Comprehensive Upgrade Planned for La Rinconada Country Club
LOS GATOS — A significant renovation is set to transform a South Bay golf course, modernizing its fairways and greens while enhancing its environmental sustainability.
According to club officials, the La Rinconada Country Club in Los Gatos is on track for a major overhaul that aims to modernize the course layout and replant the entire area.
These plans for a complete renovation emerge roughly four years after the club’s members acquired the property for $18.9 million in 2021 from a longtime local family.
Bob Riland, president of the golf club’s board of directors, stated, “The modernization and sustainability plan will enhance the playability and enjoyment of this nearly 100-year-old golf course as we enter our second century in Los Gatos.”
La Rinconada Country Club, established in 1929, will see the entire course transformed through an upgrade that includes switching to drought-tolerant Bermuda grasses, introducing native trees and plants, and implementing a more efficient irrigation system, according to club representatives.
Todd Eckenrode, a well-known golf course architect, will oversee the modernization project, with assistance from Los Gatos-based Morley Bros. during the municipal review process. This initiative is projected to cut water usage by 30% to 40%, conserving around 30 million gallons annually, stated Andy Kimball, La Rinconada’s general manager, in a letter to local officials.
The project is expected to necessitate the removal of approximately 207 of the 1,100 existing trees, including some planted in the 1950s, to accommodate the new grass that requires more sunlight. However, a reforestation plan is in place to replace these with 172 native trees, primarily oaks, and financially contribute to the community’s urban reforestation program. The golf course will face a closure of about a year, with construction beginning in spring 2026.
