Photos by: Photographer Jill Sanders, and Courtesy of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Library District
In 1913, Frank Arthur Vanderlip, Sr., a visionary financier and President of the National City Bank of New York, purchased 16,000 acres of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, sight unseen. Vanderlip’s ambition extended far beyond the coastline; he saw the potential for a grand community.
Driven by his love of European architecture and landscapes, he imagined a sophisticated city by the sea, meticulously designed and intentionally exclusive. This vision sparked the creation of what would become the Palos Verdes Golf Club. Celebrating its 100th year on the Peninsula, the Palos Verdes Golf Club stands today as a lasting testament to Vanderlip’s dream.
Reflecting on the club’s legacy, longtime member Sid Croft said, “Anytime someone asks how my day was, the most common answer I give is, ‘It’s just another day in paradise.’ Growing up on the Palos Verdes Golf Club course, this phrase became a part of my daily vernacular.”
The land’s development gained momentum in the early 1920s when Vanderlip established the Palos Verdes Project. The Palos Verdes Homes Association was formed, laying out a detailed zoning plan that prioritized green spaces and architectural harmony. Among the 800 acres dedicated to public use, 213 were designated for a golf course, a centerpiece of Vanderlip’s grand design.
“In the early days, the Palos Verdes Golf Club wasn’t the club it is today,” Croft shared. “There wasn’t a formal club until 1946; before that, it was simply known as the Palos Verdes Golf Course.” Croft reminisced about his father, who worked for Vanderlip and had been part of the Palos Verdes story from the beginning. “My father was a member, and it was he and his friends who convinced Bud Oakley, the manager, to let them form an official club.”
In 1923, the Palos Verdes Golf Course took shape, celebrated for its integration with the rolling hills, barrancas, and ocean vistas that frame the course. By 1924, the course and its clubhouse were complete, opening to the public and quickly drawing golf enthusiasts from across the country. This hidden gem of a course offered golfers a unique challenge of modest length and strategic intricacy, a quality that endures to this day, even with the advent of modern equipment.
As Croft recalled his youth, he painted a vivid picture of the times: “My days were filled with riding my bike around the peninsula, an open expanse of land with hardly any houses or people. Every Saturday, my friends and I would ride our bikes from dawn till dusk, exploring every nook and cranny of the undeveloped hills and cliffs.”
Through the decades, the Palos Verdes Golf Club grew in renown, and in 2022 it welcomed the LPGA for one of its first women’s professional tournaments. This event marked the beginning of a celebrated association between the club and the game’s most elite players, a legacy it continues to honor through high-level competitions and collaborations. The course has seen golfing legends, both men and women, walk its fairways, paying tribute to its timeless design while showcasing the future of the sport.
Reflecting on his early years working at the course, Croft shared, “When I was about fourteen, I started caddying at the club. Caddying was a tough job, especially during the dry months when the course turned hard as rock. We even had a local rule that allowed players to drop their balls out of the deep earth cracks that formed.” Despite the challenges, Croft says those years shaped him profoundly. “The memories of riding bikes, setting sprinklers, and learning life’s lessons on the fairways are indelibly etched in my mind.”
The Palos Verdes Golf Club today reflects its century-long history with pride. Its clubhouse, meticulously restored in 2004 and 2019, maintains its original Mediterranean style, offering members and guests a glimpse of its storied past alongside modern amenities. With sweeping views from Redondo Beach to Malibu and an elegant ballroom for social gatherings, the clubhouse has become a cornerstone of the peninsula’s community life, hosting events, weddings, and celebrations year-round.
“The course itself was unlike any other,” Croft said. “Its design, nestled among wild canyons and hills with stunning views of the ocean and mountains, made it a golfer’s paradise. I’ve played courses all over the world, but none compare to Palos Verdes. The unique topography, the mild weather, and the breathtaking views make it a place you never tire of.”
Anchored in tradition yet oriented toward the future, as the Palos Verdes Golf Club steps into its next century, it remains committed to preserving the spirit of Vanderlip’s vision while embracing the needs of modern golfers. With plans to maintain the course’s historic features and enhance facilities for future generations, Palos Verdes Golf Club stands ready to continue its legacy as both a landmark of Southern California golf and a vibrant community gathering place.
