The Golf Field House in Griffith Park (1918)

by J.I.B. Jones

The eighteen hole Griffith Park Municipal Golf Links opened in 1914.

1920 photo of the east facing Griffith Park Golf Field House

The original English style Golf Field House was funded through the Los Angeles city council and the Parks department budgets, and opened to golfers in May of 1918.

1933 field house with burn area and valley of death marked by the arrow.

Above is a photograph with the 1933 fire burn area marked on the hillside behind the field house, and with the arrow pointing into Mineral Springs canyon, where 33 unemployed volunteers died when they were sent down into the fire to fight it. The flames did not reach the clubhouse.

When money to build a bigger and better clubhouse became available with Federal infrastructure funds in the 1930’s, the W.P.A. built a new clubhouse, designed in the Spanish Mission style that tourists were expecting when they came to the land of Ramona! The new building was placed directly in front of the old “weatherbeaten and out-of-date field house,” which was then scrapped.

1935 sketch of the east facade of the new mission style Griffith Park golf clubhouse.

Today’s flag pole stands where the old clubhouse once stood. Could its grass island also be a homage to the round sand/oil greens of the old Municipal Links?


Written by J.I.B. Jones – All Images by J.I.B. Jones
©Copyright 2016 by golfhistoricalsociety/jibjones
Not to be reprinted without permission.
golfhistoricalsociety.org


2 thoughts on “The Golf Field House in Griffith Park (1918)”

  1. Hello I’ve come across a trophy. On it is Griffith Park Championship, Flight 1933. On bottom its marked PS Co. 1910, Hand Hammered. I was going to list it on eBay. I looked up history and thought someone there may want it. If you would like to make an offer. Were in San Diego. I do have pictures Thank you Bill

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