Like many other businesses, sometimes golf courses don’t make it. Be it poor management, a shift in demographics, a lack of play or an owner’s decision to turn the land into homes or a shopping center, some layouts have simply run their course.
Often the land sits fallow for months or even years, the grass turns brown, or vegetation grows over the old fairways and greens.
Sometimes, the old golf courses are turned into parks or other public uses. In some cases, the course is saved and returned to its former glory.
Below is a collection of photos from golf courses that closed for extended periods of time.
(Editor’s note: The West Palm Beach Municipal Golf Course in Florida has reopened as The Park and Ahwatukee Lakes in Arizona has also opened again.)
The former site of the Palm Springs Country Club golf course in Palm Springs, California. (Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun)
The former site of the Palm Springs Country Club golf course in Palm Springs, California. (Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun)
The former site of the Palm Springs Country Club golf course in Palm Springs, California. (Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun)
The former site of the Palm Springs Country Club golf course in Palm Springs, California. (Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun)
The former site of the Palm Springs Country Club golf course in Palm Springs, California. (Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun)
The former site of the Palm Springs Country Club golf course in Palm Springs, California. (Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun)
This is the sign for the closed Tomoka Oaks Golf & Country Club on Monday, April 12, 2020, in Ormand Beach, Florida. (Clayton Park/News-Journal)
A lone golfer takes practice swings on the old golf course at the closed Tomoka Oaks Golf & Country Club in Ormond Beach, Florida. (Clayton Park/News-Journal)
A cart path that runs through the former Sandhill Golf Course in Florida has become overgrown since the course closed in 2017. (Daytona Beach News-Journal)
West Palm Beach Municipal Golf Course closed in 2018 but reopened under the PGA of America as The Park (Bruce R. Bennett/Palm Beach Post)
Debris and weeds litter a former green on the San Luis Rey Downs golf course in Bonsall, California, that closed in 2014 because of the statewide drought and the rising cost of water.
Mt. Brighton Golf Course in Brighton, Michigan. (Gillis Benedict/Livingston Daily)
Bahia de los Suenos on the Baja California Sur peninsula, about three hours north of Cabo San Lucas.
Bahia de los Suenos on the Baja California Sur peninsula, about three hours north of Cabo San Lucas.
Bahia de los Suenos on the Baja California Sur peninsula, about three hours north of Cabo San Lucas.
Bahia de los Suenos on the Baja California Sur peninsula, about three hours north of Cabo San Lucas.
Bahia de los Suenos on the Baja California Sur peninsula, about three hours north of Cabo San Lucas.
Bahia de los Suenos on the Baja California Sur peninsula, about three hours north of Cabo San Lucas.
Bonita Springs Golf and Country Club. (Andrea Stetson/USA TODAY)
Tommy Jacobs Bel Air Greens in Palm Springs, California. (Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun)
Tommy Jacobs Bel Air Greens in Palm Springs, California. (Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun)
Tommy Jacobs Bel Air Greens in Palm Springs, California. (Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun)
Tommy Jacobs Bel Air Greens in Palm Springs, California. (Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun)
The VA Golf Course in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. (Helen Comer/The Daily News Journal)
Sherwood Golf Club in Titusville, Florida, closed in 2019. (Tim Shortt/Florida Today)
Vista Hills Country Club in El Paso, Texas, closed after 45 years of operation in 2019. (Briana Sanchez / El Paso Times)
Vista Hills Country Club in El Paso, Texas, closed after 45 years of operation in 2019. (Briana Sanchez / El Paso Times)
Eastland Green South Golf Course in Clarksville, Tennessee. (Henry Taylor/The Leaf-Chronicle)
The abandoned Villa de Paz Golf Course in Phoenix. (Catherine Rafferty/The Arizona Republic)
The abandoned Villa de Paz Golf course in Phoenix. (Catherine Rafferty/The Arizona Republic)
Vistal Golf Club (previously Thunderbird Golf Course) in Phoenix closed in 2015.
Vistal Golf Club (previously Thunderbird Golf Course) in Phoenix closed in 2015.
Vistal Golf Club (previously Thunderbird Golf Course) in Phoenix closed in 2015.
Vistal Golf Club (previously Thunderbird Golf Course) in Phoenix closed in 2015.
Larry Clark, a ranger at Riverview Golf Course in Mesa, Arizona, looks over the land that is now part of the Chicago Cubs spring training facility. (The Arizona Republic)
The Sanctuary Golf Club in North Canton, Ohio. (Julie Vennitti Botos/Canton Repository)
The Lakes Golf Club at Ahwatukee in Phoenix, Arizona reopened on October 19, 2022, after being closed for nine years. (Tom Tingle/The Arizona Republic)
The Lakes Golf Club at Ahwatukee in Phoenix, Arizona reopened on October 19, 2022, after being closed for nine years. (Tom Tingle/The Arizona Republic)
The Lakes Golf Club at Ahwatukee in Phoenix, Arizona reopened on October 19, 2022, after being closed for nine years. (Tom Tingle/The Arizona Republic)
The Lakes Golf Club at Ahwatukee in Phoenix, Arizona reopened on October 19, 2022, after being closed for nine years. (Tom Tingle/The Arizona Republic)
A cemetery sits somewhere underneath a now-closed Wesselman Park municipal golf course in Evansville, Indiana. (John T. Martin/ Courier & Press)
Carolina Pines Golf and Country Club closed for business in 2016.
Arizona State’s Karsten Golf Course in Tempe, Arizona. (Golfweek)
Formerly the Mesquite Golf and Country Club, the land in the Prescott Preserve…
