Palos Verdes Golf Club

Major oversight by Golfweek and their raters. Easily a Top 200 or even a high Top 100 classic course...would definitely rather play PVGC over Riveria and perhaps even BelAir. See my review below. Even more trees have been eliminated since my last play. Challenging, plays long and when windy a real stern test. Superb classic routing and design. Ocean views and great vistas throughout the course and clubhouse. If you're invited to play PVGC do not turn it down!!

PVGC is now closed to the public at the start of this year full up with 600 members - likely due to the fact that nearby Rolling Hills CC was blown up and will reopen very shortly with a McLay-Kidd design.

Aside from LA/Bel Air this course is simply outstanding and I'd play it every day. For me it's more fun than Riviera. If you live/work in the South Bay this is the golf course to play. Course conditions were immaculate. Hadn't played PV since 2001 - the recent restoration and clearing of trees/sight lines enhanced my appreciation of the routing/design and genius of the Bell/Thomas team. A perfect front nine no back to back same pars. A wonderfully routed back nine with a gem of a quirky under 300 yard 12th with a dead uphill tee shot over a 100 foot deep barranca. Slippery sloping old school small greens at their very best. Deep traps flashed with rough and only the bottoms are raked.

Some of my very favorite golf holes in the world are on this course.....and yes I'd rather play here than Pebble Beach. It was an honor and true joy to experience perfect sunny weather for an early morning 3 hour excellent adventure.

Should be included in listings of golf mags top 25-50 old school courses in America - just doesn't get the play/press/accolades it deserves. If you are invited absolutely do not pass up Palos Verdes GC.

I almost gave 'PV' a five-star rating, not because it can compete with the Pebble Beaches and Whistling Straits of the world, but because this place just oozes with class and the timeless architecture of William Bell and George Thomas. A renovation by Origins Golf Design last year took down hundreds of trees to open up beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean and transformed the bunkers into works of art. The greens are tiny and difficult to putt. The hilly terrain makes the longer 6,430-yard course feel like 6,800 yards. I can just about guarantee I won't play another 1920s-era Golden Age classic as good as this one the rest of the year, unless I meet a member from Riviera CC or Bel-Air CC -- two other Thomas gems - the next time I visit LA. I can see why only afternoon tee times are available to the general public. The members don't want to share.