The Course

Roosevelt Municipal Golf Course sits nestled in the lower hills of Griffith Park on Vermont Avenue, just north of Hollywood and downtown Los Angeles. The Course lies across the street from the famous Greek Theater, and at the entrance to the main drive to Griffith Observatory. On concert days and evenings, the golf course is blanketed with sound from the Greek. For twilight golf, it adds a great ambiance to the game.

The Course was founded in 1937, as part of the Los Angeles Parks and Recreation system, adding to the pre-existing Harding and Wilson Golf Courses. The Roosevelt course is a 9 hole par 33, stretching over 2,478 yards of play. The only "executive" course in the Griffith Park Golf system, Roosevelt boasts 6 par 4's and 3 par 3's, with loads of non-traditional hazards.

The course has a sandy consistency due to the location, but is well maintained considering the frequency of use and soil type. There are some tough bunkers placed strategically around the course, but these are hardly the most dangerous of the hazards presented. Aside from regular warnings of rattlesnake sightings, the Griffith Park location offers loads of other wildlife to be concerned with. This is the heart of coyote country, they are often seen in Hollywood proper, so seeing them on the course shouldn't necessarily be a surprise. I see them nearly every time I am on the course, the most brazen sighting being near a crowded clubhouse where 2 full grown coyotes ran directly through the group of 50 or so golfers. Also, take care when swinging in the rough, as bees often graze over the wildflowers that grow there.

Be aware of the longer fairways with obscured greens, as they make use of the safety flag system. As your party passes the safety flag, remove it until all golfers are well past its location. Then replace the flag and move on. This is used to let the following party know not to tee off, until the safety flag is returned to its place on the fairway. This system is rarely actually used, as most golfers just give a fair amount of time for the next party to reach the green. The most important thing to remember is to watch where you are hitting the ball, and give a loud "fore" if you have any reason to be concerned with another golfers safety.