Golf In "The City" By The Bay

 San Francisco's most famous course is certainly The Olympic Club, site of the 2012 US Open, but it is private and you must play with a member.  Same goes for San Francisco Golf Club, the best course in the 415 area code! But there are some great golf courses in and around San Francisco for those wanting to play in "America's Favorite City"!

Harding Park GC hosted the Presidents Cup won by Fred Couples' Team USA, and also the PGA Tour Championship.  Once tired and run down, the course was expertly renovated to a high standard in the 2000's and now is among the finest "muni" facilities in the USA, akin to Torrey Pines and Bethpage, NY.  

Presidio GC is located near the Golden Gate Bridge and very convenient for those staying in "The City". Years ago the course was closed to Military and local Members, and Joe DiMaggio was almost a daily visitor.  Now the course is open to the public and a great option for San Francisco residents and visitors. 

Napa Valley's courses such as Silverado GC and Chardonnay GC make for a great day drive, as do down the coast on scenic Highway 1 at Half Moon Bay GC.  Both the Half Moon Bay Old Course (good) and the Half Moon Bay Ocean Course (better) are Pacific coast gems along the sea cliffs. 

A great option is to drive across to Livermore and golf at Wente Vineyards GC, a Greg Norman masterpiece that winds through the wine groves, up and down the East Bay hills and normally sunny when other courses in the San Francisco area are "fogged in".  Stay for some wine tasting after golf, and bring a designated driver, because I'll bet you can have just one glass of Wente wines!

Harding Park GC

After 80 years as a “great layout but poorly maintained muni”, Harding was reborn in 2003 after a $9 million renovation. The PGA Tour hosted the WGC American Express Championships in 2005 (won by Tiger Woods) and the 2009 Presidents Cup won by Team USA (Team Captains Fred Couples and Greg Norman). After these spectacular upgrades and it is now considered one of the top courses in the Western USA. Located in the southwest corner of San Francisco near Daly City along the shoreline of Lake Merced, Harding Park Golf Course was named after US President Warren G. Harding, an avid golfer, who died while visiting San Francisco two years earlier. This 163-acre course was designed by Willie Watson and Sam Whiting Harding Park dates back to 1925 when Willie Watson built the course in memory of President Warren G. Harding, who died in San Francisco two years earlier. The golf course has hosted many top events through the years, but it wasn't until the recent, massive renovation project that the course was brought back to life. The classical design has tight doglegs, raised greens and plenty of bunkering. The terrain gently rolls up and down, getting more severe at the 14th and 15th holes, and the 18th hole plays over a lake on the tee shot. WWG Grade: A

Half Moon Bay Ocean Course

An excellent “faux links” by Arthur Hills opened in ’97 with much fanfare, featuring ocean views from almost every hole and a great finish along the cliffs. Home of the 2008 LPGA Samsung World Golf Championship, won by Paula Creamer who grew up in nearby Pleasanton, the course has a reputation of difficult when windy, but softer when still. However, the wind is almost always present off the ocean. Just to the north is the famous Maverick’s surf break with some of the largest waves in the world. Choose the right tees for your skill level to navigate the forced carries on some tees. WWG Grade: A