Golf courses have long been a symbol of luxury and exclusivity, occupying vast areas of land around the world. However, concerns over their environmental impact, high water consumption, and use of pesticides have led to growing works to repurpose them for more sustainable purposes.
A small but growing trend is emerging, where abandoned or struggling golf courses are being rewilded, turning them into thriving ecosystems that benefit both biodiversity and local communities.
From Scotland to California, projects are underway to restore these landscapes, transforming carefully manicured greens into wildflower meadows, woodlands, wetlands, and wildlife corridors.
These works offer a promising way to combat biodiversity loss, reduce water waste, and reconnect people with nature.
Turning Golf Courses Back to Nature
One example of this transformation is The Plock of Kyle, a 60-acre (24-hectare) parkland on the west coast of Scotland. This area was once a golf course, but today it has been rewilded into a diverse landscape of wildflower meadows, ponds, coastal habitats, and even peat bogs.
The Plock is home to roe deer, otters, lizards, eels, dragonflies, and a wide variety of birds and insects, creating a miniature version of Scotland’s natural environment.
Heather Beaton, a local park ranger, explains that before the rewilding project, the golf course had fallen into neglect. Many of its natural habitats had been damaged or lost, but careful restoration works have brought new life to the area.
“The more little pockets of nature we have, the more chances people have to experience wildlife up close,” she says.
The transformation of The Plock has also encouraged community engagement. Local schoolchildren take part in tree planting, helping to restore the landscape.
“If you imagine little kids, three or four years old, planting a tiny tree, by the time they are 20, this will be a woodland,” Beaton says.
The site also offers guided walks, mental health support groups, and conservation training, making it a valuable space for both wildlife and people.
Why Golf Courses Are Being Rewilded
Globally, golf courses take up a significant amount of land. In the United States alone, there are 16,300 golf courses covering around 8,000 square kilometers (2 million acres)—an area one-third the size of the state of Vermont. A study found that in many countries, more land is dedicated to golf than to renewable energy projects like wind and solar farms.
The environmental costs of golf courses are also high. In the U.S., golf courses use an estimated 1.5 billion gallons (5.7 billion liters) of water every day, mostly drawn from lakes and underground wells. They also require large amounts of fertilizers and pesticides, which can contaminate soil and water sources, harming local wildlife.
For years, environmental activists have protested against the destruction of natural habitats to build golf courses. In 2017, a golf course built by Donald Trump in Scotland was found to have permanently damaged a protected sand dune ecosystem.
More recently, climate activists in France filled golf holes with cement in protest against exemptions that allowed golf courses to continue watering their greens during a severe drought.
As interest in environmental conservation and sustainable land use grows, many struggling or abandoned golf courses are being reconsidered as opportunities for habitat restoration and public green spaces.
Instead of being developed into housing or commercial properties, which would further reduce green space, some former golf courses are now being converted into parks, forests, and wetlands.
Success Stories in Rewilding
One of the most successful golf course rewilding projects is the San Geronimo Commons in California. The Trust for Public Land (TPL), a U.S. nonprofit, purchased the 157-acre (64-hectare) golf course in 2018 with the goal of restoring its natural habitat and waterways.
Before its transformation, San Geronimo was one of the largest water consumers in Marin County. Once the golf course was closed, irrigation was stopped, allowing the land to recover naturally.
Conservationists worked to restore local creeks, reintroduce native plants, and create wildlife corridors. These works have helped endangered species, including the coho salmon, whose numbers in the region reached a record high in 2024.
“San Geronimo was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a climate-resilient ecosystem,” says Erica Williams, who led the TPL’s restoration project. The site is now open to the public, offering hiking trails, cycling paths, and nature-watching opportunities.
While some people were disappointed by the loss of the golf course, Williams says that most local residents appreciate the new green space, which benefits both people and the environment.
Another example is The Plock in Scotland. In addition to restoring natural habitats, the project has focused on community involvement and education. The site has become a hub for conservation activities, including works to rewet peatlands—a measure that reduces carbon emissions and promotes biodiversity.
Paths have been designed to be accessible to all, encouraging more people to connect with nature.
The Future of Rewilded Golf Courses
The trend of rewilding golf courses is growing, and experts believe it could play a significant role in addressing climate change and biodiversity loss. In the U.S., the amount of land used for golf courses declined by 12% between 2005 and 2021, opening up opportunities for more rewilding projects.
Some initiatives focus on fully restoring natural ecosystems, while others aim to balance conservation with recreational activities.
While some golf courses are being entirely repurposed, others are adopting eco-friendly practices to reduce their environmental impact. Many golf courses are now using less water and fewer pesticides, while also setting aside areas for wildlife habitats.
A 2015 survey found that 46% of golf courses in the U.S. had increased their natural areas, helping to support local biodiversity.
Rewilding projects also show the importance of urban green spaces. In cities and suburban areas, land is often scarce, and parks provide critical benefits for mental health, air quality, and flood prevention.
The transformation of golf courses into public nature reserves offers a unique opportunity to create accessible, environmentally friendly spaces that serve both people and wildlife.
At The Plock, Beaton sees the project as a long-term investment in the future. While securing funding remains a challenge, she believes that educational programs, sustainable tourism, and conservation grants will help keep the project running.
“We just work to make it as good a place as possible for all visitors—whether human or wildlife,” she says.
Projects like The Plock and San Geronimo Commons show that golf courses can be transformed into thriving ecosystems, providing wildlife habitats, climate resilience, and community spaces. As more people recognize the value of rewilding and sustainable land use, golf course rewilding could become an important part of global conservation works.
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