What are the best golf courses in Riverside, California?

Introduction to Riverside

In this blog post we’re going to explore the best golf courses in the city of Riverside, California. 

This vast residential area is just sixty miles east of Los Angeles in Southern California, close to Corona and San Bernardino.

Riverside witnessed huge growth in the late nineteenth century with its booming citrus industry. This is primarily what put Riverside on the map.

Naturally, this booming industry attracted tourists. And as the tourists came, so did golf development. 

Consequently Riverside has one of the oldest golf courses in Southern California, Victoria Country Club (see below). 

The city remains popular to this day, with many public golf courses on offer. Let’s jump into them now.

See also: What are the best public golf courses in Los Angeles, California?

The best golf courses in Riverside, California

1. Oak Quarry Golf Club

We kick off this list with the sensational Oak Quarry Golf Club, a gem just to the north of the city in Jurupa Hills.

The course is relatively new, having opened its doors in 2001. And ever since then, it has received acclaim and adulation from all quarters. 

Every major golf publisher has ravished praise on this layout, including GOLF, Golf Digest, Golf Magazine and more. Fair to say, this is a damn good golf course! 

Part of what makes Oak Quarry so special, is alluded to in the name. The course was routed through an old marble quarry, Jenson Quarry. This was one of the most productive quarries in California for the best part of a century.

After closing in 1979, it was some twenty years later that Gil Morgan, Brian Curley and Lee Schmidt were appointed to design a top class layout.

Needless to say, the design trio ensured the jagged and mind blowing landscape was incorporated as much as possible. Expect plenty of elevations, gullies, ledges, bluffs, raised greens, protruding rocks…the list goes on.

A great example of this is the superb sixteenth hole, a par 3 rated one of the best in Southern California. Water on the left, quarry to carry and a wall of rock towering over a small green…good luck.

Enjoy one of the best public golf courses in the country at a really good rate too. 

2. Victoria Club

An all-inclusive private member’s club, Victoria Club is a beacon of service and quality in the Riverside area.

Inaugurated in 1903, the club’s roots actually stretch backwards a couple of decades. It was at the Riverside Country Club, as it was formerly known, that a rudimentary nine-hole course was created in 1893.

A couple of site moves and name changes later, the club eventually settled on the current location, just near Victoria Avenue, east of Victoria bridge. 

Again the club started by creating a nine-hole course which was designed by a founding member, Fred Heath. The full eighteen-holes opened seventeen years later in 1920, designed by the up-and-coming designer Walter Fovargue.

The highly regarded Max Behr completely redesigned the layout in 1923, work which was lauded by some of the most respected course architects of the age.

Fast forward to present times, Victoria Club is recognized as one of the finest parkland courses east of Los Angeles. 

Located within the Tesquesquite Arroyo, course conditions are more often than not exemplary. Large oak trees, majestic pines and Californian Peppers are dotted all across the site and add to the elegant feel. 

Testament to the quality on offer, Victoria Club has been chosen to host numerous high profile tournaments. The Southern California Amateur Championships and U.S. Open Qualifying arguably being the most high profile.

Alongside the golf course is an Olympic-sized swimming pool, tennis and pickleball courts as well as a sensational restaurant in the clubhouse. Members really are spoiled, but also your only way to play here.

See also: What are the best golf courses in Orange County, California?

3. Canyon Crest County Club

Every now and again you come across a golf course which was once private, but subsequently opens its doors for public enjoyment. Canyon Crest Country Club is one of them.

What had been a private club since its opening in 1968, became semi-private in 2022. Ever since then, residents and tourists to Riverside have been gracing Canyon Crest’s fairways.

Designed by the two-time major winner Olin Dutra, this is a top class parkland layout. What some might call old-school, this is an elegant and verdant layout in an upmarket neighborhood. From central Riverside, it is literally just under a fifteen minute drive.

This lush greenery includes palms, eucalyptus trees and attractive foliage. Add to that a large lake and gorgeous views, you can understand why this was, and continues to be, such a popular country club. 

Other amenities enjoyed by members include the outdoor pool, five tennis courts, pickleball court and superb restaurant. 

Back to the course and it is not unreasonable to say this is a tough place to play. The fairways are narrow and require absolute accuracy off the tee. In certain parts of the course, miss the fairway and you could struggle to find your ball.

But that said, this is a wonderful place and you’ll enjoy a first-class layout albeit slightly more expensive than other public and semi-private golf courses in Riverside.

4. Goose Creek Golf Club

Hugging the Santa Ana River, in Mira Loma, south of Jurupa Valley, is the superb Goose Creek Golf Club.

Located right next to the snaking river, the course is renowned for always being a satisfying hue of green. Verdant and lush, the surroundings are more coastal than inland California.

Having opened in 1999, Goose Creek was a project headed up by Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley of Curley Schmidt Design. Two highly admired architects, it is no wonder Goose Creek is regarded as one of the finest public golf courses in Southern California. 

Like Victoria Club above in this list, this recognition is reflected in the numerous qualifying events it hosts. U.S Open, U.S. Senior Open, U.S. Women’s Open and the U.S. Amateur Open have all been held here.

