Major changes could come to Sacramento’s William Land Golf Course for 100th anniversary

The oldest public golf course in Sacramento has changes coming around its 100th anniversary.

The William Land Golf Course, in Land Park just south of downtown, is in the early stages of a restoration plan, which could include improving its irrigation and infrastructure. Additionally, the design of the course could be in line for a major makeover.

“Certainly, we have pretty dramatic infrastructure needs there, without a doubt,” said Mike Woods, the VP of Morton Golf Management, which oversees a handful of the public golf courses in Sacramento. “Drainage needs, irrigation needs, very old greens. ... But at the same time, there’s always an eye on improving and making it fun to play and exciting. That’s what golfers look for — they look for a compelling layout.”

Woods, along with Youth Parks and Community Enrichment (YPCE) of Sacramento, commissioned renowned golf architect Brett Hochstein of Hochstein Design to present a master plan covering these improvements that is expected to come around the end of the year. Once the design is in place, Woods and other officials will determine how to go forward with the plan.

Hochstein Design is considered one of the best in the golf industry when it comes to designing and restoring courses. It is currently helping with the restoration of architect Jim Urbina’s front nine greens on the famous Pasatiempo Golf Club in the Santa Cruz Mountains, which boasts being originally designed by Dr. Alister Mackenzie, one of the most famous golf architects in history. Hochstein has also worked on prestigious San Francisco courses like Lake Merced and is currently helping with the shaping at Jay Blasi’s renovation of the nine-hole course at Golden Gate Park.

“Brett’s been involved with a bunch of great projects,” Woods said. “And his specialty is (bulldozer) shaping, he’s really good at that. I’ve played a number of the courses he’s been involved with and done the shaping on, and it’s really fantastic. And he’s a real student of historical designs.”

Hochstein has spent time looking at archived pictures and old plans for the Land Park course, and could incorporate elements of its original design into the restoration, Woods said.

Land Park is typically played thousands of times per month and is considered a local favorite for its ease, affordability and laid back vibe. It’s neighbored by Funderland amusement park and Sacramento Zoo, and features heavily used walking and jogging trails. It’s original design from a century ago was scaled back by the construction of the amusement park and soccer fields. It’s a favorite among golfers who live downtown or in Land Park and want to catch nine holes after work for around $20.

But the infrastructure of the almost-100-year-old course is dated. It lacks an automatic watering system, which means a group of workers is required to water the course by hand overnight, usually starting around 8 or 9 p.m. and working until sunrise the next morning.

Hochstein’s design is expected to address those issues, and potentially call for rebuilding and redesigning greens and bunkers. Woods said four of the nine greens on the course have been rebuilt over the last 20 years while the five other greens have aged well beyond that.

Land Park last winter was hit hard by historic rainfall and falling trees. The course did roughly one-tenth of its normal business in January and February due to the fallen trees that needed to be removed on top of the drainage issues that led to standing water throughout the course.

The plan for the Land Park course is one of two in which Hochstein is commissioned for. Woods confirmed Hochstein is also in the early process of creating a similar plan for the popular Alister Mackenzie Course at Haggin Oaks, which was originally designed by Mackenzie in the 1930s. But various changes have left the course feeling far less like a Mackenzie design than others, which feature his signature complex greens and ornate bunkers.

The master plan for the Mackenzie Course is expected to come late in 2024 and will be more focused on design since its irrigation and infrastructure is more up to date than Land Park’s. But until Hochstein’s design is turned in, it’s unclear if the Mackenzie Course will undergo a restoration project, Woods said.

“That’s always exciting and something that is worth studying more and learning more about,” Woods said.