The Los Angeles Country Club, located in the heart of Los Angeles, California, is a private 36-hole golf facility renowned for its exclusivity and storied North Course, originally designed by George C. Thomas Jr. in 1921 and meticulously restored by Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner, and Geoff Shackelford in 2010. The North Course, a par-70 stretching 7,200 to 7,423 yards with a rating of 75.7 and slope of 143, features TifWay Bermuda fairways, bentgrass greens, and a dramatic barranca running through the front nine, creating strategic challenges amid stunning views of downtown Los Angeles. Notable holes include the par-3 11th, a signature hole with a green flanked by bunkers and city vistas, and the par-5 14th, which can play as long as 623 yards or shorter to tempt aggressive play. The club, established in 1897, hosted the 2017 Walker Cup and the 2023 U.S. Open, won by Wyndham Clark, cementing its status as one of America’s elite courses.

The North Course plays as a sophisticated test of golf, blending strategic design with firm, fast conditions that reward precision over power. The front nine navigates a shallow canyon with diagonal carries over the barranca, such as on the par-4 2nd, while the back nine opens into wider fairways, demanding adaptability to varied terrain. Players highlight the course’s firm greens and rugged bunkers, which challenge short-game finesse, and note that missing fairways often requires a lay-up due to thick Bermuda rough. The course’s flexibility in setup, like moving tees on the par-4 5th to alter approach angles, keeps players thinking, as seen in the 2023 U.S. Open where Clark’s strategic play triumphed at 10-under. Golfers describe it as a “second-shot course” akin to Augusta National, where intelligent positioning and creativity around complex greens, with their distinctive peninsulas and wings, are key to mastering its timeless challenge.