Fort Bliss plans to build new sports complex on part of Underwood Golf Course

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- A large youth sports complex could soon replace part of Fort Bliss's Underwood Golf Complex.

The design for the complex was first unveiled at an El Paso County Commissioners Court meeting on Feb. 2, 2026.

Plans call for transforming roughly 124 acres of the former Sunset Golf Course into a multi-field sports park designed to host regional tournaments and serve both military families and the broader El Paso community.

Fort Bliss Garrison Commander Col. Michael Soyka said the decision follows years of declining golf activity and infrastructure challenges that made maintaining two full courses unsustainable.

“We recognized that we really did not have enough players playing enough rounds to support two full 18-hole golf courses,” Soyka said. “We made the decision to, instead of trying to revitalize two courses, we would bring one up to a standard that made it the best course in El Paso, and then take the other one and transition to something that would benefit both Fort Bliss and the El Paso community.”

Sokya said the golf complex, which once featured both Sunrise and Sunset courses, faced irrigation issues in part due to an invasive clam that clogged sprinkler systems, limiting the ability to properly maintain the grounds.

Under the new plan, the Sunrise course will remain open and undergo significant upgrades, while the Sunset course will be permanently closed and redeveloped.

Underwood Golf Course General Manager Dallas Cooke said financial pressures and maintenance challenges, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, accelerated the need for change.

“We had to decide, go with both golf courses and be mediocre, or go with one premier golf course and make it something Fort Bliss is proud of,” Cooke said.

The sports complex is expected to include 10 turf fields capable of hosting large tournaments, potentially bringing thousands of athletes and families to the area. Soyka said the facility could accommodate events with up to 3,000 youth players at a time, along with their families.

“One thing that kept coming up was that there is no place for large tournaments,” Soyka said. “Parents and kids are traveling every weekend to Tucson or to Lubbock or to other areas to be able to have those tournaments.”

In addition to fields, early plans include concessions, playgrounds, a splash pad, and a running loop. A future phase could add an indoor fieldhouse to allow year-round play during extreme weather.

Soyka said the project is designed to benefit both Fort Bliss families and the wider community, noting that about 42,000 family members are connected to the installation.

“A whole lot of them are traveling to those other locations and would love to be able to have their practices on a good field and be able to have high-rated tournaments right here in town,” Soyka said.

The site, located outside installation gates, will remain accessible to the public without requiring military identification. A new entrance is planned to improve access.

Officials are currently seeking grant funding, with a decision expected by September. If approved, construction could begin shortly afterward, as environmental groundwork is already underway.

Meanwhile, the remaining golf course will see an estimated $7.7 million irrigation renovation, including new piping, sprinkler systems and infrastructure upgrades. Cooke said the project could begin in late 2026 and take four to six months, with a goal of reopening in spring 2027.

“We rely heavily on the community as well as Fort Bliss to support us in our operation,” Cooke said.

Soyka said the sports complex reflects the close relationship between the installation and the city.

“El Paso is Fort Bliss and Fort Bliss is El Paso,” Soyka said. “This is not words, this is deeds. This is building something together to make our community stronger.”

Attached below is the presentation from the Feb. 2 Commissioners Court meeting: