BUENAVENTURA GOLF COURSE
🇺🇸 Ventura, CA, USA
Designed by Forrest Richardson, William Francis Bell

BuenaVentura Golf Course sits on the coastal plain of Ventura, California, where the original William Francis Bell design from 1932 has served as a municipal facility for generations of Southern California golfers. The course underwent significant renovation work by Forrest Richardson, who updated the layout while respecting the bones of Bell's routing. The property occupies relatively flat terrain characteristic of the Ventura River valley, with mature trees—many dating to the original planting—defining corridors and framing greens throughout the eighteen holes.
The layout reflects the straightforward, accessible character typical of Depression-era municipal designs, where playability for a broad range of golfers took precedence over penal architecture. Bell, who designed numerous courses across California during the 1920s and 30s, created a routing that works within the constraints of the site's gentle topography. Richardson's later work addressed agronomic and strategic updates common to courses of this vintage, including green complex restoration and bunker repositioning.
BuenaVentura functions as Ventura's primary public golf facility, serving both residents and visitors exploring the coastal region between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. The course operates year-round under the temperate climate of the California coast, with ocean breezes from the nearby Pacific influencing conditions. The clubhouse and practice facilities support a steady flow of daily-fee play, maintaining the course's role as an affordable option in a region where golf real estate often commands premium pricing.
Reviews
FAQ
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
BuenaVentura at BuenaVentura Golf Course has a Course Vaults score of 7 out of 10 based on 1 explicit golfer rating.
BuenaVentura was designed by Forrest Richardson and William Francis Bell.
Yes. BuenaVentura at BuenaVentura Golf Course is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at BuenaVentura is 70.
BuenaVentura plays 5,826 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at BuenaVentura is 111.