Harding Municipal Golf Course in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, opened on August 11, 1923, as Griffith Park Course No. 2. It was the first all-grass links in the park. A country club for the masses!
Name: Griffith Park Course No. 2, Warren G. Harding Memorial (renamed 1924)
Nickname: Riverside
Course: 18 Hole, all grass tees and greens.
Yards: 6423 yards
Par: 444444453 – 444435443 – 36 – 35 – 71
Open: August 11, 1923 – Postponed from August 4, due to the death of President Harding on August 3.
Green Fee: $1
Ten plus holes remain from the original 1923 layout.
Harding – 1,2,3,5,6,14,16, (4, tee, fairway – 1923 H13)
Wilson – 5,6,13 (10, tee, fairway – 1923 H10)
Architect: George C. Thomas Jr.
Construction Committee: chair. Edward B. Tufts (SCGA, CGA, LACC), Mrs. Ann Trabue (chair. Golf Advisory Board)
Assistants: Max Behr, William P. Bell
Superintendent: Carl Worthen
Professional: S.C.P.G.A. sec. J.A. “Pat” Patterson (absent – at National Open)
Park Commission: Pres., Mrs. Martha McCann, master of ceremonies
City of L.A.: Councilman Ralph Criswell (filling in for Mayor Cryer) accepted the new course from Ed Tufts.
Opening Exhibition Matches – 1 PM
The designer of the course, George C. Thomas Jr., drove the first ball in an amateur foursome. He was paired with Southern California and British Amateur champion, Willie Hunter, playing against Wilshire CC’s, Norman Macbeth and Annandale’s A.D.S. Johnston. Hunter and Thomas won the 18 hole match, 1 up.
The amateurs were followed by a foursome of professionals led by LACC’s Vic Dalberto and ex-LACC and Open champion Hutt Martin, who won their match, 3 up 2 to play, from Midwick Country Club’s Chick Fraser and Pasadena Golf Club’s Mel Smith.
The following day the course was open to the public for $1 green fee. Over 400 golfers played Course No. 2 (Harding), and 250 played the old No. 1 sand-green links.
What a gift they gave us!
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