Blackhawk Country Club (Lakeside)

The Lakeside Course at Blackhawk Country Club is one of two private championship layouts at this prestigious club set in the rolling hills of Danville, California, in the San Ramon Valley. Opened in 1981, the 18-hole, par-72 course makes dramatic use of the natural terrain, elevated tees, and water features, culminating in a show-stopping island-green finishing hole. Combined with an elegant clubhouse and full-service amenities, the Lakeside Course offers members a scenic and demanding golf experience in the East Bay.

Quick Facts

Course History

The Lakeside Course opened in 1981 as the original golf course of Blackhawk Country Club, designed by the renowned architectural partnership of Bruce Devlin and Robert von Hagge. It quickly established Blackhawk as one of the premier private clubs in Northern California, with a layout that took full advantage of the dramatic hillside terrain surrounding the community.

In 2001, the course was completely reimagined and renovated by the acclaimed firm of Graves & Pascuzzo, modernizing the layout while preserving its championship character. A second 18 holes, the Falls Course, was added to the club in 1986, giving members two distinct courses to enjoy.

The Design & Architecture

The Lakeside Course makes dramatic use of the natural terrain, with elevated tees, significant elevation changes, and strategically placed water hazards demanding both precision and power. Its most celebrated feature is the 18th hole, a striking island green surrounded by a lake, widely regarded as one of the most dramatic finishing holes in California. The 2001 Graves & Pascuzzo renovation refined the bunkering and playing corridors while retaining the bold, water-defined character that gives the course its name.

Signature Holes

The unquestioned signature is the 18th, a par 4 of 402 yards from the Black tees that finishes on a 24,000-square-foot island green surrounded by a three-acre lake. The approach must carry water to a putting surface that, while generous by island-green standards, leaves no bailout — a nerve-testing conclusion that has made the hole one of the most photographed closers in the East Bay.

The toughest test on the card comes earlier: the 15th, a par 5 stretching to 620 yards from the Black tees, is rated the No. 1 handicap hole for both men and women and demands three well-struck shots to reach the green. It is followed closely by the 16th, the longest of the one-shotters at 224 yards from the tips, capping a closing stretch that decides most matches at Blackhawk.

Playing the Course

Playing to 6,775 yards from the back tees with a par of 72, the Lakeside Course carries a Course Rating of 73.4 and a Slope of 140, and is rated by the NCGA among the ten most difficult courses in Northern California. Rye grass greens and fairways provide firm, true playing surfaces. The combination of elevation changes, water, and a nerve-testing island-green finish rewards accurate shot-making and thoughtful course management from tee to green.

Know Before You Go

• Blackhawk Country Club is a private club; access to the Lakeside Course is generally limited to members and their guests.

• Located at 599 Blackhawk Club Dr, Danville, CA 94506, in the San Ramon Valley of the East Bay.

• This is one of two 18-hole courses at Blackhawk; be sure to confirm you are booked on the Lakeside Course rather than the sister Falls Course.

• With a Slope of 140 and a demanding island-green 18th, it plays as a true championship test; contact the club at (925) 736-6500 for tee times and guest policies.