
Birch Hills Course
Birch Hills Golf Course


About this course
Birch Hills Golf Course sits in Brea, a city in northern Orange County where the coastal plain begins its rise toward the Puente Hills. The course was designed by Casey O'Callaghan with Harry and David Rainville, a collaboration that brought together O'Callaghan's Southern California design experience with the Rainvilles' work in course architecture and construction. The layout reflects the transitional topography of this part of Orange County, where modest elevation changes and natural drainage patterns shape the routing. The course serves the Brea community as a public facility, offering accessible golf in a region where land development has historically limited the number of municipal and daily-fee options. The design works within the constraints typical of urban Southern California courses, balancing playability for a wide range of golfers with enough strategic interest to reward thoughtful course management. Tree-lined fairways and conventional bunkering define the playing corridors, while the property's natural contours provide some variety in lies and approach angles. Birch Hills functions as a neighborhood course where local players return regularly, drawn by familiarity and convenience rather than championship pedigree. The facility reflects the practical realities of maintaining public golf in a densely developed area, where operational efficiency and steady play matter as much as design ambition. For golfers in northern Orange County, it represents a straightforward option for a round without the drive to more distant or exclusive venues.
Quick facts
- Location
- Brea, CA, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1974
- Designer(s)
- Casey O'Callaghan, Harry Rainville, David Rainville
- Holes
- 18
- Par
- 59
- Length
- 3,120 yards
- Difficulty
- 57.2/87
Getting there
The journey to Birch Hills Golf Course begins at nearby Long Beach Airport (LGB), a mere twenty minutes south, or alternatively through the larger Los Angeles International hub (LAX), situated roughly forty-five minutes to the west across the sprawling Orange County basin. From either gateway, the drive inland traces a gentle ascent through suburban Orange County's rolling terrain, transitioning from coastal flatlands into the low hills that define Brea's distinctive topography. The final miles wind through tree-lined residential corridors before arriving at the course's gates, where the landscape opens to reveal the manicured fairways and native oak groves that distinguish this private sanctuary in the heart of Southern California's most coveted golfing region.

FAQ
Common questions about Birch Hills
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Birch Hills was designed by Casey O'Callaghan, Harry Rainville, and David Rainville.
Yes. Birch Hills is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Birch Hills is 59.
Birch Hills plays 3,120 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Birch Hills is 87.
Birch Hills is a 18-hole course.



