Fairways and Folklore: The Storied Past of Long Beach’s Recreation Park, Its 18 and 9-Hole Golf Courses, and the Golfing Legacy That Shaped a City

I’ve heard the stories. I’ve sifted through dusty city archives. I have squinted at microfilm in libraries. I have listened patiently to golfers who swear they “remember it like it was yesterday” (even if “yesterday” was 1954). What follows is not my own genius. Instead, it is the collective wisdom of people far smarter, wiser, and—let’s be honest—better at keeping score than me.

This is the story of Recreation Park Golf Course. It is a tale of fairways and foundations. The clubhouse is as much a landmark as it is a 19th hole. The community has been shaping Long Beach golf culture for more than a century.

Recreation Park is a huge green heart of Long Beach. Golf balls fly wild here. Kids hunt pretend dinosaurs near the lawn bowlers. If these fairways could talk, they’d probably complain about all the bad shots. They can’t share their story, so I’ll do it for them. This place transformed from sheep pastures and sandy greens into a bustling public park. It’s now filled with golf swings, laughter, and friendly competition.

Today’s Long Beach is all about cargo ships and college life. Right in its center, you’ll find Recreation Park’s famous 18-hole course. Locals call it “Big Rec.” Its charming little sister is the 9-hole “Little Rec.” This place didn’t just happen. It grew from Long Beach’s history. The push for public parks also played a role. So did that gorgeous Spanish-style bandshell and the city’s longtime love affair with golf.

No fancy transportation needed – let’s just walk through the history together.

Golf’s Early Days: Sand Traps and Sheep

Long before trains brought tourists to the beach, Long Beach folks were already chasing golf balls. City officials didn’t even know what “municipal golf” meant. Old newspapers state that California’s first public nine-hole course opened here in July 1899. It was laid out near Alamitos and Ocean by city treasurer Charles Heartwell and engineer Goucher.

This wasn’t anything like today’s courses. Players fought wind and city sprawl, with holes squeezed between eucalyptus trees and across streets. The “greens” were actually sand pits – something modern golfers with their perfect grass wouldn’t recognize. By fall 1899, locals formed the Country Club of Long Beach to run it. Arthur Goodhue led the effort. He’d later help start Virginia Country Club. Heartwell also played a leadership role.

But like many early courses, it didn’t last. By summer 1900, it was gone. Golf would come back to Long Beach. It was driven by hotel owners’ dreams. Real estate deals and regular folks wanting somewhere to play also contributed.

From Hotel Dreams to Country Clubs

As the 1900s began, Long Beach was booming. People like Arthur Goodhue and hotel developer Charles R. Drake (who gave the city its first proper bathhouse) saw leisure as key to the city’s growth.

In 1905, they tried starting a country club. Like a tricky golf shot, it didn’t work out right away. By 1909, they regrouped at the fancy Hotel Virginia. It was built after the “Hotel Bixby” collapsed during construction. Nobody wanted the name “Hotel Bixby” sticking around. That November, they officially created the Virginia Country Club (VCC). The club was tied to the luxurious hotel. “One night could wipe out a working man’s savings” there.

Drake wasn’t a golfer (he said that meant he couldn’t be club president), but he bought 15 memberships anyway. Hotel guests would ride surreys to the course – a taste of high-class seaside sport. By April 1910, the VCC had its first nine holes on Reservoir Hill. Sheep kept the “fairways” trimmed. Players putted on sand greens slicked with crude oil. This probably kept the sheep away too.

The Designer Who Shaped Long Beach Golf

Enter Arthur Rigby – the club’s first instructor and designer. Hailing from Scotland’s golf mecca Carnoustie, Rigby was known as a top clubmaker. He’d worked at Los Angeles Country Club before bringing his skills to LB.

Rigby’s design became VCC’s foundation. By Christmas 1912, they’d expanded to 18 holes. But nothing stayed put for long in early Long Beach. The club only leased the land for ten years. As that deadline neared, members like Fred and Llewellyn Bixby (alongside Goodhue and Drake) hunted for a new home.

They settled on Rancho Los Cerritos – a move that suddenly left the old VCC land empty. That vacant space? It would become Recreation Park.

A New Home and a City Changing

When Virginia Country Club moved to Rancho Los Cerritos in 1921, it changed both the club and Long Beach. The historic ranch with its old adobe made a beautiful setting. Later, it became a wealthy neighborhood and Hollywood filming spot.

The new course, designed by Scottish architect Willie Watson and later tweaked by famous American designers William P. Bell and A.W. Tillinghast, quickly earned a reputation as challenging. Local legend says Tillinghast only asked for “a case of Scotch” as payment. This story is still told when ocean winds mess with golfers’ shots.

Meanwhile, that empty land was about to become something special – the start of public golf for everyone.

The Battle for Recreation Park: Bonds, Parades, and Populism in the Roaring Twenties

By 1923, the Roaring Twenties were booming, and land was hot property. When the fancy Virginia Country Club packed up and left, that huge 256-acre spot suddenly looked mighty tempting to developers. But Long Beach’s big thinkers had a different idea: why not make it a giant public park for everyone? Think of it like their own Golden Gate Park down south.

