Mark Wahlberg's incredible golf playground speaks to his passion for the game.
Stephen Denton
The sprawling grounds behind Mark Wahlberg’s Beverly Hills, Calif., home are a sports buff’s fantasy sprung to life. Follow a footpath past a swimming pool, a skatepark and a regulation-size hoops court, complete with a Boston Celtics logo, and you come to the property’s most impressive feature.
Nearly six years ago, the Hollywood star — and golf fanatic — had a backyard short-game facility installed. Fittingly, it’s a blockbuster.
Built by Back Nine Greens, the setup features a mini-constellation of rollicking greens, deep alabaster bunkers and multiple chipping and pitching areas.
The entire property is ringed by canyons, and the farthest tee is etched high up on a slope. It plays a little more than 120 yards, but not just any guest is allowed to hit from it. Only Wahlberg’s closest pals enjoy that privilege.
A golf, food and travel writer, Josh Sens has been a GOLF Magazine contributor since 2004 and now contributes across all of GOLF’s platforms. His work has been anthologized in The Best American Sportswriting. He is also the co-author, with Sammy Hagar, of Are We Having Any Fun Yet: the Cooking and Partying Handbook.