Contra Costa Country Club

Its 18-hole course moves through rolling East Bay terrain below Mount Diablo, pairing a historic A. Vernon Macan foundation with later work by Robert Muir Graves and Robert Trent Jones II. The result is a strategic, walkable course whose modest yardage places a premium on position, angles, and confident approach play.

Course facts and current rating: USGA National Course Rating Database.

Course History

The club was founded in 1925, when A. Vernon Macan laid out an original nine-hole course across the Pleasant Hill property. Water scarcity limited early expansion, but completion of the Contra Costa Canal eventually made a second nine possible. Members began staking the additional land in 1948, and the full 18-hole course opened on July 4, 1950. The organization formally changed its name from Contra Costa Golf Club to Contra Costa Country Club in 1964.

Course history: official club history.

Design & Architecture

Macan's routing established the course's strategic DNA, using the property's natural changes in elevation and diagonal lines of play rather than relying on length alone. Robert Muir Graves rebuilt the greens in 1992 with bentgrass surfaces. Robert Trent Jones II completed a broader redesign in 2015, updating the course for the modern game while retaining its traditional East Bay character.

Course overview and renovation record: official golf page.

Playing the Course

From the current 4 Acorn men's tees, Contra Costa plays 6,528 yards at par 72, with a 72.0 Course Rating and 133 Slope Rating. Those numbers understate some of the decision-making demanded by the rolling ground. Positioning off the tee shapes approach angles, and the compact bentgrass targets reward distance control more than brute force.

Know Before You Go

• Contra Costa Country Club is private; golf access is generally through membership or a member invitation.

• The club is located at 801 Golf Club Road in Pleasant Hill, near Concord and Walnut Creek.

• The club has practice facilities; confirm current access, hours, and project status directly with the golf staff.

• Membership and guest policies can change. Contact the club at (925) 798-7135 before planning a visit.