Fort Bliss is getting ready to trade in some golf greens for goalposts, with a plan to turn part of the Underwood Golf Complex into a sprawling youth sports park that could draw tournament crowds from across the region.
The proposal would retire the Sunset course and overhaul the neighboring Sunrise course so golfers can keep playing, while families, young athletes and visiting teams take over a new complex next door. Military leaders say the project is meant to serve both Fort Bliss families and the wider El Paso community, with public access from outside the installation gates, instead of keeping it all behind the fence.
The concept, shown to the El Paso County Commissioners Court on Feb. 2, would convert roughly 124 acres of the Sunset course into a multi-field, tournament-ready hub. Fort Bliss officials told commissioners the site is being designed to host regional events and thousands of youth players, with a new entrance planned to make it easier for the public to get in and out. Sunrise, by contrast, would remain a functioning golf course and receive a significant irrigation upgrade, while Sunset would be permanently repurposed. The garrison is pursuing grant funding, with a decision expected by September, and officials said environmental groundwork is already in progress, as reported by KVIA.
Design, Amenities And Projected Impact
The packet shared with county commissioners included a concept map that turns the old Sunset fairways into a neatly organized sports village: 10 turf soccer fields, a multipurpose indoor fieldhouse, covered concessions, a splash pad, playgrounds, and jogging loops. The sketch also shows expanded parking, stormwater retention areas and even a small dog area, with the overall footprint labeled at roughly 125 acres.
An economic analysis attached to the packet projects that, if regular tournaments and regional events materialize, the complex could support hundreds of jobs and generate tens of millions of dollars in annual economic output, according to the materials presented to the court by KVIA.
Why Officials Say The Change Is Needed
Fort Bliss leaders and course managers say the pivot away from a two-course golf layout is driven by a combination of declining play and rising upkeep costs. Local coverage noted that aging irrigation systems have been pushed to the limit, with invasive mussels clogging sprinkler lines and adding to the list of maintenance headaches. Underwood Golf general manager Dallas Cooke told reporters that financial pressures during the pandemic years, coupled with ongoing infrastructure and maintenance problems, sped up the decision to consolidate operations at Sunrise and rethink Sunset entirely. The mussel issue and the garrison commander’s comments were detailed in local reporting, as noted by KTSM (via Yahoo).
Next Steps And Community Questions
Fort Bliss officials told commissioners they are chasing outside grant dollars to help pay for the project. If the money comes through on schedule, construction and site work on the new complex could begin later this year.
The remaining Sunrise course is slated for a major irrigation renovation, with the presentation listing roughly a 7 million replacement. That work could start in late 2026 and last several months, to reopen Sunrise in spring 2027.
Between now and then, youth leagues, neighborhood groups, and weekend athletes will be watching how Fort Bliss handles the nuts and bolts: traffic flow on game days, tournament scheduling, and parking for big crowds. If the plan clears the funding and permitting hurdles, one of El Paso’s most familiar golf addresses may soon be better known for corner kicks than tee shots.
