
East Course
Country Club of Birmingham
About this course
The East Course at the Country Club of Birmingham represents a collaboration between two architects working decades apart. Donald Ross designed the original layout in the 1920s during his prolific period of course construction across the American South. John LaFoy later contributed renovations and modifications that updated the design while maintaining its foundational character. The course sits in the rolling terrain characteristic of the Birmingham area, where elevation changes and natural contours provide the framework for strategic golf. Ross's design principles remain evident in the routing, which takes advantage of the property's topography to create variety in hole presentation and shot requirements. The greens feature the subtle interior contours and false fronts typical of Ross's work, demanding precise approach play and thoughtful putting. LaFoy's involvement helped adapt the course to modern equipment and maintenance practices while preserving the strategic elements that define the original design. The Country Club of Birmingham has served as the primary club for the city's established families since its founding in the early twentieth century. The club maintains a traditional membership culture focused on golf, tennis, and social activities. The East Course hosts regular member competitions and has occasionally served as a venue for state and regional amateur championships, reflecting its standing among Alabama's private clubs.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Private column compares member-only and guest-restricted courses.
Best in World
Best in USA
Best in AL
Quick facts
- Location
- Birmingham, AL, USA
- Access
- Private
- Year built
- 1927
- Holes
- 18
- Designer(s)
- Donald Ross, John LaFoy
- Par
- 70
- Length
- 6,564 yards
- Difficulty
- 70.7/130
- Course Vaults score
- 8.0
Getting there
The journey to the Country Club of Birmingham typically begins at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, a brief fifteen-minute drive northeast of the club's storied grounds in the city's Mountain Brook enclave. The route winds through tree-canopied neighborhoods where the urban grid softens into the rolling, wooded terrain that defines Birmingham's most established residential quarter. As you turn onto the club's discreet entrance, the transition is immediate - a quiet passage beneath old-growth hardwoods that signals arrival at one of the Deep South's most venerable private sanctuaries, where the game has been played with quiet reverence since 1898.

FAQ
Common questions about East at Country Club of Birmingham
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
East at Country Club of Birmingham has a Course Vaults score of 8.0 out of 10 based on 26 logged golfers.
East was designed by Donald Ross and John LaFoy.
East at Country Club of Birmingham is listed as private on Course Vaults; guest access is typically restricted.
Par at East is 70.
East plays 6,564 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at East is 130.




