Across the U.S., golf courses are quietly being transformed into housing developments and savvy investors are taking notice. With land scarcity driving up demand and zoning battles heating up, these green spaces are becoming hotbeds for opportunity and controversy.
The Decline of Golf, The Rise of Redevelopment
- Golf participation dropped 22% between 2003 and 2019, according to the National Golf Foundation.
- Nearly 1,500 golf courses have closed since 2014, leaving behind large parcels of land ripe for redevelopment.
- Developers are targeting these sites (often 100+ acres) for residential and mixed-use projects, especially in supply-constrained markets like Florida and California.
Case Study: Hidden Valley, Boca Raton
In Florida, Toll Brothers submitted a rezoning request to convert the long-abandoned Hidden Valley Golf Course into 74 single-family homes. The proposal includes amenities like lakes, pickleball courts, and a clubhouse — but not everyone is on board.
Local residents are pushing back, citing:
- Increased traffic and flood risks
- Loss of wildlife corridors and green space
- Strain on infrastructure without community benefit
For more insights into the Boca Raton redevelopment fight, check out the full breakdown on Toll Brothers’ rezoning proposal.
Lessons from Denver: When Communities Push Back
Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood successfully blocked a similar redevelopment effort. Residents leveraged a 1997 conservation easement, launched a ballot initiative, and ultimately brokered a land swap to preserve the golf course as public parkland.
Hidden Valley advocates are now applying similar strategies — from zoning code analysis to public hearings — to protect their green space. Learn more about how Denver’s fight is inspiring Boca Raton.
📈 What This Means for Investors
For accredited and institutional investors, these redevelopment battles signal two things:
- Opportunity: Golf course conversions offer large-scale land deals in desirable locations.
- Risk: Community opposition, zoning hurdles, and environmental concerns can delay or derail projects.
That’s why our investor lists at SalesLeads.tv include verified real estate developers, land-use strategists, and accredited buyers — people who understand the nuances of these deals and know how to navigate them.
Sources for Further Reading
- John Burns Research: Golf Course Redevelopment Trends
- American Society of Golf Course Architects: Development Process Guide
- Planetizen: Why Golf Course Redevelopment Isn’t Always Easy
- Builder Online: Legal and Environmental Considerations
📣 Ready to Connect with Serious Real Estate Investors?
Looking for serious investor leads in land use and redevelopment? We’ve got you covered; our lists include verified developers and accredited buyers actively working on complex projects like golf course conversions.
🔎 Explore Our Investor ListsIn a lot of places, golf just isn’t bringing in the money like it used to — but the land is still super valuable. Developers see an opportunity to build in areas that are already zoned and landscaped, especially in growing suburbs.
Plenty. Zoning rules can be tricky, local communities often push back (especially if the land was a green space), and there are sometimes environmental concerns like water drainage or wildlife habitats.
It can be — the properties are big and in great locations. But success depends on navigating community politics, getting permits, and timing the market right. So it’s not for beginners.
SalesLeads.tv provides targeted lead lists for real estate investors, land developers, and buyers looking specifically for large redevelopment opportunities like former golf courses.