Long Beach Public Golf Courses: Choose a Course and Find Tee Times

Long Beach has public golf options for a full round, a shorter outing, and focused short-game practice. Start with the format you want, then use the official booking system to compare available times. An opening at the wrong type of course is not necessarily the right round for your group.

The LBC Golf website connects reservations for five facilities: El Dorado Park, Skylinks, Recreation Park 18, Recreation Park 9, and Heartwell. It is a useful starting point when you want to compare Long Beach options in one place.

Choose the size of the outing

Option	What to compare before booking
El Dorado Park: 18 holes	The available tees, full-round commitment, and group preference for its park setting
Skylinks: 18 holes	The scorecard, tee choice, and comfort with a bunker-focused layout
Recreation Park 18: full round	Whether your group wants the full 18-hole course
Recreation Park 9: nine holes	Whether a nine-hole outing better fits the day
Heartwell: par-3 course	Whether a par-3-focused round suits your group's goals

Check the City of Long Beach course directory for facility details and contacts. Recreation Park 9 and Recreation Park 18 are separate choices; make sure everyone means the same one.

Book through the correct local system

Long Beach's booking rules are its own. Do not assume that an LA City Player Card, an SCGA membership, or a GHIN number gives you Long Beach resident privileges.

Use the official reservation links, choose the correct course and party size, and read the terms shown for the rate you select. If you qualify for a resident benefit, check what documentation or account setup is required. If you do not, compare the options available to the general public.

The current booking window and cancellation terms matter more than a timing trick passed around in a group chat. Keep the confirmation, and make sure the person responsible for the reservation understands what to do if the group changes.

Pick the course around the people

For a group with mixed experience, talk about tees and format before selecting a course. A golfer returning after a long break may enjoy a shorter outing more than a full round from an ambitious set of tees.

For a group that already plays regularly, compare the kind of shots everyone wants to tackle. You can use our El Dorado versus Skylinks guide when those are your two finalists.

If the group is split between Los Angeles and Orange County, agree on a meeting time at the actual facility. Avoid choosing a start time based on the fastest person's drive. A slightly less convenient tee time may make the whole outing less rushed.

Keep the budget attached to the reservation

Compare the total each golfer will pay, not just the number that first appears in a search result. Check the cart arrangement, any required booking payment, rental needs, and the cancellation deadline.

Do not describe a slot as booked until the reservation is confirmed. If you are waiting for an opening, tell the group that clearly and set a time to choose another plan.

Find a group for more than one round

Early Birdies brings Los Angeles-area golfers together for public-course golf and organized tournaments. Our event calendar is the place to check current venues; it should not be read as a guarantee of a standing weekly Long Beach game.

If you want to meet golfers who are open to exploring the region, tell us where you are based and when you can play. A good local golf routine starts with a realistic schedule, not just a long course wish list.