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Let's rewind to 2019.
Golf was struggling. Courses were closing in near record numbers. Few new courses were being built.
Municipal golf courses around the country were under siege by their government handlers. Many were aging and neglected with little investment in improvement projects. Dozens were actually on the chopping block to have their funding pulled, reduced or outright shut down for good and sold off to line the city, county or state coffers with cash.
At the time, the editorial staff at GolfAdvisor.com, the precursor to GolfPass, tried to be a voice for all muni golfers. I wrote this column, listing the 10 most important municipal courses worth saving. It was well read and inspired a fair number of comments, showing just how important the topic is to all golfers, many of whom grew up on municipal golf courses.
Moving to present day, we're happy to report that the game is as healthy as it's ever been. Roughly half of the munis listed in our 2019 story have either seen important investment or are heading for large-scale restoration/modernization efforts. On the flip side, the others are still seeking the support they need. Unfortunately, one even closed for good last year.
More than five years later, it's time to take stock of the future of each of the 10 municipal golf courses we originally featured. Which ones are on a path for success? Which courses still need significant investment to secure a long-term future?
10. Jackson Park Golf Course - Chicago, Ill.
When it was announced in 2018 that Tiger Woods would be involved in the redesign of Jackson Park and the nearby nine-hole South Shore into a high-profile tournament course in downtown Chicago, it sounded too good to be true. So far, that's proven to be the case. Political support from both the city and former U.S. President Barack Obama's Foundation, which is building a presidential center nearby, has waned, as has public support, according to the Chicago Golf Report. The two golf courses in question continue to plug along with solid reviews from GolfPass but could still probably use more upgrades and funding. The 5,500-yard Jackson Park, one of eight courses owned by the Chicago Park District and managed by Indigo Sports, a division of Troon Golf, celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2024. GolfPass reviewer 'EdJackson' gave the experience four stars in October: "Great pace and the course was in good shape despite not having much rain. Good times."
Verdict: Sure, luring the BMW Championship to Chicago's south side on a regular basis would have been a boon for city tourism, but at what cost to the local golfers who play the two munis regularly? This project isn't dead yet, but its future forecast is cloudy at best.
9. Belmont Golf Course - Richmond, Va.
Completely redesigned in 2021 by Davis Love III, Belmont is operated for the city by First Tee – Greater Richmond, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2023. The historic course that hosted the 1949 PGA Championship welcomes players of all ages and skills with 12 restored A.W. Tillinghast holes, a six-hole par-3 course called Little Bell and The Ringer, a reversible 18-hole putting course. Too many regular golfers just don't get the 12-hole concept. They should appreciate that it takes less time to play and costs less than 18 holes would but, to many, it's a negative. For example, reviewer 'BobFrank51' wrote in September, "Too bad it’s only 12 holes as they are all good and in nice condition. A full 18 would rank this as a top flight public (course)."
Verdict: We love short courses and alternative golf experiences, especially courses built specifically for growing the game like Belmont. America needs more Belmonts in major cities to ensure golf's future.
8. East Potomac Golf Course - Washington, D.C.
Five years ago, the National Links Trust took on management of the National Parks Service's three D.C.-area courses with an eye toward rehabilitating each one. The organization first focused on stabilizing conditioning and raising community awareness. The first big domino is a Gil Hanse-led renovation of Rock Creek Park, a historic William Flynn design whose next phase of life will ultimately entail a nine-hole regulation course, a nine-hole short course, new practice areas and a new clubhouse. Enhancing the Red, White and Blue nines of East Potomac are in the long-term plans.
Verdict: Just like anything involving government in Washington D.C., this one will take longer than anyone wants. Let's hope golf's momentum continues long enough to see it to fruition in the next 5-7 years.
7. Randolph Golf Courses - Tucson, Ariz.
Change is brewing at Randolph, although that's not necessarily good news for area golfers. The city of Tucson's "Randolph Reimagined" plan has golfers so worried about the potential changes to the Dell Urich and North courses - home to dozens of professional golf tournaments over the years - that they made a Youtube video in December 2023 voicing their concerns about adding a walking path, nature park and skate park to make the facility more "park like", Tucson golf architect Ken Kavanaugh, who rebuilt Dell Urich in 1996, has been hired to come up with potential solutions for any routing changes.
Verdict: Usually, when a compromise is required to make everyone happy, no one ends up feeling that way. Even so, we're glad to see upgrades likely on the way, even if it takes 5-7 years to get there, according to Tucson.com.
6. Bobby Jones Golf Club - Sarasota, Fla.
Bobby Jones was in a sorry state when senior writer Tim Gavrich visited in early 2020, with 36 squeezed-together holes and a sense of minimal interest, at best, from the people running the place. Fast forward three years and the city decided to get serious about golf, hiring architect Richard Mandell to restore the original 18-hole Donald Ross design and rehab the short course down the street, Gillespie, named for the Scot who served as the facility's first head pro. The project has been a success, giving locals a fun, walkable classic course back, a top-notch practice facility and a nature park of dozens of acres from the decommissioned surplus 18 holes.
