Secret Walks #9:  The Golf Course Loop, 2.5 miles

When you drive south on the 5 from the SF Valley to L.A., you can't miss the sky-high fences bordering the 18-hole Wilson Golf Course in Griffith Park. One of the park's three courses, the Wilson Course was built in 1927, hosted the first L.A. City Golf Championships in 1928, and co-hosted the L.A. Open from 1936-1938. Barbara and I hiked around the 9 holes behind the fence, following an equestrian path shaded by alleys of eucalyptus and oak trees. A pretty and lazy walk for us, a great trail for joggers. In his Secret Walks book, Charles Fleming estimated an hour for this walk. Now, Barbara and I can easily stretch an hour walk into two, but without stairs, steep hills, or mountain trails to climb, or historical monuments to awe us, we completed this hike in 1:12. A pretty big deal for us. I mean, ya gotta stop to say 'hi' to the dogs and squirrels, and, being the gym gals that we are, we had to test the equipment in the outdoor exercise area.