The Los Angeles Country Club's North Course has emerged as a gold standard for golf course restoration, seamlessly merging George Thomas's original 1920s vision with contemporary enhancements by renowned architects Gil Hanse and Geoff Shackelford. This par-71, 7,236-yard championship layout carries a formidable 75.7 rating and 143 slope, offering a test that rewards both power and strategic thinking.
The course begins with a deceptive opening stretch on relatively flat terrain behind the clubhouse. The first hole, a strategic par-5, features four artfully placed bunkers that demand careful navigation. "The alternating bunker pattern forces players to make decisions right from the start," noted Hanse during the restoration. The second hole immediately raises the stakes with a demanding par-4 where the tilted fairway funnels shots toward the preferred left-side approach angle.
Blind shots become a recurring theme starting at the third hole, where golfers face a classic risk-reward decision. "Thomas loved giving players options," Shackelford explained. "Here you can play safe to the right or take on the carry over the hill for a better angle." The downhill par-3 fourth showcases Thomas's genius for deceptive green complexes, where what appears to be the safe miss often proves most treacherous.
The course's most controversial hole comes at the driveable 320-yard sixth, where players must choose between a conservative valley route or a bold carry over the right hillside. "From the ideal position, you're still facing one of the most demanding wedge shots in golf," Hanse observed. The green's severe leftward tilt and narrow dimensions make birdies rare despite the short length.
As the round progresses, the course reveals its full array of challenges. The 240-yard seventh demands precision with long irons, while the eighth showcases Thomas's architectural brilliance with its double-dogleg design along a natural wash. "This hole requires every shot shape in your bag depending on pin position," Shackelford noted.
The front nine concludes with a deceptively difficult par-3 ninth. "What looks simple from the tee becomes terrifying when you see the green's severe back-to-front slope," Hanse remarked. The restoration team preserved this characteristic while improving playability, a balance maintained throughout the project.
LACC North's restoration demonstrates how modern techniques can honor classic designs while meeting contemporary expectations. The course's strategic bunkering, varied shot requirements, and thoughtful green complexes create a round that's both challenging and endlessly fascinating. As more clubs consider restoration projects, LACC North stands as a compelling case study in how to do it right.