A guide to the leading golf courses in Los Angeles, CA

Aerial view of the Los Angeles Country Club

Golf is one of the most exclusive pastimes in Los Angeles. Private golf courses like the Los Angeles Country Club and the Riviera Country Club cater to the city’s creme de la creme, offering an unparalleled playing experience amidst some of the most well-designed golf courses in the region.

The exclusivity of these clubs makes membership sought after, a status symbol at any time and by any measure. With amenities that are second to none and grounds that are immaculately manicured, the best golf courses in Los Angeles provide an opportunity for socialization and leisure to go hand in hand.

Here, we go over some of the finest golf facilities in La La Land.

Los Angeles is home to several big-name country clubs with incredible fairways and challenging holes. They are places where influential business leaders, entertainment tycoons, and other captains of industry meet, mingle, and play. Let’s go over some of the leading golf clubs in the area.

Los Angeles Country Club, often shortened to LACC, is one of the most prestigious and exclusive golf clubs in the city. Located in glamorous Beverly Hills, this golf course is one of the most esteemed in the country. It also hosted the 2023 U.S. Open.

COURSE DESIGN & FEATURES. Founded in 1897 by Joe Sartori and Ed Tufts, the LACC was originally named the Los Angeles Golf Club (and located in a different part of the city).

The LACC has two main 18-hole golf courses: the North course and the South course. The North Course, designed by renowned architect Norman MacBeth along with Tufts and Sartori, is famous for its thrilling layout with ultra-challenging terrain and stunning views. The 9th hole offers beautiful views of the Clubhouse, while the 11th hole perfectly frames downtown LA. As a Beverly Hills golf course, it also provides views of some of the neighborhood’s most famous homes from various points on the club.

Meanwhile, the South course, restored by Gil Hanse and reopened in 2016, is more forgiving but no less exciting than the North, with wider fairways and lush greenery.

MEMBERSHIP. Becoming a member of the LACC is no easy feat, as it has famously denied membership to celebrities. Its initiation fee is estimated at $250,000, although this varies from year to year.

AMENITIES. For many members, the price tag is well worth the price of admission. The LACC provides other amenities like tennis courts, swimming pools, a state-of-the-art fitness center, multiple dining facilities, and a pro shop.

HIDDEN PERK. The club is renowned for its privacy and discretion, maintaining a low profile despite its prestigious status.

The Hillcrest Country Club, located on West Pico Boulevard across what is now the 20th Century Fox Studios, is a favorite of Hollywood executives and professionals. Established in 1920 by Samuel M. Newark, Karl Triest, Joseph Y. Baruh, and Louis Isaacs, the HCC quickly became popular among some of the most high-profile names in the film industry. Among its most visible members are producer Jerry Weintraub and former executive vice president of Warner Bros. TV, Bruce Rosenblum.

COURSE DESIGN & FEATURES. Willie Watson’s design for the original course features a 140-acre site where the front nine holes are arranged around a valley, and many of the back nine holes are positioned on an adjoining hill. In 2018, architect Kyle Phillips redesigned the layout and added six new holes, to the praise of many players.

Several holes offer a mix of unique designs and strategic challenges that make the course exciting to play. According to Top 100 Golf Courses, among the standouts are the 12th hole, which is a very long 260-yard hole featuring an enormous green with a dip in the middle; the 2nd hole, a newly designed 155-yard hole with a unique sunken green; and the finishing 18th hole, which extends to 600 yards.

MEMBERSHIP. As per The Hollywood Reporter, Hillcrest has an initiation fee of $185,000.

AMENITIES: Hillcrest is widely known for its incredible food. The Country Club includes three full-service dining areas with creative seasonal menu offerings. Other amenities include a private pool with poolside food and beverage service, a wellness center offering personal training, and a kids’ camp.

Hillcrest’s most famous site is a large, round oak table in The Grill, known to members as “The Round Table.” This table gained fame as the meeting spot for legendary comedians like Jack Benny, Groucho Marx, and George Burns, who gathered there to socialize and share meals, forming a group reminiscent of New York’s Algonquin Round Table.

HIDDEN PERK. Hillcrest maintains a more understated and modest appearance, a lower-key. facade that contributes to its hidden charm and reinforces the privacy and discretion valued by its members.

Having hosted multiple major golf championships, including the PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and Los Angeles Open, the Riviera Country Club is celebrated for both its imaginative layout and its architectural brilliance. George C. Thomas Jr. and William P. Bell designed the course, which reportedly cost $250,000 to create in 1926, which is around $4.25 million in today’s dollars. As one of the most prestigious and storied golf clubs in the United States, its membership roster features Hollywood celebrities such as Adam Sandler and Larry David.

COURSE DESIGN & FEATURES: The par-71 course spans 7,366 yards and has a higher-than-average slope rating of 137. The grass around the fairways is thick and difficult to play out of, making the Riviera a stimulating course that excites, challenges, and allows the player to think through each swing. The most famous hole is the 18th, where the green is surrounded by a natural amphitheater. However, many consider the 11th hole to be the signature, a par four with narrow fairways and elevated green.

MEMBERSHIP. The Riviera has an initiation fee of $250,000.

AMENITIES. The elegant clubhouse features dining facilities, event spaces, and locker rooms, making it a popular venue for weddings, corporate events, and social gatherings.

For those looking to improve their game, extensive practice areas are available, including a driving range, putting greens, and short game practice areas. There are multiple tennis courts with professional instruction and a fitness center with modern exercise equipment and personal training services. There is also a swimming pool and spa.

FUTURE PERK. Riviera Country Club is slated to host the golf events for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, a testament to the club’s legendary status and exceptional facilities.

