Golf in the Inland Empire
With weather conducive to playing year-round and boasting more courses than anywhere else in the country, it’s no wonder that golf has become such a staple sport in the Inland Empire. In fact, golf’s popularity has reached such heights that even U.S. interest in baseball, the Great American Pastime, cannot easily compare.
Mid-20th Century, there were only four golf courses found in the Inland Empire. Two of these golf courses were the exclusive Redlands Country Club and San Bernardino’s Arrowhead Country Club. Now, over half a century later, there are more than 130 golf courses listed in just Riverside County alone.
The hosting of major golf tournaments contributes to this increasingly popular pastime. In 2000, for example, the PGA tournament was held in Beaumont, a city in which real estate sales have found a significant connection to its golf claim-to-fame. And, every time September rolls around, you can find the return of the Nationwide Tour's Mark Christopher Classic in Rancho Cucamonga.
On top of major tournaments, the Inland Empire can also claim the rearing of big-name golfers who grew up in the area. PGA legend Dave Stockton is from San Bernardino, Kevin Na, the PGA’s youngest golfer, grew up in Rancho Cucamonga, and SCGA amateur champion Mark Johnson traces his roots back to Helendale.