EAST RIVER 9 TO OPEN IN 2022!

Southern Texas PGA • June 22, 2021

NEW PUBLIC 9-HOLE, PAR 3 GOLF COURSE AND DRIVING RANGE TO DEBUT WITH

RESTAURANT AND PATIO BAR IN MIDWAY’S EAST RIVER DEVELOPMENT

Together, ‘East River 9’ and ‘Riverhouse Houston’ will offer a casual, family-friendly outdoor experience

overlooking Buffalo Bayou and downtown Houston

 

(HOUSTON, TX) – Houston-based Midway, a privately owned, fully integrated real estate investment and development firm, today announced that East River 9, a public, nine-hole, par-three golf course, and Riverhouse Houston, a family-friendly restaurant and patio bar, will open on the site of its 150-acre East River development in the Historic Fifth Ward.


“Our objective is to create an inviting and recreational environment for the local community as well as all Houstonians,” stated Clayton Freels, founding partner of the concepts. “East River 9 will grow the game by filling a void in the market between the driving range and the full 18-hole experience. It also brings a fun, community-oriented activation that will welcome neighboring residents to a site that has been closed to the public for over 75 years.” 

 

PGA REACH Southern Texas, the charitable foundation of the Southern Texas PGA, is working with East River 9 to positively impact the lives of youth, active and retired military and individuals of diverse backgrounds.

 

“PGA REACH Southern Texas is excited to have a new presence in Houston’s inner city,” said Thomas Hutton, Executive Director for the Southern Texas PGA. “We look forward to working with East River 9 to host programs that will welcome juniors, veterans and neighboring residents to the game of golf. PGA REACH Southern Texas’ mission is to impact lives through golf and this facility will do just that!”   

 

Well-positioned within a mile of downtown Houston and situated above the 500-year flood plain on the northern bank of Buffalo Bayou, East River 9 will be the only public, nine-hole, par-three golf course inside the 610 Loop, complete with stadium lights for evening play. The links-style short course will be composed of holes that range from 80 – 150 yards; a natural grass, 300-yard driving range with a downtown skyline backdrop; a 12,000 square-foot social putting green; and a 1,000 square-foot pro shop which will feature merchandise, rental clubs, and refreshments. Two staggered tee boxes play into all nine greens and provide players with the ability to play two unique nine-hole rounds. 


Phillis Wheatley High School in the Historic Fifth Ward is also working with East River 9 to ensure that it will create an inclusive environment for students and their families. Wheatley is discussing the addition of a golf team to its athletic program once the facilities are complete.

 

Principal Joseph Williams shared, “I am truly excited about the development of the golf course and restaurant at East River which will afford our scholars and families a space for recreation and will highlight our Fifth Ward Community to Greater Houston! Wheatley’s partnership with these businesses will truly support our efforts around career readiness and offer opportunities for internships and employment.”

 

Bianca Dugas, Fifth Ward resident and Associate Principal at Wheatley added, “I am elated about the employment opportunities for Fifth Ward community members and the addition of a family-friendly establishment in the neighborhood. The wealth of opportunities that East River 9 will bring will surely improve the community’s economy.”  

 

Riverhouse Houston, a new concept with DKC Group, will anchor the golf course and will serve a scratch kitchen menu coupled with a well-rounded beer, wine, and spirits selection. The family-friendly restaurant and patio bar will be in a repurposed industrial structure that overlooks the golf course, Buffalo Bayou, and downtown skyline. In the evening, patrons will enjoy frequent live music and incredible sunset views on Riverhouse’s expansive terrace which will feature a kids playscape, outdoor games and fire pits. The building’s refined-industrial design will seamlessly meld with the aesthetic of the greater East River development. The laid-back establishment was designed to host corporate, social, and charity events and can accommodate over 1,000 people and park over 300 cars.

 

“We are excited to create a welcoming and natural atmosphere that will serve Houston for years to come,” said Don Cristopher, project partner and founder of DKC Group Companies. “Riverhouse will offer much more than a traditional clubhouse and can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion.”

 

Once open for business, the project will have numerous, full-time employment opportunities for neighboring residents. East River 9 and Riverhouse will begin sharing these positions with the Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation this fall. Construction commenced in May 2021, and the entire golf and restaurant offering is on schedule to open by the first quarter of 2022.

 

East River 9 and Riverhouse Houston have assembled an accomplished project team composed of: Smelek Design, golf and landscape architect; VM Golf, golf general contractor; Sterling Golf, golf operator; Phil Schawe, Riverhouse design architect; MaRS, Riverhouse interior design; Trinity Constructors, Riverhouse general contractor; and DKC Group, Riverhouse restaurant operator.


