Hansen Dam Golf Course

Course History

The dam that gives the course its name predates the golf by a generation. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed Hansen Dam in 1940 as flood control after the devastating Los Angeles flood of 1938, on land that had been the Hansen family's horse ranch. A quarter-century later, part of the recreation lands at the dam became golf: on April 11, 1964, officials — including Los Angeles Recreation and Parks general manager William Frederickson, City Councilman Louis R. Nowell, and County Supervisor Warren M. Dorn — celebrated the opening of the new nine-hole Hansen Dam Golf Course in Pacoima.

The layout subsequently grew into the full 18-hole, par-72 municipal course that plays today, with the original design credited to architect David W. Kent and later modifications overseen by Ray Goates. Now one of the City of Los Angeles's seven 18-hole municipal courses, Hansen Dam has been named a Golf Digest "Best Places to Play" award winner, and recent irrigation-system improvements and newly installed tee-to-green cart paths have restored lush, well-manicured conditions.

The Design & Architecture

Built on the face of the dam, the course splits into two distinct personalities: a relatively open front nine and a back nine where mature trees pinch the corridors and elevation changes shape nearly every shot. The turf is classic Southern California muni golf — kikuyu-grass fairways running to bentgrass greens that regulars describe as big and mostly flat — and out-of-bounds down the left side is a recurring theme across the routing.

Signature Holes

The most tempting hole comes early: the 2nd, a short, downhill par 4 that is potentially driveable — though the green hides behind a large tree on the left and out-of-bounds runs down that entire side. The back nine answers with the straightaway par-5 11th, reachable in two for longer hitters, and the downhill par-3 16th, again guarded by OB left.

The closer draws the most praise: the 18th is a long, uphill par 4 — an excellent finishing hole that plays even longer than its yardage and asks for two solid shots to protect a good score.

Playing the Course

From the back Black tees Hansen Dam stretches to 6,801 yards with a 72.1 rating and 124 slope — a legitimate test — while three shorter sets (down to 5,435 yards) keep it approachable for every level. The usual game plan is to score on the more open front nine, then keep the ball in play through the tree-lined back, where OB left punishes a pull. A lighted driving range with a combined grass-and-mat tee line, plus practice putting and chipping greens, makes it easy to warm up before a round.

Know Before You Go

• Public course at 10400 Glenoaks Blvd., Pacoima, CA 91331; call (818) 899-2200 for tee times and details.

• More info and booking at https://golf.lacity.gov/course_hansen_dam/.