This is Part 3 in a series of articles about my summer trip to the western U.S.
The highlight of the entire trip to the west coast was the day in Los Angeles. We would be playing two iconic private golf courses right in the heart of Los Angeles with Scot Alexander, one of the PGA Professionals at Hillcrest Country Club. We were scheduled to play The Los Angeles Country Club in the morning followed by a round at Hillcrest Country Club in the afternoon.
Scot sent me an email late Wednesday evening confirming last minute plans for the next day. Good thing I checked my email.
In his note, Scot stated The Los Angeles Country Club does not allow shorts of any kind, just slacks of a tailored nature. I had not packed any long pants, tailored or not! George certainly didn't have anything that would fit me and it was already 9:00 P.M. Trying not to panic, I hurried to my vehicle and checked the GPS for department stores and found one in the area that was open until 10:00 P.M. I was off and in no time, had the proper attire for the next day.
George and I were to meet Scot for breakfast at Norm's in the Westwood area of Los Angeles at 5:00 the next morning.
Scot has quite an interesting story. Never having played golf and working as a bartender, he would tag along with his friends to a local golf course where the golfers would have to drink shots of liquor based on their play. As a novice golfer, Scot was required to drink the most to the delight of his friends. Scot was determined to get better and given his nighttime job, he had time to "beat balls" at the local driving range during the day. As a result, he improved quickly and fell in love with the game--to the point he wanted to work at a golf course. This led him to Hillcrest Country Club where he drove up to the guard station and said he was looking for a job. To make a long story short, Scot worked in a variety of jobs at Hillcrest and as his game improved, he earned his PGA Professional designation and became one of the professionals at Hillcrest. Truly a golf "rags to riches" story.
It was on a trip to the Northwest United States in July, 2013 that I met Scot. We were paired at the Eugene Country Club in Oregon one morning and by the end of the round, Scot had invited me to play Hillcrest Country Club. And that was the reason we were sitting at Norm's that early morning. After introductions and a discussion of plans for the day, we ate a fabulous breakfast and were off to The Los Angeles Country Club.
The highlight of the entire trip to the west coast was the day in Los Angeles. We would be playing two iconic private golf courses right in the heart of Los Angeles with Scot Alexander, one of the PGA Professionals at Hillcrest Country Club. We were scheduled to play The Los Angeles Country Club in the morning followed by a round at Hillcrest Country Club in the afternoon.
Scot sent me an email late Wednesday evening confirming last minute plans for the next day. Good thing I checked my email.
In his note, Scot stated The Los Angeles Country Club does not allow shorts of any kind, just slacks of a tailored nature. I had not packed any long pants, tailored or not! George certainly didn't have anything that would fit me and it was already 9:00 P.M. Trying not to panic, I hurried to my vehicle and checked the GPS for department stores and found one in the area that was open until 10:00 P.M. I was off and in no time, had the proper attire for the next day.
George and I were to meet Scot for breakfast at Norm's in the Westwood area of Los Angeles at 5:00 the next morning.
Scot has quite an interesting story. Never having played golf and working as a bartender, he would tag along with his friends to a local golf course where the golfers would have to drink shots of liquor based on their play. As a novice golfer, Scot was required to drink the most to the delight of his friends. Scot was determined to get better and given his nighttime job, he had time to "beat balls" at the local driving range during the day. As a result, he improved quickly and fell in love with the game--to the point he wanted to work at a golf course. This led him to Hillcrest Country Club where he drove up to the guard station and said he was looking for a job. To make a long story short, Scot worked in a variety of jobs at Hillcrest and as his game improved, he earned his PGA Professional designation and became one of the professionals at Hillcrest. Truly a golf "rags to riches" story.
It was on a trip to the Northwest United States in July, 2013 that I met Scot. We were paired at the Eugene Country Club in Oregon one morning and by the end of the round, Scot had invited me to play Hillcrest Country Club. And that was the reason we were sitting at Norm's that early morning. After introductions and a discussion of plans for the day, we ate a fabulous breakfast and were off to The Los Angeles Country Club.
