Committee hopes to refurbish part of Sunset Golf Course
It is with great excitement that we announce today the
newly formed SUNSET YOUTH GOLF CENTER
committee which consists of a group of local community
members and golf enthusiasts. Our goal is to restore the
driving range, par-3 course, and club house at Sunset Golf
Course for use as a dedicated space for the golf students
of Ector County ISD. This committee and this project are
inspired by Odessa’s own Rudy Gatlin.
Rudy Gatlin and The Gatlin Brothers are grammy
award winning country music artists who hail from West
Texas and more specifically from our Odessa community
here in Ector County. The Brothers were all raised here in
Odessa where they all attended Ector County ISD and all
participated in music and sports throughout their school
days. The Gatlin’s continue to have deep ties with our
community and have great interest in the growth and
development of our city, our county, and our school district
whether in sports, fine arts, or career curriculums.
After the acquisition in 2024 of the Sunset Golf
property by Ector County ISD and based on Rudy’s
personal love of the course, he became interested in trying
to restore part of the course to provide a dedicated space
for the golf students of Ector County ISD.
In January of 2025 a group of Rudy’s friends and
acquaintances here in Odessa came together to form a
committee to investigate the possibility of raising private
funds to build a dedicated space for golf students in the
district golf program. This work will be funded by private
donations, and it is intended to be a permanent
improvement to the property as a gift to Ector County ISD
to support and expand the district’s golf program. The
committee’s desire is that the restoration of this part of the
Sunset course will co-exist with whatever plans the school
district has for the remainder of the property in the future.
The mission of the SUNSET YOUTH GOLF CENTER
is to provide our youth with a safe, accessible, and
supportive space to practice and develop their golf skills.
We are dedicated to fostering a love for the game,
promoting physical fitness, and teaching valuable life skills
such as discipline, focus, and teamwork. By offering a
dedicated space and a fully developed program, we aim to
create equitable opportunities for all students to
experience the benefits of golf, enhance their personal
growth, and cultivate a sense of community both on and
off the course.
Our vision is to inspire generations of young people to
not only learn the sport of golf but also to carry the values
and life lessons of perseverance, respect, and leadership
into every aspect of their lives. We strive to be a catalyst
for positive change in Ector County ISD, creating a future
where all students, regardless of background or
circumstance, have access to the tools and opportunities
needed to succeed in both golf and life.
Today our website for the SUNSET YOUTH GOLF
CENTER can be found at sunsetgolf.org. There you can
read all about the committee, the history of the course,
and what the future for the property and the golf students
of Ector County ISD might include. If you want to be a
part of this great project, we welcome your participation as
we move toward the next steps. If you have questions or
comments, please contact us. We welcome individual and
business partnerships. Donations may also be made
through the website.
Respectfully,
SUNSET YOUTH GOLF CENTER COMMITTEE
***All projects must meet the approval of Ector County
ISD.
