July 11, 2025 – A significant step has been taken toward realizing golf superstar Bryson DeChambeau’s vision for a golf-focused community in Clovis. Cook Land Company, DeChambeau’s local development partner, submitted a conditional use permit (CUP) application on February 7 for a 22.5-acre student golf development facility. Located at 8207 N. Thompson Ave., just south of Shephard Avenue northeast of Clovis, this initial phase of the ambitious project is named the “Jon DeChambeau Student Golf Facility,” honoring Bryson’s late father, Jon DeChambeau, who passed away in 2022 after a long battle with diabetes.
The facility is specifically designed as a dedicated practice area for Clovis Unified School District (CUSD) golf team students. Bryson DeChambeau, a 2012 graduate of Clovis East High School, developed into one of the sport’s most successful golfers of the 2020s.
Fresno County communications director Sonja Dosti confirmed that the latest revisions to the plans were updated on June 3. The proposed facility will feature a modern practice range equipped with wedge control turf, target greens, fairway bunkers, and putting greens with varied slopes. It is estimated that the facility will serve a maximum of 90 students per day and employ 2-3 staff members. Only drinks and snacks will be sold on-site. The clubhouse is projected to use approximately 750 gallons of water per day, sourced from an existing on-site well.
An existing 2,160-square-foot single-family home on the property will be repurposed as a maintenance facility. Additionally, a new 5,000-square-foot portable building, designated as the “Academy Building,” will house a meeting room, gift shop, and restrooms. The landscaping will include approximately 10 acres of irrigated grass, complemented by five acres of synthetic turf.
The importance of such a facility for developing future golfers was highlighted by Garrett Takeuchi, a former four-year varsity golfer at Clovis West. Takeuchi, who recently graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, emphasized that while some CUSD schools, like Clovis West, had access to courses like Fort Washington Country Club, not all were as fortunate in securing daily practice time.
Takeuchi, a recipient of the Bryson DeChambeau scholarship by the Junior Golf Association of Northern California during his senior year at Clovis West, later tied DeChambeau’s course record at Copper River Country Club with an 11-under-par 61. He believes the practice range’s features, including target greens, fairway bunkers, and sloped putting greens, will significantly benefit young golfers. Many Fresno courses are relatively straightforward, and encountering varied terrain in tournaments, such as those in Monterey or even in Hawaii, can be a challenge. This facility will provide CUSD students, from high school to intermediate levels, with exposure to different terrains and slopes, building their confidence for competitive play.
In a January podcast, Bryson DeChambeau expressed his broader ambition to transform over 200 acres near Clovis into a multi-sport complex, golf academy, residential community, and community center. His aim is to make golf and recreation more accessible and affordable, bridging the gap from casual interest to active participation on the golf course. Takeuchi echoed this sentiment, noting the diverse income levels within CUSD and how the expense of golf often deters lower-income families. He believes this facility will foster growth in the sport among the younger generation, offering an accessible avenue for interested children to explore golf and potentially pursue their dreams.