History

In the early 1900's Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company purchased 8,796 acres on which to cultivate more than one million Australian eucalyptus seedlings for the manufacture of railroad ties. Severe drought in 1912, followed by the worst freeze in 40 years killed approximately 70% of the trees. The railway company abandoned the project after new chemicals were produced to protect railway ties from decay.

The railway company then secured rights to a water supply and through its subsidiary, the Santa Fe Land Improvement Company, financed the development of a master planned community, which would be named Rancho Santa Fe.

In August of 1927, the Santa Fe Land Improvement Company donated 219.1 acres suitable for a golf course. The Rancho Santa Fe Country Club was incorporated September 26, 1927. Golf course architect Max Behr was hired to design and implement the construction of the golf course. Behr molded the natural contours and beauty of the terrain into a 6,700 - yard, par-72 golf course. The golf course opened June 5, 1929.

Entertainer Bing Crosby began hosting the pro-am "clambake" in 1937. The golf event paired celebrities and businessmen with professionals for a 36-hole weekend event. The "clambake" was held annually through 1942.

Other prestigious events held at the Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club include the San Diego Open held in 1954 and won by Gene Littler, and the 101st Edition of the SCGA Amateur held in 2000 and won by Scott McGihon.

The Rancho Santa Fe Association took over operation of the golf course in 1934 and operated it for 25 years as a public facility. In 1960 the golf membership asked the Association to restrict the use of the golf course to Association members only and to lease the golf course operations from the Association. The Association agreed to restrict the golf club to Association members and in 1978 added the ownership of covenant property as a condition of membership, but it was not until 1987, that the Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club was established as a division of the Rancho Santa Fe Association with managerial, operational and financial responsibility for all golf activities.

In 1999, the club celebrated its 70th anniversary by publishing 70 Years at Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club, written by club member Randy White. The book is complete with before and after overlays of the golf course. The history book is available for sale in the golf shop.

The golf club completed a 3.4 million dollar renovation of the golf course. The newly renovated course reopened November 1, 2002 to accolades from the membership and the professional golf community.

Most recently the club completed a remodel of the clubhouse facilities including an all new Player's Clubhouse to house the golf shop and locker rooms and cart barn.  The fully remodeled Ranch Clubhouse houses the restaurant, kitchen, rooms for large and small private events and business offices. The new facilities opened December 4, 2007