Updated on June 22nd, 2023 at 11:58 am
For a long time, golf has been associated with the rich, but things are slowly taking a turn with people from all walks of life gaining interest in it. While many golf courses have sprouted or undergone major renovations in the recent past, no two are the same. The design, routing, variety of holes, and schedule flexibility vary.
To help you choose, we’ve prepared a list of the ten best public golf courses in Riverside, CA.
Best Public Golf Courses in Riverside, California
Jurupa Hills Country Club
If you are looking for a good track at a reasonable price, the Jurupa Hills Country Club is it. As a privately owned public golf course, Jurupa Hills Country Club provides a luxury country club experience at competitive rates.
The 18-hole, par 70 course was designed by William F. Bell and opened its doors in 1960. Located in Riverside, CA, the course has three sets of tees: blue, white, and gold, to accommodate all skills.
The blue tees are ideal for expert golfers, while the gold tee is ideal for beginners. However, we should mention the fairways and greens are challenging and need precision; hence not ideal for true beginners. Luckily, there are teaching pros on site.
Its practice facility boasts of two large chipping and putting greens with a magnificent driving range hitting off a well-maintained turf. The fairways are beautifully lined with trees, and the bunkers are strategically placed.
Oak Quarry Golf Club
Oak Quarry Riverside Golf Club is located between Palm Springs and Los Angeles and 5 miles from Riverside. It’s a breathtaking public golf course that owes its picturesque setting to the history of the Jensen Quarry.
In its heydays, the quarry supplied LA with 88 minerals, including marble and limestone, used to build roads, residences, and buildings. The quarry was deserted in 1979, and 22 years later, Dr. Gil Morgan (a Championship Tour star) and the Schmidt-Curley team designed and transformed the terrain into the beauty it is today.
The course opened in 2000, and since then, it has amassed many accolades, including the ‘Top Ten Must Play List’ by L.A times and the ‘#1 Best Course in Inland Southern California’ by Tee It Up Magazine and Press-Enterprise.
The 18-hole course has 4 sets of tees for both experts and beginners. The clubhouse has a pro shop and a casual restaurant/lounge with views of the 16th – 18th hole.
Practice facilities have a driving range, plus chipping and putting greens. The on-property golf academy provides individual and group lessons and corporate clinics.
Goose Creek Golf Club
If you want to play where pro golfers have played before, Goose Creek Golf club is for you. Because of its fast greens, great course condition, and layout that presents a challenge to every golfer, Goose Creek has hosted numerous pro qualifying events over the years.
What’s more, the Goose Creek is nestled in Hidden Valley Wildlife Area and meanders along the Santa Ana River, making it a scenic course. The 18-hole, par 71 course has over 6,556 yards of play and is open all year round. The course was designed and built by Brian Curley and Lee. E. Schmidt in 1999.
It features four sets of tees, including blue, white, red, and gold. Gold is ideal for beginners, while blue favors experienced golfers. If you’d like to get better, teaching pros are available.
To save more, check out their twilight or weekday rates. The fact that they’ve spaced out their tee times encourages a decent pace of play which is refreshing. Also, this justifies their pricing, which is slightly higher than most public courses in Riverside, CA.
General Old Golf Course
The General Old Golf Course was opened in 1998 and is dedicated to Lieutenant General Archie Old jr., who was a pilot in Germany during the Second World War. As the commander, he was the first pilot to complete a nonstop flight around the world using a B52.
The General Old Golf Course is an 18-hole par 72 course with 6702 yards. At its highest point, you get a great view of the March Air Reserve Base. So, it’s the perfect course for you if you are a golfer with a love for aviation.
It has four sets of tees, blue, white, red, and gold, sloping between 109 and 120. Like most military courses, the General old is straightforward. Although the holes are lined with planted trees, golfers can get away with some poor shots.
Some amenities available include a clubhouse, a pro shop, restaurant, snack bar, bar, and beverage cart. They also have trolleys, clubs, and electro-carts for hire.
Van Buren Golf Center
This golf course is located on Van Buren Boulevard, Riverside, California, and is one of the best multipurpose golfing facilities in Riverside. The course has 3,000 yards of play and provides an environment and amenities for first-class play.