The course works its way through the Hidden Valley Wildlife Area and is beautifully manicured. Fairways are lined with eucalyptus trees leading up to the firm and fast greens. 

From the back tees the course measures 6,556 yards. But what it lacks in length it more than makes up for in challenge. 

It is one of those courses where you really have to consider every shot and club selection is critical. This isn’t simply a case of pulling out the driver and letting rip. Strategically placed bunkers will put paid to that plan. 

Challenging for better players, yet not too demanding for lesser golfers, Goose Creek Golf Club is fantastic. 

See also: What are the best public golf courses in Palm Springs, California?

5. Indian Hills Golf Club

Up in the Riverside County foothills, is the splendid Indian Hills Golf Club. Having opened in 1965, this is a firm favorite with the Riverside locals.

Designed by Harold Heers and Jimmie Powell, Indian River is routed across a site featuring numerous elevation changes. It’s no surprise this topography makes for a challenging golf course.

From the back tees it isn’t actually that long, measuring a mere 6,104 yards and coming in as a par 70. But again, what it lacks in length it makes up for in providing a tough layout. 

Alongside elevation changes and raised greens, are narrow fairways and plenty of run-offs. There are also lots and lots of trees putting an emphasis on accuracy off the tee.

It’s an entertaining layout with no two parallel fairways. And whilst the course meanders through a large residential area, at no point does it really take away from the playing experience. 

With tee times well under the $50 mark for midweek rounds, this is great value too.

6. Rancho del Sol Golf Club

This time we jump to the fantastic Rancho del Sol Golf Club, in Moreno Valley, south-east of Riverside.

Despite being down towards Perris State Park, it’s actually only a twenty to twenty-five minute drive from central Riverside. 

Rancho del Sol was designed by one of the most influential architects of the late-twentieth century, Pete Dye. Yet despite this notoriety, Dye has relatively few projects in California. 

There are a handful of courses in Palm Springs, as well as The Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe and Trump National Golf Club in Los Angeles. But this is the only other one in Southern California.

Opening in 1988, it was originally a 27-hole layout called Moreno Valley Ranch Golf Course. The three loops of nine were called the Valley, Lake and Mountain courses. 

Yet more recently, to make the course less challenging, it was reduced down to eighteen holes, with the Lakes nine now being used instead as a Disc Golf course. It was also at this point the name was changed to Rancho del Sol Golf Club.

The front nine is a bit more serene, meandering through a large residential estate. Whilst the back nine is spectacular, climbing up into the hills and surrounded by protruding rocks and boulders. It is this collection of holes that could very easily wreck your scorecard.

But where you’re battling elevation changes and sloping fairways, you’ll also be enjoying stunning views of the valley and San Bernardino Mountain range in the distance.

However, just be aware there is no driving range or clubhouse. It’s fair to say despite being a great layout, the rest of the infrastructure is sorely lacking. A great shame for a potentially great course.

See also: What are the best golf resorts in Palm Springs, California?

7. Jurupa Hills Country Club

From one local’s favorite to another, this time we look at Jurupa Hills Country Club, just down towards the Santa Ana River from Indian Hills.

As a staple of the community, Jurupa Hills has been family-owned and run since 1960, shortly after opening. 

The course design was led by William F. Bell, a designer who more than made a mark in the state of California. With dozens of course designs all over the state, many of those in greater Los Angeles, Bell was a trusted pair of hands. 

Fast forward to present times and Jurupa Hills Country Club was renovated by the highly respected firm of architects Casey O’Callaghan Golf Course Design. Yet again, another entity who has focused primarily on projects in California.

Like other hillside courses on this list, Jurupa Hills isn’t the longest. From the back tees, the Blues, it measures 6,124 yards. But again, like so many others on this list, if you’re not hitting the ball straight, you’ll be in for a long day. 

The tree-lined fairways are very narrow, whilst the greens can at times be tricky. Add to all of this constant changes in elevation and undulating fairways, it pays to have played here before.

Again great value and fantastic friendly service.

8. General Old Golf Course

Last up on our list is the General Old Golf Course in Alessandro, next to the March Air Reserve Base.

Jumping straight to the chase, General Old is primarily geared towards beginners. The course has a fantastic grass practice area and chipping zone. More importantly, it is renowned locally for providing great lessons. 

The layout opened in 1955 and is a ‘what you see is what you get’ layout. Granted there are a handful of doglegs. But generally, standing on the tee you’ll see the green. 

There is also a real lack of fairway hazards as well as no lakes or water features. Hence a perfect location for beginner golfers or those just looking to get back into the game after a bit of a layoff. 

That said, the par 72 layout measures over 6,800 yards from the backs, so it isn’t a pushover. 

Very affordable but if you’re a half-decent golfer, you might want to look elsewhere.

What is the best golf course in Riverside, California?

The best golf course near Riverside, California, is the superb Oak Quarry Golf Club. Located to the north of the city in the Jurupa Hills, the course was designed by Gill Morgan, Brian Curley and Lee Schmidt. Built in an old marble quarry, it is considered to be one of the best public golf courses in California.