The first major of the year in women’s golf is returning to its new home in The Woodlands, Texas, after a successful debut at The Club at Carlton Woods. “The most fun I have had in a longtime was last year at The Chevron Championship,” said Noemi González, Marketing Director at Market Street, one of the main attractions in the area.
“A lot of people in the community were involved in bringing and welcoming the Chevron Championship here,” added González, part of a group of notable women celebrating the return of the best women golfers and the opportunity to showcase what The Woodlands has to offer to visitors and residents.
“Some of my favorite places are Market Street, The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion, the park and the waterways that surround it,” said Mariana Almanza-Cook, Director of Marketing and Events for the dynamic Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership. “I have seen Elton John open a concert saying, ‘Hello Woodlands’”.
For young Ximena Dávila, Foundation Coordinator at the Southern Texas PGA, it was The Jonas Brothers. “I love a lot of things about the Woodlands. We have options for both younger people and family activities. And I love the nature aspect and being able to see the stars when I walk my dog at night,” said Dávila.
“I get to see a sky full of stars,” concurred Kelly McCourt, a globetrotter now settled in the area as the Marketing Director of the Woodlands Resort and the Westin at The Wooodlands. “We are in a small-town environment where people want to create connections, with great shopping, great entertainment, and great dinning.”
After many years in big cities like London and New York, McCourt runs every day surrounded by nature and enjoys the many trails and tree adventures of the George Mitchell Nature Preserve with her son. Her five shows a year at The Pavillion usually start with a quick drink at Tommy Bahama, also a favorite for González and Almanza-Cook.
“I love Mastros, it is my spot. They have great steak and seafood, and live music every single night,” said González about her restaurant recommendations in the area. Dávila’s highlights are the Caesar Salad at Sixty Vines, with 60 wines on tap, and the tacos and cocktails at the brand new Monarca, with the aromas of Northern Mexico.
“The food is amazing at Sorriso,” said McCourt about the Italian restaurant at The Westin, under the spell of Chef Jonathan Lestingi’s Sicilian ancestors. “We are doing a combination of tradition and putting some modern spins on it. It has been a chance to rediscover my roots,” said Chef Lestingi, who has recreated his pizzas, meats and even limoncellos from scratch.
“The love for cooking was always part of my life, since I was a little girl at the inn of my grandmother in Guadalajara,” said Chef Beatriz Martines, the founder of Xalisko, “a family-owned culinary haven rooted in Jalisco’s rich tradition”.
With the little time left from their busy restaurant, Martines and her business partner and husband Juan like to go with their kids to Market Street and the Reel Luxury Cinemas, “the most luxurious movie theatre the region, with heated seats, blankets and even a lobster dinner while watching a movie,” according to González.
“I am new to the area, and I really like how safe and welcoming it is here,” said Martines, Chef Betty, about The Woodlands while showcasing her labor and time intensive birria tatemada, michmole, and tamal de elote, combined with tejuino, an ancestral corn drink.
Chef Betty’s father, Guillermo Alvarado, a corn farmer from Jalisco, spent his last two decades working on a golf course maintenance crew in The Woodlands. “It is very special for me that we are now talking about a big golf event in the area,” she said, also hoping The Chevron Championship feels at home in The Woodlands.
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