If everything is bigger in Texas, the property here at The Club at Carlton Woods is no exception. Everything from the clubhouse to the buildout to the Inspiration Dome, an enormous golf-ball lookalike structure that houses, among other things, virtual reality golf, is oversized at the Chevron Championship’s new home.
Players report that the golf course feels big too, with the official yardage coming in at 6,824. It likely won’t play that long, however, as the week progresses and tees move up, but by accounts the Nicklaus Course will present a proper challenge, though nothing similar to what players faced for decades at Mission Hills Country club.
“I think just the way it makes you think,” said Georgia Hall. “You have to think a little bit more around this golf course … mostly on the greens. In Palm Springs, I thought it was quite simple to read the greens, no grain at all, but now we have the grain, I heard it’s going to be a little bit windy, as well, and a lot of factors come into play.”
Those who are familiar and confidant on Bermudagrass certainly hold the advantage.
Chevron: Photos
Here’s what several players had to say about the tour’s newest major home and how it compares to Dinah’s place:
Lydia Ko of New Zealand hits her approach shot on the 18th hole during a practice round prior to The Chevron Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods on April 19, 2023 in The Woodlands, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
“To be honest, I played a practice round on Saturday, and I had very — I thought I was going to run out of balls before my round ended. But I finished strong, and I’ve been playing a lot — I’ve been donating less balls to the golf course since then.
“Yeah, it has kind of like a U.S. Open/KPMG kind of golf course style, mixed, very different. I do like that I think they have like a second tee option on 18 to kind of bring that tall tree into play, which is kind of what we had to deal with on the 18th at Mission Hills to make it like a reachable par 5.”
Nelly Korda of the United States takes a shot on the twelth hole prior to The Chevron Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods on April 19, 2023 in The Woodlands, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
“It’s a completely different layout. Water is way more in play this week I would say, completely different grass. This is a Bermudagrass. I don’t know exactly what the grass was in Palm…
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