The Los Angeles Country Club
The Los Angeles Country Club We followed Scot to the drive into The Los Angeles Country Club and after a stop at the guard house, we were on the grounds. The course is almost completely hidden from the hustle and bustle of the city. You wouldn't know a golf course is there. Our tee time would be between 7:00 and 7:20 depending on member play.
The Los Angeles Country Club was founded in 1897 and sits right in the heart of Beverly Hills. The current clubhouse, formerly the Club at Beverly Hills, officially opened in 1911 and has served as the club's home ever since. The North Course was designed by George C. Thomas, Jr. in 1921, extensively renovated by John Harbottle in 1996, and finally, in 2010, was reopened after the completion of a five year project to restore Thomas' original masterpiece by the Hanse Design Team.
The course is currently rated 30th on Golf Magazine's "Top 100 Courses in the World", 19th on Golf Magazine's "Top 100 Courses in the U.S." and 41st on the Golf Digest Top 100 Public/Private List. The United States Golf Association has begged the club for years to host a U.S. Open or another major event but the membership had not been on board until late summer. The North Course was just announced as the site for the 2023 U.S. Open.
The Los Angeles Country Club was founded in 1897 and sits right in the heart of Beverly Hills. The current clubhouse, formerly the Club at Beverly Hills, officially opened in 1911 and has served as the club's home ever since. The North Course was designed by George C. Thomas, Jr. in 1921, extensively renovated by John Harbottle in 1996, and finally, in 2010, was reopened after the completion of a five year project to restore Thomas' original masterpiece by the Hanse Design Team.
The course is currently rated 30th on Golf Magazine's "Top 100 Courses in the World", 19th on Golf Magazine's "Top 100 Courses in the U.S." and 41st on the Golf Digest Top 100 Public/Private List. The United States Golf Association has begged the club for years to host a U.S. Open or another major event but the membership had not been on board until late summer. The North Course was just announced as the site for the 2023 U.S. Open.
Caddie Francisco Morrones You might think that any golf course in this area would be relatively flat. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Los Angeles Country Club is quite hilly and the elevation changes are a key part of the course's design.
After a warm-up at the club's practice facility and a few putts on the club's long practice green behind the clubhouse, we were ready for play. My caddie for the day was Francisco Morrones who had worked at the facility for 17 years. He was carrying "doubles", my bag and Scot's bag.
For the second time in two days, I saw an architectural feature I had never seen before in all my travels. There was no tee box for the set of tees on hole number one. Just 60 feet or so from the practice green and perhaps 60 feet from the 18th green, the tee markers, little colored flags on this course, were placed on a piece of flat ground pointing down the first fairway. This was the only hole on the course with this feature.
I quickly became aware this day would be about more than just golf and the golf course as I will try to convey. Looking down the fairway of the par 5 first hole, the iconic Beverly Hilton could be seen past the first green.
After a warm-up at the club's practice facility and a few putts on the club's long practice green behind the clubhouse, we were ready for play. My caddie for the day was Francisco Morrones who had worked at the facility for 17 years. He was carrying "doubles", my bag and Scot's bag.
For the second time in two days, I saw an architectural feature I had never seen before in all my travels. There was no tee box for the set of tees on hole number one. Just 60 feet or so from the practice green and perhaps 60 feet from the 18th green, the tee markers, little colored flags on this course, were placed on a piece of flat ground pointing down the first fairway. This was the only hole on the course with this feature.
I quickly became aware this day would be about more than just golf and the golf course as I will try to convey. Looking down the fairway of the par 5 first hole, the iconic Beverly Hilton could be seen past the first green.
Walking Down the 1st Fairway at The Los Angeles Country Club with the Beverly Hilton in View
I'll make just one comment about the golf played during the round. Scot made a boatload of birdies and George and I made a boatload of swings.
As we made our way around the course, both Scot and Francisco were pointing out areas of interest. On the way to the second green on a hole that played fairly straight, we looked to the right and saw an alternate green complex. The green to the right (which we were not playing that day) is uphill and would make the hole considerably more challenging. In fact, it is the number 3 handicap hole on the course.
The fourth hole is a pretty downhill par 3 protected by a deep bunker short right.
