Palos Verdes Golf Club facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Palos Verdes Golf Club

11th hole at Palos Verdes Golf Club in 2011
Club information
Location in the United States Show map of the United States Location in California Show map of California
Coordinates	33°47′44″N 118°22′23″W / 33.7955°N 118.373°W / 33.7955; -118.373
Location	3301 Via Campesina Palos Verdes Estates, California, U.S.
Established	1924; 101 years ago (1924)
Type	Private
Total holes	18
Tournaments hosted	Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge Palos Verdes Championship
Greens	Poa annua and bent grass mixture
Fairways	Kikuyu grass
Course
Designed by	Olmsted Brothers, William P. Bell, George C. Thomas
Par	71
Length	6,433 yards (5,882 m)
Course rating	72.7
Slope rating	134

Palos Verdes Golf Club is a private golf and social club. It is located on the West Coast in Palos Verdes Estates, California. This town is a suburb southwest of Los Angeles.

History of Palos Verdes Golf Club

The idea for the golf course began in 1923. The course officially opened its doors in 1924. It was created as a fun place for people living in the new Palos Verdes Project area.

Who Designed the Golf Course?

Famous designers helped create this club. The Olmsted Brothers worked on the overall plan. Architects George C. Thomas and William P. Bell designed the golf course itself. Many different kinds of trees were planted when it was built. These trees are now very tall and make the fairways (the grassy paths) narrower.

Club Ownership and Clubhouse

The land where the course sits belongs to the City of Palos Verdes Estates. The golf club runs the course through a special agreement with the city. The clubhouse got a big makeover between 2005 and 2007. It is now a popular spot for special events like weddings. From the clubhouse, you can see amazing views of the Pacific Ocean.

About Palos Verdes Golf Club

The greens at Palos Verdes are a mix of Poa annua and bent grass. The fairways are made of kikuyu grass. The course has many ups and downs. This can make it a bit tough to walk for some players.

Playing at the Club

Guests can play golf with a club member. Non-members can also play for a fee. However, there are very few times available for non-members.

Dress Code and Course Size

There is a special dress code to follow. You cannot wear denim (jeans). You must wear a collared shirt tucked in, a belt, and special golf shorts or pants. Only soft golf spikes are allowed on your shoes. The course covers about 214 acres (0.87 square kilometers). It is part of a larger 800-acre (3.2 square kilometers) parkland. This area includes canyons and natural forest.

Membership Information

Usually, only people who own homes in Palos Verdes Estates can become members. People from nearby cities can join if a current member sponsors them. This is only possible if there are no residents waiting to join. Non-residents also pay a higher fee to join. In recent years, it has become easier to join the club.

Tournaments Hosted at the Club

The club hosts important golf events. One is the annual Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge. This tournament invites top women's golf teams from colleges across the country. In 2022, the club also hosted the first LPGA Tour's Palos Verdes Championship. This was a big event for professional women golfers.

The Golf Course Layout

The course is a par 71 course. This means a good golfer should take 71 strokes to finish all 18 holes. It measures 6,433 yards (5,882 meters) from the black tees. It is 6,197 yards (5,667 meters) from the blue tees. From the white tees, it is 5,691 yards (5,204 meters). And from the red tees, it is 5,434 yards (4,970 meters).

Course Challenges and Design

The course is not super long, but it is still challenging. The designers used the natural hills and valleys. There are also creeks and many sand bunkers. The fairways are narrow, and ocean breezes often blow across the course. All these things make it a fun challenge for golfers of all skill levels.

Course Improvements and Views

Members have worked hard to keep the course's original design. In 2013, the course had a big renovation. This helped bring back some old design features. Hundreds of trees were removed to open up amazing ocean views. New chipping areas were also added around most greens.

Many holes on the course face the strong west wind from the Pacific Ocean. The ocean is less than a mile away. Fourteen of the eighteen holes offer wide views of the Pacific Ocean. This is a special feature of courses designed by George C. Thomas.

The "Perfect Nine" and Course Records

The first nine holes are called a "perfect nine." This means that no two holes in a row have the same par score. The lowest score ever recorded on the course after the renovation is 61 strokes. Before 2013, the record from the blue tees was an incredible 59 strokes.

Scorecard