The History

Ask Jack Burke or Jimmy Demaret when they first decided to build a golf course of their own and neither can remember an exact time or place that the subject was discussed.
Individually, they nurtured the idea of building a course during most of their playing careers. And although they had developed a strong friendship early in life that was to stand the test of time, their coming together as partners in the spectacularly successful venture that was to become Champions Golf Club was almost by accident.
In late 1956 almost everything was "go". The land was bought, partnerships had been formed, building architects and land planners were employed, and Demaret's old friend from Hermann Park days (Ralph Plummer) was to build the course. With a lot of help from James Newton Demaret and Jack Burke, of course.
Thus was created one of the most beautiful club settings in American golf which has achieved a well-earned reputation for hosting high-profile events.  Enjoy exploring the our history below!

1957

Champions Golf Club, founded by Burke and Demaret, opens in Houston.

While the name of the club proves fitting for
two men who both won major championships,
the club actually got its name from native Houstonian Jack Valenti, the University of Houston
and Harvard Business School alum who would become president of the influential
Motion Picture Association of America.

1959

Cypress Creek Course
Designed by Ralph Plummer, opens.
18 Hole Tournament Course
7,147, par 71

1964

Jackrabbit course, designed by George Fazio, opens.
18 Hole Course
7,018, par 71

1966

Arnold Palmer sinks a 12-footer for birdie on the final hole to defeat Gardner Dickson at the Houston Champions International.

1967

October 20-22, Champions Golf Club hosts the
17th Ryder Cup. With Ben Hogan as non-playing
captain, the U.S. team defeated Great Britain,
23½ to 8½, the largest margin of victory in
Ryder Cup history to date. It was Ben Hogan’s
last Ryder Cup appearance.

1968

Argentina’s Roberto De Vicenzo, who signed an incorrect scorecard that cost him an 18-hole playoff opportunity against Bob Goalby at the Masters three weeks earlier, claimed his sixth and final PGA Tour victory at the Houston Champions International.

1969

Champions is the site of the 69th U.S. Open.
Orville Moody wins by 1 shot over Deane Beman,
Bob Rosburg and Al Geiberger.
It was Moody’s only PGA Tour victory.

1970

Gibby Gilbert defeats Bruce Crampton in a playoff on the third extra hole to win the Houston Champions International.

1971

Hubert Green wins the Houston Champions International with a birdie on the first extra hole against Don January. Ben Hogan makes the final tournament appearance of his career.

1973

Ben Crenshaw rolls to a 6-shot victory over
Mike Killian to win the Southern Amateur.

Burke, serving as non-playing captain, leads the U.S. Ryder Cup team in a 19-13 victory over Great Britain and Ireland (GB&I) at Muirfield in Scotland.

1978

Jimmy Demaret is inducted into the Texas Golf
Hall of Fame.

Flashy dressing Jimmy Demaret played in 13 events in 1940 and won six of them, including his first of three Masters titles. But his banner year was 1947 when he was both the Vardon trophy winner (69.90) and leading money winner ($27,936). He was named to four Ryder Cup teams, including the 1941 team that did not compete against the British because of the war. Jimmy was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1983. He is generally acknowledged as the Father of the Senior Tour and he and Fred Raphael conceived Legends of Golf in 1978 at Onion Creek a course designed and co-owned by Demaret himself.

Demaret, a companion of movie stars, royalty, heads of state and astronauts, was a pioneer in
TV golf and co-hosted, with Gene Sarazen, the Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf series. He co-founded the world-famous Champions Golf Club with life-long friend Jack Burke and lured the U.S. Open there in 1969.

A product of the Hermann Park caddie pen, Demaret played only in one tournament as an amateur, that being a match for Northside High School. He received pay for his services as an assistant pro at the early age of 14 and would go on to hold several club jobs before concentration on the life of a touring pro.

1979

Burke is inducted into the Texas Golf Hall of Fame.

