Sequoyah Country Club

Organized in 1913, the club is celebrated for its 18-hole championship course, an old-world layout woven through hilly, tree-lined terrain with small, sloping greens and sweeping views of the San Francisco Bay Area. Compact but demanding, Sequoyah rewards precision over power and offers members a classic country club experience paired with fine dining, event spaces, and a welcoming community atmosphere in the East Bay.

Course History

Sequoyah Country Club traces its origins to October 3, 1913, when a group of 23 citizens met at the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco to organize a new golf club. The course took shape in the Oakland Hills, and the club's first clubhouse was completed in 1915. Over more than a century, Sequoyah has grown into one of the East Bay's enduring private institutions.

The club earned a notable place in golf history by hosting the Oakland Open from 1938 to 1944, one of the premier professional events on the Pacific coast. The tournament featured the early careers of legends including Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, and Jimmy Demaret.

The Design & Architecture

The origins of Sequoyah's layout are somewhat debated, with credit historically given to Willie Lock, Seth Raynor, Chandler Egan, and Douglas Nickels over the years. The result is a classic, old-style course routed across steep, wooded hillsides. Its defining features are small, sloping greens and a tight, tree-lined corridor that place a premium on shot placement and touch around the greens rather than sheer distance.

Playing the Course

Though it measures only about 6,100 yards, Sequoyah plays much longer than the card suggests and carries one of the highest slope-to-yardage ratios of any layout in California. Hilly terrain, elevation changes, and diminutive, quick greens challenge even skilled players, making accuracy and a deft short game far more valuable than length off the tee.

Know Before You Go

• Private, member-owned club. Access is generally limited to members and their guests.

• Located at 4550 Heafey Rd, Oakland, CA 94605, high in the Oakland Hills.

• The compact routing plays tougher than its yardage; expect hilly terrain and small, fast greens.

• Contact the club at (510) 632-2900 or visit sequoyahcc.com for membership and event information.