The catch? They needed voters to approve a big bond measure. And back then, passing bonds was tough – they needed a whopping *four times* more “yes” votes than “no” votes. So the city went all out. Newspapers pushed hard with headlines screaming “Buy Recreation Park!” Kids marched in noisy parades, blowing horns and waving signs they made themselves. They even got car owners involved, turning it into a massive old-timey car rally for the park.

And guess what? It worked like crazy. On June 15, 1923, the bond didn’t just pass. It blew the doors off. It won by an insane 16-to-1 margin (10,732 to 659). Even the usually skeptical press praised it as “the most signal achievement ever recorded at the polls in this city.” It might even be the greatest ever in the entire state. The Long Beach Telegram just shouted “Glory Be!” That was it. The deal was done. Recreation Park was born, saved from the bulldozers for everyone to enjoy.

Big Rec: From Private Luxury to Public Treasure

Land secured? Check. Now, how about giving regular folks access to a top-notch golf course? That was the plan.

The existing 18-hole course was built back in 1919 by Colonel Charles Drake and the Virginia Country Club crowd. It was quickly turned into a city course. And the city wasn’t messing around. Starting in 1926, they swapped out the annoying old sand greens. They replaced them with smooth turf greens. This change brought great relief to anyone who had ever attempted to fix a sand divot with just a bucket. Hope alone was no longer needed.

Recreation Park 18 is lovingly nicknamed “Big Rec.” It sits on rolling land shaded by big trees. Bunkers guard it, humbling you and maybe making you laugh. Originally just over 6,400 yards, it’s a par 72 course that’s tested every golfer’s skill and every weekend betting pool. It’s got a night-lit driving range, pro shop, restaurant, and spots for weddings or those last-minute company retreats.

Rec Park old putting green

Big Rec’s stayed popular. It won the Press Telegram’s “Readers Choice Favorite Golf Course” in 2011 and hosts big tournaments like parts of the Long Beach Golf Festival. Everyone plays here – pros, beginners, kids, seniors, and the “I-was-good-once” crowd.

But maybe its biggest legacy is making golf accessible in Long Beach. Big Rec helped build a whole golf community and created a century’s worth of nervous first-tee jitters.

Little Rec: The 9-Hole Hidden Gem

Then there’s Recreation Park 9, or “Little Rec” to its fans. It’s the smaller, quieter sibling to Big Rec, sometimes overlooked but adored for being quick, easy, and full of charm.

Built in 1928, Little Rec was meant for beginners or anyone wanting a shorter, less stressful round. Nestled near the Colorado Lagoon, it feels miles away from the city bustle even though it’s right there. At just 1,865 yards (par 31), you can zip around fast – unless you get stuck trying to perfect that chip shot. Feeling brave? Try the signature 7th hole: you gotta hit your shot right over the Colorado Lagoon water. It makes heroes… and feeds a lot of golf balls to the fish.

In the early decades, the old Recreation Park 18 clubhouse was cleverly repurposed for the new 9-hole course. A new building opened at Big Rec. The original clubhouse was then moved, rebuilt, and expanded for Little Rec. It was ultimately replaced by a modern facility in 1956. This is proof that even golf shacks are subject to the march of progress.

Don’t let the size fool you. Little Rec has hosted USGLL Tournaments, Special Olympics fundraisers, and is a regular stop on the Jr tours. For parents hoping their kid picks golf over T-ball, Little Rec is often where that journey starts.

Recreation Park has always been more than just your average city park. Packed to the brim with amenities, it embodies that classic Long Beach spirit.

More About The Park:

**The Bandshell:** Built in 1929, this Spanish Baroque gem features stucco walls, Malibu tile, a grand arch, and intricate plasterwork that rivals even the Hollywood Bowl. For nearly a century, it’s hosted concerts, plays, graduations, and community gatherings – a true local landmark.

**Fly Casting Pond:** Since 1925, this unique spot has drawn folks curious about fly fishing, complete with its own clubhouse.

**Blair Field:** A baseball institution since 1924 (rebuilt in ’57), it’s seen everyone from Long Beach State’s Dirtbags to Little Leaguers chasing dreams.

**Lawn Bowling Green:** Added in 1929 with its own clubhouse, this international-sized green (126 feet square) reflects Long Beach’s embrace of diverse sports.

**Joe Rodgers Softball Field:** A local staple since its 1948 debut.

**Dog Park:** One of the city’s first and most popular, expanded to over an acre since the late 90s.

**Modern Playgrounds:** A 2022 renovation brought a $1.9 million dinosaur-themed playground with rubberized surfaces and ADA access. It also includes a “Dino Excavation Zone” where kids dig for fossils. Meanwhile, parents lose car keys in the sandbox.

Notable Figures

* **Arthur M. Goodhue:** Lumber magnate, banker, and golf pioneer whose influence shaped early Long Beach.

* **Colonel Charles R. Drake:** A relentless real estate investor and civic booster who gave the park lasting tenacity.

* **Arthur Rigby:** Scottish course architect whose designs dotted Southern California’s early golf scene.

