WILSHIRE COUNTRY CLUB - 16 POINTS

Los Angeles is blessed with several real superstar golf courses. LACC and Riviera are firmly ensconced in the world top 50, Bel Air is the other ‘must play’ course when in town. But if you are lucky enough to be on an LA golf holiday I would urge you to look in at Wilshire too - you won’t be disappointed.

While George Thomas is the architect who gets the credit for ‘the big three,’ it was Norman Macbeth who designed Wilshire back in 1919. You are pretty close to Hollywood here, make sure you enjoy the view of the famous signs as you approach the turn. Never before has a single sign improved my enjoyment of a golf experience, but it did for sure here!

This isn’t a course that is going to beat you up massively from the tee. Bunkers are the main issue - there are countless on the course fair few of those will challenge you from the tee. Use your measurement device of choice to make sure you know where they are and club, or aim, appropriately.

The ground itself runs really well - none of your horribly sticky grass here - and you’ll be able to run the ball on at times when the bunkers aren’t in the way. I absolutely didn’t get the hang of the greens. While there’s not massive movement, they were running at 12 on the stimp which was faster than anything else I played on this trip. Having barely had a 3 putt in the four rounds across LA preceding this one I more than made up for that at Wilshire!

Like many courses in the area, the barranca is a feature in play on many holes. Unlike LACC, if you are in these ditches you will find it pretty much impossible to play out - they are deep, sometimes wet, and pretty much unplayable. That didn’t detract from the round at all, but it definitely can cost you a few shots.

The routing is an interesting one. This is no out and back course, rather one that you wind your way around, with the property split by Beverley Boulevard. Beware the high slice off the tee or you may be interrupting the traffic at times!

There are three main hazards to contend with at Wilshire - the barranca, the bunkers and a good smattering of trees. Apparently a fair few have been taken down in recent years and at no time did the course feel claustrophobic. But you will definitely need a punch out shot in your armoury if you go too close to them.

I thought the par 3s were particularly fun. The first you encounter comes at the 4th, 170 yards long with a long narrow green and a dramatic slope between the two tiers. Getting your clubbing right from the tee is key here.

The 7th is a great hole, tucked into the furthest part of the property. It’s only a short iron but the green wraps around a bunker in the middle which makes for an interesting channel if it gets between you and the pin.

Another hole which will stay with you for a long time is the tenth - right in front of the clubhouse. It can play anything between 130 and 180 yards depending where the pin is on this slanted green which is well protected by sand at the front as I found out to my cost.

It’s not just about the par threes through, the rest of the course has much to entertain. I understand how holes like the 3rd may be a bit contentious. Longer hitters have to judge carefully what to lay up with and how far left to go to have a line in to the well protected green.

Some people have said this hole is unfair as a result. Tosh, I say. If golf was all about seeing how far you could hit it in a straight line we could all just go to the driving range.

The holes using the barranca are amongst the most enjoyable to play at Wilshire and it it is used with great effect all the way to the end. On the 18th you will find it winding down the right hand side of the hole before cutting in front of the green to make for a really grandstand finish on this long par 4. A green in regulation here may be one of the hardest achievements on the course.

There is much to keep you entertained at Wilshire. It isn’t a long course, 6500 off the back tees, and were it not for my atrocious putting I would have beaten my handicap. The greens weren’t just fast, they were also full of movement and life which would benefit from repeat play. Big swales, hour-glass greens and deceptive slopes all add to the fun,

The membership clearly care about the presentation of the golf course. They wouldn’t have undergone restoration work from Kyle Philips if they didn’t and the conditioning was excellent.

I enjoyed my round at Wilshire thoroughly. Going into it I didn’t really know much about the course, or indeed architect Norman Macbeth, but I spent a delightful morning there. It was helped by a very relaxed and ‘golf’ feel to the club. Great people, great golf.

TOUR TIPS

Wilshire is a private country club and that doesn’t make it easy to get a round here. Having said that, we’re not quite in the LACC league of exclusivity. Wilshire has strong membership who enjoy sharing their course so if you ask around you may be lucky enough to get a game here. Like all other top US private courses keep your eyes open for charity rounds or considering registering on Thousand Greens to get matched with a like-minded member

Wilshire Country Club,
301 N Rossmore Ave,
Los Angeles, CA 90004,
United States

Phone: +1 323-934-1121
Web: www.wilshirecountryclub.com

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