Sherwood Country Club
Jack Nicklaus opened Sherwood Country Club in 1989, a par 72 of about 7,088 yards laid through oak canyons against the Santa Monica Mountains north of Los Angeles. For more than a decade it hosted Tiger Woods' year end invitational, and it remains one of the most private and polished addresses in Southern California golf.
Photo via Google, contributed by Gabriel Ratliff.
The verdict
Jack Nicklaus routed Sherwood in 1989 through a sheltered fold of the Conejo Valley, where ancient oaks, a creek and the rising wall of the Santa Monica Mountains give the course its drama. Manicured to championship standard year round, it became a television fixture as the home of Tiger Woods' invitational, the small, elite field event that closed the golf calendar each December. The setting is as exclusive as the golf is demanding.
Our verdict: this is a private club of the highest order, a parkland test that asks for precise positioning off the tee and a deft touch around firm, tilted greens. It is not a course the traveling golfer simply books, but for those with an introduction it is among the finest experiences in Greater Los Angeles. For the wider regional picture, see our best golf courses in California.
Sherwood Country Club at a glance
- Opened
- 1989
- Designer
- Jack Nicklaus
- Type
- Parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,088 yds
- Access
- Private, members only
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Nicklaus Design and leading course databases: Jack Nicklaus, 1989, par 72, about 7,088 yards. Sherwood is a private, members only club with no public green fee; play is by membership or member introduction. Any cost figures quoted elsewhere are unofficial, so always confirm access directly before planning.
The holes worth the trip
Sherwood's character comes from its trees and its terrain. The fairways thread between mature oaks and along the base of the hills, so the premium is on driving the ball into the correct portion of the short grass rather than simply long. Stray into the canyon shadows and the recovery is rarely simple.
The par 3s are a highlight, played to greens set against rock, water and timber, where club selection shifts with the canyon air and the afternoon breeze. Nicklaus built greens that run firm and quick, rewarding the player who works the ball into the slope and punishing the careless approach with long, breaking putts.
The closing holes have decided big money exhibitions and gather the round's tension, asking for two clean swings and a steady stroke when it matters. Sherwood is a thinking player's parkland, a course to plot rather than overpower, and a benchmark for the private golf that rings Los Angeles. It sits naturally alongside the city's other great tests, such as the Los Angeles Country Club North Course.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private, members only; there is no public tee sheet and play is by membership or as the guest of a member |
| Green fee | No public green fee is published; member and guest play only (always confirm access directly) |
| Booking | Visits are arranged through a member; the club does not take public reservations |
| On the day | Caddies and carts are available; dress and etiquette are formal in keeping with a private club |
| Getting there | In Thousand Oaks off US 101, about 45 minutes northwest of central Los Angeles and 40 minutes from LAX in light traffic |
| Best months | Year round play; spring and autumn bring the most settled, comfortable conditions in the Conejo Valley |
Access verified June 2026 from leading databases and club listings. Sherwood is strictly private; a tee time requires a member introduction, so confirm any arrangement directly well in advance.
Where to stay nearby
Thousand Oaks and the wider Conejo Valley offer comfortable upscale hotels within minutes of the club, while Malibu and the coast sit just over the hills for those who want the ocean on their doorstep. For a golf trip, many visitors base in Greater Los Angeles or near the airport and treat Sherwood as the centerpiece of a private club itinerary.
This corner of Southern California is rich in marquee golf within an easy drive, so a Sherwood round pairs naturally with the city's other private classics. Build it into a wider Los Angeles trip alongside courses like the great championship layouts up the coast for a tour of California's best.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Sherwood Country Club.
Build a Southern California golf trip
We design private club itineraries around Greater Los Angeles, pair marquee rounds with the right lodging, and handle the logistics. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Sherwood Country Club questions
Who designed Sherwood Country Club and when did it open?
Sherwood Country Club is a Jack Nicklaus signature design that opened in 1989 in Thousand Oaks, California, in the Conejo Valley north of Los Angeles.
What is the par and length of Sherwood Country Club?
Sherwood Country Club is a par 72 measuring about 7,088 yards from the back tees, routed through oak filled canyons against the Santa Monica Mountains.
Can the public play Sherwood Country Club?
No. Sherwood Country Club is a private, members only club. Play is by membership or as the guest of a member, and there is no public tee sheet.
What tournament did Sherwood Country Club host?
Sherwood hosted Tiger Woods' invitational year end event, known over the years as the Williams World Challenge and the Hero World Challenge, for more than a decade from 2000.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; access verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.