This collection of holes in L.A. County represents several of the aspects that make up good golf courses. The criteria varied from hole to hole; some are here for their esthetics, some for difficulty, some for shot demand and some for their place in history. But all are holes that require thought to play and treat poor shots accordingly. There are high-end public courses, along with municipal layouts and a selection from some of L.A.’s most exclusive private clubs. Thanks for playing along.
No. 1, Riviera Country Club, 503 yards, par 5
One of Southern California’s great opening holes, with the tee box adjacent to the classic clubhouse far above a straightaway fairway intersected by Riviera’s omnipresent barranca. This is a must birdie hole for players at the former Northern Trust Open (that will be the Geneses Open starting in February).
No. 2, Industry Hills Golf Club, Eisenhower Course, 366 yards, par 4
A beautiful hole with the tee box way above the fairway. The green is protected by a small pond in front and out-of-bounds stakes in back. A hybrid or 3-wood is the recommended tee shot, followed by an accurate – and confident – wedge shot that should give you a good chance at birdie.
No. 5, Industry Hills Golf Club, Zaharias Course, 401 yards, par 4
The other golf course at Industry Hills – affectionately known as the Babe – has several great holes as well, including this one where water comes into play to the right of and behind the green.
No. 8, Angeles National Golf Club, 494 yards, par 5
It’s a much safer play as a three-shot hole, with water guarding the left side. This is one of Los Angeles’ top public facilities and worth the drive to visit.
No. 8, Recreation Park Golf Course, 412 yards, par 4
This is the most demanding driving hole on a nice Long Beach course, and it doesn’t take too much of a miss left on your approach to go out of bounds.
No. 8, Los Angeles Country Club North Course, 537 yards, par 5
A reachable par 5, though the bunkering that protects the left side of the green can be penal. A long fade off the tee and a long draw on the second shot can do the trick.
No. 9, Rio Hondo Golf Club, 416 yards, par 4
It’s this well-maintained course’s No. 1 handicap hole for good reason. There’s water along the left side that is reachable off the tee and threatening the rest of the way.
No. 10, Bel-Air Country Club, 200 yards, par 3
The famous swinging-bridge hole on this George Thomas masterpiece is widely regarded as one of the best par 3s in the country. Uphill, over a ravine, there isn’t much room for error.
No. 10, Riviera Country Club, 315 yards, par 4
Several players have said this hole is one of their favorites on tour; reachable off the tee but with an exceedingly narrow, heavily bunkered green that can turn shots just off line into big trouble. Every course should have a risk-reward par 4 like this.
No. 13, Mountain Meadows Golf Course, 213 yards, par 3
Many average golfers elect to lay up on what might be the most difficult hole on this course, fearing out-of-bounds stakes left and a ravine to the right. I go for the green and have a bagful of double bogeys to show for it. You’ve been warned.
No. 16, Griffith Park Wilson Golf Course, 433 yards, par 4
This is a classic, straightforward, challenging hole on a timeless George Thomas layout. There isn’t a bunker on the hole, but it requires a solid drive and second shot to a very small green, and it’s the start of three demanding par-4 finishing holes.
No. 16, Los Verdes Golf Course, 488 yards par 5
A crescent-shaped, right-to-left hole that runs uphill most of the way is one of the beauties on this Billy Bell-designed public course with green fees under $40. There’s an ocean view to your left from tee to green.
No. 17, Los Angeles Country Club, North Course, 412 yards, par 4
Honestly, almost any hole on L.A. North qualifies for a favorites list, but this one, with sycamore trees on the left and a hazard to the right, is a really tough dogleg right … but beautiful, of course.
No. 18, Angeles National Golf Club, 377 yards, par 4
This is a terrific finishing hole, with an uphill tee shot and water guarding the left side of the fairway and green. It will leave a nice memory – no matter your score – as you head back home.
No. 18, El Dorado Park Golf Course, 491 yards, par 5
There’s nothing particularly tricky about this reachable dogleg right, unless you go for the green in two and hit it right. Then you’re in the pond. And that’s no good, but the hole is a nice way to finish a round.
No. 18, Rancho Park Golf Course, 470 yards, par 5
It’s not the most picturesque hole on this fine city layout, but it’s the only one with a plaque commemorating Arnold Palmer’s 12 on the hole in the 1961 L.A. Open: good drive, two 3-woods out of play on the driving range, two 3-woods pulled out of bounds, a fifth 3-wood to the green and two putts for a nifty septuple bogey.
No. 18, Santa Anita, 439 yards, par 4
A demanding dogleg right with game-altering mounds along the right side. And where else can you wrap up a round in the morning and head next door to one of the world’s great thoroughbred racetracks?
No. 18, Wilshire Country Club, 417 yards, par 4
This dogleg right is a challenging finishing hole that has finished me more frequently than I’d prefer to say. I’m still waiting for my first par.
