George C. Thomas, a golden-age golf architect, believed that golfers should have options to choose from. Thomas’ best courses provide multiple options for playing many holes. This gives the best chances of scoring to players who can choose the optimal angles and execute the shot they prefer.
The Los Angeles Country Club North Course will host the U.S. Open this year. It is Thomas’ highest rated course, according to Golfweek’s Best ratingrs. Thomas’ three best courses, including Riviera and Bel-Air, are all located near Los Angeles. But LACC is the top of the list. Thirteen amongst all classic U.S. courses built before 1960.
Thomas’ North 1927 routing was actually an upgrade of another design by a previous architect. It introduced width and strategy on top of glorious inland landforms in Beverly Hills, with the Los Angeles Skyline as a backdrop. As players approach the greens, they are met with hills, valleys and barrancas, as well as bunkers that sometimes intrude on the putting surfaces.
Thomas’ course suffered the same fate as many other historically significant courses. Holes were altered, greens and bunkers were moved or shifted outright, and new trees were planted where they did not belong. Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner and Geoff Shackelford are the team behind LACC’s modern architecture.
The trio started a restoration project of Thomas’ North layout. A first phase was devoted to restoring the bunkers, which evolved into a second phase that included pretty much everything. The team reintroduced several original Thomas greens, brought the dry gullies back into play and restored width. The team completed their work in 2010, to acclaim. The Open Championship will be held on the same course as the two previous championships, which were at The Country Club in 2022 and Winged Foot West in 2020.
The U.S. The Golf Association has narrowed fairways, which in some places can be as wide as 60 yards, for this Open. However, the North (7.381 yards, par 70, with five par 3s, and three par 5,) will still play wider than the typical Open layout. What does the term “strategic” mean and how will this be used in June? On the following pages you can see three examples of great play at LACC, along with information from StrackaLine about yardage books.
