Angeles National Golf Club is home to one of a new generation of championship courses built within the last 10 years around Los Angeles, and widely regarded as one of the most challenging, especially if attempted from the back tees. Lying at the mouth of the Tujunga Canyon, scenic hills rise-up on either side of the course, while the Big Tujunga Wash sweeps past several holes on the closing stretch. Laid out on gently undulating, easy-walking terrain, the two nine-hole loops occupy an open and natural, linksy environment, into which Steve Nicklaus has created an excellent desert-style course. Separating the generally good-width fairways and not overly penal rough, are wide areas of bushy desert rough, well worth avoiding if a good score is to be compiled. Bunkers of many shapes and sizes have been deployed around the greens and along the well-presented fairways, while desert-wash areas will need to be crossed from many tees and in front of a few greens - not least at the par-3's. Ponds and lakes are sparingly used, but do come dangerously into play on the dog-legging par-4 17th and after you have carried a small ridge at the excellent par-4 18th. At the clubhouse end of the course a bit of traffic noise might be heard from Interstate-210, but not to disturb your enjoyment of this very natural and testing golf course, and the magnificent mountain and canyon views that lie to the north and east.