Maggie Hathaway Golf Course Reopens After $21M Renovation in South L.A.

The historic course's transformation celebrates its legacy of inclusion and access.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 10:56pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the Maggie Hathaway Golf Course and surrounding neighborhood, with sharp, overlapping planes of green, brown, and blue hues conveying the course's transformation and role as a community space.The renovated Maggie Hathaway Golf Course in South L.A. will serve as a hub for community engagement and inclusive access to the sport.Los Angeles Today

After more than a year of reconstruction, the Maggie Hathaway Golf Course in South Los Angeles has officially reopened following a $21 million renovation. The project, funded through a combination of county investment and private donations, features a redesigned nine-hole course, expanded practice facilities, and plans for a new community-focused clubhouse.

Why it matters

The Maggie Hathaway Golf Course has long served as an entry point into the sport for underserved communities in South L.A. This renovation reaffirms the county's commitment to equity and access, honoring the legacy of the course's pioneering namesake who fought to desegregate public golf in the region.

The details

The $21 million renovation was led by renowned golf course architect Gil Hanse, who volunteered his services. The upgraded course includes a 12,000-square-foot practice green, an expanded driving range, improved drainage systems, and modernized practice facilities. With a total par of 27 and stretching 885 yards, the course is designed to be accessible to beginners while still engaging for experienced players.

  • The course officially reopened on Friday, March 27, 2026.
  • Construction began in January 2025 and took 16 months to complete.

The players

Maggie Mae Hathaway

A pioneering Los Angeles journalist and civil rights advocate who used her platform as a sports columnist for the L.A. Sentinel in the 1950s to challenge segregation in golf, helping break down racial barriers at public courses across the region.

Holly J. Mitchell

Los Angeles County Supervisor who emphasized the course's impact extends beyond recreation, stating that it stands as a 'powerful tribute' to Hathaway and will ensure communities that don't often see themselves represented in golf feel welcomed and included.

Steven Bradford

Former State Senator who said in 2023 that Hathaway 'was one of the biggest advocates for integrating golf in Los Angeles back in the 1950s and '60s' and that her legacy and what she stood for - 'inclusion, equity, and above all, balance' - need to be invested in.

Gil Hanse

The renowned golf course architect who volunteered his services to design the renovated Maggie Hathaway Golf Course.

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What they’re saying

“The newly improved Maggie Hathaway Golf Course stands as a powerful tribute to its namesake, a trailblazer who made the sport of golf more inclusive and a fierce advocate for racial justice.”

— Holly J. Mitchell, Los Angeles County Supervisor

“We're expanding on that promise—giving families and neighbors a beautiful, accessible space to learn, play and grow.”

— Holly J. Mitchell, Los Angeles County Supervisor

“She was one of the biggest advocates for integrating golf in Los Angeles back in the 1950s and '60s. We need to make sure that we invest in her legacy and what she stood for—inclusion, equity, and above all, balance.”

— Steven Bradford, Former State Senator

What’s next

The new clubhouse, which will serve as both a golf facility and a community learning hub with a youth enrichment lab and programming space, is slated to open this winter.

The takeaway

This renovation of the Maggie Hathaway Golf Course represents a significant investment in recreational access and equity for the South Los Angeles community. By honoring the legacy of its pioneering namesake, the revitalized course stands as a symbol of inclusion and a commitment to expanding opportunities in the sport of golf.