Moody Gardens Golf Course - Driving Range & Restaurant — Restaurant in Galveston

This rating is due mostly to the staff, as the course was actually in really good shape. It was a shame that we couldn't enjoy it more than we did. We had a group of about 10 golfers that called two weeks in advance (which is the maximum they allow) and booked three tee times. A lot of times when you see that, the three groups will eventually group up and start playing together and really slow down the course- however, we did NOT. We all have played golf our whole lives and know how disrespectful it can be to other groups behind us to do so. Anyhow, we were supposed to start teeing off at 10:50, but the course had a tournament that morning that was running a little late and would put us back about "10-15 minutes". We were fine with that as it was a great day and 10-15 minutes extra warming up wasn't s big deal. HOWEVER, the pros failed to disclose to us that what really was going on was that they had booked a 70 person tournament that morning but let 93 play! We couldn't tee off until the tourney was done and do you know how much longer it takes an extra 23 people to play through? I'll tell you- one hour and 45 minutes! We had already paid at this point, so all they would offer was a total refund. And not even an apology- going so far to say "it was out of their hands". They did give us two small buckets of balls though. For 10 people. For 1 hour and 45 minutes. What a way to make things right. They could have called us earlier in the day when they knew that they would be delayed, or told us the truth BEFORE we PAID! And then to say it wasn't their fault- just who let those extra 23 people on the course then? Sounds like they were trespassing and should have had the cops called on them like a group below. Besides all that debacle, by the time we finally did get on the course, it turns out, not all of the tournament had gotten off. In fact we were on pace for a 6 hour round through hole 4 before the tourney finally left. And then at the turn, the Marshall asked us to pick up our play because it was wide open ahead of us! Well no duh! It just had the feeling that they were seeing $$ and not caring at all about the huge inconvenience they gave us. We had to shift the rest of our plans for the day back by two hours.

Now, I used to work at a golf course and I know what a huge hassle a large group of golfers can be, but for that reason we had called and set up three tee times and were very respectful of the course and the rest of the players out there that were in the same boat as us. We were trying to help them out as much as possible, and they couldn't even show us the same respect? I know had I been on the other side I would have definitely issued an apology and explained the situation up front and then at least waived cart fees or something. But we still wound up paying over to $80! Save your money and drive up north a little ways and play at any of the great courses just south of Houston.

Positives: nice course Cons: terrible...

Clubhouse staff was very nice. Cart lady was wonderful. Starters/rangers were some of the biggest jerks I have ever interacted with on a golf course. We were treated like children and monitored like prisoners on house arrest for 18 holes.

We had two tee times back to back and we wanted to play with the 6 golfers in our group to keep our group together because there weren't any tee times after us for 20 minutes and we didn't see anyone ahead of us for at least 4 holes. We were playing a best ball scramble so we figured it would help speed things up, and we promised to keep pace of play and even offered to leave after 4 hours if we didn't finish our round. The starter's response to that was to yell at us, park his cart right behind us, and refuse to let 2 of us play our tee shots until the rest of our group was off the green- on a +500 yard par 5, mind you. His exact words were "There isn't a golf course in the country that will let you play 6 people!" And "You'd better not go play that tee shot!" Ridiculous and, frankly, embarrassing behavior from a man who appeared to be at least in his 70s.

This course itself is fine, but it is nothing special and nowhere near nice enough (multiple unplayable tee boxes and over-aerated greens to the point where sand clouds kicked up on all of our approach shots) to have workers on this much of a power trip. We listened to what the workers said on the first tee and despite our best efforts to follow their rules, keep our groups separate, keep pace of play, fix our divots, respect the course, and tip the cart lady well, we STILL had rangers pull up to us multiple times while we were playing to tell us that "the clubhouse is watching you guys like hawks." That is not a fun way to be treated, nor was it enjoyable to see rangers and starters trying to hide behind trees/bushes in their carts clearly watching us on dang near every other hole. We were also stopped on 18 after teeing off to be told, "You'd better not have 6 guys on the 18th green!" What a nauseating way to end a round of golf. The behavior of these workers made what would have been an enjoyable round with friends legitimately unpleasant.

One of our players was also forced to buy a collared shirt in the pro shop, which was fine, but then we saw multiple players on the course wearing t shirts and sleeveless shirts. Maybe locals? Whatever the case, this was a laughable and blatant double standard.

There was no answer when we tried call call ahead to order our food at the turn and when we got there, the worker straight up refused to make a burger for one of our players. The hot dogs, however, were delicious. Credit where credit is due, but when the hot dogs at the turn are the highlight of the whole day, that's not a good sign for a...

Mediocre course, trashed tee boxes. Mediocre service and very disrespectful rangers. We were treated like child and yelled at while following their guidelines and rules. Was literally stalked throughout our round and treated horribly. Was forced to buy a collared shirt per their “policy” but then saw many golfers wearing plain non collared shirts. Locals may have a decent experience, but tourists are treated horribly with double standards. These place is not worth the time or money. Don’t even treat my own dog like this.

UPDATE ON 9-17-25 they replied to a different review from my group about how they told us to separate multiple holes when we stayed separated unless we caught up (being we were split 4 & 2, it wasn’t that hard to catch up and have to wait). For a group of angry geriatrics who were “watching us like hawks”, somehow failed to spot the 4some that swooped in behind us because they “forgot to play hole 16”. They didn’t seem to have an issue with that but made a mountain of an issue over us. They also claimed they allowed t shirts only on their “practice areas”, I saw t shirts being worn on the back 9 while WE were also on the back nine and seeing how we were being stalked by the rangers, there is no way you can convince that you didn’t see that double standard. I’m okay with being told you can’t have a scramble, I’m okay with rules, but I am not okay with being treated like a dog. Moody Greens is not a good place to golf. I think I’ll keep the shirt with the Moody Greens logo so I can show fellow golfers...