As we made our way around the course, both Scot and Francisco were pointing out areas of interest. On the way to the second green on a hole that played fairly straight, we looked to the right and saw an alternate green complex. The green to the right (which we were not playing that day) is uphill and would make the hole considerably more challenging. In fact, it is the number 3 handicap hole on the course.
The fourth hole is a pretty downhill par 3 protected by a deep bunker short right.
Downhill Par 3 4th Hole at The Los Angeles Country Club
Off to the right of the hole and well above the hole is the considerable home of Lionel Ritchie. Apparently, "Three Times a Lady" was a bit more lucrative than I thought.
The Lionel Ritchie Complex Above the 4th Hole at The Los Angeles Country Club
The sixth hole deserves a mention. It is a wonderful short, 90 degree risk/reward, dogleg right par 4. Played without risk, it is a 335 yard par 4. Played with risk for a big reward demands a carry to the green of 245 yards over a stand of trees. The green is well below the tee and exceptionally narrow in depth from that angle and protected by bunkers both short and long. I certainly didn't drive all the way to L.A. to play it safe! Nobody in our threesome played the hole safely. And we were punished accordingly. Of course, nobody ever tells a story about this hole when they played it safe.
The ninth hole is a stunningly beautiful medium length par three playing over a gorge to a multi-tiered green with the clubhouse (and an ugly building well off the property) as the backdrop. I think the members should purchase the building in the background and have it razed.
The ninth hole is a stunningly beautiful medium length par three playing over a gorge to a multi-tiered green with the clubhouse (and an ugly building well off the property) as the backdrop. I think the members should purchase the building in the background and have it razed.
The Par 3 9th Hole at The Los Angeles Country Club , Clubhouse in the Background
The front nine complete, we made a quick stop at the halfway house for a water and the best golf course trail mix in Southern California according to Scot.
The eleventh hole is acclaimed as one of the best par 3's in the entire world. It is a long par 3, 249 yards from the back tee and that day, 225 yards for us. The hole is a reverse Redan. A Redan hole is a hole with a green that slopes downward and away from the point of entrance and protected in front. It's usually associated with architect C.B. Macdonald who said in his book Scotland's Gift: Golf, "Take a narrow tableland, tilt it a little from right to left, dig a deep bunker on the front side, approach it diagonally, and you have a Redan." This hole plays a bit downhill.
The eleventh hole is acclaimed as one of the best par 3's in the entire world. It is a long par 3, 249 yards from the back tee and that day, 225 yards for us. The hole is a reverse Redan. A Redan hole is a hole with a green that slopes downward and away from the point of entrance and protected in front. It's usually associated with architect C.B. Macdonald who said in his book Scotland's Gift: Golf, "Take a narrow tableland, tilt it a little from right to left, dig a deep bunker on the front side, approach it diagonally, and you have a Redan." This hole plays a bit downhill.
The Par 3 11th "Redan" Hole at The Los Angeles Country Club
The thirteenth hole is a lengthy par 4 protected by six bunkers. As we approached the green after our second shots, Francisco pointed out the Playboy Mansion sits right behind the green, protected from view by a significant stand of tall shrubs. The mansion of Barbie Benton, former Hugh Hefner girlfriend and mother of some of his children sits to the left of the green. The caddies told tales of a party-goer who, having been expelled from the mansion grounds, tried to scale the shrubs from the course in an inebriated state and was found dead the next morning. I didn't need any such stories; I was already distracted learning what was behind the shrubs.
Walking to the 13th Green, Playboy Mansion to the Right Behind the Shrubs; Barbie Benton Mansion to the Left
The fourteenth hole is the longest on the North Course, a 598 yard par 5. To the right of the fairway along the second half of the hole is the 52 room mansion (more rooms than the White House) of the late Aaron Spelling and then his daughter Tori Spelling, since sold.
The fifteenth hole is the shortest on the course at 133 yards from the back tee. Fittingly, the green is treacherous and the main defense of the hole.
The fifteenth hole is the shortest on the course at 133 yards from the back tee. Fittingly, the green is treacherous and the main defense of the hole.
