One of the most anticipated golf course openings of 2026 is nearly here. Trout National, founded by baseball legend Mike Trout and designed by Tiger Woods’ TGR Design firm, is expected to open to members and guests this spring. The course represents a fascinating collaboration between two of America’s greatest athletes and promises to deliver a world-class golf experience that reflects both Trout’s passion for the game and Woods’ increasingly celebrated work as a course designer.
The Tiger Woods Design Philosophy
TGR Design, founded by Woods in 2006, has steadily built a reputation for creating courses that balance playability with strategic challenge. Woods brings his intimate understanding of championship golf to every project, designing holes that reward creative shotmaking and strategic thinking while remaining enjoyable for golfers of all skill levels. His courses typically feature multiple teeing options, wide landing areas that funnel toward optimal angles, and green complexes with enough contour to reward precision without becoming punitive.
At Trout National, these design principles have been applied to a site that offers natural beauty and varied terrain. The course layout takes advantage of the property’s natural features, incorporating elevation changes, water features, and mature tree lines into a design that feels organic rather than manufactured. Early aerial images of the course reveal wide, inviting fairways bordered by natural rough areas that create visual definition without excessive difficulty.
Mike Trout’s Golf Obsession
Mike Trout’s passion for golf is well documented among sports fans. The three-time MLB MVP is known as one of the most dedicated golfers among active professional athletes, regularly posting impressive scores and competing in celebrity golf events during the baseball offseason. His decision to invest in a golf course development reflects a deep love for the game that goes beyond casual participation.
For Trout, the course represents a legacy project that combines his personal passion with his desire to create something lasting in his home region. The development aims to provide a golf experience that rivals the best private clubs in the country while maintaining an atmosphere that feels welcoming and unpretentious, reflecting Trout’s own down-to-earth personality.
The Growing List of New Courses in 2026
Trout National is part of a remarkable wave of new golf course openings in 2026. An estimated 26 brand-new courses are expected to open across the United States this year, the highest number in over a decade. This building boom reflects the sustained growth in golf participation that began during the pandemic and has shown no signs of slowing down.
The variety of new courses is striking. From high-end private clubs to accessible public facilities, from links-inspired coastal designs to mountain courses with dramatic elevation changes, the 2026 class of new courses offers something for every type of golfer. Notable openings alongside Trout National include new facilities at Sand Valley in Wisconsin and the Wild Spring Dunes project in Texas, each bringing distinctive design visions to different parts of the country.
For golf enthusiasts, the spring 2026 opening season represents an exciting opportunity to experience some of the most creative and well-funded course developments in recent memory. Trout National, with its combination of celebrity founders, world-class design, and stunning setting, sits near the top of the list of courses that have the golf world buzzing with anticipation.
