EXCLUSIVE: Inside Bryson DeChambeau’s Multimillion-Dollar Plan To Turn Humble California Hometown Into Golf Mecca

Bryson DeChambeau is making a bold attempt to solidify his impressive legacy in pro golf—by funneling a hefty portion of his $45 million fortune into a new “mega project” that will help to introduce more people to golf at an early age.

DeChambeau, 31, from California, revealed in January that he was embarking on a lengthy project in his hometown of Clovis, where he plans to turn “massive amounts of land” into a community that is entirely centered around the sport of golf.

“Making [golf] economically viable and more accessible are two massive things,” he explained to podcast host Joe Pompliano.

“I’ve got a strategy right now that I’m implementing that people have heard. It’s a strategy that essentially brings people from off the street, to the driving range, to lessons, and then to the golf course. It’s a full three-step process, essentially. Getting them to the driving range, getting them lessons, and then getting them on the golf course.”

DeChambeau explained that, to bring that strategy to life, it all needs to take place in one location—a realization that prompted him to try to build such a community.

“You have to have it at one place, at a community center, where it is easily accessible and easily affordable. That’s kind of the model,” he went on.

However, DeChambeau is well aware that his dream of building a first-of-its-kind golf mecca will be no easy feat, noting that he had already faced some red tape along the way.

“It’s easy to say. It’s difficult to do with the bureaucracy that’s involved in our systems right now,” he shared.

“In California, we are doing a ‘mega project.’ It has been in the works for a couple of years now, and we’re at the place where we are getting permits.

“We have acquired massive amounts of land in my hometown, and it is a three-phase process to build a whole community and increase the size of where I grew up by 30%. It’s a full-scale plan fully throughout [with] county, state, state assemblyman, city officials, mayor.

“It’s going to take 12 to 15 months to get the permits approved for the full scope. It’s over 200 acres of land that we have right now. It’s going to be a multisports complex center—driving range, golf course, residential, community center, the whole thing.”

DeChambeau was quick to credit his four-year contract with LIV Golf, which he signed in 2022 and which is worth an estimated $125 million, for providing him with the funds to embark on a project of this magnitude.

The nine-figure deal with the tournament gave him the “economic viability” to invest in such a huge endeavor, he said. However, he is not carrying out these plans alone.

Soon after the golf legend’s interview aired, it was revealed that he had partnered with Fresno-based real estate agency Cook Land Co. on the endeavor.

“I can confirm that Cook Land Company formed a business partnership centered around real estate assets with Bryson DeChambeau several years ago, and we are proud to consider him a dear friend,” CEO Tim Cook told The Business Journal in June.

Though DeChambeau and Cook have yet to share more details about the plans for their project, planning documents reviewed by Realtor.com® show that Cook Land Co. submitted a permit application for a “student golf development facility” to the county of Fresno on June 3.

According to the application, the facility will be built on a 22.5-acre portion of land that is located on the outskirts of Clovis—with the permit request noting that the initial plans for the project had requested the use of only 15 acres, before those were expanded.

Property records show that the plot of land on which the golf facility is planned recently traded hands for $2.45 million. The original listing stated that the parcel included 38 acres, which were “good for farming [or] development.”

The parcel was originally listed in March 2024 for $3.7 million—meaning that the buyer landed a very hefty discount of more than $1 million.

Per the permit application submitted by Cook Land Co.’s planner, Alexander Pretzer, the current plans for the golf facility include an array of top-of-the-line features, from a “state-of-the-art practice range area” to “putting greens with varying slopes and wedge-control target turf.”

The application also highlights a personal tribute by DeChambeau, who is naming the facility after his father—the project will be called the “Jon DeChambeau Student Golf Development Facility.”

DeChambeau’s project will directly benefit the students at his former high school, Clovis East, which is part of the Clovis Unified School District, who will have exclusive access to the facility in its earliest stages.

“The facility will be for the exclusive use of students from the Clovis Unified School District (CUSD) as part of their school golf team program activities,” the permit application states. “The facility has been oriented to reduce the glare of the sun from the west to lessen the impact on student use.

“The visitors to the facility will consist of CUSD students and their coaches and Facility employees. All student visitors will arrive by CUSD school van or bus as part of a school program, accompanied by their coach.”

The application estimates that the facility will play host to a “maximum of 90 students per day,” who will be transported to and from the venue via school buses or vans.

As for building, the permit paperwork notes that a family residence that currently sits on the land will be “upgraded” to serve as a maintenance facility, while “miscellaneous existing chicken coop structures” will be removed.

“A new portable building which is identified as the Academy Building, will be installed, which is approximately 5,000 SF with a single story. The Academy Building will include a meeting room, a gift/snack shop, and will have restrooms that will be ADA compliant,” it adds.