SLO City Council Considers Fate of Laguna Lake Golf Course

Potential uses include affordable housing or a public park, but local golfers protest any plans to close the course.

Published on Feb. 3, 2026

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The San Luis Obispo City Council will hold a study session on the future of the Laguna Lake Municipal Golf Course, a 26-acre, 10-hole city-owned facility that has struggled financially in recent years. City staff will present options to either redevelop the site for affordable housing or convert it to a public park, but local golfers have voiced strong opposition to closing the course.

Why it matters

The Laguna Lake golf course is one of the largest green spaces in San Luis Obispo and a popular recreation spot, especially for youth programs. However, the course has operated at a significant financial loss for the city, prompting officials to explore alternative uses for the property, including potentially converting it to affordable housing. This decision could have major implications for the local golfing community and the availability of open space in the city.

The details

According to a city staff report, the Laguna Lake golf course brought in over $375,000 in revenue in 2024-25 but cost roughly $827,100 to operate, resulting in an ongoing financial deficit. The city is also facing the need for at least $850,000 in capital improvements, including a bridge replacement and pro shop renovation. City staff have been directed to present potential reuses for the full 29-acre site, including what it would take to transform the golf course into affordable housing, which could theoretically accommodate around 480 two-bedroom units. Alternatively, the city is exploring decommissioning the golf course and converting the property into a public park.

  • The San Luis Obispo City Council will hold a study session on the Laguna Lake Municipal Golf Course during its regular meeting on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at 5 p.m.
  • In 2025, city staff were directed to present potential reuses for the full 29-acre Laguna Lake site.

The players

San Luis Obispo City Council

The governing body of the City of San Luis Obispo that will consider the future of the Laguna Lake Municipal Golf Course.

Laguna Lake Municipal Golf Course

A 26-acre, 10-hole golf course owned and operated by the City of San Luis Obispo since the 1980s.

Terri Benson

A PGA golf professional who teaches at the Laguna Lake golf course and runs its First Tee program for youth.

Jim Coryell

A San Luis Obispo resident and retired pediatrician who has urged the City Council to not close the Laguna Lake golf course.

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What they’re saying

“I understand the need for affordable housing, and I respect the city's commitment to that goal. I simply ask that you also consider what would be lost if this course is taken away. Once a space like this is gone, the opportunities it gives our children — to belong, to grow, to be supported — are gone with it.”

— Terri Benson, PGA golf professional (Letter to the City Council)

“If funding is an issue, I would gladly pay twice the current green fees. I love playing there, and I believe it is a great asset to the city.”

— Jim Coryell, Retired pediatrician (Letter to the City Council)

What’s next

The San Luis Obispo City Council will decide on the future of the Laguna Lake Municipal Golf Course during its regular meeting on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.

The takeaway

The potential redevelopment of the Laguna Lake golf course highlights the difficult tradeoffs cities must make between preserving recreational green spaces and addressing the pressing need for affordable housing. While converting the course to housing could provide much-needed units, the strong community opposition underscores the value that many residents place on maintaining public golf facilities, especially those that serve youth programs.