Best golf courses near Torrance, CA

A compact and shrewd design by George C. Thomas Jr. and associate William P. Bell, Riviera features everything from a long Redan par 3 to a bunker in the middle of a green to an alternate-fairway par 4. With its 18th green at the base of a natural amphitheater, and its primary rough consisting of club-grabbing Kikuyu, Riviera seems tailor-made as a tournament venue. It hosted a PGA Championship in 1995, a U.S. Senior Open in 1998 and a U.S. Amateur in 2017, but no U.S. Open since 1948. Riviera was recently awarded the 2031 U.S. Open, and it will also host the 2028 Olympics. But it’s the site of an annual PGA Tour event, which is even better exposure to the golf world.

Hillcrest Country Club sits adjacent from Rancho Park Golf Course—one of L.A.’s better public options—and across West Pico Boulevard from the Fox Studio Lot. The private country club opened in 1920, and the course was designed by Willie Watson. In 2018, Kyle Phillips made extensive changes to the course, creating six new holes and making room for a new six-acre practice facility. The par 3s stand out at Hillcrest, including the 12th, which can tip out as far as 260 yards and plays to massive Biarritz green. Hillcrest hosted Final Qualifying for the U.S. Open ahead of the 2023 championship at Los Angeles Country Club, just a mile north.

David McLay Kidd transformed an existing, tight 18-hole course when a new owner purchased more land to allow Kidd to create a new routing. A massive quarry was filled and trees were removed to create expansive views of Los Angeles on this course just south of downtown.

Just 30 minutes south of LAX, the Pete Dye design features Pacific Ocean views on every single hole. Built among the jagged cliffs of Palos Verdes Peninsula, Trump National Los Angeles is reportedly one of the most expensive courses constructed in the United States, as the Trump Golf folks claim it took $250 million to develop this scenic public golf experience.

Often overshadowed by its more famous neighbors, Brentwood Country Club boasts dynamic green complexes with firm conditions. The layout features width off the tee, providing its defense in the form of unique features such as deep barrancas and difficult green complexes. With a late afternoon wind and the marine layer, Brentwood provides a fair and fun challenge from the back tees.

This nine-hole par-3 course set on the coast in Rancho Palos Verdes offers terrific views of the Pacific and of Catalina Island. With holes ranging from 104 to 173 yards, Terranea is a great option for beginners and children, as well as golfers looking to practice their short irons and wedges. Though the Pacific is visible throughout, the 173-yard eighth hole—dubbed “Catalina” by the course—offers a stunning vista with the prominent island in the background.

Situated between Santa Monica and Beverly Hills, Rancho Park hosted the Los Angeles Open in the late 1950s and 1960s with Arnold Palmer, Charlie Sifford and Billy Casper all winning here. This Los Angeles muny also hosted the 1949 U.S. Amateur Public Links. With weekday rates under $40 and junior rates under $10, Rancho Park offers an accessible way to play a historic championship course.

Less than a mile from Long Beach Airport, Lakewood is a tree-lined Billy Bell design that opened in the 1930s. With very little elevation change, the course is an easy walk. Water comes into play on seven holes at Lakewood, which tips out over 7,000 yards. Still, with five sets of tees available, it’s a playable track that offers weekday rates under $50.