###

 

ABOUT EAST RIVER

Currently in its pre-construction phase, East River’s 150 acres of carefully designed, multi-phase, mixed-use development will transform the city’s waterfront east of downtown into a new economic center. Designed to grow and evolve through multiple phases, East River is ideally positioned to serve a wide range of residents and a spectrum of housing price points, innovative and globally competitive companies, cutting-edge retail and restaurant concepts, and a host of institutional, educational and recreational opportunities. The project’s early phases of development set the tone for a world-class collection of districts by focusing on connecting Houston’s urban fabric to central green spaces, active transportation, upgraded infrastructure and an impressive mile of waterfront along Buffalo Bayou. To stay up-to-date on East River’s progress, follow along on Facebook @EastRiverHouston, Twitter @EastRiverHou and Instagram @EastRiverHouston. 

 

ABOUT MIDWAY

Houston-based Midway is a privately owned, fully integrated real estate investment and

development firm that has provided the highest level of quality, service and value to clients and investors for almost 50 years. Midway’s portfolio of projects completed and/or underway consists of more than 45 million square feet of properties ranges from mixed-use destinations to office, industrial facilities, and master-planned residential communities. Midway continues to develop projects of distinction, aesthetic relevance and enduring value for investors, clients, and the people who live, work, and thrive in the environment they create.

Presidential Points: STPGA Q1 Update

By Dr. Rich Ballinger, PGA • April 15, 2025
STPGA Q1 UPDATE Strategic Plan, Mentoring, and More

OUR CHAMPIONS ARE AS SECURED AS VERITEX BANK!

By Southern Texas PGA • April 8, 2025
Garry Rippy, PGA(Left) and Tayler Termeer (Right) SUGARLAND, TEXAS (APRIL 8, 2025) – The Veritex Bank Spring Classic, our first Major of the year, was hosted at Riverbend Country Club in Sugarland, Texas. Unlike a typical Southern Texas event, we had a beautiful high temperature of 70 o F for the much anticipated 36-hole championship. With our morning players bundled up and our afternoon wave fighting the wind for the majority of Round One, Riverbend Country Club served up a challenge early in the event. In our Senior Division, Garry Rippy, PGA Teaching Professional at Jimmy Clay Golf Course, would lead after Round One, sitting at -2 (70). Our Open Division boasted a three-way tie after Round One between Jared Jones, PGA Director of Instruction at River Oaks Country Club, Roland Thatcher, PGA Director of Golf at Lakeside Country Club, and Tayler Termeer, Teaching Professional at University of Texas Golf Club, all shooting -2( 70) as well. Outside of 126 PGA of America Members and Associates playing together, the highlight of the day was when Susie Redman, PGA Teaching Professional at The Woodlands Country Club, made a Hole-In-One on Hole #4, one surefire way to win the closest-to-the-hole challenge presented by Maui Jim! After a fierce 18-Holes, our players were able to unwind with a player dinner presented by Blue Moon filled with networking and camaraderie at Riverbend Country Club. The STPGA would like to thank Riverbend Country Club, its membership, and PGA Director of Golf Ryan Brandt for allowing the STPGA to host the Veritex Bank Spring Classic at their facility. For Round Two, the conditions were perfect for all players. The Senior Division played in the morning with Round One leader Garry Rippy taking home first place with a total score of -6 (138), which included a Round Two score of -4 (68). Rippy and Robert Thompson, PGA Teaching Professional at Whispering Pines Golf Club, went back and forth all day with the turning point being Holes #13 and #14 that Rippy birdied. "I wasn’t anticipating one way or the other. I was lucky I had a pretty quiet mind both days, and it was probably the most relaxed I’ve been playing tournament golf" said Rippy. With our Senior Champion being crowned, the Open Division would steal the show for the remainder of the event with our Top-15 all within two strokes of the lead heading into the final round. Austin Wylie, Teaching Professional at Mac Wylie Golf Center, shot a 7-under 65 to vault up the leaderboard with a two-day total of -3 (141). He was the solo leader in the clubhouse until Ben Willman, PGA Teaching Professional at Axis Golf Academy, tied him with a birdie on the par-5 18th. However, it was not enough to catch Round One leader Tayler Termeer, Teaching Professional at the University of Texas Golf Club. Tayler played consistently all day with a 3-under round of 69 to post a tournament total of -5 (139) and win by two. He played the back nine bogey-free with birdies on Hole #10 and Hole #18 to solidify his victory! "I just had a lot of trust in what I was doing. I was driving the ball well all tournament. I was just focusing on one shot at a time and got my putter going. I had no idea how close it was going into the final hole but just kept trusting myself" stated Termeer. Congratulations to Tayler Termeer for an unbelievable tournament and earning the title of Champion of the 2025 Veritex Bank Spring Classic. The 2025 Veritex Bank Spring Classic would not be possible without the support of our Partners. A huge thank you to Title Partner Veritex Bank and Presenting Partners 1st and 10th Tee Bars, Club Car, Donald Ross Sportswear, Maui Jim, and ZOA Energy Drinks. The STPGA's next Major is the Omega Transaction Memorial Championship at Westwood Golf Club in Houston, TX on May 19-20. To view the photo gallery, click here . To view the final results, click here .

