ASTROS GOLF FOUNDATION
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ENRICHING THE LIVES OF HOUSTONIANS THROUGH THE GAME OF GOLF
The Astros Golf Foundation was formed in 2018 after Houston Astros Owner and Chairman Jim Crane agreed to take control of the long-standing Texas Children's Houston Open tournament. The Astros Golf Foundation was established with three key objectives: to ensure that the PGA TOUR event remained in Houston; to bring the tournament back to its glory and into the heart of the city; to provide much-needed resources and funds to the citizens and community of Houston through park improvements, charitable fundraising, and investment in youth programs.
The Astros Golf Foundation's goal is to make the Texas Children's Houston Open a premier tournament on tour by engaging more fans, creating memorable experiences beyond the game of golf, enticing a competitive field of elite golfers to compete annually, and delivering up to $90 million annually in a positive economic impact to the city of Houston.
To bring the course up to PGA standards and provide the improvements for the general public to enjoy, in January of 2019, the Astros Golf Foundation began work on a $34 million renovation of the Memorial Park Golf Course and related facilities. World-renowned golf course architect Tom Doak oversaw the renovation with consultation from golf superstar Brooks Koepka. In 2020, for the first time in 57 years, the Texas Children's Houston Open was held in the heart of Houston at Memorial Park Golf Course.
In addition to completely rebuilding the golf course, the renovation included the creation of an environmentally sustainable water re-use and irrigation system that utilizes captured storm water for golf course irrigation, a re-designed and expanded driving range with a two-tiered hitting structure, a new maintenance facility, construction of a short course for First Tee participants, a new STEM education center for kids, and a new tennis complex.
As stewards of the Texas Children's Houston Open, Jim Crane and the Astros Golf Foundation are committed to growing the Texas Children's Houston Open, celebrating the game of golf, and serving the community and the people of Houston.