Eaton Canyon Golf Course

Eaton Canyon Golf Course sits in Pasadena, California, at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains, occupying land near the mouth of Eaton Canyon itself. Designed by William F. Bell and opened in the late 1960s, the course operates as a municipal facility serving the greater Los Angeles area. Bell, a prolific Southern California architect who designed or redesigned dozens of public courses throughout the region during the mid-twentieth century, created a layout here that works with the natural terrain and drainage patterns flowing from the nearby foothills. The course plays relatively short by modern standards, characteristic of municipal designs from its era, with routing that accommodates golfers of varying skill levels. The property features mature trees and modest elevation changes, with views toward the San Gabriel Mountains providing a scenic backdrop. The layout reflects Bell's practical approach to public golf design: straightforward holes that move efficiently across available land while offering strategic interest through green complexes and bunkering rather than excessive length. Eaton Canyon serves as an accessible option for Pasadena residents and visitors, maintaining its role as a neighborhood course where daily-fee play predominates. The facility includes standard practice areas and a clubhouse appropriate to its municipal character. The course's proximity to hiking trails and natural areas in the Eaton Canyon Natural Area connects it to the broader recreational landscape of the San Gabriel Valley.