Fort Bliss to Transform Part of Underwood Golf Course into Sports Complex

The new multi-field facility is designed to host regional youth tournaments and serve both military families and the broader El Paso community.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 5:23pm

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Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, plans to transform roughly 124 acres of its Underwood Golf Complex into a new youth sports complex. The decision follows years of declining golf activity and infrastructure challenges that made maintaining two full courses unsustainable. The Sunrise course will remain open and undergo upgrades, while the Sunset course will be permanently closed and redeveloped into the new sports facility.

Why it matters

The sports complex is expected to include 10 turf fields capable of hosting large tournaments, potentially bringing thousands of athletes and families to the area. This will provide a much-needed venue for regional youth sports events that currently require families to travel to other cities. The project is designed to benefit both Fort Bliss families and the wider El Paso community.

The details

Plans call for transforming the former Sunset Golf Course into a multi-field sports park. The new complex will include 10 turf fields, concessions, playgrounds, a splash pad, and a running loop. A future phase could add an indoor fieldhouse. The site will remain accessible to the public without requiring military identification, with a new entrance planned to improve access. Meanwhile, the remaining Sunrise golf course will undergo a $7.7 million irrigation renovation.

  • The design for the complex was first unveiled at an El Paso County Commissioners Court meeting on February 2, 2026.
  • Officials are currently seeking grant funding, with a decision expected by September 2026.
  • If approved, construction could begin shortly afterward, as environmental groundwork is already underway.
  • The irrigation renovation project on the Sunrise golf course could begin in late 2026 and take four to six months, with a goal of reopening in spring 2027.

The players

Col. Michael Soyka

Fort Bliss Garrison Commander, who said the decision to transform the golf complex follows years of declining golf activity and infrastructure challenges.

Dallas Cooke

Underwood Golf Course General Manager, who said financial pressures and maintenance challenges, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, accelerated the need for change.

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What they’re saying

“We recognized that we really did not have enough players playing enough rounds to support two full 18-hole golf courses. We made the decision to, instead of trying to revitalize two courses, we would bring one up to a standard that made it the best course in El Paso, and then take the other one and transition to something that would benefit both Fort Bliss and the El Paso community.”

— Col. Michael Soyka, Fort Bliss Garrison Commander

“We had to decide, go with both golf courses and be mediocre, or go with one premier golf course and make it something Fort Bliss is proud of.”

— Dallas Cooke, Underwood Golf Course General Manager

What’s next

Officials are currently seeking grant funding, with a decision expected by September 2026. If approved, construction could begin shortly afterward, as environmental groundwork is already underway.

The takeaway

This project reflects the close partnership between Fort Bliss and the El Paso community, as they work together to transform underutilized land into a state-of-the-art sports complex that will benefit military families and the broader region. The decision to focus on one premier golf course while redeveloping the other into a multi-field tournament facility demonstrates a strategic approach to maximizing the use of limited resources.