Being a short hitter on a long golf course isn’t the most fun thing in the world, but for those that have the ability to hit the long ball, it can be quite a treat. Southern California is home to plenty of courses that cater to the longer hitter. Let’s take a look at a few of the best.
Torrey Pines South Course
One of the most famous courses in Southern California, the South Course is also a bomber’s paradise. With the course tipping out at 7,607 yards from the back tees, it isn’t for the faint of heart. The rough is consistently long and sticky and will require you to keep the ball in the fairway to attack the tough greens.
Even moving up a tee box won’t help the average player as the blue tees play to a distance of 7,227 yards. Keep in mind that the course will play even longer because of the heavy air from the coastline.
Industry Hills Golf Club Eisenhower Course
The famous William F. Bell and Casey O’Callaghan designed plays to a length of 7,211 yards from the back tees. While that isn’t the longest course when you compare it to others, it features five par 4’s all measuring over 460 yards and one of those over 490 yards.
Add in the extremely difficult greens at the Ike and you have yourself one heck of a golf course. One that demands a long hitter.
Trump National Los Angeles
While “The Donald” is in the news for other reasons, his golf course in Rancho Palos Verdes is no joke. The course tips out at a brutal 7,242 yards and is assisted by the heavy marine air along the coast. The par 71 Pete Dye design features three par 4’s measuring at over 500 yards, which includes the 512-yard par 4 signature 18th hole.
The tight fairways force you to keep the ball in play and it’s easy to get distracted by the amazing views.
PGA West Stadium Course
This PGA Tour host course measures to an astounding 7,300 yards from the back tees. Even though the elevation is a bit higher in the desert, you will still need to muster your biggest swing for those 7,300 yards.
The course will greet long hitters with a challenge as two of the first three holes are 460-yard plus par 4’s. The Stadium Course is regularly featured on all sorts of top golf course lists and is a great destination for all golfers.
The Country Club at Soboba Springs
Don’t let the name fool you, Soboba Springs is a public course and can be played by anyone. The course has hosted a Web.com Tour event and it plays to a yardage of 7,204 from the back tees. The 15th hole is a 230-yard plus par 3 that played as the hardest par 3 on the Web.com Tour in 2009.
Once you are done with that, you then head to the 500-yard plus par 4 16th. Good luck getting through those two holes with even a couple of bogies.
Riviera Country Club
Perhaps the most iconic course in Southern California, Riviera holds its own against any other course despite it playing to only 7,040 yards from the back tees. PGA Tour players head to the course every year and are challenged by its demanding tee shots and lightning quick greens.
Riviera gets its length from the fact that the ball travels nowhere because of the coastal air it gets. The Kikuyu grass also plays a huge part because you get absolutely no roll in the fairways.