1. Black Gold Golf Club
One Black Gold Drive, Yorba Linda; 714-961-0060; blackgoldgolf.com
Players can’t get their fill of the Black Gold Club, and that’s now literally the case as the course’s Derrick’s Grille earned recognition from the National Golf Foundation’s 2025 Golfers’ Voice Awards for Food and Beverage.
That’s just the latest accolade for the Yorba Linda municipal course that continually scores above its weight in a high-toned category.
In transforming Derrick’s from a mere amenity to a full-scale foodie paradise, where meals are made from scratch daily, Black Gold and Kemper Sports continue to make the experience about more than just the golf. That said, golf continues to be the selling point at this gem of a course.
“It’s a great course and we just make it better,” said General Manager Rich Cessna of ongoing changes to the 23-year-old course.
One big change is the retirement of Bill Houlihan as course superintendent and the hiring of Ben Alford. Already Alford has made his presence felt, reseeding tee boxes with kikuyu grass to dissuade the local rabbit population from scarfing up the tee areas.
Cessna said the 6,756-yard course continues to evolve in subtle ways, softening certain parts for higher-handicap golfers, while ratcheting up the challenges elsewhere. “We try to keep it pleasing and playable,” he said.
The lake and the course’s signature waterfall continue to be main features of the 18th hole. Oh, and Derrick’s afterward.
2. Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club
26722 Avery Parkway, Mission Viejo; 949-305-5100; arroyotrabuco.com
Celebrating its 21st birthday, Arroyo Trabuco has come of age and consistently ranks among the best courses in Orange County, due in part to its dedication to upgrades to the course and the playing experience.
“We really try to take the customer experience and make it attractive,” says PGA Club Manager Geoff Cram. ”We try to make the vibe joyful. We want people to show up and say ‘Wow, you’re doing something different here.’”
Arroyo Trabuco recently doubled its putting green to more than 20,000 square feet, complete with music, picnic tables and a numbered practice putting course.
The improvements add to an iconic course known for its beauty and sense of sanctuary. The course, designed by Casey O’Callaghan and PGA Tour Pro Tom Lehman, is tucked into a 2,400-acre reserve, and flexibly designed to play anywhere from about 5,000 yards to a full-on par 72, 7,000 yards.
3. Pelican Hill Golf Club
22800 S. Pelican Hill Road, Newport Beach; 844-878-0942; golfpelicanhill.com
“Every hole is a signature hole,” General Manager Robert Ford says of the twin courses at Pelican Hill Golf Club.
With ocean views from all 36 holes at the Resort at Pelican Hill, if the breathtaking Tom Fazio-designed courses aren’t on your bucket list, they should be.
The North course, par 71, 6,945 yards, challenges the most accomplished golfers with its ravines, wind and tricky greens, while the popular and more sedate and sheltered par-70, 6,580-yard South Course, with four ocean-side holes, invites and tests golfers of every level. Although it caters to resort guests, Ford says the public is “a very big part of our business,” as are members of the golf club. There are twilight and evening rates available.
A multitude of club and resort eating and drinking choices from casual to high-end are ready there for post-round fun.
Originally Published: September 19, 2025 at 5:52 AM PDT
