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A historic South Los Angeles course where championship golf, community and nearly a century of progress remain part of every round.
Before it was Chester Washington Golf Course, this South Los Angeles layout was already helping change the game.
Opened in 1928, the course became the first integrated golf course in Los Angeles County. At a time when access to the sport was far from equal, Chester offered something bigger than a tee time. It created a place where more people could play, compete and belong.
“Opened in 1928, Chester became the first integrated golf course in LA County.”
That history is woven into the course.
Before taking its current name, Chester hosted the Gardena Valley Open, a tournament that welcomed Black professional golfers who were often excluded from competing elsewhere. Charlie Sifford, who would later become the first Black golfer to earn full membership on the PGA TOUR, won the event three times.
Today, the APGA Tour continues that competitive legacy at Chester, bringing the next generation of professional golfers back to a course that helped open doors for those before them.
Championship history runs deep here, so bringing a little championship energy of our own felt right.
The par-70 layout stretches just under 6,300 yards. It is approachable on the scorecard, but the round asks more questions than the yardage might suggest.
Most holes carry the familiar look of classic parkland golf, with mature trees framing the fairways and shaping sightlines from the tee. Then the course suddenly opens up, introducing wider holes with a nearly links-style feel where wind, angles and creativity become part of the challenge.
“It is mostly classic park golf, but a few wide-open holes bring an almost links-style feel.”
Elevated par 3s make club selection matter. Water enters the picture twice. With only two par 5s, both waiting on the back nine, easy scoring opportunities are limited. If you want to post a number, you have to earn it across the entire round.
The value remains part of the story. A round costs around $60 with a cart and less than $50 to walk, with most players able to finish in under four and a half hours.
But the clearest glimpse into Chester’s identity might come before the first tee.
The range and practice area feel like a time capsule. Jazz and neo-soul play in the background while golfers trade stories, hit balls and work through the small frustrations of the game together. It is less about perfect swings and more about the familiar rhythm of a neighborhood course.
“Chips and camaraderie remind us why we play this game.”
That atmosphere cannot be manufactured. It comes from generations of golfers sharing the same space, adding their own stories to a place already filled with them.
Like the music playing across the practice area, Chester’s history transcends time. The names may change and new players may arrive, but the meaning still hits the same.
Chester Washington is more than a public golf course. It is a place where access became legacy, competition created opportunity and the game continues to bring people together.
Welcome to The Loop.