Once the pride of Texas golf, the Pecan Valley Country Club in San Antonio now lies in ruins, with overgrown weeds and crumbling fairways replacing its once immaculate lawns. The course, which opened in 1963 and was designed by James Press Maxwell, hosted the 1968 PGA Championship, where Julius Boros became the oldest major champion at age 48, a record that stood until 2021.
The 7,010-yard course, known for its mature pecan trees and punishing hazards, also staged the Texas Open and the 2001 US Amateur Public Links. Despite a major renovation in 1998 by architect Bob Cupp, the club closed in January 2012, becoming the first major venue in modern history to be abandoned.
Today, the site is unrecognisable: buildings including the clubhouse are in disrepair, shrubs and hedges have grown wild, and walkways are obstructed by fallen branches. Only the bridges remain intact. A section has been redeveloped into a middle school and residential area, while The Valor Club initiative plans to transform 215 acres into housing for veterans, a nine-hole adaptive golf course, and a Paralympic training centre.
