Long Beach, CA Trip - Course Recommendations?

[MooJersey]

Hi All,

 

I will be traveling to the Long Beach, CA area soon.  I will have a couple days to myself.

I wanted to get a round in, possibly two.  Will be staying right in Long Beach.

 

Wanted to ask the community what are a few recommendations ?

Looking for public courses at $100 or less, but could splurge for $150 on the higher end.

I realize CA ain't cheap!

 

Let me know what you suggest.  I would need to rent clubs as well.

 

 

[act0fgod]

On 7/24/2025 at 12:55 PM, MooJersey said:

Hi All,

 

I will be traveling to the Long Beach, CA area soon.  I will have a couple days to myself.

I wanted to get a round in, possibly two.  Will be staying right in Long Beach.

 

Wanted to ask the community what are a few recommendations ?

Looking for public courses at $100 or less, but could splurge for $150 on the higher end.

I realize CA ain't cheap!

 

Let me know what you suggest.  I would need to rent clubs as well.

 

 

Trump National at twilight meets your prices and has good views but is not the most enjoyable course from my perspective.

Los Verdes is pretty cheap and has nice views but is usually a really slow round so play early during the week.

The other direction towards Irvine I always thought Strawberry Farms and Oak Creek were worth a play.

 

Pelican Hill also gets down to your $150 max at twilight.

 

Rental clubs can be pricey.

[Johnny Biarritz]

If you're able to drive to Palm Desert, pretty much every public course in the Valley can be played for $100 or less this time of year. Including the PGA West Stadium course. I went out there a little over a week ago and played 4 rounds in 2 days for like $225 and the hotel was $50.

[act0fgod]

13 hours ago, Johnny Biarritz said:

If you're able to drive to Palm Desert, pretty much every public course in the Valley can be played for $100 or less this time of year. Including the PGA West Stadium course. I went out there a little over a week ago and played 4 rounds in 2 days for like $225 and the hotel was $50.

It's a dry heat right?

[Johnny Biarritz]

10 minutes ago, act0fgod said:

It's a dry heat right?

I've been to the Valley twice in the last month. The temps are fine. Stay hydrated. What's the problem? I never understand why people act like they're being taken to the gallows when it's warm out.

[WesternRacing]

19 minutes ago, Johnny Biarritz said:

I've been to the Valley twice in the last month. The temps are fine. Stay hydrated. What's the problem? I never understand why people act like they're being taken to the gallows when it's warm out.

 

103 to 109 is ‘warm’?

 

 

[Johnny Biarritz]

4 minutes ago, WesternRacing said:

 

103 to 109 is ‘warm’?

I was there a week ago when it was that hot. It's fine. You're riding in a cart that has a cooler attached to it. It's pretty far from bad. Once again, it's golf in the desert, we're not marching the Bataan Peninsula here.

[WesternRacing]

1 hour ago, Johnny Biarritz said:

it's golf in the desert

 

That much is true.  100 degrees plus.  Some of us consider that warmer than warm. 🤣

 

I’ve played summer golf in Palm Desert a number of times. It’s really, really hot.

[CCTxGolf]

2 hours ago, WesternRacing said:

 

That much is true.  100 degrees plus.  Some of us consider that warmer than warm. 🤣

 

I’ve played summer golf in Palm Desert a number of times. It’s really, really hot.

I think I’d rather play summer golf in the desert than summer golf on the Texas Coast, the entire state of Louisiana, Miss, Alabama and most of Florida. Throw in pretty much any state that an SEC team plays in for good measure. 😂 

 

A dry hot is indeed a much more comfortable hot.

[CCTxGolf]

Long Beach and renting clubs….since it’s not an overly serious golf situation, I’d just play Trump in the afternoon one day and then potentially an Orange County course the other day. as somebody already said and I will second it, Stawberry Farms is doable at anytime of day. Pelican in the late afternoon would be in range as others have said.
 

Pelican late might be good cause it will give you some time to drive and make your way down the PCH and take in the scene a little. Seal Beach, Huntington Beach and then into Newport Beach. US Open of Surfing is going on right now so plenty of cool stuff going on in HB to fill your day pre-pelican if you choose. Then just hit the 405 back to LB after your round.

Edited July 28 by CCTxGolf

[Mike975J]

Rec Park is fun

El Do should be in good shape with Long Beach Open this coming weekend

[WesternRacing]

14 hours ago, CCTxGolf said:

I think I’d rather play summer golf in the desert than summer golf on the Texas Coast, the entire state of Louisiana, Miss, Alabama and most of Florida. Throw in pretty much any state that an SEC team plays in for good measure. 😂 

 

A dry hot is indeed a much more comfortable hot.

 

Yup, I’ve done that too and agree 100%.  Just gotta be careful in that desert heat, as it can creep up on you.  Hydrate, hydrate.  Or do what I do, play elsewhere in the summer!

[teejaywhy]

The idea to play golf in the heat of Palm Desert is not unusual, but the idea to drive there and back from Long Beach...  

[tw422]

I would post this in CA section - tons of rec's there for this geography.

Trump is just not a great golf course.  Conditions, facility and views are phenomenal but the golf course frankly sucks - boring and overly penal.  It's a PIA to get to as well.  A little easier coming from the South but still in the middle of the PV peninsula. They will rent you clubs ($$$$) but other than that I would not recommend it.  Los Verdes is a decent muni with a great views.  POP is horrible (getting better) and I'm not sure if they rent clubs.  Again, PIA to get to from Long Beach but if you can get an early tee time (before 7am) it's worth playing.

 

Strawberry Farms and Oak Creek are a haul from LB especially with 405 traffic.  Pelican too (even further south) but if you are going to drive an hour I would recommend spending the money and playing Pelican Hill.  Plan on an hour each way (min) if you do decide to make the trek to the OC.

 

In terms of Long Beach (not in any order):

El Dorado

Rec Park

Sky Links

Navy Destroyer

 

All are decent muni's with varying degrees of condition. My top 2 are ElDo and Navy course.  Not sure if any offer rental clubs (and quality of clubs if they do rent them).

 

If you can expand a bit outside of LB proper I would look at 

Lakewood CC - best of the bunch in IMO

Rio Hondo GC 

Edited July 29 by tw422

[johnrobison]

I'll second those recommendations ^

 

Navy has always been top of my list but ElDo is a arguably the better course (though I'd suggest an early start to avoid a very long round).

[MooJersey]

Thanks for all the good information and recommendations.  I ended up playing just one round at El Dorado. Great day with good company.  Definitely have to keep it in the middle there with your tee shots or you get into bogey trouble fast.  I ended up getting paired with a great group, one guy was a professional that plays the Asia / Japanese tour events.  He was there for the Long Beach Open.  Super chill dude, even bought us all round of drinks haha.  

Edited July 31 by MooJersey