STPGA Announces 2025 Cup Matches Captains

By Southern Texas PGA • April 2, 2025
SPRING, TEXAS (April 2, 2025) – The Southern Texas PGA (STPGA) is proud to announce the captains for the 2025 Cup Matches, a prestigious series of competitions celebrating the best of professional and junior golf in the region. Leading this year’s teams are three distinguished PGA of America Members: 

First Community STPGA Team Announced for 2025 PGA Professional Championship!

By Southern Texas PGA • April 1, 2025
SPRING, TEXAS (April 1, 2025) – The Southern Texas PGA (STPGA) is proud to announce the nine PGA of America Members who have earned their place on the inaugural First Community STPGA Team . Based on their outstanding performances in the 2024 STPGA Section Championship, these elite professionals will represent the Section at the 2025 PGA Professional Championship at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida, from April 27-30, 2025. We will showcase this team throughout April, with the support of First Community Credit Union.

Meet the Member: Rob Charter, PGA

By Southern Texas PGA • March 18, 2025
Rob Charter, PGA – Family in the Fairways

TERMEER & CHERVONY ARE THE KINGS OF THE HILLS

By Southern Texas PGA • March 11, 2025
Steven Chervony (Left) and Tayler Termeer (Right) AUSTIN, TEXAS (March 11, 2025) – The 2025 Pro-Pro Championship brought 94 players to The Hills Country Club (Signature Course) in Austin, Texas, for two days of premier competition. Participants battled it out, showcasing their talent on one of the region’s top courses. A colder start to our typical Southern Texas tee time didn't slow down the field as only four strokes separated the Top-5 after round one. Robert Scott, PGA Teaching Professional at Royal Oaks Country Club, alongside Ryan Polzin, PGA Head Professional at Oak Hills Country Club, would post an incredible -15 for the first day's scramble. The great round solidified them as the solo leaders for Day Two, but they would need to keep their foot on the pedal to maintain it. At the beginning of Round 2, it would be Troy Schleicher, PGA Life Member, and Billy Sitton, PGA Golf Executive at Triumph Golf, only trailing behind the leaders by one stroke, leading the charge. A windier day would prove an already challenging course that much more, but Schleicher and Sitton would remain steady and climb up to the top spot late in the final round. Tayler Termeer, Teaching Professional at the University of Texas Golf Club, and Steven Chervony, Assistant Professional at Austin Country Club, would keep the competition interesting. They would rise four spots and put pressure on Schleicher and Sitton heading to the final hole. "We thought we would perform better in the Four-Ball format versus the Scramble format. We knew 6-under or 7-under would make it competitive and give us a good chance at winning," said Chervony. Termeer and Chervony would have done enough to seal the victory in their favor. They would head to the scoring table with an official score of 62 - 65 – 127 ( -17 ) and walk away crowned the 2025 Pro-Pro Champions by two strokes. "I was hitting my driver well, and that freed us up a lot. We had a fairly relaxed round because of that, along with the eagle we carded on Hole 9 that took some pressure off us as well," stated Termeer. The Southern Texas PGA extends its sincere appreciation to The Hills Country Club and its dedicated staff for their exceptional hospitality. Additionally, we are grateful for the support of our valued partners—Callaway, E-Z-GO, Evolve Golf, Texoma Golf, Tagmarshal, Scales, Sap’s, NextRound, and OMNI Hotels & Resorts—whose contributions made this event possible.

