Brentwood Golf Club was built in stages by Ted Robinson Sr., the Southern California architect credited with more than 170 courses and best known for his water features. At the Summerset development in the foothills below Mount Diablo, the Diablo nine opened in 1994, Hillside followed in 1997, and Creekside completed the 27-hole facility in 2000. That configuration held until January 2023, when the owner closed the Diablo nine, citing maintenance costs and declining play, leaving Creekside and Hillside as the everyday 18-hole championship course.

On the course

The surviving 18 plays 6,828 yards at par 72 from the back tees, with Creekside the longer of the two nines. Robinson's trademark shows up all over the routing: lakes and creeks pinch landing areas and guard greens, and water is the hazard reviewers mention most. The terrain rolls more than the surrounding Delta flatlands suggest, with elevation changes between holes, rye-grass fairways, and putting surfaces that carry noticeable contour. Homes border many fairways, so tee shots reward position over raw speed.

Who it suits

The practical case is value and access. The course is open to public play seven days a week, and reviewers through spring 2026 describe conditions trending upward, with improving fairways, friendly staff, and a reasonable pace, though most still advise avoiding the bunkers, which remain the layout's weak point. It suits mid- and higher-handicap golfers after a full-length test at everyday prices, and far East Bay locals who would rather not fight bridge traffic for a tee time.

Practice options cover the essentials, with a driving range offering grass and mat stations, a putting green, and a two-bay indoor simulator that keeps lessons and rounds going year-round. The clubhouse now also operates as the Palm Tree Golf and Event Center, pairing a pro shop with the Palm Tree Restaurant and Sushi Bar and banquet space for weddings and tournaments. Choose Brentwood if you want a genuine Ted Robinson water-feature design at public-course prices and can accept conditioning that is improving rather than immaculate.

Architect: Ted Robinson Sr. · Opened: 2000