The private golf scene in Los Angeles is dominated by the big names. Every year, clubs like Riviera, Los Angeles CC or even Wilshire CC manage to find their way onto TV and into the spotlight. However, there are a handful of clubs on the outskirts of town that manage to fly under the radar even with a great deal of charm and architectural merit. Hacienda Golf Club is one of those clubs.
Hacienda was designed by William Watson in 1920 and with a renovation from John Harbottle in 2005, the course has returned to its original intentions. The property is filled with dramatic land undulations and several ravines that provide non stop interest. At 6,945 yards, you won’t find it on television any time soon, but it should be on your radar as one of the most fun and interesting golf courses in the LA area.
Hole #1 - Par 4 - 405 yards
The golf course at Hacienda opens up with a serious view to start the round of golf. Just a few steps from the golf shop and you will find yourself on the first tee with just one lone fairway bunker standing in between you and the green at 405 yards away. It is time to bomb one down the hill and get this golf party started.
Hole #2 - Par 4 - 485 yards
With the renovation in 2005, John Harbottle found some extra length on a number of golf holes at Hacienda. The original 1920 plans called for 6,152 yards and today the course stands at 6,955 yards. The 2nd hole is a great example of lengthened hole that still maintains the design integrity. At 485 yards from the back tees, it will take two good shots to find the putting surface tucked up against E Road.
Hole #3 - Par 4 - 325 yaards
Part of the charm at Hacienda Golf Club is the routing. There are a lot of good golf holes tucked into parcels of land that you might not think would be big enough for a serious golf hole. The 3rd hole is a great example of this. A long iron off of the tee will leave you a short wedge into the well protected green that sits along the edge of a ravine and amongst a sea of bunkers.
Hole #4 - Par 3 - 185 yards
The first par 3 at Hacienda requires a strong shot over a ravine to a green protected by several bunkers on the left hand side. The best part of the 4th hole might just be the walk across the bridge to the green.
Hole #5 - Par 4 - 475 yards
The 5th hole is one of Hacienda’s finest. This monstrous cape hole requires a carry over a large ravine that travels across and down the right hand side of the golf hole. A good drive is one played towards the middle of the fairway leaving a long shot home. A tee ball too far left finds the trees and too far right falls into the ravine. There is a large swale short and right of the green that will certainly gobble up some wayward shots.
Hole #6 - Par 3 - 230 yards
The longest par 3 at Hacienda Golf Club is a serious test from the back tee box. A large bunker protects the right hand side of the green and a creek far right awaits the poorest of golf shots. Most golfers will favor the left hand side as there is plenty of room to bail out. With the 8th green just beyond the 6th hole, strong double green vibes emanate from the area. It is one of the best spots at Hacienda.
Hole #7 - Par 5 - 580 yards
The longest par 3 at Hacienda is followed by the longest par 5 and almost every golfer will be playing this beast as a 3 shot hole. Most notably, a tall and glorious row of trees line the left hand side of the golf hole. A hillside on the right provides a cozy feeling to this lengthy par 5. After you manage to make it down the chute, 3 green-side bunkers make this approach more difficult than usual.
Hole #8 - Par 4 - 445 yards
The 8th hole at Hacienda does a marvelous job of using the natural land undulations to create something special. A ravine with a creek lining the right hand side cuts through the second half of the golf hole. The result is an interesting elevation change that makes the approach shot positively delicious.
Hole #9 - Par 4 - 400 yards
The front nine concludes very similarly to how it began. This straightforward par 4 plays back toward the clubhouse and offers two fairway bunkers that need to be avoided off of the tee. With the 18th green just beyond the 9th green, another double green situation emerges providing great opportunity for camaraderie and joy amongst members.
Hole #10 - Par 5 - 510 yards
The back nine opens up with a great opportunity to get things going with a score under par. Something long and down the left side of the fairway provides the most direct route towards the green. A pairing of two fairway bunkers lie in wait to gobble up any poorly struck approach or layup shots.
Hole #11 - Par 4 - 310 yards
The 11th hole offers similar vibes to the 3rd hole. This short par 4 requires a long iron into the middle of the fairway and a wedge played into a green tucked into the hillside. I never tire of golf holes that subscribe to this formula. They are always fun to play and provide exciting opportunities to make a birdie.
Hole #12 - Par 3 - 150 yards
There isn’t a weak link amongst the par 3’s at Hacienda and the 12th takes home the award for the most photogenic of the bunch. I took full advantage of the scenery and captured the 12th hole from just about every angle imaginable. The same dramatic slope that guards the 11th hole also fronts the front of the 12th green. The nearby hillside also provides an extra touch of ambiance.
Hole #13 - Par 4 - 445 yards
The Hacienda hits keep on coming with this downhill dogleg left. A good drive is essential if you want a quality look at the green. A significant slope and some trees are on the left and anything right will find the forest. The photograph below depicts a rare gap in the trees on the left. For those that find the fairway, the second shot plays over an undulation to a well protected green.
Hole #14 - Par 4 - 430 yards
This slight dog leg left might appear ordinary at first glance but like many holes at Hacienda, the undulations in the terrain make a huge difference on how the golf course looks and plays. The highlight of the 14th hole is the green site that is set up against a hillside which makes for a beautiful approach shot and a fantastic photograph.
Hole #15 - Par 4 - 380 yards
The 15th is one of the most unique holes at Hacienda Golf Club. This short par 4 features a huge fairway bunker that ahnchors the leg in this dogleg left. With some dramatic elevation changes on the terrain, the views are some of my favorite on the entire golf course.
Hole #16 - Par 3 - 225 yards
Both length and precision are required for success on this beautiful par 3. With all sorts of trouble awaiting the golfer short and left, most golfers will opt to bail out towards the right hand side.
Hole #17 - Par 5 - 530 yards
If you need a birdie coming down the stretch, the 17th is your last best chance to find one. There are several trees that can cause some trouble from the tee, but with no fairway bunkers, this is a great chance to swing away. A big drive will give you a chance to find the green or get green-side in 2 shots.
Hole #18 - Par 4 - 435 yards
The fun finishes up at Hacienda on a solid and straightforward par 4. A beautiful collection of bunkers makes the approach shot particularly scenic and adds a good dose of challenge if you want to finish with a par. A splendid view of the clubhouse provides great ambiance and a fitting finish to a very enjoyable round of golf.
