Southern California club relaunches following $10 million renovation

El Caballero Country Club in Tarzana, California, recently celebrated its official relaunch following a three-year, $10 million renovation to modernize and increase the environmental sustainability and playability of its championship golf course.

The club’s par-71 golf course, which includes a history of hosting USGA, LPGA and charity events, underwent a comprehensive upgrade over the last three years. The course has been lengthened to 7,019 yards, with all turfgrass being replaced with a drought- and disease-tolerant hybrid Bermudagrass blend. Along with native landscaping, the new course design will save more than 35 million gallons of water per year, using 30 percent less water than in the past. Originally designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., the course was redesigned by his son, Rees Jones. Work also included strategic tree removal, improved designs on all putting greens, and better positioned bunkers and other elements.

“We are excited to relaunch El Caballero and position our championship golf course for the future, especially in light of recurring drought conditions in California and the need to be a responsible environmental leader in the golf community,” COO and general manager Phil Lopez said. “Now more than ever, we all need a sense of community and shared experiences to sustain us during these challenging times. We know our members feel that at El Cab.”

El Caballero is known for originally setting a new national standard as a non-discriminatory country club upon its opening in 1957. Founder Bernie Shapiro declared that “No person shall be denied the privilege of the club, or employment by it, because of their race, color, creed, gender or religious belief.” Instead, it evaluated potential members based on their reputation, community service and philanthropy.