Wave Staff Report
SOUTH LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, in partnership with the Fore Youth Golf Foundation and American Golf, broke ground on the Maggie Hathaway Golf Course renewal project Nov. 7. When completed, the upgraded course will become the jewel of the county’s 20 golf courses, the largest municipal golf course system in the United States.
The golf course, a 12-acre course at 9637 S. Western Ave., will boast a completely renovated Par 3 course by renowned firm Hanse Golf Course Design. This firm, founded by Gil Hanse, is known for its work at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles and Rustic Canyon Golf Course in Moorpark, as well as many national and international renovation and restoration projects.
In addition to the course upgrade, the existing driving range will be re-enlarged from 10 to 18 stalls as well as be reversed to be more accessible, along with enhanced practice areas for putting and chipping. A new building will be constructed that will include a clubhouse, offices, community room, and a public art exhibit that will retell the history of Maggie Hathaway and the course.
The improvements will be enhanced by sustainability elements such as water-saving turf varieties, a new computer-controlled irrigation system linked to an onsite weather station, and new trees and greenery, a county official said.
The projected course reopening is scheduled at the end of 2025. The clubhouse building, entrance and perimeter enhancements are projected to start construction in late 2025 with an expected completion by late 2026. The entire project cost is estimated at $15.2 million.
The county Board of Supervisors approved a $7.8 million supplemental budget to the project Oct. 8. To date, the Fore Youth Golf Foundation has raised more than $10 million and continues to raise funds for the project.
“Our South L.A. community is excited to see the Maggie Hathaway Golf Course revitalized for future generations to continue to enjoy,” County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell said. “Maggie Hathaway fought against segregation and expanded access to the sport of golf for Black residents and other unrepresented communities.
This multi-million-dollar investment will provide necessary infrastructure enhancements for our local communities to fully enjoy the course and programming for their health and well-being. Thank you to the county’s Parks Department and our partners at the Fore Youth Golf Foundation and American Golf for upholding Maggie Hathaway’s legacy and helping to transform this community gem.”
“This $15 million golf project in South Los Angeles represents L.A. County’s goal of diversifying and growing the sport of golf, especially among communities of color, women and girls,” said Norma E. García-González, director of Los Angeles County Parks. “The new Gil Hanse design will be beautiful, world-class and challenging. I anticipate it will be on the radar of golfers nationwide.
“It’s important to L.A. County Parks that when children in our youth golf programs step on the fairway, they feel they are getting a premier golf experience. I want them to feel valued by their community. And I think we will accomplish that here.”
Maggie Hathaway was a blues singer, actress and actress who became known in the 1950s for her activism and golfing. She took up golfing in 1955 after winning a bet against boxing champion Joe Louis. She quickly took up the cause of segregated public golf courses, which often restricted when Blacks could use the facilities.
In 1960, she organized the Minority Association for Golfers to support young Black golfers. In 1963, she led a picket during the Professional Golf Association tournament at Long Beach Municipal Golf Course to protest a lack of jobs in golfing for Blacks and for increased participation in PGA tournaments for Blacks.
In 1962 she became the founding president of the Beverly Hills-Hollywood Branch of the NAACP and in 1967 she joined Sammy Davis Jr. and Willis Edwards in holding the first NAACP Image Awards.
The county opened the Maggie Hathaway Golf Course in 1962.
“The Maggie Hathaway Golf Course renovation represents an extraordinary effort to build community and enrich our young people via golf and public/private partnership,” said Fred Terrell, co-chairman of the 2023 U.S. Open Legacy Committee and vice chairman of investment banking at Wells Fargo.
Paul Ballam, senior vice president of American Golf, the course’s operator, said, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, the county’s Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Fore Youth Golf Foundation on the much-anticipated renovation of this cherished community golf course. Together, we embrace Maggie Hathaway’s vision of creating a welcoming space that enhances the physical and emotional well-being of community members.
“This project offers a unique chance to profoundly impact the youth of the Second District. By providing a completely renovated, dedicated space to learn, practice and play the game of golf, collectively we empower our youth to build essential life skills through golf in an engaging community setting.
“This important community parkland will be overseen by our dedicated agronomy professionals who will steward environmentally responsible practices that will provide an attractive golf experience and preserve the diverse habitats for native plants and wildlife, ensuring a healthier community for generations to come.”
The project was launched as part of the Los Angeles Country Club’s hosting of the 123rd U.S. Open earlier this year, the first time the course had hosted the open in 75 years.
American Golf has been an owner, lessee and manager of golf courses for 50 years. The largest segment of this experience is operating public golf courses on behalf of municipal governments, such as the Los Angeles County.
American Golf currently operates more than 40 private, daily fee and municipal golf facilities and has been an operating partner of Los Angeles County since 1982 with 12 county golf facilities currently under its management.
