Tecolote Canyon Golf Course temporarily closes amid city sewer construction, raising questions about operations and leases

A temporary shutdown tied to major infrastructure work

Tecolote Canyon Golf Course in San Diego’s Clairemont area is undergoing a temporary closure as construction activity intensifies on a city capital improvement project that replaces and rehabilitates aging sewer infrastructure in and around Tecolote Canyon. The project, titled the Tecolote Canyon Trunk Sewer Improvement and Golf Course Water Connection, has already altered public access in the canyon, including intermittent trail restrictions and a reduction in golf operations.

City project updates state that Phase 2 construction reduced the golf course from 18 holes to a 9-hole configuration for a period, with the driving range expected to remain open during portions of the work. The same updates indicate that, after operating in a reduced format into the spring, the course is expected to close completely through the end of the spring, reflecting the anticipated construction footprint and safety requirements.

What the sewer project involves and why it affects the course

The city’s scope of work includes replacement and rehabilitation of trunk sewer lines and related components, along with a water connection component that includes installation of a 16-inch water main segment intended to supply the golf course and provide redundancy for nearby areas. The city has cited hazards typical of underground utility construction—heavy equipment, trenching, limited corridor space, and safety fencing—as reasons for access controls and operational changes.

City notices have emphasized public safety near construction zones, including the need to maintain separation from active work areas and to follow posted restrictions around trails and the golf course.

Lease status and public concern about the course’s longer-term future

The closure has also drawn attention to the governance and leasing structure for city-owned golf properties. A February 2026 report summary from the City Auditor describes an eight-course portfolio of city-owned golf properties leased to private and nonprofit operators, totaling 868 acres. For fiscal year 2024, leased-course operators generated $34 million in revenue and paid $3.7 million to the city in rent, the report summary states.

Within that portfolio, Tecolote Canyon is listed among the leased courses and is shown with 2024 operator revenue of $2,903,771 and $735,293 paid to the city, representing 25% of revenue. The audit summary also highlights broader citywide issues that can influence how leased golf properties are managed, including the prevalence of holdover lease arrangements, inconsistent capital-improvement provisions, and inspection intervals that the report says have averaged multiple years across the leased portfolio.

Key details affecting golfers and canyon users

• The golf course has operated in a reduced layout during Phase 2 construction, with a full closure anticipated through the end of spring under current city scheduling.
• The driving range is expected to remain open during portions of the construction period, even as the course layout changes.
• Trail access in Tecolote Canyon Natural Park has been subject to periodic and segment-specific closures tied to construction activity and safety constraints.

For residents and regular users of the course and canyon, the coming months are expected to hinge on construction timing, safety requirements, and city decisions about how operations are structured during and after the project’s active phases.