The Woodlands to negotiate with Early Bird for new short-course public golf complex

The Woodlands Township officials will negotiate with Early Bird, which manages East River 9 in Houston, for a public-private partnership on a nine-hole golf complex off Gosling Road.

The township's board of directors authorized President and CEO Monique Sharp to negotiate with Early Bird for a contract for the partnership at its Feb. 26 meeting. The township initially approved a request for proposals for a potential golf course on Dec. 4.

The company would design, finance, construct and operate the project as part of the partnership, according to township staff.

While there are numerous private golf courses in The Woodlands, township officials said this would be the first public facility.

"We're proud to bring the first public golf course to The Woodlands through a public-private partnership that maximizes community benefit and responsible investment," Brad Bailey, chair of the township's board of directors, said to Community Impact. "This nine-hole, par 3 course, driving range and practice facility will offer night golf for added flexibility. We are committed to full tree preservation and ensuring this course looks and feels like The Woodlands."

Latest update

As of the Jan. 23 deadline for RFPs, the township received proposals from three companies:

• Park Golf
• Early Bird
• American Golf

After weighing the options, which were presented by the township's Chief Operating Officer Chris Nunes, the board voted 7-0 in favor of Early Bird.

Among the recreational amenities at the East River 9 site, Nunes said the company has offerings such as pickleball, and it does not have golf cart paths, which he noted increase operational costs because they compact grass.

It would also have a contracted restaurant that could be enjoyed by guests even if they were not using the golf facility, he said.

The backstory

The proposed golf complex will be located at the South Gosling Tract, a 208-parcel tract donated by Howard Hughes in 2023 off Gosling Road on Spring Creek.

The RFP described a course consisting of nine holes and amenities such as:

• Practice and putting environments
• Food and beverage
• Shaded outdoor seating
• Events
• Golf clinics

Bailey said three board members—himself, Linda Nelson and Craig Eissler—and three appointed members of the public conducted interviews to develop the RFP.

He said maintaining The Woodlands' character and preserving trees would also be an important part of the project.

"In our talks ... we are really pushing for The Woodlands to be The Woodlands on this course," he said at the meeting.

The township has spent $1 million annually since 2023 on reforestation efforts to maintain the health of its tree canopy amid challenges such as drought conditions. In addition, the facility would not be visible from the road as it will be behind trees, Bailey said

Other features of the proposed course are night golf and a driving range, Nunes said.

As a public golf course, there would be no annual membership fee, Bailey said.

Another detail

Nunes shared a drawing of the proposed approximate location for the facility in Creekside Park as well as where trails and a future, to-be-determined active recreation amenity would be located. The site is also located along the Spring Creek Greenway.

Most of the property was deemed not suitable for development because it is within the flood plain and is better suited for uses such as trail development, Nunes said at previous meetings. After developing a golf course, the property would still potentially have 150 acres of space in the floodway above the 100-year floodplain, Community Impact previously reported.

What they're saying

"We are meeting a real need in the community," director Richard Franks said.

"From the tourism side, it's a great thing ... when we do have conventions, you can play a round of golf .. .and be home. It's a whole new way of having fun," director Linda Nelson said.

What's next

Nunes said the matter would return to the board following negotiations, and if those fail it would talk to Park Golf until a contract could be reached.