* **The Bixby Family:** Major landowners who provided land, capital, and vision, tying city growth to recreation.

* **Charles Rivers Drake:** A powerhouse hotelier and park advocate whose PR skills were legendary (“could’ve sold ice to penguins”).

The 1933 Earthquake:
On March 10, 1933, at 5:54 p.m., a devastating magnitude 6.4 quake rocked Long Beach. Homes collapsed, schools crumbled. Recreation Park became a lifeline – a feeding station, shelter, emergency hospital, and tent city for thousands left homeless. Relief kitchens and outdoor classes sprang up under the eucalyptus trees. Volunteers, Scouts, sailors, and marines pitched in. The park’s role in the city’s resilience remains a proud chapter in its history.

Constant Evolution:** Recreation Park isn’t frozen in time:

* Greens went from sand to turf in 1926.

* Clubhouses evolved, with the original finally replaced in 1956.

* The 2022 playground/picnic upgrade brought accessibility and dinosaurs.

* Sports fields like Blair, Joe Rodgers, and the lawn bowling green offer diverse recreation.

* Dog parks, community centers, and ADA upgrades meet modern urban needs.

Quirky Tales:** Every good park has its stories:

* The “Monster Parade of Children”: A bond drive featured a massive kids’ parade with horns – effective civic pressure or just very loud?

* The Old Water Hole: Virginia Country Club’s original par-4 had a tee on a pier over a lake – an early nightmare for golfers.

* Notable Pros: Jimmy Thomson, the “Sultan of Swat,” once launched 375-yard drives here as groundskeeper/club pro (scaring local ducks).

* Hollywood Backdrop: The park, especially the relocated Virginia Country Club area, often stood in for “classic” Americana in films and TV.

* Bandshell Moments: Future President Nixon and President Hoover both gave speeches here, prompting practiced ovations.

Bandshell Legends:
When future president Richard Nixon and President Herbert Hoover—America’s favorite Quakers who loved a good microphone—stepping up to the bandshell. The whole city held its breath, ready to leap to their feet in applause.

Recreation Park: Keeping the Spirit Alive

Today, Recreation Park is still Long Beach’s second-biggest public park, sprawling over 200 acres. Its golf courses buzz with activity, some of the busiest in Southern California. But it’s more than just golf. You’ll find everything here, from foot-stomping bluegrass festivals to Shakespeare under the stars. There are also Sondheim sing-alongs and dragon-themed playground events. Every summer, the restored bandshell hosts over two dozen performances. It lives up to its reputation as the city’s beating heart for outdoor gatherings.

Recent upgrades show they’re serious about making everyone feel welcome. There’s rubberized surfacing for easier movement. The playground gear is for all ages. There are even interactive panels teaching kids basic American Sign Language. It’s a quiet but powerful way the park says, “You belong here.”

Golfers have been busy chasing birdies and bogeys at Rec Park. Meanwhile, another group of locals has focused on something just as important. They are chasing the music.

The Recreation Park Bandshell, built in 1929, is a Spanish Baroque/Revival gem tucked into the park’s landscape. Its stucco walls, red-tile roof, and colorful Malibu tile accents make it distinctive. It once hosted everything from symphony concerts to Shakespeare plays. You don’t need to love music or theater to admire this place. Its curved arch and bench seating for 600 made it the city’s heart. There is room for thousands on the grass. It hosted everything from picnics to graduations. After the 1933 earthquake, it even served as makeshift classrooms.

Over time, though, the Bandshell fell silent. Weather, budget cuts, and changing tastes left it underused and in need of care. That’s where Friends of the Recreation Park Bandshell (FORPBS) stepped in.

Formed in 2022, this nonprofit is dedicated to restoring the Bandshell and bringing it back to life as a community stage.

Their mission is simple but powerful:

• Preserve history by restoring the Bandshell’s architecture and landmark status.

• Revive culture by hosting concerts, plays, and community events.

• Expand access so that Recreation Park isn’t just about golf and sports, but also about music, theater, and shared experiences.

Already, FORPBS has partnered with groups like Shakespeare by the Sea and the Long Beach Camerata Singers to reintroduce performances. They want to make the Bandshell a year-round gathering place once again. It will be a spot where the arts and recreation meet.

Fairways, Forever

Recreation Park’s courses and traditions are woven into Long Beach’s soul. This extends from dusty sheep trails to manicured greens. It goes from hushed country club moments to the lively chaos of public golf. Generations have learned to swing clubs here. They groaned over missed putts and held hands at concerts. They dug for fossils and found comfort together after earthquakes. The park’s story? Think of a round of golf. It has glorious highs, long stretches, and unexpected detours. But it always circles back to the city’s heart, “where we all pulled together and made it happen.”

Next time your tee shot vanishes into the eucalyptus, take note. If it splashes down in the lagoon, remember this: You’re not just playing holes. You’re stepping into a living tale as old, quirky, and full of surprises as Long Beach itself. On the scorecard, it’s “Big Rec” and “Little Rec”—but really? They’re fairways where the city’s stories unfold.