from the Past

In 1928, Houston Country Club member Edwin MacClain, who was often seen playing out of the bunkers that littered the venerable course, invented and patented the original sand wedge. Two years later, at the 1930 Open Championship at Hoylake, the club became known worldwide when Bobby Jones’ shot from a greenside bunker on the tournament’s 70th hole came to rest four inches from the cup. Jones tapped in for birdie en route to his second of four major wins during his Grand Slam season. Later banned for its concave-faced design, Gene Sarazen modified the wedge after coming up with a new design idea after spending time with another Houston Country Club member, Howard Hughes, Jr.

Getting Around

The first golf cart was invented and patented in 1947 by Houston Country Club member and car dealer R.J. “Dick” Jackson, a frequent golfer who suffered from arthritis. His original motorized golf cart was forged by welding a park bench onto a Cushman scooter. He called his golf buggy the “Arthritis Special.” Houston Country Club did its own share of moving over the years, changing locations and layouts, before settling in the city’s Tanglewood neighborhood in 1957 with its Robert Trent Jones designed course.