Golf in Los Angeles

Golf

The City Parks and Recreation Department lists seven public 18-hole courses in Los Angeles, and L.A. County runs some good ones, too. Rancho Park Golf Course (10460 W. Pico Blvd., West L.A. 310/838-7373) is one of the most heavily played links in the country. It's a beautifully designed course, but the towering pines present an obstacle for those who slice or hook. There's a two-level driving range, a 9-hole pitch 'n' putt, a snack bar, and a pro shop where you can rent clubs.

Several good public courses are in the San Fernando Valley. The Sepulveda Golf Complex (16821 Burbank Blvd., Encino. 818/995-1170) has the Balboa course (par 70) and the longer Encino course (par 72), plus a driving range. Five lakes and occasional wildlife spottings make the Woodley Lakes Golf Course (6331 Woodley Ave., Van Nuys. 818/780-6886) fairly scenic. It's flat and thus somewhat forgiving, but the back 9 is more challenging, with only one par 4 under 400 yards.

If you want a scenic course, you've got it in spades at the county-run, par-71 Los Verdes Golf Course (7000 W. Los Verdes Dr., Rancho Palos Verdes. 310/377-7370). You get a cliff-top view of the ocean -- time it right and you can watch the sun set behind Catalina Island.

Griffith Park has two splendid 18-hole courses along with a challenging 9-hole course. Harding Municipal Golf Course and Wilson Municipal Golf Course (4730 Crystal Springs Dr., Los Feliz. 323/663-2555) are about 1 1/2 mi inside the park entrance, at Riverside Drive and Los Feliz Boulevard. Bridle paths surround the outer fairways, and the San Gabriel Mountains make a scenic background. The 9-hole Roosevelt Municipal Golf Course (2650 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz. 323/665-2011) can be reached through the park's Vermont Avenue entrance.

Sitting on landfill, the Scholl Canyon Golf Club (3800 E. Glenoaks Blvd., Glendale. 818/243-4100) may only be a par 60, but it's fun and challenging, attractive for its top condition as well as its ups and downs and elevated views. You may recall the 9-hole pitch 'n' putt Los Feliz Municipal Golf Course (3207 Los Feliz Blvd., Los Feliz. 323/663-7758) from the movie Swingers. The Holmby Park Pitch 'n' Putt (601 Club View Dr., near Beverly Glen. 310/276-1604) is truly cozy: the longest hole is 68 yards.

For those who love to watch the pros in action, the hot golf ticket in town each February is the PGA Nissan Open (800/752-6736). The $5.2 million purse attracts the best golfers in the world to its week of competition at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades.