Graduation Semester and Year

Spring 2026

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Landscape Architecture

Department

Landscape Architecture

First Advisor

Joowon Im

Second Advisor

Letora Anderson

Third Advisor

Taner Ozdil

Abstract

Across the nation, golf courses are shutting down due to a lack of demand. Golf course developments began in the United States in the early 1950s During that era, demand for golf courses and housing was high. As golf’s popularity grew, developers saw golf courses in developments as high value-add amenities (Grooms, 2010). During the late 1990s and early 2000s, developers across the country raced to construct as many golf course communities as they could even as the number of golfers leveled out (Downey,2011).

Decommissioned golf courses across Texas are being underutilized as potential amenities for both the local community and wildlife. In Texas, 72.7 courses closed in 2024 (Reid Wilson Texas A&M). Furthermore, community stakeholders are starting to see golf courses as a threat to the community at large (Grooms,2010). The ecological footprint of golf courses has become a growing concern; these highly manicured patches of green depend heavily on deforestation, excessive water use, and chemical fertilizers, all of which are detrimental to biodiversity and ecosystems.

The purpose of this research is to better understand how adaptive reuse can revitalize existing ecological systems while leveraging that opportunity to create a greener and healthier environment for residents surrounding Woodhaven Country Club. This study aims to explore design strategies that transform decommissioned golf courses in ways that address both environmental restoration and community needs.

For this thesis a mixed- methods approach was used to collect data, focusing on surveys, expert interviews, and precedent studies. Surveys identified community priorities and perceptions related to future land use. Interviews provided professional insight into redevelopment challenges and opportunities, and precedent studies examined successful adaptive reuse strategies focused on ecology, resilience, stormwater management, and community connectivity.

This study concludes that decommissioned golf courses can be effectively transformed into multifunctional green infrastructure systems that address ecological degradation while enhancing community use. Based on survey responses, precedent analysis, and ecological site assessment, the primary design application is a nature-based framework that integrates native habitat restoration, stormwater management strategies, and accessible community spaces to improve environmental performance and daily usability within the Woodhaven site.

Keywords

Decommissioned golf courses, Ecological footprint, Adaptive reuse, Environmental restoration, Community needs, Mixed- methods, Developers, Underutilized, Biodiversity, Ecosystems

Disciplines

Biodiversity | Landscape Architecture | Urban, Community and Regional Planning

License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Comments

I would first like to express my deepest gratitude to my parents, Jerry and Martha Watson, for their endless love, encouragement, and belief in me throughout my academic journey. They have always pushed me to be my best and supported me every step of the way. Without their guidance and sacrifices, I would not be where I am today.

Thank you to my brother, Jason Watson, for being such a great role model throughout both my academic and professional career. Your work ethic, guidance, and example have continually motivated me to push myself and strive for success. I am incredibly grateful for your support, encouragement, and the influence you have had on my life throughout this journey. While I may be the first person in our family to earn a master’s degree, I will still always be the second-best landscape architect in the family.

To my wife, Laney, and my son, Mayson Watson, thank you for your unconditional love, patience, and support throughout my education. Their encouragement during the long days and late nights gave me the strength and motivation to continue pursuing this goal.

A sincere thank you goes to my committee chair and members, Dr. Im, Dr. Özdil, and Professor Anderson. Your countless hours of guidance, dedication, and mentorship have meant more to me than words can express. Thank you for challenging me, supporting me, and helping me grow throughout this process. I am truly grateful from the bottom of my heart.

Lastly, I would like to thank my cohort members Grace, Hunter, Penny, and Susan. The countless hours we spent together in the studio and throughout our classes created friendships and memories that I will carry with me for a lifetime. I feel incredibly blessed to have gone through this program alongside such a talented and supportive group of people.

This journey would not have been possible without all of you, and I am forever grateful for your support, encouragement, and friendship.

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