{"id":8496,"date":"2025-03-22T17:49:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-22T21:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/golfday.us\/blog\/?p=8496"},"modified":"2025-06-24T09:47:54","modified_gmt":"2025-06-24T13:47:54","slug":"top-40-private-clubs-california-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/golfday.us\/blog\/top-40-private-clubs-california-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 40 Private Clubs\u2014California 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Riviera Country Club, Pacific Palisades<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The California landscape is amazingly diverse, from the rocky northern pacific coast of Monterey to the mountains of Lake Tahoe, the desert beauty of Palm Springs and the sandy beaches of Southern California\u2014and also home to many of the greatest golf courses in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve included our Top 40 California Private Clubs below, or you can spin through all of the private courses in California<\/mark><\/a> listed by GolfDay Rating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clubs are listed on the basis of GolfDay Rating<\/mark><\/a>, and listings include a link to the club website, the year founded, course architect(s), current USGA course and slope ratings as well as a link to Google Maps for each location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Alistair Mackenzie<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Our California Top 40 include four original Dr. Alistair Mackenzie<\/mark><\/a> designs, who became perhaps the most celebrated golf course architect in history when he collaborated with Bobby Jones to create Augusta National. Many believe, however, that his greatest work may be Cypress Point Club in Pebble Beach\u2014Number 1 in our Top 40.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to Cypress Point, Dr. Mackenzie also did the original design at The Valley Club of Montecito in Santa Barbara (#11), Green Hills Country Club (#17) and Meadow Club (#27).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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William “Willie” Watson<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Although not quite as famous as Allister Mackenzie, William \u201cWillie\u201d Watson<\/mark><\/a> was another Scott who made his way to the western United States in the early 1900\u2019s and created a great many wonderful layouts, four of which are among our Top 40–including both courses at the iconic Olympic Club in San Francisco (#4).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to classic courses steeped in history, our Top 40 private clubs also include four modern designs by Tom Fazio<\/mark><\/a>, including The Quarry (#9) and The Madison Club (#12) in the desert at La Quinta, Martis Camp near Lake Tahoe (#10), and The Preserve (#15) in Carmel\u2014about as different as can be from the standpoint of climate and topography. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tom Fazio<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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To view courses by location, use the GolfDay Search Engine<\/mark><\/strong><\/a> and select \u201cwhere you are\u201d or where you plan to be (by entering the city or zip code). You can also refine your search and save time by adding a description and the features you are looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cypress Point Club<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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  1. Cypress Point Club<\/span><\/strong><\/a>\/Pebble Beach<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n