{"id":10006,"date":"2026-09-29T22:28:17","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T22:28:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fogolf.com\/us\/10006\/"},"modified":"2026-09-29T22:28:17","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T22:28:17","slug":"irvine-co-looks-to-replace-golf-course-as-part-of-3100-home-village-orange-county-register","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fogolf.com\/us\/10006\/","title":{"rendered":"Irvine Co. looks to replace golf course as part of 3,100-home village \u2013 Orange County Register"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"OakOak Creek Golf Club looking east from the intersection of in Jeffrey Road and Irvine Center Drive in Irvine, CA, on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Irvine Co. wants to convert the property to housing and a nature park. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)<\/p>\n

Where will the land required to help Orange County meet its housing needs come from?<\/p>\n

Irvine Co. suggests one of its golf courses may be part of the solution.<\/p>\n

The real estate giant is seeking permission from the city of Irvine to build 1,500 single-family homes on what is today the Irvine Co.\u2019s Oak Creek Golf Club.<\/p>\n

The plan would create the company\u2019s 23rd residential \u201cvillage\u201d and include another 1,600 apartment units on neighboring land previously slated for office buildings. The plan would also include a new school \u2013 with the developer paying the construction tab \u2013 that would replace a small office complex nearby.<\/p>\n

Irvine Co. is beginning the government approval process for its 235-acre Irvine Spectrum District Village concept. The land is between Jeffrey Road and Sand Canyon Avenue, just south of the 5 freeway, not far from the Spectrum\u2019s office and shopping hub. The first public discussion of the plan is slated for May 13, when the backbone of the planning \u2013 a \u201cmemorandum of understanding\u201d between the developer and city \u2013 will be debated.<\/p>\n

State homebuilding mandates have increased the pressure on all cities to build, especially high-density rentals. Irvine Co. officials estimate it could theoretically build roughly 3,500 apartments around the site that\u2019s part of the city\u2019s inventory of housing possibilities.\u00a0Instead, the developer is pursuing its village concept, incorporating 3,100 housing units with various lifestyle amenities such as parks, pools, paths and traffic improvements.<\/p>\n

The city will get more than extra housing. Irvine Co. proposes to pay the city up to $96 million in various fees. The developer would also give Irvine up to 2,000 vouchers for two years of heavily discounted rents at Irvine Co. apartments. The city estimates it\u2019s a $72 million boost to the city\u2019s affordable-housing efforts for its financially stressed residents.<\/p>\n

\"OakOak Creek Golf Club sits across from homes along Irvine Center Drive in Irvine, CA, on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. The Irvine Company is seeking permission from the city to build 1,500 single-family homes on the golf course. The plan would include 1,600 apartments on neighboring land previously slated for office buildings and include a new school paid for by the developer. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)<\/p>\n

Mike Carroll, the Irvine council member for this part of town, is encouraged by the proposal.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlanning the Irvine way is about parks, schools and transportation,\u201d Carroll said. \u201cThis proposal appears to strike a good balance. It will be carefully reviewed to ensure consistency with those master planning principles that make Irvine one of America\u2019s great cities. I\u2019m excited to have this project moving forward in my district.\u201d<\/p>\n

Irvine Co.\u00a0expects it may take up to 18 months to go through the planning process. If approved, this would be Irvine\u2019s first new village since Eastwood began in 2016.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt will be one of Irvine\u2019s most conveniently located communities,\u201d Jeff Davis, Irvine Co. senior vice president, said. \u201cWithin biking, or even walking, distance to employment and support services within the greater Irvine Spectrum area.\u201d<\/p>\n

Less than traditional<\/p>\n

The city has expanded rapidly. Irvine\u2019s population grew 34% in the 10 years ending in 2023, the fastest among the nation\u2019s big cities, according to StorageCafe.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

But that popularity comes at a cost. The city\u2019s housing affordability ranked 19th worst among 300 large U.S. cities, according to WalletHub.<\/p>\n

Yet, creating cheaper housing options is challenging. Places to easily develop new residences in Orange County are rapidly disappearing. So, construction is pushed to less-than-traditional spots, like shopping centers or office complexes.<\/p>\n

Ponder what Irvine Co. is currently developing.<\/p>\n

There are 1,261 apartments on former retail spaces at Irvine Marketplace. Leasing should begin by year\u2019s end.\u00a0 Another 896 rental units are being built on land previously designated for offices off Barranca Parkway near the Spectrum.<\/p>\n

Also, 585 apartments and 83 for-sale houses are coming to the Los Olivos neighborhood, once the site of various entertainment venues.<\/p>\n