The Short Par 3 15th Hole at The Los Angeles Country Club
After we completed the seventeenth hole, Francisco pointed out the old seventeenth hole from the original 1921 design, a short 105 yard par 3 over a ravine that sits short and right of the current green.
| During the Hanse restoration, this hole was recovered. The steeply pitched, tiny two tier green is now used by members to break ties and generally, for silly bets. We were invited to hit shots to this hole and fittingly, it was my only birdie of the day (on a hole that didn't count). The finishing hole is a lengthy par 4 to a green guarded by bunkers both left and right. The left bunker stretches well in front of the green. The Los Angeles Country Club is now in my Top Five of all the courses I've played and I can't wait to see the U.S. Open played on these grounds. Having completed the round, we settled up with the caddies and spent a few minutes in the pro shop. |  The Old Seventeenth Green |
Gus Gutoskey, Scot Alexander, George Kubach on 18th Green Remember the "shorts of any kind are not permitted" note from Scot I read the previous evening? Well, while we were in the pro shop, an older member standing at the counter was wearing a pair of yellow tailored slacks adorned with Elmo (the cartoon character) patches. And not just a few patches--they were all over his trousers, up and down. I wonder if he was trying to make a statement? I'll take my black shorts to his yellow slacks any day!
Marty's Hamburger Stand
Having finished our first round of the day, it was time for a quick lunch prior to the short trip to Hillcrest Country Club. Scot, having worked in the area for many years, knew exactly where to take us. We followed him, parked on a side street, and walked to Marty's Hamburger Stand, a little joint with a walk-up window on the sidewalk of Pico Blvd. Marty's has been serving Vienna beef dogs, regularly shipped in from Chicago, and slinging wonderful, just greasy enough burgers since the mid-1950's. What a treat! We sat at a picnic table behind Marty's in the sun devouring our delectable cholesterol free (right.) delicacies.
Hillcrest Country Club
Hillcrest Country Club is no more than a mile southeast of The Los Angeles Country Club and directly across Pico Blvd. from the Fox Studios.
The golf course is just a small part of Hillcrest lore. Its history is incredible. Hillcrest was the first country club in the Los Angeles area for the Jewish community. In the early years of Hollywood when Jews were not permitted to join non-Jewish country clubs, they joined Hillcrest which became the golf club and social arena for Hollywood's Jewish actors, singers, songwriters, and movie moguls in the "golden age" of film.
The golf course is just a small part of Hillcrest lore. Its history is incredible. Hillcrest was the first country club in the Los Angeles area for the Jewish community. In the early years of Hollywood when Jews were not permitted to join non-Jewish country clubs, they joined Hillcrest which became the golf club and social arena for Hollywood's Jewish actors, singers, songwriters, and movie moguls in the "golden age" of film.
Hillcrest Country Club In the 1940's, Hillcrest was the place for many of Hollywood's biggest Jewish stars. Milton Berle, Jack Benny, George Burns, Eddie Cantor, George Jessel, Al Jolson, Danny Kaye, and Groucho Marx were members. In fact, Hillcrest was the club about which Groucho uttered his famous quote, "I don't want to be a member at any club that will have me as a member," before joining anyway. Studio moguls Louis B. Mayer of MGM Studios, Harry Cohn of Columbia Studios, the Warner brothers and Adolph Zukor of Paramount Studios were members.
For many years, there was a regular Friday lunch where the Jewish comedians would get together to socialize and try out new material on each other. This regular lunch was known as the "Round Table" and also called a "college for comedy."
George Burns, for many years, when in town, was at the club from noon to 3:00 P.M. every day for his bridge game. He did this right up until three days before his death.
In the 1950's, oil was discovered on the property and the members allowed drilling. Members collected tax-sheltered dividends on their original initiation fees. Memberships acquired prior to the discovery became so valuable they were willed to survivors.
Milton Berle was a member for over 70 years when he died in 2002. He originally paid an initiation fee of $275. Today's initiation fee is well into six figures.
Danny Thomas, a Lebanese Catholic, was the first non-Jewish member at Hillcrest causing Jack Benny to quip "at least the club could have admitted somebody who looked like a gentile."
