Black Gold Golf Club

Designed by acclaimed architect Arthur Hills and opened in 2001, the par-72 layout is known for bold elevation changes, native hillsides, and a memorable finishing hole framed by a cascading waterfall.

Course History & Design

Black Gold takes its name from the land it occupies: a reclaimed Shell oil field in the hills of northern Yorba Linda, where working derricks once dotted the ridges. Opened in 2001, the course was routed by Arthur Hills, whose team used the site's severe topography rather than fighting it, laying holes across canyons and along the rims of the foothills. The result is a course of constant movement, with tee shots that drop toward valley fairways and approaches that climb to perched green sites.

The design leans on natural hazards — native brush-covered slopes, deep barrancas, and strategically placed water — to frame each hole. The par-4 18th is the signature moment, a downhill finisher played toward the clubhouse alongside a cascading waterfall and lake, a fitting close to a round defined by elevation and views.

Playing the Course

At 6,756 yards from the back tees with a course rating of 73.2 and a slope of 136, Black Gold plays tougher than its scorecard length suggests. The hilly terrain produces uneven and often uphill or downhill lies, and misjudged clubs on the elevation-change holes are the quickest way to lose strokes. Multiple tee sets stretching down to under 5,000 yards keep the course playable for a wide range of golfers, but every player benefits from staying below the hole and respecting the native slopes off the fairway.

Know Before You Go

• Access: Public, daily-fee — open to all players; book tee times online or by phone.

• Location: 1 Black Gold Drive, Yorba Linda, CA 92886, in the foothills of northern Orange County.

• Contact: Call (714) 961-0060 or visit blackgoldgolf.com for rates, tee times, and events.

• Amenities: Full-service clubhouse and restaurant, practice range, and a popular venue for weddings and outings thanks to its hilltop views.

• Tip: The elevation changes make yardages deceptive — take one extra club on uphill approaches and enjoy the panoramic views on the way down 18.