
Chester Washington Course
Chester Washington Golf Course




About this course
Chester Washington Golf Course sits in the Exposition Park area of south-central Los Angeles, a municipal facility designed by Billy Bell Sr. and opened in 1928. The course was named for Chester Washington, a prominent African American journalist and civil rights advocate who worked for the *Los Angeles Sentinel*. During the era of segregation, this course became an important venue for Black golfers in Southern California, providing access when many other facilities remained closed to them. The layout occupies relatively flat terrain typical of the Los Angeles basin, with mature trees lining many fairways and defining the routing. Bell, who designed numerous courses throughout California during the early twentieth century, created a straightforward parkland design that fits the compact urban site. The course measures modest in length by contemporary standards, making it accessible to a wide range of players while still requiring accuracy and course management. Chester Washington has served the local community for nearly a century as an affordable public golf option in a densely populated part of Los Angeles. The facility reflects the municipal golf movement of the early twentieth century, when cities built courses to provide recreational opportunities for residents. Its historical significance extends beyond architecture, representing an important chapter in the integration of American golf and the struggle for equal access to public recreational facilities in California.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.
Best in World
Best in USA
Best in CA
Quick facts
- Location
- Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1953
- Holes
- 18
- Designer
- William Park Bell Sr.
- Par
- 70
- Length
- 6,272 yards
- Difficulty
- 72.7/121
- Course Vaults score
- 5.3
Getting there
Chester Washington Golf Course sits in the heart of South Los Angeles, most easily reached via Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), roughly twenty minutes north by car depending on traffic flow, or via the closer Long Beach Airport (LGB), a mere ten-minute drive away. The route traces through the residential neighborhoods of Compton and Watts, a direct and unpretentious passage through the fabric of the city itself - no mountain passes or coastal detours, but rather the authentic urban landscape that frames this public gem. The course emerges at the intersection of West 60th Street and South Halldale Avenue, a modest but welcoming entrance that reflects Chester Washington's role as a vital community anchor and accessible proving ground for Los Angeles golfers of all levels.

FAQ
Common questions about Chester Washington
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Chester Washington has a Course Vaults score of 5.3 out of 10 based on 24 logged golfers.
Chester Washington was designed by William Park Bell Sr..
Yes. Chester Washington is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Chester Washington is 70.
Chester Washington plays 6,272 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Chester Washington is 121.