New STPGA & AGM Partnership

By Southern Texas PGA • March 6, 2025
Hello STPGA Members and Associates , We are excited to announce a new partnership with the Association of Golf Merchandisers (AGM) to bring education and networking opportunities to the STPGA. Below, you will find online education seminars related to merchandising that might benefit you and/or your team. I highly recommend signing up for all or specific topics that interest you. AGM has graciously waived registration fees; all you need to do is click the buttons below to register your name. Feel free to invite anyone on your team to this as well. PDR credits will be awarded to those who register and attend each session. Quarterly Blueprint for Golf Shop Success - Justine Gray Wednesday March 26, 2025 3:00 P.M. CST REGISTER HERE Join Justine for a seminar on optimizing golf retail operations. Learn proactive inventory management, customer service strategies, and staff training tips while enhancing cross-department collaboration. Leave with a personalized quarterly action plan to drive long-term success in your golf shop! Increasing the Average Units Per Transaction: What You Need to Know - Nicole Leinbach Hoffman Thursday April 9, 2025 3:00 P.M. CST REGISTER HERE Join retail expert Nicole Leinbach Hoffman of Retail Minded to discover proven strategies for increasing average units per transaction. Learn how merchandising, staff engagement, and strategic product pairings can boost sales and enhance the customer experience. The REAL Impact™ of One - Rita Goodroe Wednesday May 28, 2025 3:00 P.M. CST REGISTER HERE The REAL Impact™ of One shows how YOU make the difference between business as usual and business that wins. In an industry where timing and relationships drive results, every action ripples across the organization. With humor, storytelling, and practical tools, award-winning connection expert Rita Goodroe lights up the room—leaving you thinking about your impact in ways you never have before.

New Hotel Partnership Formed with SportGo Travel and the STPGA!

By Southern Texas PGA • March 5, 2025
No matter where your travel takes you, find the best discounted hotel options now!

First Community Expands Partnership With Southern Texas PGA

By Southern Texas PGA • February 19, 2025
Creation of the First Community STPGA Team to be showcased in 2025 and 2026 February 19th, 2025 (Spring, TX) - This week at the STPGA Annual Meeting, a special announcement was made around an expanded partnership between First Community and the Southern Texas PGA. The elevated partnership includes showcasing First Community and unique story telling opportunities as we create a new team of STPGA Members. Known now as the First Community STPGA Team, this group of STPGA Members are the PGA Professionals that have qualified for the PGA Professional Championship to be played on April 27-30 at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, FL. This year’s First Community STPGA Team currently features 9 PGA Members from Southern Texas that hope to qualify for the PGA Championship and earn a spot on the Corebridge PGA Team of 20. Prior to the event in April, the STPGA will showcase these players in unique spotlights and then follow them along at the PGA Professional Championship. All 9 of these players earned this spot at the 2024 STPGA Section Championship. Our First Community STPGA Team will be led by Jared Jones, PGA Director of Instruction at River Oaks Country Club in Houston, TX who came in a tie for second at last year’s PGA Professional Championship and won the 2024 STPGA Section Championship. These 9 First Community STPGA Team members will not only represent the STPGA but their facilities as well. PGA Members continue to be the backbone of the industry and the First Community STPGA Team will showcase the playing ability of the STPGA membership. “We could not be more thrilled to try something new and have a current partner that believes in the value this Team will showcase,” said Thomas Hutton, Executive Director of the STPGA. “This idea started on a white board and to see a company like First Community jump on board and then our members get excited about it, makes this something special.” In addition to this announcement, First Community is also excited to announce special perks and exclusive offers for STPGA Members and Employees to elevate their banking needs with products and services from First Community. “Last year was our first year expanding our outreach within the golf community through the STPGA and it was a big success,” said TJ Tijerina, CEO of First Community. “We saw tremendous exposure through the STPGA Junior Golf Program and are excited for this additional opportunity to support the community and showcase stories that will resonate with our potential members.”

57th EDUCATION SUMMIT & ANNUAL MEETING COMES TO A CLOSE!

By Southern Texas PGA • February 18, 2025
Over 200 PGA of America Members begin their year with education, celebration, and networking. COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS (FEBRUARY 18) - Over the last two days, the 57th Education Summit and Annual Meeting took place at Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center where PGA of America Members experienced 9 keynote speakers: Three and Jackie, Eric Eshleman, PGA, Dale Morgan, PGA, Mark McGinnis, HUB Investment, Chet Williams, Jeff Blume, RC Slocum, EA Tischler, Chuck Cook, PGA, and Bill Moretti, PGA. These speakers covered a wide range of topics to help ensure our PGA Members remain the backbone of the industry. PGA Members continue to wear many different hats throughout their day to day lives and providing high level education allows them to continue to be well rounded individuals. The STPGA would like to thank all of our keynote speakers for bringing unique insight to the STPGA. In addition to our wonderful presenters, this year was an election year where we elected our new set of Officers and 3 new At-Large Directors. Congratulations to everyone. We look forward to your leadership over the next two years.
Show More