Jackie Burke will always be remembered for his string of four consecutive victories ( Texas Open, Houston Open, Baton Rouge Open, and St. Petersburg Open) in 1952. In PGA Tour annals, this feat is second only to Byron Nelson’s 11-victory streak in 1945. In 1952 he won the Vardon Trophy with a stroke average of 70.54. Burke’s earnings for his four wins only amounted to $8,000. At the end of the season he had pocketed $21,000 and was third on the money list. But his best year was yet to come. In 1956, he won both the Masters and the PGA Championship and was named Player of the Year.

The eldest son of Texas trailblazing club pro Jack Burke, Sr. played on five Ryder Cup teams and was twice a captain, non-playing captain in 1973. He was inducted into the PGA Hall of Fame in 1976, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1978 and the Texas Golf Hall of Fame in 1979.

Burke was a judo instructor in the Marines in WWII. The late Jimmy Demaret was Burke’s life-long friend, confidant and business partner. In 1957, they built the famed Champions Golf Club, site of the 1967 Ryder Cup matches and the 1969 U.S. Open. When Demaret died in 1983, Burke became the sole owner. He turned professional before his 20th birthday and headed the operation at Galveston Country Club.

1983

Demaret is inducted into the World Golf
Hall of Fame.

To view his achievements please click here.

*Jimmy Demaret passes away on Dec. 28 at age 73.

1990

Jodie Mudd finishes 11 under par and defeats
Billy Mayfair in a playoff to win the Nabisco
Championship at Champions Golf Club.

1993

John Harris defeats Danny Ellis, 5 and 3, to win the U.S. Amateur.

1997

David Duval finishes 11 under par to defeat
Jim Furyk by 1 stroke for the TOUR Championship.
The first PGA TOUR Championship held at Champions Golf Club.

1999

Tiger Woods defeats Davis Love III by 4 strokes in winning the TOUR Championship, finishing 15 under par. The 2nd PGA TOUR Championship held at Champions Golf Club.

2000

Jackie Burke Jr. is inducted into the World Golf
Hall of Fame.

To read about Jack Burke’s career click here.

2001

Canada’s Mike Weir finishes 14 under par to beat Sergio Garcia, Ernie Els, and David Toms by 1 stroke to claim the TOUR Championship. The 3rd PGA TOUR Championship held at Champions Golf Club.

2003

Chad Campbell takes the TOUR Championship, finishing 16 under par to beat Charles Howell III
by 3 strokes. The 4th PGA TOUR Championship
held at Champions Golf Club.

2004, 2007, 2019

Jackie Burke received the Bob Jones Award.
This award is the highest honor given by the USGA in recognition of sportsmanship in golf, in honor of Bobby Jones.

Jackie Burke is presented the PGA Distinguished Service Award. Started in 1988, the PGA Distinguished Service Award honors outstanding individuals who dis play leadership and humanitarian qualities including integrity, sportsmanship and a passion for the game of golf. By their endeavors, they have given back to others and helped grow the game of a lifetime.

Jackie Burke Inductee for the Houston Sports Hall of Fame. To see a short article please click here.

2012

Champions Golf Club is inducted into the
Texas Golf Hall of Fame.
- 36 Holes -
Ralph Plummer, George Fazio Design

2017

Champions Golf Club celebrates 60 Years!
 
Robin Burke, VP of Champions Golf Club, reaches out to the USGA and offers to take on the U.S. Women’s Mid-AM after the devastation that Hurricane Irma did to Quail Creek Country Club. November 9-16 Champions Golf Club host the
U.S. Women’s Mid-AM and crowns Kelsey Chugg
as the Champion.

2018

Champions Golf Club invests to major restoration project on Cypress Creek.  To read about the project, click here.

Champions Golf Club founder Jackie Burke to be inducted to Houston Sports Hall of Fame along with AJ Foyt, George Foreman and Dan Pastorini.





2020

Champions Golf Club hosted the
75th  U.S. Women’s Open Championship
December 10-13, 2020