Catalina Island golf courses are not abundant. In fact, there is only one, but it happens to be a highly sought-after championship course that has been played by the likes of Tiger Woods, Corey Pavin, and Craig Stadler. Golfing on Catalina Island takes place at the Catalina Island Golf Course. It is a course with a lot of history behind it, having been originally built in 1892 by the Banning Brothers before changing hands to William Wrigley when he acquired the entire island to develop as a resort vacation destination.

The Catalina Island Golf Course is considered one of the oldest golf courses in the state of California. It is open to the public and is not at all prohibitively expensive. In fact, considering the history of the course and the picturesque setting of the rolling hills with the ocean beaches in the distance, the rates are relatively cheap. Golfing on Catalina has been one of the favorite pastimes for decades, and it remains so today.

Over the years this fabled course has taken on the shapes of several different Catalina Island golf courses. The golf course was originally designed and built to be a 9-hole course. It was expanded to an 18-hole course at one time, but due to an inability to maintain it during WWII, it fell into disrepair, and was ultimately restored to its original 9 holes.

Catalina Island Map

The Catalina Island golf course is now a 2,100-yard golf course that features two sets of tees for 18-hole play. To give you a sense of just how historic this course is, the Bobby Jones Invitational Tournament was held at the Catalina Golf Club for 24 years between 1931 and 1954. An interesting fact about the course is that Tiger Woods first played the course at the startlingly young age of four and then again as a part of a junior tournament when he was 14. It is famous for reasons like these, but just as much if not more, this course is famed for its natural beauty. The fairways and greens are ensconced in gorgeous hills that melt into the ocean. Views of the ocean from the tee boxes are worth the trip alone, no matter what the scorecard ends up saying. It is hard to imagine anyone walking away from a day on the links at the Catalina Golf Club disappointed, as this is one of the top things to do if you are a golfer.

Of course, you can also expect to find all of the amenities that come along with a championship-level course, including a club that serves a fine menu (reservations are highly recommended), a comprehensive pro shop, Taylormade club rentals, and a PGA Pro on the premises. You can rent a golf cart but hard spikes are strictly prohibited. Keep an eye out for the nearly 200-yard, par 3 seventh hole. This is a particularly challenging hole on the course and reminds people that a course does not have to be 6,000 yards to present a ready challenge.

No matter where you are staying on Catalina Island, whether in Avalon or Two Harbors, your hotel should be able to help arrange for tee times and reservations. Golfing on Catalina Island is a memory that you will not soon forget.