Malibu Golf Club – Malibu, CA

Golf in the Los Angles area is far and wide.  You have many prestigious country clubs, and then you have a number of overcrowded municipal courses.  To play a track that really captures the California landscape one must venture outside the city limits.  Just about 45 minutes north of LA sits the rolling and rocking Malibu Golf Club.  This William Francis Bell (Torrey Pines) design is literally cut out of the Santa Monica Mountains, thus naturally lending itself to beautiful views and a challenging, enjoyable layout.

Tee shots are stirring with a number that are elevated and make you feel strong…and long at times.  On many of the par 4’s and 5’s you need to commit to a line as there are some tee shots that are a bit on the blind side.

All of the par 3’s are solid and scenic. In fact the 5^th hole, which plays a stern 235 yards from the back tees, is rated as the courses’ number one handicap hole.  A rarity for sure!

MGC’s smooth greens have a fair amount of slope, but play very fair.  They weren’t too speedy on the day I played, but a good rule of thumb is to stay below the hole regardless.

There could be a couple of signature holes out there.  I really liked the dogleg 6^th hole, which is a true risk/reward par 5.  It features a tree-lined fairway with a water hazard that starts out at about a 100 yards from the putting surface.  The middle of the green has big undulating shelf, and bunkers surround it.

You just might run into a celebrity or two playing this semi-private facility that opened for business in 1977.  After all this is close to Hollywood, and to the beachfront homes of Malibu.

Malibu Golf Club is not a generally long golf course playing at just over 6600 yards from the tips-but it’s no push over.  It’s stimulating from any tee you choose.  This destination has all that any golfer desires.  There’s such character in the peaceful surroundings, and all at a reasonable price.  Plus, they have the Malibu and Wine restaurant featuring a diverse menu and numerous wonderful local California wines.  If you want to finish of your day in style take the scenic ride back to LA and head along US 1 (Pacific Coast Highway), which provides stunning views of the Pacific Ocean, especially as the sun sets.

Visit TheMalibuGolfClub.com for membership, and more, or book your tee times here: