Friendly Hills Country Club

Friendly Hills Country Club sits in the rolling terrain of Whittier in Southern California's San Gabriel Valley, roughly twenty miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The course was designed by Jimmy Hines, a regional architect active in California during the mid-twentieth century who created several layouts across the Southland. The club opened in the early 1960s as part of the suburban expansion that transformed much of eastern Los Angeles County during that era. The routing takes advantage of the natural hillside topography that characterizes this part of Whittier, with elevation changes providing variety throughout the round. The property features mature trees that frame many holes and define playing corridors, typical of Southern California parkland designs from this period. Views extend across the surrounding residential areas and toward the nearby Puente Hills. Friendly Hills operates as a private country club serving the Whittier community, offering traditional country club amenities alongside the golf course. The layout provides a straightforward test of golf suited to regular member play, with strategic interest derived from the sloping terrain and tree placement rather than extreme length or severe hazards. The course reflects the style of accessible, community-oriented country club design that became common in Southern California's postwar suburban development.