Big Canyon Country Club

Big Canyon Country Club occupies a naturally sculpted canyon setting in Newport Beach, where residential development and golf routing follow the contours of the terrain. Desmond Muirhead designed the course, bringing his characteristic approach to working with dramatic topography and creating strategic interest through bold contouring and green complexes. The layout navigates elevation changes throughout the canyon, with holes playing both along the canyon floor and across its slopes. The routing takes advantage of the property's natural amphitheater qualities, with fairways often framed by hillside homes and native vegetation. Several holes require carries over canyon areas or play to elevated or sunken greens that emphasize the land's vertical dimension. Muirhead's design philosophy, which often incorporated artistic and geometric elements into his shaping work, is evident in the green sites and bunkering patterns that define playing corridors and create visual interest against the canyon backdrop. Big Canyon serves a private membership in one of Orange County's established residential communities. The club operates within the context of Newport Beach's concentration of private golf facilities, offering members a course where the natural canyon topography remains the defining characteristic of the golfing experience. The layout requires course management and club selection that accounts for elevation changes, making local knowledge valuable for scoring.