IndiGolf will combine creative design and playful interaction to offer a forward-thinking twist on golf that activates Indigo’s neighborhood spaces into hubs for engagement and discovery.

Meristem Communities, a Houston-based real estate development company committed to creating Places for People™, has announced the creation of IndiGolf, a bespoke game designed to transform play into a powerful community-building tool at Indigo, the new 235-acre neighborhood located in Fort Bend County, Texas. Developed in collaboration with design studio Friendly Futures and Indigo’s landscape architect CultivateLAND, IndiGolf seamlessly integrates recreation with placemaking, creating a “hole-in-one” alignment that progresses Indigo’s vision for creating a vibrant, people-first neighborhood. 

“We’ve always believed that a great neighborhood is more than just rows of houses — it’s about the moments and connections shared between neighbors,” said Clayton Garrett, partner at Meristem Communities. “IndiGolf is an invitation for Indigo’s residents and visitors to ‘putt’ themselves out there and connect with the neighborhood’s spirit. In collaboration with Friendly Futures and CultivateLAND, we’re embracing playtime as a catalyst for everyone to feel a greater sense of belonging in a way that’s joyful, inclusive, and unexpected.” 

IndiGolf brings a twist on traditional golf, reimagining the familiar concept found in many master-planned communities. Instead of expansive fairways and exclusive greens, IndiGolf introduces a blissful, intergenerational, and one-of-a-kind activity woven into Indigo’s diverse neighborhood amenities, offering endless opportunities for connection among residents and the greater Fort Bend County community. Each of IndiGolf’s “holes” is anchored in a thoughtfully designed space, inviting residents and visitors to explore the neighborhood while engaging in playful, health-oriented interactions. Designed with accessibility in mind, IndiGolf features diverse holes requiring various physical motions, ensuring players of all abilities can engage fully. Teams are also encouraged to adapt gameplay to meet the specific needs of participants, creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone. Special features, such as age-gap bonuses, will encourage players of different generations to collaborate, turning the game into an inclusive, cross-generational experience that strengthens community ties. IndiGolf is a cornerstone of Indigo’s forward-thinking strategy to connect residents and visitors, address modern challenges like the loneliness epidemic, and promote holistic well-being.

“We specialize in creating friendly design for a friendlier world, so we had natural synergy with Meristem Communities that was perfect for inspiring a game like IndiGolf,” said Ryan Rosen, founder of Friendly Futures. “Meristem wanted to go all-in on creating a dynamic, rooted, and real community experience at Indigo. Together, we envisioned a bespoke game that will become a friendly adventure in meeting, greeting, and competing. IndiGolf is a playful twist on something familiar, turning every hole into a conversation starter and every neighbor into a potential teammate, and every game into an opportunity to bridge divides through shared moments of joy.”

From a Zen puzzle garden where players use rakes and bocce balls to craft their own courses, to a reading hive that blends skee-ball-inspired play with literary culture, each hole will create a natural interaction with its surroundings. Beyond the game itself, every hole is also integrated with a complimentary amenity, such as outdoor fitness parks, community dining tables, or garden spaces, enticing more people to gather and participate. These spaces serve as vibrant, outdoor community living rooms, supporting a culture of togetherness and promoting authentic interactions. Each IndiGolf hole will also include seating, shade and equipment storage. Clear signage, along with QR codes that link to online rulebooks, will deliver an intuitive experience for everyone.

Many holes will highlight Indigo’s mews — a network of car-free green spaces designed with unique character and purpose, which serve as focal points for social connection and outdoor recreation right outside residents’ front doors. For example, one of the holes will be hosted at Somersault Mews, where a stress ball lightens the traditional golf mood in an outdoor fitness park, while the hole at Block Party Mews, where billiards meets broom hockey at a community table, is designed for shared dining and entertainment. The creativity extends to gameplay itself, with players interacting with amenity users and passersby who can manipulate the course or join in for a “celebrity shot,” ensuring IndiGolf is as adaptable as it is amusing.

“The mews at Indigo provide a unique setting for IndiGolf, turning these generous green corridors into spaces for play, exercise and connection,” said Jake Salzman, president at CultivateLAND. “We’re refining the game concepts to ensure the vision for IndiGolf is fully realized upon implementation. IndiGolf is a perfect example of how landscape design and recreation can blend in a meaningful way that sparks fun, friendly competition, and encourages healthy outdoor lifestyles while welcoming players of all abilities.”

The installation of IndiGolf will follow the overall development timeline at Indigo, which is currently in Phase One. Sales are well underway, and homes are selling rapidly, with first residents expected in early 2025. Construction and sales for retail space is also underway at Indigo Commons, the 12-acre mixed-use town center, with The Filling Station – a general store, and first stop for visitors to the neighborhood, anticipated to open in Q1 2025. Find out more or sign up for updates at indigocommunity.com.

About Meristem Communities 
Meristem Communities is a Houston-based real estate development firm exploring how healthy communities are developed and nourished. Established in 2021 by founding partners Clayton Garrett and Scott Snodgrass, the company believes that the best places on Earth are born when spaces are thoughtfully designed, and communities are empowered to care for them. Meristem’s first neighborhood, Indigo, is currently in development in Fort Bend County, Texas with a projected phase one grand opening in early 2024. Upon completion, the 235-acre neighborhood will feature approximately 800 residences, 42 acres devoted to agriculture, and a 12-acre mixed-use town center. For more information, visit meristemcommunities.com. 

About Friendly Futures Design Studio 
Our Mission: Friendly Designs for a Friendlier World. We believe being friendly is the next frontier in well-being. That’s why we specialize in designing one-of-a-kind spaces, objects, and experiences that bring people together, spark connections, and build lasting relationships. Each project is custom-crafted to reflect the unique needs and character of the communities and clients we serve—because no two places or people are the same. Based in sunny San Diego, California, the Friendly Futures team combines expertise in design, community health, and storytelling to transform spaces into vibrant places of connection and joy. With our signature focus on intergenerational play, we work with visionary clients to craft environments that inspire fun, community, and a true sense of belonging for all ages. Friendliness isn’t just a feel-good idea—it’s the foundation of thriving communities. Let’s work together to shape a friendlier future—one custom design at a time. For more information, visit friendly-futures.com.

About CultivateLAND 
CultivateLAND is a boutique landscape architecture firm dedicated to creating spaces that nurture connections—social, emotional, and environmental. We believe success is not just measured by aesthetics but by the ability of a space to bring people together, promote well-being, and enrich communities. Through innovative design and sustainable practices, we transform environments into meaningful, people-centered experiences that stand the test of time. For more information, visit cultivateland.com.