For many years, there was a regular Friday lunch where the Jewish comedians would get together to socialize and try out new material on each other. This regular lunch was known as the "Round Table" and also called a "college for comedy."
George Burns, for many years, when in town, was at the club from noon to 3:00 P.M. every day for his bridge game. He did this right up until three days before his death.
In the 1950's, oil was discovered on the property and the members allowed drilling. Members collected tax-sheltered dividends on their original initiation fees. Memberships acquired prior to the discovery became so valuable they were willed to survivors.
Milton Berle was a member for over 70 years when he died in 2002. He originally paid an initiation fee of $275. Today's initiation fee is well into six figures.
Danny Thomas, a Lebanese Catholic, was the first non-Jewish member at Hillcrest causing Jack Benny to quip "at least the club could have admitted somebody who looked like a gentile."
Caddie Pio Ledesma The original golf course opened in 1920 and was designed by Willie Watson. William F. Bell and William P. Bell designed the back nine which opened in the 1940's. Six of the holes were redesigned by Robert Muir Graves in 1974. Like The Los Angeles Country Club, the course takes advantage of an extremely hilly terrain right in the heart of the city. Nearly every fairway is tree-lined.
Hillcrest Country Club has been said to be "as close to invisible as 142 acres on the south side of Beverly Hills can be. No sign, just a number on the stone entrance gates, 10000 Pico Boulevard." Upon finishing our lunch, we followed Scot to that very sign, were waived in by the guard, drove past the clubhouse and the driving range, and parked in the employee lot.
We were now ready for the second round of the day. Pilo Ledesma would be our caddie. A Filipino, Pilo told me he has been driving over 100 miles each way for several years to work at Hillcrest.
All the bags were loaded onto one golf cart which Pilo drove throughout the round with occasional help from our group. For the front nine, we were joined by member Daniel Maltzman.
The first hole is a pretty, downhill par 4. As long as the drive ends up in the flat and in the fairway, it's a comfortable opening hole.
Hillcrest Country Club has been said to be "as close to invisible as 142 acres on the south side of Beverly Hills can be. No sign, just a number on the stone entrance gates, 10000 Pico Boulevard." Upon finishing our lunch, we followed Scot to that very sign, were waived in by the guard, drove past the clubhouse and the driving range, and parked in the employee lot.
We were now ready for the second round of the day. Pilo Ledesma would be our caddie. A Filipino, Pilo told me he has been driving over 100 miles each way for several years to work at Hillcrest.
All the bags were loaded onto one golf cart which Pilo drove throughout the round with occasional help from our group. For the front nine, we were joined by member Daniel Maltzman.
The first hole is a pretty, downhill par 4. As long as the drive ends up in the flat and in the fairway, it's a comfortable opening hole.
The Downhill Par 4 1st Hole at Hillcrest Country Club
The second hole is a medium length par 3 straight uphill to a green that slopes from back to front followed by a tight, short par 4. The fourth hole is the longest hole on the course, a 553 yard par 5 that is also the number one handicap hole. The third shot to the green is uphill. George made this hole seem like child's play as he stuck his third shot to birdie range and calmly knocked it in for his only birdie of the day.
The Par 5 4th Hole at Hillcrest Country Club
As we made our way around the course, we encountered very few flat holes. Hole five is no exception. It's an uphill dogleg right and one of four par 4's on the course that is over 400 yards. The sixth hole is a short par 3 over a viaduct to a green guarded by bunkers both left and right.
A key feature of the course is the grass which, except for the bent grass greens, is well kept Kikuyu in the fairways and a wiry Kikuyu hell elsewhere.
The seventh hole is a short par 4 that requires a drive threaded between tall trees guarding the fairway on both sides. The eighth hole is a par five that parallels the par five fourth hole where the drive can be launched a long way to the fairway below before flattening out to the green. The front nine ends with an uphill par 4 dogleg left.
We made the turn and faced a downhill short par 4 of 300 yards. Unless you can hit a very long cut, driver is not an option on this hole. The green is tucked into the northeast corner of the property. The second shot is uphill to a green well-guarded by two bunkers.
