Rancho Park

Rancho Park:  Along with Wilson GC in Griffith Park, Rancho is considered the best municipal course in Los Angeles. The layout was designed by William Park Bell and William H. Johnson in 1947. The Los Angeles Open was played here seventeen times, the last in 1983.  It is not an easy course, but remains the most popular in the city with constant play and rounds that can stretch beyond 5 hours.  The terrain is rolling with frequent, but not steep, elevation changes making it very walkable.  The holes are lined with a variety of mature trees and a lot of Eucalyptus which have a very pleasant scent.  There are many memorable holes of distinctive and varied character.  The four par-3's are very strong, but the 16th, the shortest at 174 yards is the most beautiful.  The hole has two greens, both resting up on a slope, but the more appealing green on the right is nestled among trees and lined closely around the right and back by a holding fence.  The par-4 11th is one of the most difficult holes in the city.  The drive is uphill and requires a fairway metal or long iron to reach the green.  The course closes with two par-5's.  The 17th is a dogleg right and has two greens both resting on a rising slope and guarded by bunkers.  The 18th is a dogleg left and is famous for the twelve that Arnold Palmer made there during the LA Open.  There is a plaque behind the tee box explaining the circumstances and Mr. Palmer's answer when asked how he could have made a 12 there, "I missed a three-footer for eleven".  

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Artists' Golf is a conceptual work of art Copyright 1995 - 2008 by David B. Lewis and all original paintings, drawings and art works are Copyright by David B. Lewis. All rights reserved.  Maps of existing courses are original artistic interpretations and impressions from a variety of sources and are not intended to be accurate renderings or representations of the actual courses.  They indicate my interest and study and are intended purely for the pleasure and information of the viewers and are not intended for sale or profit.