Known for its deep barrancas and remarkable greens, Wilshire Country Club is a beautiful 104-acre facility adjacent to Hollywood. The 18-hole course was designed by English architect Norman Macbeth and restored in 2008 by Kyle Phillips. It spans 6,527 yards and has a slope rating of 131.

Over the years, the Wilshire CC has hosted prestigious golf tournaments that highlight its challenging course. The club has welcomed many of the world’s top female golfers for multiple LPGA Tour events and seasoned professionals have competed here during the Senior PGA Tour. Additionally, Wilshire regularly hosts local and regional championships to reinforce its stellar reputation within the golfing community.

COURSE DESIGN & FEATURES. Wilshire Country Club’s golf course is a masterpiece of design, featuring several truly memorable holes. The par threes at the 7th and 10th are particularly noteworthy, each boasting a long, narrow green that appears to float above a sea of deep, rugged bunkers. The 16th hole is another standout, a challenging 555-yard par five with a green nestled within a dramatic “U” shape formed by a winding creek.

The course layout winds around the property, split by Beverley Boulevard, requiring careful navigation to avoid traffic. Players face several main hazards: the barranca, numerous challenging bunkers, and a fair number of trees.

MEMBERSHIP: According to Country Club Mag, the Wilshire is said to have an initiation fee ranging from $150,000 to $225,000.

AMENITIES: The grand clubhouse of the Wilshire Country Club is a refined space for dining and hosting events, while the comprehensive fitness facilities include a well-equipped gym, tennis courts, and a sparkling Olympic-sized pool. Members also enjoy spa treatments and take part in a lively social calendar, including festive holiday parties and charity galas.

HIDDEN PERK. The club’s intimate and unpretentious atmosphere belies its prestige. Members get to relax amid the elegant and a laid-back surroundings, without the overly formal feel of some other elite clubs

If living in Bel-Air puts you in one of the most upscale neighborhoods in LA, Bel-Air Country Club epitomizes this charmed lifestyle. Its 18-hole, par-70 golf course is one of many created during what is considered the Golden Age of golf course design during the early 20th century. Among the championships it has hosted are the U.S. Senior Amateur, U.S. Amateur, and the U.S. Women’s Amateur.

The club is no stranger to celebrity members – Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson are only a few of its high-profile players.

COURSE DESIGN & FEATURES. Bel-Air Country Club’s golf course, designed by George Thomas in 1925 and later modified by multiple renowned architects, winds through four canyons, utilizing tunnels, bridges, and an elevator to connect the holes. The brilliant layout spans 6,782 yards in total and has a slope rating of 138. It features a dramatic first tee overlooking UCLA and a short par five as the opening hole, adhering to Thomas’s design philosophy of easing players into the round.

A notable highlight is the tenth hole, a challenging 200-yard par three that plays uphill over a large ravine, demanding a precise tee shot to avoid treacherous greenside bunkers. This iconic hole, featuring a two-tiered green and a memorable walk across a swinging bridge, is ranked among the top 100 in George Peper’s The World’s 500 Greatest Golf Holes, alongside the 14th and 17th holes at Bel-Air.

MEMBERSHIP: Bel-Air Country Club has an initiation fee of $150,000.

AMENITIES. Beyond its sprawling golf course, members of the Bel Air Country Club have access to a full suite of luxury amenities befitting the club’s reputation. Golf carts provide easy access around the golf course and practice facilities help hone your swing. On top of that, there is a world-class fitness center, several tennis courts, and a swimming pool.

HIDDEN PERK. The facility’s discreet environment, secluded location, and strict policies ensure that members can enjoy their activities without intrusion.

FAQs: GOLF CLUBS IN LOS ANGELES, CA

How many golf clubs are there in LA?

According to GolfLink, there are 9 private golf clubs in Los Angeles, 2 public courses, and 7 municipal courses, for a total of 18 golf clubs in LA. On top of that, there are 65 more golf courses within a 20-mile radius of the city.

What are the most stringent requirements of LA’s top golf clubs?

Some of the strict membership requirements include high fees and an invite-only policy. It is said that these clubs employ a meticulous vetting process for potential members, though many do not publicly disclose their specific criteria to maintain an air of discretion.

Once accepted, members must adhere to a strict set of rules, often regarding proper attire and cellphone usage. One infamous example is the LACC’s no shorts rule; male players must only wear tailored long pants on the premises.

Who are the celebrity members of LA’s top golf clubs?

For many of Hollywood’s elite, golf is a way to build professional and personal networks with other industry titans. As mentioned, prestigious clubs like the Riviera are celebrity playgrounds, with members like Adam Sandler, Luke Wilson, Mark Wahlberg, Larry David, Dennis Quaid, and Jack Wagner.

Bel-Air’s roster includes Tom Cruise, Clint Eastwood, Jack Nicholson, and Jason Bateman. Former US presidents Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon also favored this course.

Brentwood Country Club has its fair share of television and movie industry producers, with Rob Weiner and Steve Levitan among its players.

Who are the most popular designers of LA’s top golf clubs?

Los Angeles owes its golf heritage to the masterful designs of golf’s most distinct and talented architects. Among these are George C. Thomas Jr., who is lauded for his work on three out of the nine private golf courses in LA: Riviera Country Club, Bel-Air Country Club, and the redesign of Los Angeles Country Club. The LACC’S original design is credited to another great designer, Norman Macbeth, who constructed the iconic layout alongside club founders Joe Sartori and Ed Tufts.

Willie Watson, a Scottish architect, is widely considered a pioneer in golf course design, having created the original layout for the Hillcrest and Brentwood Country Clubs.

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