Northwood Golf Club

Tucked into the towering redwoods along the Russian River in Monte Rio, California, Northwood Golf Club is a nine-hole gem designed by legendary architect Dr. Alister MacKenzie. Opened in 1928, this walkable, par-36 layout is regularly ranked among the finest nine-hole courses in the country. It trades brute length for strategy, asking golfers to think their way around narrow, tree-lined fairways in one of Northern California's most beautiful natural settings.

Quick Facts

Course History

Northwood Golf Club opened in 1928, commissioned so that members of the nearby Bohemian Grove retreat, located just across the Russian River, would have a place to play during their summer gatherings. The club turned to Dr. Alister MacKenzie, working alongside his design partner Robert Hunter, to route a course through the redwood flats of the river valley.

Nearly a century later, the course remains remarkably true to MacKenzie's original vision and is consistently rated among the top nine-hole courses in the United States, drawing golf historians and pilgrims who want to walk one of the master architect's lesser-known American designs.

The Design & Architecture

MacKenzie, best known for Augusta National and Cypress Point, brought his signature strategic philosophy to Northwood. Rather than relying on length, the course tests golfers through calculated shot selection and risk-reward decisions on every hole. Towering California redwoods frame the narrow fairways, natural contours dictate strategy, and the routing embraces the setting rather than fighting it, producing a course that feels both intimate and quietly demanding.

Playing the Course

At par 36 and roughly 2,893 yards for the nine, Northwood is highly walkable and welcoming to golfers of all abilities, yet the tree-lined corridors reward accuracy over power. Many players choose to loop the course twice for a full 18-hole round. The redwood canopy and the meandering Russian River create a serene, almost cathedral-like atmosphere that makes the round as memorable for its scenery as for its shot values.

Know Before You Go

• Public course; tee times can be booked online, and the course is open to golfers of all skill levels.

• It is a nine-hole layout, so plan to play the loop twice if you want a full 18-hole experience.

• The course is very walkable, and the shaded redwood setting can be cool and damp, so dress in layers.

• Located at 19400 CA-116 in Monte Rio, in the heart of Sonoma County's Russian River wine and redwood region.