As usual, sorted from "happening" to "least likely to happen." Plenty to chew on this week.
Indian Wells (Palm Springs, CA): If you hadn’t heard, John Fought’s redesign seems to be doing a bigger number than originally anticipated…seven new holes altogether and the other 11 significantly revamped.
https://www.desertsun.com/story/sports/golf/2025/02/25/indian-wells-golf-resort-redesign-means-seven-new-holes-new-greens/80123517007/Indian Canyons (North) (Palm Springs, CA): Nearby, the North course at Indian Canyons will soon transfer from semi-private to join its south course as an entirely public option.
https://www.desertsun.com/story/sports/golf/1/01/01/indian-canyons-shifts-golf-focus/3403925/Toftrees (State College, PA): Jim Nagle will handle a significant renovation at the Ed Ault resort course. Hopefully he will be comfortable working under the judgmental social media eye of Penn State Turf superfan Kyle Harris.
PRESS_RELEASE_FROM_TOFTREES_GOLF_RESORT.pdfLegend at Bergamon (Oregon, WI): The club will transition to full-private from its current semi-private model, presumably at the end of the 2025 season.
https://www.wisconsin.golf/featured/sweetspot/the-sweet-spot-domed-golf-course-coming-to-chicagoland-pinseekers-files-for-bankruptcy-legend-at/article_d60ef8fa-f2b1-11ef-be26-17770c6557dd.htmlEagle Creek (Eagle Creek, Actual Oregon): The Clackamas Country Metro Parks has purchased the Portland exurb course and will incorporate it into a new 553-acre native area.
https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2025/02/clackamas-county-golf-course-to-become-natural-area-with-64m-purchase-by-metro.htmlBoomerang (Greeley, CO): The Boomerang Course will build a new nine, designed with new golfers in mind, with holes ranging from 50 to 60 yards. It will be named for Michael Lee, a local golfer who passed away during 2020.
https://www.greeleytribune.com/2025/02/21/construction-to-begin-on-introductory-9-hole-golf-course-to-honor-late-greeley-man-at-boomerang-golf-course/French Lick Resort: French Lick Resort announced plans to add a third 18 to its collection, hot on the heels of its Sand Creek nine, which I believe will open this year. Short on details at the moment.
https://www.wbiw.com/2025/02/26/french-lick-resort-will-expand-its-golf-offerings-with-new-course-cottages/Hollandbush (Lanark, Scotland): The town council agreed to an asset transfer of the property. Long road ahead but the local club has staved off death for now.
https://www.bunkered.co.uk/golf-news/saved-scottish-golf-course-handed-huge-boost/Mission Trails (San Diego, CA): The city is looking for a new operator at Mission Trails, a William Bell design. Be warned…if you bid, you’ll be tasked with removing balls from Lake Murray as well.
https://hoodline.com/2025/02/san-diego-seeks-new-lessee-to-revitalize-historic-mission-trails-golf-course/Sugar Valley (Xenia, Ohio): The owners of local Jasper Hills have added Sugar Valley to their collection, saving it from potential closure. Might not mean much to us GCA snobs but Jasper cracked Golfpass’s Yelp-style Ohio public rankings this year so hey…they’ve proven popular.
https://www.xeniagazette.com/2025/02/19/sugar-valley-golf-club-to-re-open-under-new-ownership/Holyhead (Wales): The James Braid-designed club has been ordered to close its 18th hole due to complaints from a (reportedly single) neighbor. The proposed renovation is to angle the existing eighteenth rightward and shorten the current eighth to accommodate.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14419215/Fury-golf-club-ordered-close-110-year-old-18th-hole-single-complaint-stray-balls.htmlGillespie (Greensboro, NC): The Perry Maxwell muni has an ambitious master plan involving adding a second set of tees to make it “18” (versus current nine), adding a six hole short course and a putting course. Master plan seems to follow Maxwell’s concepts at first glance…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQZ6VrIwcT0 Oakland University: Chris Wilczynski has been tabbed for a masterplan at Oakland University’s Katke-Cousins course. I don’t think it would take much to distract from the currently more-acclaimed Sharf course.
https://www.golfcourseindustry.com/news/oakland-university-katke-cousins-michigan-master-plan-wilczynski/Blackford (Hartford, IN): The town of Hartford City aimed to keep Blackford Country Club (public) a golf course but talks have apparently “broken down.”
https://www.hartfordcitynewstimes.com/news/golf-course-talks-have-broken-down/article_d3bcf0ee-ee23-11ef-b7d0-3f87d1f39f54.htmlColony West (Glades) (Tamarac, FL): Tamarac is inviting public commentary on its proposal to spend $3.3 million in updates to turf, cart paths, irrigation et al.
https://tamaractalk.com/colony-west-golf-club-seeks-community-input-for-3-million-glades-course-renovation-54036Fort Myers CC (Fort Myers, FL): New clubhouse? No! The city muni may soon host a new cell tower. Package it with a tasteful Ross restoration and I won’t complain.
https://www.fox4now.com/downtown-fort-myers/city-council-looking-to-build-new-cell-tower-at-fort-myers-country-clubShary Municipal (Mission, TX): The course is looking to use EDC funds for the purpose of lighting its third nine for night-time play.
https://www.progresstimes.net/2025/02/20/shary-golf-course-might-see-2m-light-project-for-night-play/Kohler 6 (Sheboygan, WI): The move toward a fifth full-18 at Kohler sludges forward…the resort received a conditional permit extension last year, a factor that local residents are suing to reverse.