San Joaquin County spends $9.6 million to buy failed golf course

In December 2024, the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors finalized the acquisition of the Oakmoore Golf Course in Stockton for $9.6 million. The golf course had been closed since October 2023, leaving many in the area uncertain about the future use of the 62-acres of land. The county has expressed intentions to use this property for potential projects, including relocating headquarters for key county departments and possibly establishing a low-barrier homeless camp spanning 2 to 3 acres. Only four of the five members of the Board voted in favor of the purchase; Miguel Villapudua, the board chair, was absent and abstained from voting. Robert Rickman, the supervisor for District 5, clarified that the current agenda item was strictly about acquiring the property and did not authorize any construction or specific facility usage at that time. This reinforces the initial step in a broader vision for development in the area, though the lack of clear immediate plans leaves many questions unanswered. The previous owners of the golf course, a family, sold the property to a real estate agency, acting as an intermediary between the county and the original owners. The funding for this acquisition is drawn from a capital fund allocated for such purposes. The departments that may move to this new location include public works, community development, and the environmental health department, which together would utilize roughly 35 acres of the site, leaving substantial space potentially available for further development or community use. The decision reflects an ongoing trend among local governments to reevaluate and repurpose underutilized lands for community services and infrastructure. As local issues such as homelessness continue to grow, the approach taken by San Joaquin County hopes to cater to pressing needs while also considering longer-term developmental strategies. This purchase represents an important development in the county's plans for urban management and community support.