If you are aged 55 or more and want to settle down and settle into a community that has virtually every amenity in the book including a wonderful, unique and challenging golf course – Chambers Creek just north of Houston more than checks every box.
Chambers Creek, set on 1,100 acres of rolling land billed as the “Houston Hill Country,” is located less than a mile off I-45 in Willis, near The Woodlands and 30 minutes from the northern confines of the Bayou City.
We took a trip over there to look over the community and tee it up on the marvelous nine-hole golf course designed by PGA Tour Champions player and 1996 Open Championship winner Tom Lehman and came away uber-impressed.
Lehman, who has nearly a dozen courses on his design resume, has fashioned a deceptively challenging links-style track that sports elevation changes aplenty, long-range views, rolling terrain and a routing that’s defined by oak and pine trees, creeks and wide Zoysia fairways.
“Chambers Creek is truly a one-of-a-kind development that offers a setting that is extremely rare," Lehman said. “We've created a unique golf course that features some of the most amazing holes in all of golf. I believe any level of golfer will feel challenged, yet still have fun playing the game.”
Lehman designed the course (called Lehman Park) to place the holes in a more natural way and they certainly blend into the land. There are just seven bunkers throughout the routing but they are positioned well and are not missed or needed to create difficulty.
At first examination, Lehman Park looks easy, with few forced carries and generous openings to its huge putting surfaces. Playing it is a whole different story as four of the holes features blind tee shots and positioning on the lightning-fast greens is paramount.
The course begins and ends with par 5s – the first hole’s green is played downhill and is reachable in two while the ninth is entirely uphill and made more difficult with into the prevailing wind. In between those holes are two target par 3s, a drivable par 4, two long and tough two-shotters and the eighth, who’s green is angled away from the tee box and is protected by a lake and a huge mound.
In short, Lehman Park is a blast to play and will only get better with seasoning.
It’s carded at 3,376 from the back set of four tees so players can bite off as much as they want to chew. A unique feature of the course is that each hole also has a dedicated, artificial turf tee so that it can be played as a par 3, with no hole longer that 150 yards.
Chambers Creek ‘s other golf amenity is a cool 18-hole putting course of just over one acre that provides golfers the opportunity for shorter rounds, more informal play, a chance to play games, or place side-bets. A lifestyle inspired by health, wellness, longevity and fun
There’s plenty more than golf offered at Chambers Creek, which bills itself as a “community with a golf course” rather than a golf course community.
Chambers Creek is being developed by Caldwell Communities, which for more than three decades has delivered highly sought-after communities for people at every stage. Chambers Creek is one of the first communities in the U.S. specifically designed for electric vehicles including designated golf cart paths, specialized parking and homes equipped with garage charging. The community supports and encourages alternative means of transportation.
Other amenities in Chambers Creek are a 300-boat-slip private marina with access to Lake Conroe via a private canal, more than 20 miles of hiking/biking trails, pickleball and tennis courts for racquet enthusiasts, a social and wellness center, Bocce Ball, horseshoes and cornhole areas, a resort-style pool, dog parks, open green spaces and a community garden.
There’s also a two-acre vineyard of crimson cabernet grapes that serves as a charming setting for an alfresco dinner or a delightful backdrop for a special occasion.
Five premier homebuilders offer single-story designs with a mix of classic and contemporary features equipped with the convenience of smart technology. Designs are priced from the $300,000s to more than $2 million, giving buyers a wide selection of floor plans that fit any lifestyle and budget.