Best golf courses near Pasadena, CA

Wilshire is an exclusive private club with an old-school layout situated on 104 acres near Hollywood. The course is bisected by Beverly Boulevard and a barranca meanders throughout, coming into play on around half of the holes. The course was designed by Englishman Norman Macbeth in 1919 and hosted four Los Angeles Opens between 1928-1944. Tipping out around 6,500 yards, Wilshire is a short course by modern standards, but a variety of testing green shapes with plenty of undulation, as well as sharp-lipped deep bunkers, make the historic course a strong test. In 2008, Kyle Phillips revamped the bunkers and barranca, drawing out a more evocative 1920s appearance, and he returned in 1925 to update that work and conduct a more comprehensive top to bottom remodel. Wilshire's 18th hole remains one of the city's best closing holes with its green set under the view of the clubhouse, tucked in the elbow of the deep barranca.

Lakeside is a classic old-school layout near Studio City in North Hollywood. The course was designed in the early 1920s by Max Behr, a Yale graduate and the first editor of Golf Illustrated magazine. Lakeside has long been a favorite among Hollywood elite—Bing Crosby notably was a five-time club champion. The routing makes great use of a tight property, especially considering a portion of the original course had to be sacrificed during an expansion of the Los Angeles River that forms the southern border of the course (several holes played across the old river and back). Grassy barranas meander the property, creating depressions that cross and flank greens, and LA-based designer Todd Eckenrode's work remodeling the bunkers and large, sweeping putting surfaces has kept Lakeside a marquee attraction in a star-studded golf market.

One of the oldest courses in Los Angeles County, the Harding layout at Griffith Park was laid out in the early 1920s. Babe Ruth famously signed to play for the New York Yankees after playing a round at Griffith Park’s original layout in 1920. Today, the course remains an affordable public track—with weekday rates under $40—though much of the original design, including the greens and bunkers, have been altered over the years.

Located at Pacific Palms Resort just east of L.A., Industry Hills hosted the 2011 Kia Classic on the LPGA Tour, with a composite layout of both courses used. Much like its sibling Ike course, the Babe Zaharias layout—known simply as “The Babe”—has plenty of elevation changes that create some tough shots to many narrow fairways. This William F. Bell track is demanding from tee to green, with tree-lined fairways demanding accuracy and the rolling terrain creating uneven lies.

Angeles National is a desert-style track with terrific mountain views located about 20 miles north of downtown Los Angeles. Designed by the Nicklaus Design Group, the course has relatively wide fairways, many of which are guarded by desert on both sides. Though Angeles National is a solid public layout, it’s worth noting that the conditions are often not at the level of a private club.

Located at Pacific Palms Resort just east of L.A., Industry Hills has hosted U.S. Open Local Qualifying, PGA Tour Monday qualifiers and the 2011 Kia Classic on the LPGA Tour. The Eisenhower course, known as “The Ike,” was designed by William F. Bell and has plenty of elevation changes, providing vistas of the San Gabriel Mountains. Though the design has compelling variety, with doglegs moving in each direction along the rolling terrain, the conditions may not be up to a private-club standard.

Situated at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains in Arcadia, Santa Anita provides great value, with weekday rates under $50. The course dates to the mid-1930s and has plenty of character, with swales, mounds and hollows present throughout, creating many uneven lies. Unfortunately, the conditioning is often hit-or-miss, but the affordable price and intriguing design makes it a solid option in the L.A. area.