BIRNAM WOOD GOLF CLUB
🇺🇸 Santa Barbara, CA, USA
Designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr.



Birnam Wood Golf Club sits in the foothills above Montecito, just east of Santa Barbara, where the Santa Ynez Mountains provide a dramatic backdrop to one of Robert Trent Jones Sr.'s California designs. Opened in 1966, the course occupies rolling terrain characterized by elevation changes, mature oak trees, and views that extend toward the Pacific Ocean and Channel Islands on clear days. Jones routed the layout to take advantage of the natural contours, creating a parkland setting that contrasts with the more arid landscape typical of Southern California coastal courses.
The design reflects Jones's signature style from that era: strategic bunkering, large greens with pronounced undulation, and holes that reward accurate placement over pure distance. Water comes into play on several holes, and the elevation shifts throughout the round add variety to club selection and shot-making demands. The course measures over 6,600 yards from the back tees, though multiple tee boxes accommodate different skill levels.
Birnam Wood operates as a private club with a membership drawn largely from the Montecito and Santa Barbara communities. The club maintains a relatively low profile compared to some of its neighbors in the area, focusing on golf and family recreation rather than high-profile tournaments or public attention. The setting, tucked into the foothills with limited visibility from public roads, reinforces the secluded character that defines many of the estates and clubs in this part of the California coast.
Reviews
Santa Barbara holds a special place in my heart, as does Birnam Wood. It’s a small but charming club - the kind of place that never feels pretentious, yet instantly draws you in with its setting. The Santa Barbara mountains rise in the distance, while stately oaks frame the fairways and the landscaping takes on a storybook quality - equal parts garden, grove, and golf. The effect is both peaceful and picturesque, the sort of place that invites you to linger long after the round is over. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., the course makes clever use of a relatively small plot of land once home to a lemon orchard. Accuracy is at a premium here, with narrow corridors and plenty of variety in shot demands. In that sense, it reminds me of Harbour Town: not long, but precise. The driving range is on the smaller side and tucked away, but more than adequate to loosen up (you won’t miss the driver much here anyway). Off the course, Birnam Wood’s reputation for food is exceptional. The head chef is known for traveling the world to bring back new recipes, and many consider it the best dining of the four major clubs in Santa Barbara - outshining Valley Club (across the road), Montecito, and La Cumbre. Definitely stay for a bite and beer at the end of a fun round.
FAQ
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Birnam Wood at Birnam Wood Golf Club has a Course Vaults score of 7.7 out of 10 based on 7 explicit golfer ratings.
Birnam Wood was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr..
Birnam Wood at Birnam Wood Golf Club is listed as private on Course Vaults; guest access is typically restricted.
Par at Birnam Wood is 70.
Birnam Wood plays 6,016 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Birnam Wood is 127.