The South Course at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego - No. 3
The South Course at Torrey Pines was renovated prior to both its U.S. Opens.
Brandon Tucker/GolfPass
The North at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego - hole 15
As for the North Course, the mandate was different: Tom Weiskopf renovated the course in 2015 to be more player friendly, but it can still accommodate the first two rounds of the PGA Tour's Farmers Insurance Classic.
Brandon Tucker/Golf Advisor
Stevens Park - no. 9
The design team at Colligan Golf has renovated many of the DFW munis, including Dallas' historic Stevens Park.
Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Rockwood Park - no. 3
Colligan Golf also renovated Fort Worth's Rockwood Park Golf Course. Pictured is the 3rd hole.
Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
South Course at Bayou Oaks at City Park - No. 17
Rees Jones totally rebuilt a new layout following Hurricane Katrina at New Orleans's South Course at Bayou Oaks in City Park.
Brandon Tucker/Golf Advisor
Baylands Golf Links - view
In California, the City of Palo Alto totally rebuilt Baylands Golf Course in 2018. Architect Forest Richardson built a links-inspired layout.
Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Bobby Jones GC
Atlanta's Bobby Jones Golf Course was reduced from 18 holes to 9 reversible holes but also includes a new academy and much more.
Bobby Jones Golf Course
Keney Park hole 12
The City of Hartford spent three years and $6 million renovating historic Keney Park. Matt Dusenbury brought the 1930s Devereux Emmet design back to life.
Tim Gavrich/GolfPass
Corica Park - South: #6
In the Bay Area, the South Course at Chuck Corica Park was totally rebuilt by Rees Jones and reopened in 2018.
Corica Park
Winter Park 9 - walkers
Central Florida's 9-hole Winter Park Golf Course renovation was done extremely economically and has led to the course making a profit for the city. ($13-21)
Matt Ginella/Golf Advisor
Goat Hill Park
Locals led by John Ashworth helped rescue and revamp Oceanside's Goat Hill Park from development.
Matt Ginella/Golf Advisor
Rockwind Community Links - Championship: #18
Formerly Ocotillo Park Golf Course, New Mexico's Rockwind Community Links, designed by Andy Staples and reopened in 2015, incorporates many community elements into the design like walking trails.
Rockwind Community Links
Bacon Park hole 17
The city of Savannah's Bacon Park Golf Course is a 100-year-old Donald Ross design that has been restored since 2014.
Tim Gavrich/Golf Advisor
Jeffersonville Golf Club - No. 13
Among the Donald Ross porfolio available to public play, the best combination of value and architectural integrity can be found In metro Philadelphia at Jeffersonville Golf Club. ($32-62)
Tim Gavrich/Golf Advisor
George Wright Par 3 17th.jpeg
The par-3 17th hole at George Wright Golf Course, being renovated under the eye of architect Mark Mungeam.
Bradley S. Klein/Golf Advisor
Wilmington Municipal Short Course - no. 1
The new Short Course at Wilmington (North Carolina) Municipal was designed for the First Tee of Greater Wilmington.
Courtesy of Wilmington Municipal
Brackenridge Park Golf Course in San Antonio - No. 12
Brackenridge Park Golf Course, designed by A.W. Tillinghast, received an extensive renovation in the early 2000s and is also now home to the Texas Golf Hall of Fame.
Brandon Tucker/Golf Advisor
Texas Rangers no. 17
Formerly the Chester W. Ditto muni, Arlington totally rebuilt and rebranded the course Texas Rangers Golf Club, which opened in 2019. It is another Texas municipal renovated by Colligan Golf Design.
Mike Bailey/GolfPass
Gus Wortham Golf Course
The Houston Golf Association assumed operations from the city at historic Gus Wortham Golf Course in Houston and performed an extensive renovation that wrapped up following 2018's Hurricane Harvey.
Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Fort Myers Country Club hole 8
Florida's Fort Myers has a Donald Ross gem that was renovated thoroughly in 2014 by Steve Smyers.
Tim Gavrich/Golf Advisor
TPC Harding Park golf course - hole 10
Not long after Bethpage Black held the U.S. Open, San Francisco's TPC Harding Park was extensively renovated prior to hosting a WGC event and later a Presidents Cup.
Jason Scott Deegan/GolfPass
mooresville redo.jpeg
North Carolina's Mooresville Golf Club received an extensive renovaiton to its Donald Ross design in 2015.
Local Golf Advisor ccharles/Golf Advisor
23080171773_e5f7dc6d59_o.jpg
In Minnesota, Ramsey County reopened Keller Golf Course in 2014 following an extensive renovation.
Courtesy of Ramsey County
23 Images
Roundup: Notable municipal golf courses renovated, restored or totally rebuilt since 2000
The 21st century has seen an influx of municipal golf investment across the country
In the post-recession U.S. economy, municipalities coast-to-coast appear to be going two ways with their golf courses: invest in a big way or let them wither on the vine and in many cases close entirely.
Many have chosen the former and invested both money and political capital into these facilities, some of which date back 100 years. We've compiled a sampling of the most notable renovations and total redesign and rebuild jobs since Bethpage Black entered the U.S. Open rotation in 2002 and helped spark a trend in revamping aging city golf courses.
Prior to the 2019 PGA Championship at Bethpage Black, Matt Ginella asked his Twitter followers about munis near them that have received extensive T.L.C. for the better. Has a muni been updated for the better near your home? Let us know where in the comments below!
You're ready to watch!
You can now enjoy GolfPass videos and more.
Play
Video Player is loading.
This is a modal window.
This content is not available in your location.
