Tilden Park at Tilden Park Golf Course

Tilden Park Golf Course sits in the hills above Berkeley, California, within Tilden Regional Park. Designed by William P. Bell and opened in 1936, the course was built as a public facility during the Depression era and remains one of the East Bay's most accessible municipal layouts. Bell, a prolific architect throughout California during the early-to-mid twentieth century, routed the course across rolling terrain with views extending west toward San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate.

The layout measures just over 6,200 yards from the back tees and plays as a par 70. The routing takes advantage of the property's natural elevation changes, with several holes climbing uphill and others descending through stands of eucalyptus and oak. The terrain creates a variety of stances and approach angles, and the greens tend to be modest in size with subtle contours. Wind from the bay can be a factor, particularly on exposed holes along the ridgeline.

As a municipal course within a regional park system, Tilden Park serves a broad cross-section of Bay Area golfers. The setting offers a contrast to urban Berkeley below, with trail access and park amenities nearby. The course has undergone periodic maintenance updates over the decades while retaining much of Bell's original routing and character. It remains a straightforward test of golf that rewards accuracy and course management over length.