La Cumbre Country Club

La Cumbre Country Club sits in the foothills above Santa Barbara, where the course occupies rolling terrain with views toward the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains. The club dates to 1928, with an original layout by Tom Bendelow that was substantially revised by George C. Thomas Jr. in the early 1930s. Thomas, known for his work at Riviera and Bel-Air, reshaped the routing and introduced the strategic bunkering and green complexes that define the course today. Later modifications by William Francis Bell and Willie Watson refined individual holes while preserving Thomas's design principles. The routing moves through varied topography, with elevation changes that create natural amphitheater settings for several holes and require thoughtful club selection. Thomas's characteristic use of deep, sculpted bunkers and contoured greens demands precision on approach shots, and the layout rewards players who can work the ball both ways. The property features mature trees, including oaks and eucalyptus, that frame fairways without overly constricting play. La Cumbre has long served as a private retreat for Santa Barbara's established community, maintaining a low profile compared to more publicized Southern California clubs. The course emphasizes traditional shot values and strategic variety rather than extreme length, reflecting Thomas's belief that good architecture tests skill and judgment across all levels of play. The club's setting and design continuity make it a representative example of Golden Age architecture adapted to California's coastal foothills.