“Nestled amidst the picturesque landscapes of Whittier, California, Friendly Hills Country Club stands as an epitome of timeless elegance and refined leisure. Boasting a rich history and an unwavering commitment to excellence, this exclusive haven offers more than just a golfing experience. With its lush fairways, impeccable amenities, and a warm sense of community, Friendly Hills Country Club has become a cherished destination for those seeking a harmonious blend of recreational pursuits and social camaraderie.”
– Country Club Magazine
Founded in 1968 by a small group of visionaries whose desire was to create both a golf masterpiece and a home for local community and social engagement, Friendly Hills Country Club quickly joined the ranks of Riviera, Los Angeles, Bel-Air and Wilshire Country Clubs as the best Private Clubs in Southern California and beyond.
Renowned golf course architect and 9-time PGA TOUR winner James “Jimmy” Wilfred Hines designed the golf course to harmonize with the beautiful landscape and elevation changes. Perhaps taking some chances with his design elements on the golf course, Jimmy’s huge, contoured greens and oddly shaped bunkers were in stark contrast with the typical rounded bunker shapes common to golf course architecture in the decades preceding the configurations at Friendly Hills Country Club. Consistent with his success at The Masters, having finished in the top 10 four times, many who play at Friendly Hills can easily see the similarities to Augusta National Golf Club.
With a great golf course, comes great golfers and the history of golfers to call Friendly Hills home is a strong one, indeed. 14 Time Friendly Hills Country Club Men’s Club Champion, Ken Kirkpatrick, was a Scholarship Golfer at USC and playing alongside Dave Stockton, helped his team win the Pac-12 Championship two times. Selected to the Southern California Golf Associations All-State Team in 1979, Mr. Kirkpatrick joined Corey Pavin and Mark O’Meara to compete at some of the top courses in the state.
19 Time Friendly Hills Country Club Women’s Club Champion, Kathy Kurata, is no stranger to golfing prowess, having won the Women’s California State Amateur Championship, among many other events and was named the 2018 SCGA Senior Woman Golfer of the Year. Kurata was a quarterfinalist at the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur and made the cut at the inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open!
Eric Meeks, who called Friendly Hills home at the time, won the 1988 United States Amateur Championship, long considered the most difficult Amateur Golf Championship to win in the world. His victory in the storied championship was just 2 years prior to Phil Mickelson’s victory in 1990 and only 6 years prior to Tiger Woods first U.S. Am victory in 1994. Eric would go on to play in the 1989 Masters, U.S. Open and British Open (The Open) as well as the 1989 Walker Cup as one of the top ranked amateur golfers in the world.
Jordan Nasser was the 2006 California State Amateur Championship, at storied Pebble Beach Golf Links, and his family remain members of the club today. His father, Burhan, is both a Men’s Club Champion and Senior Club Champion at Friendly Hills. Jordan was a scholarship golfer at USC and remains a top amateur golfer in the area today.
As the name suggests, peace and harmony are mainstays at the club, which has always been both exclusive and inclusive.