If you’ve ever driven down Whitsett Avenue in Studio City, you know the vibe. It’s that rare pocket of the San Fernando Valley where things feel a little slower, a little greener, and a lot less like a concrete jungle. Weddington Golf and Tennis has been the anchor of that feeling for decades. But honestly, if you haven’t been keeping up with the local news lately, you might not realize just how much this landmark is changing—and why half the neighborhood is in a literal uproar about it.
It’s a 16-acre slice of history.
For years, it was the kind of place where you could grab a bucket of balls at the driving range without a reservation or play a casual round of nine holes under the floodlights. It wasn't fancy. It wasn't a country club. It was just... there. And in Los Angeles, "just being there" as an open green space is practically a miracle. But the miracle is evolving into something else entirely: the Harvard-Westlake River Park.
The Massive Shift from Weddington Golf and Tennis to Harvard-Westlake
Let’s get the facts straight because there is a ton of misinformation floating around Nextdoor and local Facebook groups. The Weddington family owned this land for over a century. We’re talking back to the days when Studio City was mostly just dirt and dreams. In 2017, Harvard-Westlake, the prestigious private school nearby, bought the property for around $40 million.
People panicked.
They saw bulldozers in their nightmares. The community group Save Weddington fought tooth and nail to keep it exactly as it was. They wanted the city to buy it. They wanted it turned into a public park. They wanted the golf course to stay forever. But the reality is that private land sales are hard to stop once the ink is dry. After years of EIRs (Environmental Impact Reports), public hearings that lasted into the early morning hours, and plenty of shouting matches, the "River Park" project was officially approved by the Los Angeles City Council.
The old Weddington Golf and Tennis as we knew it is basically gone, or at least, its days are numbered.
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The new plan is a massive $100 million-plus athletic complex. Harvard-Westlake is building two turf fields, a track, a gym, and 1.2 million gallons of underground water storage. They’re also promising six acres of public park space and a segment of the L.A. River walk. Is it better than a bunch of luxury condos? Probably. Is it the same as the quirky, slightly run-down golf course where you learned to swing a club? Definitely not.
Why This Specific Patch of Dirt Matters So Much
You might wonder why people are so obsessed with a driving range. It’s not Pebble Beach. The greens were never perfect. But Weddington Golf and Tennis represented "Old Studio City."
Think about the geography. You have the Los Angeles River on one side and a dense residential neighborhood on the other. This isn't just a sports facility; it’s a massive "lung" for the Valley. The heat island effect is real in the 818. When you replace 16 acres of permeable soil and trees with turf and structures, even with mitigation efforts, the neighborhood feels it.
The tennis community felt the sting the most. Weddington had 16 tennis courts. These weren't just for rich kids with private coaches. They were a hub for senior leagues, local tournaments, and people who just wanted to hit a ball after work. The new project keeps some tennis—eight courts, to be exact—but the vibe is shifting from "public-access hangout" to "school-owned facility that allows public use."
It’s a subtle distinction that makes a huge difference in how a community functions.
The Environmental Tug-of-War
Here is where things get really complicated. Harvard-Westlake has leaned heavily into the "River Park" branding. They aren't just building sports fields; they are installing a massive water reclamation system. In a city that is perpetually thirsty, being able to capture and reuse over a million gallons of stormwater is a big deal.
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They are also planting hundreds of new trees.
- The school claims they will be adding over 400 trees to the site.
- Critics point out that many of the original heritage trees—the big, old ones that actually provide shade—have to go to make room for the gym and fields.
- The "public" part of the park will be open from sunrise to sunset, but it’s still privately owned and managed.
Is it a fair trade? It depends on who you ask. If you're a parent at Harvard-Westlake, it’s a godsend for a school that has been cramped for space for years. If you’re a neighbor who lived next to a quiet golf course and now faces the prospect of stadium lighting and PA systems, it’s a nightmare.
What’s Actually Left for the Public?
If you want to go to Weddington Golf and Tennis today, you’re in a weird transition period. Construction is the name of the game. But the long-term "public" benefits promised by the school include a putting green, some tennis courts, and a trail that connects to the L.A. River.
The school has been very vocal about the fact that they aren't "closing" the space to the public, but rather "improving" it. They cite the six acres of parkland and the fact that the public can use the facilities when the students aren't using them.
Kinda sounds like a "shared" backyard where your neighbor owns the grill, right?
The reality of 2026 is that the days of the scrappy, independent golf course in the middle of a high-value neighborhood are over. Land in Los Angeles is too valuable for things to stay "scrappy" for long. Whether it's the 101 freeway expansion or the constant densification of Ventura Boulevard, the Valley is hardening. Weddington was one of the last soft spots.
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The Logistics: Traffic, Lights, and Noise
If you're planning a visit or moving to the area, you need to know about the Whitsett Avenue situation. This stretch of road is already a disaster during rush hour. Adding a major athletic complex with dozens of buses and hundreds of student athletes doesn't exactly help.
Harvard-Westlake has proposed a "Transportation Management Plan." They say they will limit bus trips and manage traffic flow.
- They are building a massive underground parking garage to keep cars off the streets.
- They've agreed to strict limits on when the stadium lights can be on.
- There are "noise curtains" and sound-dampening designs for the gym.
But let's be real. Thousands of people coming and going from an athletic hub is going to change the acoustics of the neighborhood. The "quiet" part of Studio City is about to get a lot more energetic.
Acknowledging the Loss of the Driving Range
We have to talk about the driving range. It was iconic.
There was something cathartic about hitting balls into the night air with the Valley breeze hitting your face. It was one of the few places in L.A. where you could find a cross-section of the city. You’d have a TV producer in the next stall over from a college student, both just trying to fix a slice. That specific social fabric is hard to replicate in a modern, highly-managed athletic complex.
The golf course itself was a nine-hole, par-three course. It wasn't challenging for pros, but it was perfect for beginners. Losing that "entry-level" golf access in a city that is increasingly making the sport a luxury-only hobby is a genuine bummer.
Actionable Steps for Locals and Visitors
Since the transition is well underway, you can’t just show up and expect the 1970s charm of the old Weddington. Here is how to navigate the current state of things:
- Check the Schedule: If you’re looking to play tennis or use the "public" park space, you absolutely must check the Harvard-Westlake River Park community calendar. Public access is strictly dictated by the school’s athletic schedule.
- Explore the River Walk: One of the few genuine upgrades is the improved access to the L.A. River path. If you’re a walker or a biker, this section is going to be much more integrated into the neighborhood than it used to be.
- Support Remaining Green Spaces: If the loss of the Weddington Golf and Tennis greens bothers you, get involved with the Studio City Residents Association. They are the primary watchdogs for what happens with the remaining open space in the area.
- Watch the Lighting: If you live nearby and the new stadium lights are bleeding into your bedroom, there are specific "light spill" requirements the school must follow. Keep the contact info for the project's community liaison handy.
- Alternative Golf: With the Weddington range gone, your best bets for a similar "casual" vibe are now Van Nuys Golf Course or the Woodley Lakes area. They aren't as central to Studio City, but they offer that same unpretentious atmosphere.
The transformation of Weddington Golf and Tennis into the Harvard-Westlake River Park is a classic L.A. story. It’s a story about the tension between private property rights and community needs, between "old" character and "new" infrastructure. It’s not a simple "good vs. evil" situation, regardless of what the protest signs might have told you. It’s just the sound of a city growing up and getting a lot more expensive. If you want to see it for yourself, head down to Whitsett and Valley Spring Lane. Just don't expect to find the same quiet little golf course your dad used to talk about. Those days are officially in the rearview mirror.