Del Rio Country Club in Brawley Celebrates 100 Years of Golf, History, and Community
Del Rio Country Club, a staple of golf in the Imperial Valley, opened in 1926 and is now celebrating 100 years of history and memories. The 18 hole golf course was designed by legendary architect William P. Bell, who also designed the North and South courses at Torrey Pines in San Diego.
We spoke with current General Manager Mario Garcia, longtime member Danny Williams, and former club president Jim Duggins about the history and evolution of the club. Duggins recalled that years ago the greens were made with cottonseed, while Williams noted that when his father played, the greens were made entirely of sand.
Throughout our conversations, one word came up repeatedly: community. Community holds many meanings at Del Rio, with one of the most important being the club’s role as a long standing part of Brawley. Del Rio opened just 18 years after Brawley was incorporated in 1908 and has remained a core part of the city ever since, offering activities such as golf, tennis, pickleball, and more. Club leadership emphasized that Del Rio continues to listen to the needs of the community.
The club also offers accessible rates for local residents, including junior golfers ages 17 and under at $5 for 18 holes, clergy members at $46 for 18 holes, and special rates for first responders and veterans.
This weekend, Del Rio will host its Blue Angels Golf Tournament, a long standing competition open to veterans of all branches of the military. In just over a month, the club will also host the 98th annual Elmer Sears Lettuce Tournament, the second longest running golf tournament in the state of California.
Several notable golfers have played at Del Rio Country Club over the years. Legendary golfer Arnold Palmer won his first ever tournament at the course. Other notable players include USC alumnus Dave Stockton, Ben Hogan, and Notre Dame alumnus Billy Casper. The current course record stands at 58, 13 under par.
Del Rio also takes pride in maintaining high quality playing conditions while operating with refurbished and secondhand lawn mowers and manual sprinklers. Club representatives said visitors are often surprised by the condition of the course and even more surprised when they learn about the equipment used to maintain it.
During our visit with Williams, Duggins, and Garcia, we were made to feel like family. Duggins even extended an invitation to a tournament dinner, reinforcing that Del Rio Country Club is about more than just golf. It is about community.