Lakeside GC, Burbank

View the Lakeside GC photo gallery of running a championship

This year will mark the first time that the nation’s most prestigious state amateur will be contested outside the Monterey Peninsula, at Lakeside Golf Club in Burbank and Oakmont Country Club in Glendale, two of the finest examples of golf’s first great “Golden Age” of golf course architecture in the 1920s.

“We’re extremely grateful that these two great clubs have agreed to host this year’s California Amateur,” says Ed Holmes, CGA president in 2008. “In this historic year when we contest the championship in Southern California for the first time, these two historic clubs are great choices for this event. We’re delighted that the clubs’ memberships have embraced the event with enthusiasm.”

After World War I ended on Nov. 11, 1918, Southern California began to explode as manufacturing and the entertainment industry fueled a massive housing boom. Golf also took off during this time, and legendary golf course architects such as George Thomas, Jr., William P. Bell, Alister Mackenzie, and Willie Watson began designing courses through­out the southland.

One of those designers was Max Behr, whose creations included Rancho Santa Fe GC, Lakeside GC and Oakmont CC, three of the greatest courses of that “Golden Age."

Oakmont was founded in 1922 as a real estate project developed by Frank Lanterman. Like many clubs, Oakmont struggled during the Great Depression until it was bought by a club member, William Crenshaw, in 1934. Eventually, club members were able to turn Oakmont into an equity club.

Oakmont CC, Glendale

Oakmont will tip out at 6,736 yards for the California Amateur. “It’s going to be tough if the greens get fast,” says defending champion Josh Anderson. Expect that to happen, says SCGA Board of Directors member Al Frank, who is an Oakmont member. “The rule of thumb is that the greens break to Glendale,” says Frank, “but most people don’t know exactly where Glendale is. As a result, it will be hard to read the greens, especially for those not used to playing here.”

Since it was founded in 1924, Lakeside has been known not only for its great course but also for the great golfers and Hollywood celebrities who have been club members.

Among the former are Johnny Dawson, Roger Kelly and Bruce McCormick who have won five California Amateur titles among them (see separate box on page 23). The celebrities could take up this entire magazine but two of the most famous were Bing Crosby (a former club champion) and Bob Hope.

Lakeside will play 6,534 yards, par 70, but don’t let the length deceive you, says 1999 California Amateur champion Tim Hogarth, who has won six Kelly Cups (Lakeside’s prestigious invitational), including the last four in a row (both records).

“You don’t even look at the yardage,” explains the 41-year-old Hogarth about Lakeside. “It’s a very subtle course and you pick things up each time you play it. The way the holes turn and the big trees in the way make it a strategic course. You can hit driver if you keep it straight and you pick the spots where you can be aggressive. But if you don’t pull off the shots, all of a sudden you’ll be putting up a big number. It should be a perfect course for match play, in particular.”

Information
Lakeside Golf Club
Address: 4500 Lakeside Drive, Burbank, CA 91505 (click here for Google map)
Phone: 818/985-3335 (golf shop)
Directions: Hollywood Fwy (101) to Barham Blvd., north on Barham to Lakeside Dr. (look for Smoke House Restaurant), turn left and follow to club gate. OR, from Ventura Fwy (134), exit east to Pass Ave. South, crossing Riverside to Lakeside Dr., and turn right to club.
Note: Spectator parking will be extremely limited; street parking only available outside of club gates. Player parking available in the main lot.

Oakmont Country Club
Address: 3100 Country Club Drive, Glendale, CA 91208 (click here for Google map)
Phone: 818/542-4292 (golf shop)
Web: www.oakmontcc.com
Directions: From Ventura Fwy (134), take Glendale Ave. exit and go north for 3.5 miles, bearing left on Canada Blvd. at Glendale College, to Country Club Dr.; left 1/2-mile to club. OR, from Glendale Fwy (2), take Mountain St. exit and go west to Verdugo Rd.; right 1/4-mile; bear left onto Canada Blvd. for 2.5 miles to Country Club Dr.; left 1/2-mile to club. OR, from Foothill Fwy (210), take Ocean View Blvd. exit south, turn right on Verdugo Rd., and then to Canada Blvd. Bear right on Canada to Country Club Dr.; right 1/2-mile to club.

Club policies
Please visit the Spectator Information page for dress codes, cell phone policies, and more important details about the rules of each club. Players, caddies and spectators in violation of these policies will be asked to rectify the situation or leave the property. Each club reserves the right to refuse entrance to anyone.