Error Code: MEDIA_ERR_SRC_NOT_SUPPORTED
Municipal Madness: Renovations pay off for these American munis
Keller GC in St. Paul owned by @RamseyCtyParks re-opened 2014 following $4.2 mil GC reno inc. new grns, tees, bunkers, irrig system, drain system, cp's and practice facility. New CH and PS for $8.2 mil. New BG playing surfaces saved us this year as most GC's in area devastated.
— Paul Diegnau, CGCS (@diegnau) May 10, 2019
I work at Richter Park Golf Course in Danbury. It’s a municipal course operated under an authority. We have put substantial $$ into Course in last 5 years. Feel free to contact me. You can DM and we can exchange numbers
— Robert Dorsch (@RichterSupt) May 10, 2019
@LandaParkGC completed a $7M renovation several years ago. Baxter Spann did a great job and the course is so much better now. Tons of fun. City of New Braunfels made a great call that should payoff in the long run.
— David K (@kenoli22) May 9, 2019
Thorncreek GC in north Denver metro, underwent 21 month renovation project in the $8mil range. All new irrigation & drainage systems, new bunkers and bentgrass greens. Goal of project was to enhance playability and quality of turfgrass. Early returns very positive.
— Ryan Bakken (@ryanbakken) May 10, 2019
Dallas muni golf has gotten a lot of investment the last decade. Tenison highlands is the jewel but Stevens park and cedar crest are great remodels too. Worth a look.
— Michael Krupa III (@therealkrupster) May 9, 2019
Notable municipal renovations and redesigns in the 21st century across America
-
The South Course at Torrey Pines was renovated prior to both its U.S. Opens. Brandon Tucker/GolfPass
-
As for the North Course, the mandate was different: Tom Weiskopf renovated the course in 2015 to be more player friendly, but it can still accommodate the first two rounds of the PGA Tour's Farmers Insurance Classic. Brandon Tucker/Golf Advisor
-
The design team at Colligan Golf has renovated many of the DFW munis, including Dallas' historic Stevens Park. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
-
Colligan Golf also renovated Fort Worth's Rockwood Park Golf Course. Pictured is the 3rd hole. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
-
Rees Jones totally rebuilt a new layout following Hurricane Katrina at New Orleans's South Course at Bayou Oaks in City Park. Brandon Tucker/Golf Advisor
-
In California, the City of Palo Alto totally rebuilt Baylands Golf Course in 2018. Architect Forest Richardson built a links-inspired layout. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
-
![Bobby Jones GC]()
Atlanta's Bobby Jones Golf Course was reduced from 18 holes to 9 reversible holes but also includes a new academy and much more. Bobby Jones Golf Course -
![Keney Park hole 12]()
The City of Hartford spent three years and $6 million renovating historic Keney Park. Matt Dusenbury brought the 1930s Devereux Emmet design back to life. Tim Gavrich/GolfPass -
![Corica Park - South: #6]()
In the Bay Area, the South Course at Chuck Corica Park was totally rebuilt by Rees Jones and reopened in 2018. Corica Park -
![Winter Park 9 - walkers]()
Central Florida's 9-hole Winter Park Golf Course renovation was done extremely economically and has led to the course making a profit for the city. ($13-21) Matt Ginella/Golf Advisor -
Locals led by John Ashworth helped rescue and revamp Oceanside's Goat Hill Park from development. Matt Ginella/Golf Advisor
-
![Rockwind Community Links - Championship: #18]()
Formerly Ocotillo Park Golf Course, New Mexico's Rockwind Community Links, designed by Andy Staples and reopened in 2015, incorporates many community elements into the design like walking trails. Rockwind Community Links -
![Bacon Park hole 17]()
The city of Savannah's Bacon Park Golf Course is a 100-year-old Donald Ross design that has been restored since 2014. Tim Gavrich/Golf Advisor -
![Jeffersonville Golf - No, 13]()
Among the Donald Ross porfolio available to public play, the best combination of value and architectural integrity can be found In metro Philadelphia at Jeffersonville Golf Club. ($32-62) Tim Gavrich/Golf Advisor -
![George Wright Par 3 17th.jpeg]()
The par-3 17th hole at George Wright Golf Course, being renovated under the eye of architect Mark Mungeam. Bradley S. Klein/Golf Advisor -
The new Short Course at Wilmington (North Carolina) Municipal was designed for the First Tee of Greater Wilmington. Courtesy of Wilmington Municipal
-
Brackenridge Park Golf Course, designed by A.W. Tillinghast, received an extensive renovation in the early 2000s and is also now home to the Texas Golf Hall of Fame. Brandon Tucker/Golf Advisor
-
![Texas Rangers no. 17]()
Formerly the Chester W. Ditto muni, Arlington totally rebuilt and rebranded the course Texas Rangers Golf Club, which opened in 2019. It is another Texas municipal renovated by Colligan Golf Design. Mike Bailey/GolfPass -
![Gus Wortham Golf Course]()
The Houston Golf Association assumed operations from the city at historic Gus Wortham Golf Course in Houston and performed an extensive renovation that wrapped up following 2018's Hurricane Harvey. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor -
Florida's Fort Myers has a Donald Ross gem that was renovated thoroughly in 2014 by Steve Smyers. Tim Gavrich/Golf Advisor
-
Not long after Bethpage Black held the U.S. Open, San Francisco's TPC Harding Park was extensively renovated prior to hosting a WGC event and later a Presidents Cup. Jason Scott Deegan/GolfPass
-
![mooresville redo.jpeg]()
North Carolina's Mooresville Golf Club received an extensive renovaiton to its Donald Ross design in 2015. Local Golf Advisor ccharles/Golf Advisor -
![23080171773_e5f7dc6d59_o.jpg]()
In Minnesota, Ramsey County reopened Keller Golf Course in 2014 following an extensive renovation. Courtesy of Ramsey County
