By Tom LaMarre
Black Gold Golf Club located in Yorba Linda features award-winning greens and is a perennial favorite among California Golf + Travel readers.
It’s easy to see why, with a stunning 6,756 yard, par-71, Arthur Hills-designed course that traverses dry ravines and hillsides while presenting panoramic views of the surrounding wildlife.
Flat lies are scarce at Black Gold, but it’s the challenge that makes it fun to play and rewarding—especially when you get a good break once in a while.
Black Gold Golf Club was built ion 2001 on over 219 acres of rolling terrain that once was an oil field owned by Shell Oil Co. It has a slope of 133 and a course rating of 73.1.
A unique feature of the course is back-to-back par-3 holes at Nos. 7 and 8, plus another at No. 10, separated by the par-4, 410-yard ninth. The 220-yard eighth probably is the best of par-3s and plays longer than the yardage with the tee shot into the prevailing wind.
The views at Black Gold are worth the green fees.
On a clear day, Santa Catalina Island is visible out in the Pacific Ocean while Disneyland can be seen in the middle of Orange County.
But golfers go to Black Gold Club for the memorable golf.
