The Los Angeles Country Club hosts the US Open for the first time this week. Photo: Getty Images/Harry How
One day in a fairy tale in Hollywood, Millwall called. It was the 2017 Walker Cup and fans of Alfie Plant hung the flag of the English golfer's favorite football team on the balcony of the clubhouse.
When a club member asked about Millwall, he was told about the London side and repeated: «We no one loves, we don't care.»
«Oh,» the participant replied. «Then not too different from ourselves.»
This match between Great Britain, Ireland and the United States — the amateur equivalent of the Ryder Cup — was the first time that a Los Angeles country club (also known as the most private golf club in the world) has opened its doors to the outside world for nearly 70 years. years.
LACC hosted the 1954 US Junior Open, but its residents were so shocked to see «normal» people on the fairways that they pulled out of the US Amateur Open two years later. The club's board later voted against hosting the 1986 US Open. No matter what they like, LACC didn't even want to be famous.
To say that the club is hiding in plain sight is an understatement. Carved into a shallow canyon, LACC is surrounded by Beverly Hills and Hollywood, and despite being classified by Forbes as the second richest real estate property on planet Earth — the 325 acres are valued at $9 billion, only bowing to Manhattan's Central Park in top-notch potential development — no one knows that it is there. No signage on the gate, just the address, 10101 Wilshire Boulevard. The entry fee is $300,000 and the annual subscription is $30,000.
In truth, it can hardly be compared to the confetti in Tinsel Town. People don't join because people aren't invited, no matter how famous they are. In fact, if you are in the entertainment industry, LACC is not for you. A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame rules out the LACC locker (unless you're President Ronald Reagan, and as the club joke goes, even he had to get 44 million votes to get in).
Bing Crobsey was turned down, as was Groucho Marx, and more recently Hugh Hefner, despite the infamous celebrity billionaire Playboy mansion located on the 13th hole.
Hefner was so annoyed that he built a zoo in the mansion. and although he died in 2017 and was sold for $100 million, the animals remain, and monkeys, parrots and peacocks can still be heard with their well-timed shrill tee-off calls. “I just pray these parrots switch to mashed potatoes!” joked Billy Foster, caddy of reigning champion Matt Fitzpatrick. />Hugh Hefner built a zoo on the grounds of his Playboy mansion to get back at the LACC for being denied membership. Credit: AP/Jae C Jong Los Angeles Country Club's close proximity to the Playboy Mansion
In the 1960s, Victor Mature, one of Hollywood's most beloved actors, applied, but the LACC said they wouldn't accept actors. Matthew replied to the committee: «I'm not an actor and I have 63 films to prove it.» He found that comedians weren't welcome either.
Lionel Richie is a non-member, and his stunning fourth-floor property towers over the magical design of George C. Thomas like an imperial palace. Not far from the Hefner estate is a mansion built by Aaron Spelling. It is larger than the White House and is a monument to excess, but the spelling was not rejected by the LACC due to its monstrous 56,000 square feet. He failed on two other accounts. He was a TV producer and was Jewish.
Actor Victor Mathew loved his golf, but he also couldn't play LACC because of his profession, despite the club being close to Hollywood. Photo: Getty Images/Ron Galella 
Lionel Richie is one of many celebrities who have a huge mansion overlooking the field. GC
imagesThe club now has «several Jewish and black members» and claims to be modernizing. That's why the US Open is finally reaching North Course, one of the truly unique places in America. Nine years ago, the LACC gave in, and in an effort to showcase the 2010 Gil Hanse redesign, the US Golf Association's long wait came to an end. Lights, cameras, action.
Except that extras will be limited. USGA sources insist they tried to convince the LACC to allow more than 22,000 people a day, but the club refused. In addition, only a third of them will be players not affiliated with the club, and 1,500 members will receive 10 tickets each. This is the first time Los Angeles has hosted the US Open since 1948 when Ben Hogan won at the Riviera, but it won't be the US Open.
There is no tribune behind the 18th field, because the participants demanded an unobstructed view from the club building. Adjacent to the sprawling 1911 structure is a much smaller building that is generally used as a store. Not this week. Stan Kroenke, who owns the Los Angeles Rams and Arsenal, rented it out as a sign of hospitality, apparently shelling out $1 million for the privilege. Kroenke is a member of and honors his other team, the Denver Nuggets, for winning the NBA championship against the Miami Heat on Monday. It will be interesting to see if any basketball players are having fun here.
If so, they will be allowed to wear shorts as the LACC agreed to the USGA's request to loosen dress rules. On any other week, the guest points to the club's website, which contains a 1300-word information page detailing what is acceptable and what is not. «Men's trousers must be tailored,» it says, and jackets must be worn at the club after 6 pm, including boys aged eight and over.
Women's skirts must be no shorter than 10cm . above the knee. Photos are not allowed, as are memories. «Members and guests of the Club may not discuss Club membership, events, policies, rules, bylaws or activities using social or professional media platforms,» the website says.
But only for one weeks, the curtain rises, and stuffiness is forced into the wings. Players are excited about the field — with its rustic, natural features and skyscraper skyline — and while crowd control may make the next four days less atmospheric than a regular US Open, the USGA is so confident of success. that Telegraph Sport understands that the governing body will regain its championship in at least one more sequel. LACC is ready for the close-up.
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