Verdict: Less is more when it comes to municipal golf. By focusing on reviving a quality 18-holer as its core amenity, Sarasota got this one right.
5. Cobbs Creek Golf Club - Philadelphia, Penn.
Thanks to years of awareness and nine-figure fundraising by the Cobbs Creek Foundation, the historic course, one of America's first true munis, is embarking on a multi-year, comprehensive revival of the whole. Cobbs Creek 2.0 will include the 18-hole championship course restored by Gil Hanse & Jim Wagner, a nine-hole routing, a putting course donated by Jordan Spieth and other associated facilities. Announced last year, Woods' TGR Foundation is adding a 30,000-square-foot TGR Learning Lab, a STEM education facility that will host various programs for Philadelphia youth, along with a nine-hole short course by TGR Design on property.
Verdict: After years of speculation, Cobbs Creek is on the path of a full-on rebirth. This could end up being the blueprint other big-city muni revivals should follow.
4. Rackham Golf Club - Huntington Woods, Mich.
The good news about Rackham is the city of Detroit will likely never again push for its closure, which was a regular topic a decade ago. The bad news is Rackham is no closer than it was to the full restoration it needs. Its GolfPass star rating (3.4) suggest an inconsistent experience, from the course conditions to the staff. Some days are better than others. The best way municipal golf courses can serve their communities is to provide value to their customers. This is where Rackham excels. Golfer 'gn22634341' praised the Donald Ross course after his round last October, noting: "Historic venue. This course is always fun and fair but busy. Good value though."
Verdict: As a native metro Detroiter, I'm forever hopeful for bigger and better for Rackham. With so much competition, though - there are so many really good public courses in nearby Oakland County - I've resigned myself to the fact that Rackham will always be a three-star muni. That's better than a closed muni.
3. Miami International Links at the Melreese Country Club - Miami, Fla.
The lone casualty from our original list, Melreese unfortunately became the poster child for how not to save a historic local municipal golf course. It was swallowed up by developers in 2023, forcing thousands of local golfers and the local First Tee chapter to find new homes. Read more about this tragic tale in the article below.
2. Lions Municipal Golf Course - Austin, Texas
This fight is more about survival than any of sort of improvements. Despite a successful 2024 that saw Lions celebrate its 100th anniversary and a major fundraiser spearheaded by Ben Crenshaw that raised a million dollars, the perpetually embattled city-managed but university-owned muni faces a potential tipping point soon. The Save Muny Historical District has been negotiating with the University of Texas to extend the lease on the land where the golf course sits, but the extension for the state authority creating the district will expire May 2025, according to CBSAustin.com. “We’re hoping for a long-term resolution. We’d love to have a long-term lease,” Crenshaw told AOL.com. Crenshaw is the face of the "Savy Muny" nonprofit negotiating with the university about the course's future. “The city and the university need to get together somehow. And we need to extend it. It’s a hundred years, 100 years of success in our town. It’s not only a golf course, but it’s a great space. We’re growing so fast. In this town, we’re losing space rapidly. So it’s a multi-pronged asset. To me, it’s the health and vibrancy of the community. Because I think it raises good people.”
Verdict: Land surrounding Austin is becoming so valuable that Lions could be gobbled up by a developer. Austin does have other city-run munis, but anyone who plays Lions understands how special it is and what a shame it would be to lose. All of the recent GolfPass reviews are five stars. "Lions is awesome. I live here (and) this muny is special! Well taken care of!" wrote user 'machavelli76'.
1. Sharp Park Golf Course - Pacifica, Calif.
Sharp Park spent more than a decade battling a lawsuit fighting for survival. With that fight in the rear-view mirror, there have been minor attempts to improve this Alister MacKenzie design near the Pacific Ocean. Tom Doak and Bay Area architect Jay Blasi have helped with some consulting. Too bad San Francisco Recreation and Parks doesn't have the funds or, seemingly the desire, to clean up either the course conditions - Sharp Park is mostly unplayable from November through March due to winter storm drainage issues - or the operational issues that regularly cause slow play. When you catch Sharp Park at her best, though, she's a beauty.
Verdict: San Francisco has bigger budget issues than spending millions to renovation a golf course, so improving the course, let alone building three 'lost' MacKenzie holes, continues to be an improbable, if not impossible, task. It is admirable that the people like Richard Harris, president of the nonprofit San Francisco Public Golf Alliance, continue to push for change. We recommend funneling donations to its website and supporting its annual fall charity auction.
What municipal golf course would you love to see receive major improvements? Let us know in the comments below.
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