VALENCIA COUNTRY CLUB

The rolling canyon terrain north of Los Angeles creates natural elevation changes that architect Robert Trent Jones Sr. exploited masterfully in this 1965 design. Strategic bunkering guards every approach, while the par-3 16th plays dramatically downhill through a chute of ancient oaks to a green that seems to float above the Santa Clara River valley. Members here understand that precision trumps power on these tree-lined fairways, where even single-digit handicappers must think their way around rather than overpower the layout.