The golf course’s upgrade will include a reimagined driving range, a clubhouse, and more.
“We’re celebrating the rejuvenation of Maggie Hathaway Golf Course,” said Fred Terrell, vice chairman of investment banking at Wells Fargo & Company.
“We’re very excited and I think this will be regarded as one of the best Par 3s in the state. You’re going to see a before and after in 12 months that’s going to be remarkable.”
The County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation, in partnership with the Fore Youth Golf Foundation and American Golf celebrated the groundbreaking of the Maggie Hathaway Golf Course renewal project.
One year ago, California State Senator Steven Bradford and L.A. County Supervisor Holly Mitchell took part in a public signing for the upgrade of the golf course. Now, a year later, they’re here for the groundbreaking, ready to see what they started take shape.
“I had the privilege of serving about a decade in the state legislature with my colleague Mr. Bradford and ran for the board in 2020 and made the commitment then that I was going to leave the second district better than I found it,” said Mitchell.
“A part of that commitment, really based on my own lived experience, was to make sure that our county assets in the second district were the best they could be—the swimming pool down the way, the incredible pools and the incredible county parks are the best they can be for a community that I believe deserves the best I can deliver to them.”
“Ms. Hathaway, as I’ve stated, was one of the early Jedi warriors and I’m not talking about Star Wars, I’m talking about for justice, equity, diversity and inclusion,” said Bradford. “You won’t have to be into your late years to know what her legacy is because it will be promoted and amplified every time you come on this golf course.
He continued, “You won’t have to wait decades later like I did to find out the impact that she has made so, I’m excited about what this means, not only to our young folks, but all of our community to learn the game of golf, learn the legacy and the commitment that she’s made.”
On October 8, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved an investment of $7.8 million from the 2024-2025 Supplemental Budget for the Maggie Hathaway Renewal Project. To date, the Fore Youth Golf Foundation has raised more than $10 million and continues to raise funds. When completed, this significantly upgraded course will be the jewel of L.A. County Parks’ 20 golf courses, the largest municipal golf course system in the United States.
“This is going to be a new Gil Hanse designs golf course,” said Terrell, “he’s sitting right here in the front row—he’s the best designer in the world.”
Maggie Hathaway Golf Course, a 12-acre course located at 9637 S. Western Avenue in Los Angeles, will boast a completely renovated Par 3 course by renowned firm Hanse Golf Course Design. This firm, founded by Hanse, are known for their work at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles and Rustic Canyon Golf Course in Moorpark, as well as many notable national and international renovation and restoration projects.
“I think ultimately what our goal here is to create something that’s fun, playable and enjoyable but also occasionally challenging and how do you do that?” said Hanse. “That ultimately comes down to flexibility within the setup of the golf course.
Hanse continued, “The most important thing we can do with this golf course is the most difficult thing—we need to make it better, but we don’t want to change it.
“We want to make sure that this golf course is still recognizable, enjoyable to the people who have been here for 30 or 40 years not the people who, may come here because Gil Hanse designed the golf course.
“If we do anything here that makes this golf course less welcoming, less enjoyable, less recognizable for the people who supported it over a long period of time, then we’ve failed and I think ultimately our goal is to do something fun.”
“This course for us represents a place where children will not only learn the game of golf, a game that has not been open and inclusive and supportive of communities like South L.A., but with the guiding light of the Porters, children here, especially in the next coming years, will be nurtured, will be supported, we’ll be lifted up, will be reminded that they matter and that there is a village of people caring and supporting children in this community,” said Norma E. García-González, director of L.A. County Department of Parks and Recreation.
Glen and Mary Porter, of the Western States Golf Association and founders of local youth programs that utilize Maggie Hathaway Golf Course have help put the park on the map. It’s out of their programs that golfers like Skyler Graham, who was a previous junior in the Southern California Golf Junior Golf Association, started her golf career at Maggie Hathaway Golf Course.
“It’s absolutely incredible,” said Graham. “I don’t think when I was six-years-old, I could have imagined Maggie getting the facelift that it would be getting, all of the support from our sponsors, our donors, USGA.
“It’s so incredible to be here and to really be a part of the future of Maggie’s and to continue to support the next generation of golfers from this area.”
In addition to this, Maggie Hathaway premier course upgrade, there are other significant improvements. The existing driving range will be reimagined 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. These much-needed 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.
The projected course reopening will be 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.
“Together, we embrace Maggie Hathaway’s vision of creating a welcoming space that enhances the physical and emotional well-being of community members,” said Paul Ballam, senior vice president of American Golf. “This project offers a unique chance to profoundly impact the youth of the Second District.”
Ballam continued, “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.”
For more information regarding Maggie Hathaway Golf Course, visit https://parks.lacounty.gov/maggie-hathaway-golf-course.
