Bidwell Park Golf Course
Chico, California
About Bidwell Park Golf Course
Bidwell Park Golf Course is a municipal 18-hole layout set inside Upper Bidwell Park, one of the largest city parks in Northern California. The course has been in continuous play since 1929, making it one of the region's original municipal golf courses. Jim Summers is credited as the architect behind the current layout. Horseshoe Lake, just across Upper Park Road, was constructed in the 1930s specifically as a reservoir to irrigate the course, with WPA-era work shaping much of the surrounding infrastructure.
On the course
The par-72 routing has two distinct nines. The front nine plays through a parkland setting with valley oaks and olive trees lining fairways that amble around corners and over creeks, while the back nine climbs into the foothills of Upper Bidwell Park, where the terrain steepens and holes wind among rock formations rather than running flat and parallel. The course rating is 70.2 with a slope of 123 from the white tees. Greens are Bent/Poa and fairways are Bermuda/Rye, and the layout is walkable for most golfers.
Who it suits
Bidwell suits public-course regulars and visitors looking for a scenic, affordable round rather than a resort experience. There is no driving range, but the property includes a practice putting green, practice bunkers, a pro shop, and the Bidwell Bar & Grill on site. Wildlife including deer and geese is common along the routing, and the foothill setting provides shade and natural backdrops uncommon among urban municipal layouts. Green fees sit at the affordable end of the Sacramento Valley market, which combined with the historic pedigree makes it a regular stop for Chico State students, local men's and women's club members, and golfers passing through Butte County.
Architect: Jim Summers · Opened: 1929
Course Details
- 18 Holes
- Par 72
- 6,363 Yards
- Course Rating 71
- Slope 127
- Tee Time Prices: $41 – $69
- Phone: (530) 891-8417
Notable Facts About Bidwell Park Golf Course
- Bidwell Park Golf Course opened in 1920 and is one of Northern California's original municipal golf courses.
- The front nine plays through a parkland setting while the back nine climbs into the foothills at the edge of Upper Bidwell Park.
- Every September the course hosts the Chico City Championship, the second-oldest match-play tournament in California.
- In the late 1930s the Works Progress Administration built a restraining dam, reservoir, and water-supply system in Bidwell Park to serve the golf course.
Book Tee Times at Bidwell Park Golf Course
Bidwell Park Golf Course is an 18-hole par-72 public golf course in Chico, California. Tee times currently range from $41 to $69. Compare live rates and book online through Golf The Bay.
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