These Are the Best Celebrity Favourite Golf Clubs in Los Angeles

In Los Angeles, Golf is more than a sport; it’s where all the bigwigs of the entertainment industry and the techies of Silicon Valley build and grow their networks. The sunny Californian weather also works as an added advantage. Beyond being a home to major Hollywood studios, Los Angeles also hosts some of the best golf clubs that are known to be celebrity favourites. Let’s take a look at these exclusive clubs.

Some of LA’s top golf clubs are private and constantly have applicants on their wait lists. But, these aesthetically pleasing fairways are worth the hype, given that they offer the best golfing experiences. From former US President Donald Trump to Justin Timberlake, several famous Hollywood personalities are members of these prestigious clubs.

While many actors, musicians, and athletes may not be able to hit sublime shots like Scottie Scheffler, they nonetheless enjoy participating in celebrity tournaments or indulging in the sport for pleasure. Whether you are looking to spot Mark Wahlberg swinging a shot or simply wish to dip into the Hollywood history of Howard Hughes and Katherine Hepburn’s golf date, these are the golf clubs you need to know about.

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Best golf clubs in Los Angeles and their celebrity members

Hillcrest Country Club

Location: Hillcrest Country Club,
10000 West Pico Boulevard
Los Angeles, California

Contact: (310) 553-8911
More details here

Famous members: Sidney Poitier, Groucho Marx, George Burns

One of the oldest country clubs in existence, the Hillcrest has an interesting history tied to Hollywood. Having hosted the likes of George Burns and Danny Kaye within the ranks of its membership, the club continues to attract several celebrities today. For several A-list personalities, the biggest appeal of the golf course appears to be its bunkering and beautiful design. This 1920 masterpiece was the vision of architect William Watson, and in 2019 it was restored and redesigned by Kyle Phillips.

The prestigious club allows membership by invitation only, thus it’s no surprise that it is a hotspot for famous personalities. Among its current members are US Vice President Kamala Harris’ husband Doug Emhoff, as well as filmmaker Erik Anders Lang who has been spotted playing golf at the club. Lang has also shared social media posts of him teeing off at the club, indicating his membership status.

Riviera Country Club

Location: 1250 Capri Drive Pacific
Palisades, California 90272

Contact: (310)-454-6591
More details here

Famous members: Larry David, Mark Wahlberg, Tom Brady

Fans of Larry David’s Curb Your Enthusiasm will instantly recognise the Riviera Country Club from the show’s popular golf scenes. Besides David, other members of this high-profile club include several Hollywood stars like Mark Wahlberg and Adam Sandler. Touted to be one of the most well-designed and toughest courses in the US, it was previously the venue for the PGA Tour’s Northern Trust Open. The difficulty level of this course probably reflects best in the surprising fact that Tiger Woods has never claimed a victory here. Fans of the sport will also recognise this venue for being the host of the Genesis Invitational tournament each year.

In the words of  Johnny Miller, winner of the 1981 Los Angeles Open, the course is “Definitely one of the greatest, no-nonsense golf courses in the world! It requires a player to play every club in his bag and every shot in his game.”.

Considering its reputation as one of the best golf clubs in Los Angeles, its initiation fee, which is a whopping USD 250,000 as per The Hollywood Reporter, comes as no surprise.

Bel-Air Country Club

Location: Bel Air Country Club
10768 Bellagio Rd,
Los Angeles,
CA 90077

Contact: (310)-472-9563
More details here

Famous members: Tom Cruise, Jason Bateman, Clint Eastwood

A major appeal of the Bel-Air Country Club’s golf course is how amazingly it is routed through four canyons. Beautifully and strategically designed by architect George C. Thomas, it is one of his most renowned works. With all its curves and angles, the course does not boast of easy greens to play on. Apart from skill, it also requires a detail-oriented golfing mind to score points. With its perfect location, the club has been a favourite of celebrities, with its most famous members including former US Presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan.

Among the many stories that have emerged about this country club, a memorable Hollywood tale centres an occasion where yesteryear’s star Howard Hughes landed his plane on the 8th fairway to impress Katherine Hepburn, whom he was to meet for a golf date. Well, the story further goes that after the club towed the plane and handed Hughes the bill, he allegedly refused to pay and resigned his membership.

Hollywood personalities who are currently members of the club include Top Gun: Maverick star Tom Cruise, Clint Eastwood, and TV producer and writer Chuck Lorre.

Lakeside Country Club

Location: 4500 Lakeside Drive
Burbank, CA 91505

Contact: (818)-984-0601
More details here

Famous members: Justin Timberlake, Ray Romano, Joe Pesci, Niall Horan

This private club in Los Angeles dates back to 1927 and has a traditional layout famously designed by Max Behr. The golf course is known to be a surface that tests players for their skills in a challenging manner. It is designed for serious golfers who enjoy playing on the tough greens. One of the toughest holes to play on the course is the 8th, which is known to put even the most advanced players in a fix. Despite the difficulty of the course, the club has attracted several Hollywood personalities over the years, whose passion for bettering their game has drawn them here.

It is reported that Frank Sinatra was also a member of the club. Other renowned stars who have been spotted enjoying golf at the club include comedian Ray Romano, Justin Timberlake, Andy Garcia and Joe Pesci. For those who wish to rub shoulders with these celebrities at the club, the initiation fee was previously reported to be over USD 80,000. However, it must be noted that the membership is allowed by invitation only.

Sherwood Country Club

Location: 320 W. Stafford Road, Thousand Oaks

Contact: (805) 496-3036
More details here

Famous members: Kevin James, Mel Gibson, Will Smith

Surrounded by the mountains and hillsides of Santa Monica, this golf club is known to be a favourite for many celebrities. Designed by architect Jack Nicklaus, it is considered one of the best golf clubs in Los Angeles and is known for its expansive and picturesque course. The club has played host to the PGA Tour Champions tournament, and has also successfully hosted 13 editions of Tiger Woods’ Hero World Challenge, which was held annually from 2000 to 2013. However, the location of the tournament was later shifted to Albany Golf Course.

Founded in 1989, Sherwood Country Club is a relatively a newer club in Los Angeles. Despite that, it has quickly become one of the best golf clubs in LA. Considering its popularity, getting in is not easy, and while the current initiation fee is unknown, it was reported in 2014 that the club’s entry-level fees cost up to USD 160,000.

More importantly, the Sherwood Country Club continues to attract many celebrity golfers including Justin Timberlake who is also a member of the Lakeside Country Club. Will Smith, Jack Nicholson, Sylvester Stallone, and Mel Gibson are among the other popular personalities who regularly indulge in a game of golf at the club. It has also been suggested that actors Kevin James and Adam Sandler’s close friendship and working relationship developed over their golf games together at the Sherwood Country Club.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

– Can celebrities join LA Country Club?

While golf clubs like Sherwood and Lakeside are known to be popular hotspots for Hollywood’s golfers, the Los Angeles Country Club is famously known to turn down even the biggest celebrities and is one of the world’s most exclusive golf clubs.

– How much does it cost to join the Bel Air Country Club?

As per reports, the initiation fee for the club is USD 150,000. The club is known for its strict rules including a strict policy against cell phones on the course or even in the parking lot.

– What celebrities live around Los Angeles Country Club?

Singer Lionel Richie’s massive mansion and Hugh Hefner’s Playboy Mansion are located around the Los Angeles Country Club.

– How much does it cost to join Lakeside Country Club, Los Angeles?

The Lakeside Country Club allows membership by invitation only which can be gained through a current voting member. The initiation fee for the club is reportedly USD 80, 000.