Riverside of Fresno at Riverside Golf Club of Fresno

Riverside Golf Club of Fresno occupies a mature setting along the San Joaquin River corridor in California's Central Valley. William P. Bell designed the course in the late 1930s, part of his prolific body of work throughout California during the Golden Age of golf architecture. Bell, who learned the craft under his father William Bell and worked extensively across the western United States, brought his characteristic attention to strategic bunkering and green contours to this inland layout.

The course takes advantage of the river's natural topography, with several holes playing along or near the water's edge. Mature trees—sycamores, oaks, and cottonwoods—frame many fairways and create defined corridors that reward accuracy off the tee. The routing incorporates moderate elevation changes uncommon in the otherwise flat Central Valley landscape, adding variety to the shot-making demands. Bell's greens feature subtle breaks and require careful reading, a hallmark of his design philosophy.

Riverside has served as a traditional private club in Fresno for more than eight decades, providing a retreat from the valley's agricultural surroundings. The course reflects the classic parkland style that Bell refined throughout his career, with an emphasis on playability for members while maintaining strategic interest. The layout has undergone periodic updates to accommodate modern equipment and maintenance practices, though the essential character of Bell's design remains evident in the bunkering patterns and green complexes.