Lights, cameras, championship golf! The United States Open is making its way to the Los Angeles Country Club this Thursday, marking the first time in 75 years that the prestigious tournament will be held in the shadow of Hollywood. The last U.S. Open in Los Angeles, back in 1948, was truly unforgettable. Ben Hogan emerged victorious at the Riviera Country Club, setting a scoring record that stood for over 50 years until Tiger Woods surpassed it in 2000.
Although Los Angeles has not hosted a U.S. Open since 1948, California has remained a popular destination for the championship. Pebble Beach Golf Links in Northern California has become a regular part of the U.S. Open rotation, and Torrey Pines in San Diego hosted the tournament in 2021. The Olympic Club in San Francisco has also had the privilege of hosting multiple U.S. Opens.
However, the highly exclusive Los Angeles Country Club, also known as L.A.C.C., has always been on the radar of the United States Golf Association (U.S.G.A.) as a desired venue for the U.S. Open. Designed by George C. Thomas Jr., a prominent architect of the early 20th century, the course boasts a classic layout with challenging and undulating terrain. Located in Beverly Hills, it offers picturesque views of the Los Angeles skyline.
In the past, the club hesitated to host a major championship. But everything changed in 2017 when they successfully held the Walker Cup, a prestigious amateur match between the United States and Great Britain/Ireland. The positive experience of hosting such a high-profile event transformed the club’s perspective on opening up their private course to the world.
John Bodenhamer, the U.S.G.A.’s chief championship officer, credits the success of the Walker Cup as the catalyst for allowing the U.S. Open to be played at L.A.C.C. The club’s president at the time, Richard Shortz, who happens to be the older brother of Will Shortz, the famous crossword creator for The New York Times, proposed the idea after witnessing the players’ admiration for the course during the Walker Cup.
However, organizing a U.S. Open in the heart of Los Angeles came with its fair share of logistical challenges. Accommodating players, managing traffic, and creating a temporary city within the city were just a few of the hurdles they had to overcome. Nevertheless, the tremendous interest in L.A.C.C. propelled the event forward. It was like inviting the public inside the exclusive mansions of Beverly Hills. The course had always piqued the curiosity of passersby, but only a fortunate few had ever been granted access to its hallowed grounds.
Shackelford, the author of golf books and a consultant for the U.S.G.A., expressed both apprehension and excitement about how L.A.C.C. would fare against the world’s best golfers. With few professionals having played the course under tournament conditions, there is a sense of mystery surrounding its challenges. Shackelford worked closely with the golf association in determining pin and tee placements but acknowledged that, ultimately, the U.S. Open is a colossal stage where the course and players will be put to the test.
Despite facing some unfavorable weather conditions leading up to the tournament, Bodenhamer remains confident in the course’s ability to shine brightly during its star turn. The U.S.G.A. has extensively studied wind and weather patterns, but there is always an element of unpredictability.
The allure of L.A.C.C. lies in its status as a hidden gem that few have had the opportunity to experience. For caddies, fans, and viewers alike, the mystique surrounding this rural oasis in an urban setting adds to the excitement. Hagestad, a member of the 2017 Walker Cup team and a longtime club member at L.A.C.C., believes that the course will hold up well and that the best players in the world will excel regardless of their familiarity with the layout.
Hagestad boldly predicts that the score to par at L.A.C.C. will be lower than anticipated, attributing his belief to the favorable weather conditions. However, he warns players to be cautious of the lightning-fast bent grass greens, which have been accelerated to levels beyond imagination.
As the United States Open unfolds at the Los Angeles Country Club, the world will be treated to a unique and captivating spectacle: an iconic championship golf event in the heart of Tinseltown. The combination of Hollywood glamour and world-class golf promises an unforgettable experience for players and fans alike.
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