Short golf course development in Woodlands, Texas

The Woodlands Township is advancing plans to introduce a new public golf course within the 208-acre South Gosling Tract.

At the February 26, 2026, meeting, the Board of Directors authorized negotiations with Early Bird, a Houston-based company known for managing East River 9, a public nine-hole course.

This initiative aims to address the community's need for accessible golf amenities.

The Township acquired the South Gosling Tract in 2023, intending to develop it for recreational purposes.

Comprehensive site analyses conducted in 2024 revealed that approximately 50 acres in the northern section are suitable for development.

In May 2025, the Board established the Ad Hoc South Gosling Tract and Public Golf Committee, comprising three Board members and three residents.

This committee identified the lack of public golf facilities as a significant gap in the community's recreational offerings.

Subsequently, in December 2025, the Board issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking a public-private partnership to develop a nine-hole short golf course with accompanying food and entertainment amenities.

The RFP attracted three proposals:

Park Golf proposed a “Sand Lot” concept featuring synthetic turf tees.

Early Bird suggested a short golf course combined with additional recreational amenities and a restaurant partnership.

American Golf presented a proposal emphasizing management experience with a more limited conceptual design.

After thorough evaluation, the Board selected Early Bird to proceed with negotiations.

The proposed development includes a nine-hole, par-3 course, a driving range, practice facilities, and a restaurant.

Notably, the facility will offer night golf, enhancing accessibility for residents.

The Board emphasized that the project must align with The Woodlands' environmental and aesthetic standards.

This includes minimizing tree removal, implementing water conservation methods, and ensuring the course remains visually unobtrusive from Gosling Road.

Operations will be managed through a third-party agreement, with Township staff not directly involved in day-to-day management.

Chairman Brad Bailey expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating, “Expanding access to public golf has been a priority for me, and I am proud of the thoughtful steps we are taking to make that vision a reality.”

Over the coming months, Township staff will collaborate with Early Bird to finalize an agreement covering design standards, risk mitigation, performance metrics, financial terms, and resident access.

Once negotiations are complete, the proposed terms will be presented to the Board of Directors for consideration at a future open meeting.