The landscape is beautifully designed with a lot of variety to make your golfing session challenging but interesting.
The club has 2 courses (a day and night course) with 9 holes each. Overall, they have three sets of tees blue, white and red (for women). Newbies looking to improve their game will love that the driving range provides a variety of practice spots to pick from. There are covered stalls and groomed grass to make practice sessions easier.
Hidden Valley Golf Club
This golf club was built in 1997. It’s a beautiful 18-hole, 72-par course stretching over 6880 yards. Architect Casey O’Callaghan’s idea was to combine a unique design with natural beauty. As a result, the course has natural vegetation, boulder, outcroppings, and dry streams spread out within it.
With five sets of tees, black, blue, white, silver, and red, the course provides a great challenge for golfers of different skill levels. The back tees will challenge an expert golfer to hit the ball over ravines and canyons to manicured fairways.
On the other hand, the middle tees require players to carry the golf ball over natural pots and, at the same time, reduce length for average golfers. The forward tees have minimal or no natural areas to hit the ball over; hence ideal for beginners to master golfing as they take in the beautiful surroundings.
Dos Lagos Golf Course
Dos Lagos Golf Course is located in Corona, CA. The 18-hole, 70-par course was designed by Matt Dye and opened in 2007. It has four sets of tees and is 6,544 yards from the longest tee.
Although it has a park-like feel, it offers an enjoyable challenge to golfers of different skill levels. As you play, you get to take in beautiful views of Cleveland National Forest.
Aside from golfing, the Dos Lagos Golf course has a large and beautiful Spanish clubhouse, making it an ideal spot for hosting weddings, parties, and events.
The course has tournaments every day of the week, with plenty of space left for beginners and average golfers to practice.
Fairmont Park Golf Course and Country Club
The Fairmount Park Golf Course in Riverside, CA, is a 9-hole, par of 36 course with 3,218 yards of play. It has three sets of tees, including blue, white, and red. The course was built in 1936 and has since grown into one of the best courses in Riverside. Overall, it has a slope rating of 114 and a course rating of 68.6.
Beginners can practice their skills at the driving range. However, they must do it themselves as the course has no teaching pros. On the bright side, it’s open all year long.
Although there are several things to look forward to, the favorite for most is the 160-yard, par 3 hole, which will require you to shoot over a beautiful lake.
Eagle Glen Golf Club
This is an 18-hole, 72-par golf facility that offers a good challenge for every golfer. With its four sets of tees and beautiful greens, it’s easily one of the best semi-private golf clubs in Riverside County.
The course was designed by Gary Roger Baird, who used coastal sage shrubs and oak trees to line the ravines and canyons. This created stunning views and, at the same time, added challenge intensity to the 7,000 yards of play.
We should also point out that the course has two distinct styles:
- A front nine with elevation changes forcing carries
- Back nine with link-style play and wind is a big factor
For beginner golfers, Eagle Glen provides the option to practice at their three-tiered practice facility and later dine at their casual grill.
Indian Hills Golf Club
Indian Hills Golf Club was built in 1965 in the base of Riverside County. The golf club incorporates a range of elevation changes with tees offering perfect views of the surrounding hills. The raised greens form the bulk of the course’s challenge.
The course’s layout is spaced out and doesn’t feature parallel fairways. On the flip side, the undulating terrain ensures you’ll encounter several uneven lies and tough blind shots.
There are also water hazards on a couple of holes and some bunkers strategically placed on some holes. But with all this, the main focus is the dramatic terrain rise and drops. On the 16th hole, there’s a daunting drop that every golfer dreads.
The 18-hole, par 70 golf course is open all year round and has teaching pros on-site to help with practice.
Final Thoughts
And there you have it, the best public golf courses in Riverside, CA. With their timeless designs and breathtaking views, these public golf courses make for great destinations on your next golfing trip. All you’ve got to do is book your tee times, and off you go.
Be sure to check out our other Golf course reviews across the US, including recent posts on AEC Info for the best Public golf courses in Maryland, Myrtle Beach, Conway, South Carolina and one a bit closer to home in California….the Best public golf courses in Fullerton, CA.
