Berkeley Country Club

The appeal is not raw length: it is the sequence of hillside lies, angled bunkers, small targets, and broad views across San Francisco Bay. For golfers comparing Bay Area clubs, Berkeley offers a traditional private-club setting with a strategic course close to the urban core.

Current playing figures: the USGA Course Rating and Slope Database lists the men's Vista tees at 6,508 yards, par 72, with a 72.8 Course Rating and 135 Slope Rating. The club's centennial course account separately confirms the par-72 routing.

Course History

Berkeley Country Club was founded in 1920, and contemporary records place the course's opening in 1921. The club turned to founding member Robert Hunter, later a co-designer of Cypress Point, alongside veteran architect William "Willie" Watson, designer of the Olympic Club. Berkeley architect Walter Ratcliff Jr. designed the club's landmark English Tudor clubhouse in 1920, followed by a ballroom addition in 1924.

The course has hosted memorable competition over its century of play, including the 1929 Berkeley Open won by two-time Masters champion Horton Smith, as well as an exhibition match featuring reigning major champions Walter Hagen and Johnny Farrell. The club celebrated its centennial in 2020-2021.

The Design & Architecture

Historical research published by Forrest Richardson & Associates for the restoration credits club founder Robert Hunter with crafting the original layout, with Willie Watson helping bring that vision to paper.

A true classic of the Golden Age of golf course design, the layout was carefully routed over the property's existing natural terrain, incorporating dramatic elevation changes and breathtaking Bay vistas. In 2011, Forrest Richardson & Associates completed a comprehensive restoration faithful to the original Hunter and Watson design, restoring greens, returning 44 bunkers to their classic shapes, and adding a program of new tees, tree management and turf reduction. The project earned the inaugural "Award for Excellence" from the American Society of Golf Course Architects.

Playing the Course

Berkeley rewards placement more than power. The 6,508-yard Vista tees can look modest on paper, but uneven lies, elevation changes, Golden Age bunkering, and deceptively small targets make the 72.8/135 test play with more resistance than the yardage suggests. The strongest plan is often to choose an angle into the green, accept the terrain, and keep misses where a recovery remains possible.

Practice & Course Planning

The club's practice facilities include a driving range, a large putting green by the clubhouse, and a full-size short-game green for pitching, chipping, and bunker practice.

For a hole-by-hole look before a visit, explore the club's official course flyovers.

Know Before You Go

• Access: Berkeley Country Club is a private, members-only club; golf access is generally limited to members and their guests.

• Location: 7901 Cutting Blvd, El Cerrito, CA 94530, set in the East Bay hills. Older maps and listings may use Mira Vista Golf & Country Club, the club's former name.

• Guest prep: All golfers should check in at the golf shop before play. Review the club's current guest information for attire standards and other on-property policies.

• Tip: Warm up on the range before your round and take time to enjoy the Bay views, especially around the signature par-3 12th hole.

Sources & Further Reading

For current details and deeper context, see the club's history, guest information, practice-facility guide, course flyovers, and the restoration team's project history.

Course Film

Breaking 25 — Club Champions Edition, published by Berkeley Country Club's official channel, follows the club champions around the current course and gives useful context for its elevation changes, green surrounds, and Bay-facing setting.

Membership categories

Berkeley Country Club lists membership paths including Equity, Associate, Social, Corporate, and Junior. Ask the El Cerrito club which paths are currently open and exactly which golf privileges apply. Our San Francisco country club and membership guide compares nearby Bay Area options without treating them as San Francisco city clubs.