| Venecia Davis, "The Great Wall of Champions | | | | Jackrabbit golf course was in April 1964, and |
| on Jackrabbit Road," | | | | it was attended by celebrities such as Bob |
| | | | Hope and Phil Harris. The Cypress Creek |
| Touchstone, vol. XIX (2000), 39-47.This | | | | course was rated as one of the top ten golf |
| article examines the development of the | | | | courses in the United States, and was the |
| Cypress Creek golf course and the Champions | | | | site for many international tournaments, such |
| clubhouse and the factors that necessitated | | | | as the 1967 Ryder Cup and the 1969 U.S. Open. |
| the construction of a sound attenuation wall | | | | The Jackrabbit course, although never hosting |
| along FM 1960. In the mid 1950s, two | | | | a major tournament, was ranked in the top |
| professional golfers, Jimmy Demaret and Jack | | | | thirty of U.S. courses.Until 1969, the area |
| Burke, Jr., decided to become partners in a | | | | around Champions subdivision did not have |
| golf course in Houston. An attorney friend | | | | many commercial businesses, which forced |
| suggested they buy a five hundred tract of | | | | residents to commute to Houston for their |
| land along FM 1960, which was about | | | | shopping. Then Joe McDermott, a real estate |
| twenty-two miles from Houston. Although | | | | developer, bought fifteen acres at the corner |
| Demaret and Burke bought the land, they did | | | | of FM 1960 and Champions Drive to build |
| not plan to build their golf course there at | | | | Champions I, the area's first large shopping |
| that time. They changed their mind after | | | | center. In the 1970s, he added Champions II, |
| learning that the new Houston | | | | III, IV, and V. The increasing traffic caused |
| Intercontinental Airport and the new | | | | FM 1960 to be widened from two lanes to four |
| Interstate Highway, I-45, would be located | | | | in the early 1980s, and this began to cause a |
| nearby.Construction began in May 1957, and | | | | noise problem for the Champions' residents. |
| the Cypress Creek golf course opened on | | | | When, in the mid 1980s plans were being |
| November 1, 1958 for the first five hundred | | | | discussed to widen FM 1960 to seven lanes to |
| members. The official grand opening was on | | | | alleviate traffic congestion, one Champions |
| April 21, 1959, and it was attended by over | | | | resident, Darel Wayhan, began petitioning for |
| six thousand people who came to see | | | | a sound attenuation wall to be built. Despite |
| celebrities, such as Bing Crosby, Mickey | | | | initial opposition to the wall, Houston City |
| Mantle, and Ben Hogan. Due to Demaret's and | | | | government completed the wall by 1991. |
| Burke's celebrity status, many celebrities | | | | Although the wall caused minor complaints |
| and professional athletes became members of | | | | from residents, it has been beneficial to the |
| the Champions golf club.Burke and Demaret | | | | subdivision and golf course in many |
| then decided to build a subdivision for their | | | | ways.Besides decreasing traffic noise, the |
| members. Construction of the Champions | | | | wall has reduced periodic flooding of the |
| subdivision began in 1960, and many | | | | golf course. Also the wall shields golf |
| celebrities, such as Farrah Fawcett and Steve | | | | players from harassment by passing motorists |
| Elkington, had homes there over the years. | | | | and shields pedestrians and passing motorists |
| The subdivision and golf course created an | | | | from errant golf balls. The wall also |
| economic boom for real estate. Land prices | | | | contributed to the increasing market value of |
| increased dramatically as investors bought up | | | | the homes in Champions subdivision.Mary |
| available land along Jackrabbit Road.Due to | | | | Arnold graduated from University of Houston - |
| the increasing population, Demaret and Burke | | | | Clear Lake with a B.A. in literature and |
| began building a second golf course in the | | | | history.She is an author on which is a site |
| spring of 1963. The official opening of the | | | | for Creative Writing. |