SAN DIEGO — A popular San Diego golf course is undergoing some major changes that could put your tee time on hold for a while.
The $55 million project involves replacing 4.7 miles of pipes – some of which run right underneath the course.
Right now, golfers can only access holes one through five, then continue on to holes 15 through 18, taking it from a traditional 18-hole course to a split-up nine.
“I come two, three times a week,” said Haley Hill.
Hill is new to golf, so she’s getting in as much practice as possible. Since construction started on Monday, she’s had to make some adjustments.
“It’s obviously a bummer, but I like that they’re trying to stay open,” she said.
Come sometime this fall, the city tells CBS 8 the entire course is expected to shut down as the project develops, and stay closed until the spring. However, exact dates are still unknown.
The project has also forced the closure of hiking trails in Tecolote Canyon, specifically ones that stretch from the Nature Center to the University of San Diego access point, and just north of that towards the course, but the September Street Loop remains open.
“Yeah, that’s a bummer, I mean, especially people who live here and this is their home course,” said another golfer.
The city says it is working with the golf course and the company that runs it, American Golf, to keep as much of the course open as possible during construction. The driving range is not impacted and is expected to stay open. In the meantime, both the course and the city have alerted the public.
As for Hill, she said she will keep coming as long as she can, as she works to improve her game.
“I’ll play at anything. I’m learning…I’m beginning. It’s still better than nothing,” she said.