Plus, the last part of Orchard Hills \u2013 a new high-end neighborhood with 520 homes \u2013 will begin selling soon.<\/p>\n

The final putt<\/p>\n

Why was the 193-acre Oak Creek golf course facility, which opened in 1996, deemed expendable?<\/p>\n

\"Golfers<\/p>\n

Golfers play at the 9th hole at Oak Creek Golf Club in Irvine, CA, on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. The Irvine Company is seeking permission from the city to build 1,500 single-family homes on the golf course. The plan would include 1,600 apartments on neighboring land previously slated for office buildings and include a new school paid for by the developer. Golf Club in Irvine, Calif. The developer plans to leave the Clubhouse to serve as a community center for a new 3,100-home village. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Golfers<\/p>\n

Golfers on the 9th hole at Oak Creek Golf Club in Irvine, CA, on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. The Irvine Company is seeking permission from the city to build 1,500 single-family homes on the golf course. The plan would include 1,600 apartments on neighboring land previously slated for office buildings and include a new school paid for by the developer. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Visitors<\/p>\n

Visitors eat outside the clubhouse at Oak Creek Golf Club in Irvine, CA, on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. The Irvine Company is seeking permission from the city to build 1,500 single-family homes on the golf course. The plan would include 1,600 apartments on neighboring land previously slated for office buildings and include a new school paid for by the developer. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Oak<\/p>\n

Oak Creek Golf Club and driving range looking north in Irvine, CA, on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. The Irvine Company is seeking permission from the city to build 1,500 single-family homes on the golf course. The plan would include 1,600 apartments on neighboring land previously slated for office buildings and include a new school paid for by the developer. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Ryan<\/p>\n

Ryan Brecheen, right, and Dominic Molfetta, center, work out at the driving range at Oak Creek Golf Club in Irvine, CA, on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. The Irvine Company is seeking permission from the city to build 1,500 single-family homes on the golf course. The plan would include 1,600 apartments on neighboring land previously slated for office buildings and include a new school paid for by the developer. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 5<\/p>\n

Golfers play at the 9th hole at Oak Creek Golf Club in Irvine, CA, on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. The Irvine Company is seeking permission from the city to build 1,500 single-family homes on the golf course. The plan would include 1,600 apartments on neighboring land previously slated for office buildings and include a new school paid for by the developer. Golf Club in Irvine, Calif. The developer plans to leave the Clubhouse to serve as a community center for a new 3,100-home village. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

Expand<\/p>\n

Well, the private course is a pricey place to play, with green fees that can run above $200 a round. And it\u2019s more likely to be used by out-of-towners than Irvine residents. By the way, Irvine Co. intends to run the golf course until any building plans are finalized.<\/p>\n

Additionally, converting golf courses to other uses is a national trend.\n<\/p>\n

Oak Creek was part of golf\u2019s U.S. building boom from the 1990s through the mid-2000s that added roughly 3,400 golf facilities across the nation, according to National Golf Foundation. The Great Recession ended that expansion, with 2,000 golf facilities since cut nationwide to just under 14,000 as of last year.<\/p>\n

To help negate Irvine\u2019s loss of open space from redeveloping the golf course, Irvine Co. also proposes donating to the city its avocado groves and nearby land in northern Irvine. The avocado business will generate cash for the city. The additional land would increase the size of a planned nature preserve in that neighborhood.<\/p>\n

The course\u2019s signature tree-lined border will remain, becoming a landscaping frame for the new village. And when the final putt is made, the developer plans to leave the clubhouse to serve as a community center for the new village.<\/p>\n

Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at jlansner@scng.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Oak Creek Golf Club looking east from the intersection of in Jeffrey Road and Irvine Center Drive in…","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":10007,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"csco_display_header_overlay":false,"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","csco_page_load_nextpost":"","csco_post_video_location":[],"csco_post_video_location_hash":"","csco_post_video_url":"","csco_post_video_bg_start_time":0,"csco_post_video_bg_end_time":0,"csco_post_video_bg_volume":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[568,165,166,813,2243,6031,6261,55,901,1898],"class_list":["post-10006","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-california","tag-business","tag-california","tag-california-golf","tag-development","tag-housing","tag-irvine","tag-new-homes","tag-news","tag-orange-county","tag-top-stories","cs-entry","cs-video-wrap"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/vive.im\/@fogolf\/117356691745892135","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fogolf.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10006","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fogolf.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fogolf.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fogolf.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fogolf.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10006"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.fogolf.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10006\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fogolf.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10007"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fogolf.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10006"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fogolf.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10006"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fogolf.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10006"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}