Valencia Country Club Santa Clarita, CA
Year Opened: 1965
Club Delegate: Tim Ross
Website: ValenciaGolfClub.com

Envisioned as the centerpiece to a master-planned community, Valencia Country Club was built in 1965 as a public golf facility anchored by its championship golf course designed by legendary golf course architect Robert Trent Jones, Sr. The course was purchased by a Japanese corporation in the mid 1980’s and transformed into an exclusive yet welcoming private club. 

In 1998, Valencia Country Club played host to the Northern Trust Open, formerly known as the Los Angeles Open and then Nissan Open, featuring a spectacular field, and its marquee competitor, Tiger Woods. Fans were treated to a spectacular finish on Sunday back nine, as Woods birdied three out of the final four holes. Billy Mayfair birdied his final hole in regulation to catch Tiger and force a sudden death playoff.  In one of only two playoff losses in a PGA TOUR event in his entire career, Woods was defeated by Mayfair, who took the championship with a winning 12 under par.

The course features classic Robert Trent Jones Snr design features: runway tee boxes offer a variety of course lengths, and allow for all types of play from 5800 to 7200 yards. Large undulating greens offer a variety of pin positions defended by a liberal collection of traps. 

Signature holes include the par 3 third, reminiscent of Jones’ redesigned #16 at Augusta. It features a biarritz two-tiered green. Undergoing (refurbishment Summer 2022)

The par 5 ninth is a classic par 4.5 with a heavy risk-reward second shot towards a well protected green. 

Hole 15 is prototypical Jones “Heroic” design. Two well placed shots give golfers a shot at eagle while water defends green on three sides. The average golfer can navigate the par 5 and still have a shot at birdie.