Some of the best golf in Southern California exists only because someone cared enough to save it. Goat Hill Park is one of those places. An 18-hole short course that shouldn’t be here — but thankfully still is.

About ninety minutes south of Los Angeles on a good day, trending towards San Diego, Goat Hill is close enough to reach, far enough to feel like an escape.

Welcome back to The Loop.

Built modestly, saved intentionally

What began as a nine-hole course in the 1950s was later slated to get wiped out and replaced by new housing.

That was before it was rescued in 2014 by John Ashworth and a committed group who believed golf could serve more than just real estate.

Today, Goat Hill plays as an 18-hole, par-65 layout stretching just over 4,500 yards. It’s thoughtful, efficient, and exactly what most golfers are actually looking for — world-class design without unnecessary bells and whistles that tend to accompany it.

Golf that invites you in

No water hazards. Unintimidating rough. Drivable par fours if you’re feeling confident. A handful of blind tee shots that pull your attention away from the pin, and toward the SoCal scenery (which is as good as it gets).

The par threes bring elevation changes and long views. Miss near the greens and you’ll find revetted bunkers that feel pulled straight from Scotland — a reminder that intentional design doesn’t always require length.

There’s challenge here, but it’s welcoming.

A perfect course for scoring your 18-hole best. No need to tell your friends it’s a par-65.

Efficient, accessible, and intentionally priced

Golf.com calls it a Cult Classic, and it’s gained a pretty good reputation in SoCal. Despite becoming somewhat of a local destination track, it’s kept its price in check.

For under eighty dollars, you can walk 18 in about two and a half hours. Alongside your lower-than-usual final score, that’s another reason we love the par-65 option. You can get your fix without the five-hour outing.

Working-class roots run deep here — and it shows in the way the place feels, not the way it markets itself.

More than just 18 holes

Goat Hill is more than a course. They’ve got a full driving range, short-game areas, and a three-hole playground designed by Gil Hanse that’s free for kids and low-cost for accompanying players. Add in the Evans Scholars connection supporting caddie education, and the mission becomes clear.

Spend enough time here, and you realize it’s a lot more than just a course. It’s its own little ecosystem that has something for every golfer.

Why places like this matter

Goat Hill Park challenges the norm when it comes to what golf should look like. Par 72, Driving range, putting green, standard mix of Par threes, fours, fives. Four hours riding, five hours walking.

Not here. Here, we have a homey, welcoming par-65 track tucked into SoCal’s classic mountain-meets-coast terrain, designed to be great for kids, families, and seasoned golfers alike.

Goat Hill Park didn’t survive by chance — if it was up to chance, you’d see more apartment buildings than tee boxes. It exists today as proof that the future of golf can still look simple, social, and human.

Thanks for tuning into The Loop — where should we go next?