10 sports to watch, play in Woodlands, from LPGA Tour to pickleball
Once again, a horde of 9,000 long distance runners will take over The Woodlands town center when the annual Woodlands Marathon, with its 5K and 2K races, gets underway on Saturday.
The two-weekend marathon, culminating with the classic 26.2-mile event on March 5, is one of the most anticipated sporting events in the community. But it’s far from the only way Woodlands residents and visitors move around the community.
From pro golf to backyard cornhole, here are 10 sporting and sporting events to watch or attend around The Woodlands this year.
Woodland Marathon
Since 2012, the Woodlands Marathon has attracted thousands of athletes working to qualify for the prestigious Boston Marathon. It is the fastest course in Texas on average and ranks in the top 25 fastest courses in the nation.
The 26.2 mile course begins and ends in Town Center and runs to Kuykendahl Rd before returning along Lake Woodlands Drive.
Elite athletes have free entry and a chance to win prize money, while other runners can purchase full marathon tickets for $145.
For less competitive athletes, the event includes a half marathon and 10K, also taking place on March 4th. The 5K and family-friendly 2K events start at 7:30am on Saturday. Runners can also race virtually at a discounted rate.
Those who want to participate without breaking a sweat can line the streets with a group of 15 or more for a chance to win $500.
Iron Man Texas
True to its name, the Ironman Texas Triathlon puts competitors through a grueling endurance test April 22nd.
The Memorial Hermann Ironman Americas Championship Texas consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile drive on closed toll roads around Harris County, and a 26.2-mile run culminating along the Waterway.
While it’s a main competition for the 2,300 athletes looking to qualify for the 2023 VinFast Ironman World Championships, it’s just as popular with viewers. VIP passes start at $351 but are open to the public, with the best vantage points at the Lake Woodlands Pkwy Bridge, along Lake Robbins, and along the Waterway for the final run.
The race is 90 percent sold out for participants. Interested competitors can register here.
LPGA, PGA champions
The Woodlands has seven golf courses for its nearly 115,000 residents and hosts two professional golf tournaments each year.
The nationally televised LPGA Chevron Championship will be held April 19-23 at the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course in Carlton Woods. Tickets can be bought here; The tournament will also be broadcast on the Golf Channel.
A week later, PGA Champions Tour players will stop by at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course from April 24-30 for the annual Insperity Invitational. As always, attendees will have free entry Friday through Sunday to see prominent senior professional golfers including World Golf Hall of Fame inductee Bernhard Langer, John Daly and defending champion Stephen Alker.
Woodforest BankTri
The Woodforest Bank Tri is a more beginner-friendly triathlon alternative to the Ironman championship.
The triathlon, produced by the community, is sanctioned by USA Triathlon and includes an outdoor 500-meter swim, a 12.8-mile bike ride and a 5-kilometer run culminating in North Shore Park. The event will conclude with an awards party featuring live music, food and drinks.
For beginners and those looking to get in shape, the community offers several clinics to help participants prepare for the May 6th race.
The Woodforest Bank Tri expects around 800 participants; Interested parties can register here from 120 US dollars.
pickle ball
From Grogan’s Point to College Park, residents are fast joining the national pickleball craze.
Pickleball courts are now available at at least seven parks in The Woodlands, and plans are in the works for new courts at Falconwing Park in Indian Springs.
The community offers classes year-round, as well as adult doubles leagues for men and women, a mixed doubles league, and four round-robin tournaments of varying difficulty. The Woodlands will also host a mixed doubles tournament on April 23rd at the Shadowbend tennis courts.
Other leagues are hosted by the Woodlands Pickleball Association, Woodlands Country Club Pickleball Association and Woody Pines Sports.
Copa Rayados, Dynamo Dash, adult leagues
Giant youth tournament Copa Rayados Internacional pits youth academies from across North America against each other in a five-day international competition.
Fans can watch the youth clubs of their favorite professional football teams – Houston Dynamo, FC Dallas, CF Rayados – battle it out for the annual trophy.
It has been held at The Woodlands since 2008 and attracted 73,000 visitors over five days last year.
Dynamo Dash youth league, which will become HTX Soccer on June 1, hosts nine events each year at The Woodlands.
For adults, Woodlands Township offers 7v7 leagues in nine different age groups and skill levels and introduced a new spring futsal league in 2022.
rugby
The Woodlands Youth Rugby Association is the Houston area’s premier rugby club; The Division 1 boys team is currently ranked No. 2 in the country.
The rugby season begins now, culminating in the Come and Take It tournament, the largest youth rugby tournament in Texas, to be played at Gosling Sports Fields in The Woodlands on April 1st this year.
The Woodlands also have a 40-year-old men’s rugby team, Woodlands Rugby Club. The team are currently at the end of their 2022-23 season with three home games left in February and March at Alden Bridge Sports Park.
Flag Football
With the first flag football season of the year underway, kids can attend i9 Sports or the Woodlands Sportsplex year-round, or opt for tackle football with the South County Football League in the fall.
The Woodlands also hosts adult leagues with North Houston Flag Football, Sportsmonkey and The Woodlands Methodist Church.
lacrosse
Lacrosse teams, tournaments and training camps abound in The Woodlands – the Woodlands Youth Lacrosse Club feeds into the boys and girls club teams at Woodlands High School, and camps like the annual MGBK Goalkeeping Academy bring in aspiring youth players from across the country .
Lacrosse’s biggest Woodlands event takes place in December when the Best of Texas tournament draws 73 teams and approximately 4,500 participants to the community.
grain hole
For those looking to show off their backyard BBQ skills, this year The Woodlands will feature a cornhole league and multiple tournaments.
Competitors can take part in four different prestigious sporting events including Ladder Golf, Yard Pong, Washers and Corn Hole at the second annual Backyard Throwdown Tournament on March 25th. The event, hosted by The NeighborBridge, benefits plans for a residential community for people with autism.
Beginning March 22, Woody Pine Sports will be offering a coed cornhole league on Wednesdays at the Moonshine Deck Icehouse.