Across Pico Blvd. from the tenth green is the Fox Studio complex. And to the east across Motor Ave. is the famous public golf course, Rancho Park. Rancho Park is the course where Arnold Palmer made 12 on the eighteenth hole during the 1961 Los Angeles Open. A plaque at the tee commemorates the event.
The eleventh hole is a wicked par 4, slight dogleg left of 439 yards. It's the number 2 handicap hole on the course. The most interesting feature of the hole is there is not a single bunker, not even guarding the green. The twelfth hole is a medium length par 3 with seven bunkers that surround the green. The thirteenth hole is the longest par 4 on the course at 441 yards. It parallels the eleventh but plays in the opposite direction.
The fourteenth hole is the only par 5 on the back nine. It's a straightaway hole, slightly uphill at the green. The fifteenth hole is a medium length par 4 that plays toward the Hollywood Hills. From the green, the iconic "HOLLYWOOD" sign can be seen.
A key feature of the course is the grass which, except for the bent grass greens, is well kept Kikuyu in the fairways and a wiry Kikuyu hell elsewhere.
The seventh hole is a short par 4 that requires a drive threaded between tall trees guarding the fairway on both sides. The eighth hole is a par five that parallels the par five fourth hole where the drive can be launched a long way to the fairway below before flattening out to the green. The front nine ends with an uphill par 4 dogleg left.
We made the turn and faced a downhill short par 4 of 300 yards. Unless you can hit a very long cut, driver is not an option on this hole. The green is tucked into the northeast corner of the property. The second shot is uphill to a green well-guarded by two bunkers.
Across Pico Blvd. from the tenth green is the Fox Studio complex. And to the east across Motor Ave. is the famous public golf course, Rancho Park. Rancho Park is the course where Arnold Palmer made 12 on the eighteenth hole during the 1961 Los Angeles Open. A plaque at the tee commemorates the event.
The eleventh hole is a wicked par 4, slight dogleg left of 439 yards. It's the number 2 handicap hole on the course. The most interesting feature of the hole is there is not a single bunker, not even guarding the green. The twelfth hole is a medium length par 3 with seven bunkers that surround the green. The thirteenth hole is the longest par 4 on the course at 441 yards. It parallels the eleventh but plays in the opposite direction.
The fourteenth hole is the only par 5 on the back nine. It's a straightaway hole, slightly uphill at the green. The fifteenth hole is a medium length par 4 that plays toward the Hollywood Hills. From the green, the iconic "HOLLYWOOD" sign can be seen.
The Iconic "HOLLYWOOD" Sign from the 15th Green at Hillcrest Country Club Through the Marine Layer Haze
The sixteenth hole is my favorite hole. It's a pretty par 3 of 152 yards downhill to a green well-guarded by seven bunkers.
The Par 3 16th Hole at Hillcrest Country Club
The seventeenth hole is a wonderful short dogleg left par 4 of 314 yards where driver is not the best option. It plays to an elevated green guarded in front by two bunkers. The eighteen is another bear of a par 4 at 441 yards downhill at first but then uphill to the finishing green.The long second shot is all carry.
The round was over and once again, Scot made a boatload of birdies and George and I made a boatload of swings. After the round, we settled up with Pilo, obtained a logo ball and hat in the Pro Shop and said a quick farewell to Scot, our gracious host for the day.
We had walked 36 holes on two hilly, iconic courses and were ready for a quiet evening. We watched another Cleveland/Detroit game, ate pizza, drank beer, and rested up for Friday's rounds.
NEXT: My Own Odyssey - Part 4: Ventura and Rancho Palos Verdes
The round was over and once again, Scot made a boatload of birdies and George and I made a boatload of swings. After the round, we settled up with Pilo, obtained a logo ball and hat in the Pro Shop and said a quick farewell to Scot, our gracious host for the day.
We had walked 36 holes on two hilly, iconic courses and were ready for a quiet evening. We watched another Cleveland/Detroit game, ate pizza, drank beer, and rested up for Friday's rounds.
NEXT: My Own Odyssey - Part 4: Ventura and Rancho Palos Verdes
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