In the sprawling metropolis of present-day Los Angeles, it’s easy to overlook the traces of a forgotten era where the city once grew alongside the game of golf. Long before the urban landscape we know today took shape, Los Angeles boasted a vibrant network of unique golf courses that contributed to building many of the communities we know today. Despite its transformation, Los Angeles still remains home to some of the nicest and most exclusive golf clubs in the country, such as Los Angeles Country Club or Riviera Country Club, which both host top PGA events.

Yet, as we marvel at the grandeur of these modern-day clubs, it’s important to recognize the lost chapters of Los Angeles’ golfing history. With courses being constructed throughout the city as early as 1897, the early history of golf in L.A. is a story of communities coming together to create something that they could grow alongside. A majority of the funding behind the courses came from local community members and although many of the greens were sandy and the fairways dirt, the ability the game of golf had to bring people together instantly transcended any issues the golfers had with conditions.

Below, take a journey through an interactive story map that allows us to delve deeper into the history of Los Angeles and uncover the legacy of its vanished golf courses…