Here are five additional courses that I dropped in at while visiting San Francisco and Monterey. These are opinions and observations while just seeing several holes.
Half Moon Bay - Old Course
I stayed at Half Moon Bay Lodge and the fourth hole played next to my room. It was designed in 1973 by Arnold Palmer and Francis Duane. The course is most known for its finishing hole that is often considered one of the best in the country. It plays along the cliffs with a downhill tee shot and an uphill approach. The coastal path and Ritz Carlton provide a full gallery of spectators as you play out your round. The rest of the course plays through “condo canyon” with doglegs on many of the holes. Along with the Ocean Course, which I played and blogged, it can provide a nice opportunity to play 36 holes in a day. The guy behind the counter and the starter both said they prefer it over the Ocean Course, but it’s easy to take the spectacular setting for granted when you see that view every day.
(The 405/384 par four eighteenth is gorgeous!)
(The 546/477 yard par five tenth doglegs right and plays uphill.)
Golden Gate Park Par Three Course
Golden Gate Park is fantastic and one of the highlights of San Francisco. I highly recommend visiting and seeing the Japanese Tea Garden. You can get lunch afterwards and listen to live music at the Alcove. It’s a really cool park. At the west end is the par three course. It was originally designed by Jack Fleming in 1951 and recently got renovated by Jay Blasi in 2023. Sports Illustrated voted it as the Best Renovated Short Course. It’s actually quite hilly and looking at the old pictures makes me agree with all the accolades Blasi is receiving. He pulled off the top soil and revealed the sand dunes the property sits on. There are several blowout bunkers that coupled with the Cypress trees make the whole place look fantastic. While I walked around the bottom portion of the property, I’m told the upper half provides ocean views which is close by. It’s home to the First Tee and was mostly being played by beginners when I stopped in. I would love to give it a go next time I visit!
(#1 144 yards)
(Practice putting green and downhill #5 158 yards)
(Behind green on #9 151 yards)
Lincoln Park Golf Course
Starting at the Sutro Baths, Lands End Trail follows the coastline and finishes two miles away just below Lincoln Park’s famous seventeenth hole. It was one of my favorite walks and I encourage anyone who enjoys urban hiking to put it on their itinerary. This is my kind of golf course! I love the quirkiness and grand views of the city. It’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea as its 5,146 yard par 68 layout is in itself unusual. With its Tom Bendelow and Willie Watson pedigree, two men who knew how to take advantage of a property’s natural features, the course uses all the elevated spots. If they kept this place in pristine shape, it would be touted as one of the best municipal courses. It very much has a San Francisco spirit.
(This is the 239 yard par three sixteenth…
…followed by the 240 yard par three seventeenth.)
Northwood Golf Club
Northwood has developed a cult following as a mystical nine holer designed by Alister Mackenzie among towering Redwoods. As cool as the trees are, I felt the course had a rundown muni vibe to it. The grass seemed thin to me, and the greens were hairy. Granted I only walked around the clubhouse and restaurant, but I was able to view 1,6,7,9 from these areas. I guess if the whole premise is one gets to walk among the Redwoods, then I short circuited that by my two mile hike at Armstrong Redwood Preserve. I do know the Russian River floods, and if you’ve ever played a course that has that issue, then you know exactly what I’m talking about when I describe it as being thin.
(The 280 yard par four sixth…
…followed by the 381 yard par four seventh.)
Pacific Grove Golf Course
I feel like golf has jumped the shark of late with bloated greens fees and undervalued experiences that give you buyer’s remorse. Pacific Grove is the antithesis of that. It’s priced right, has a great vibe, and is a terrific walk along the dunes and ocean. It feels like it’s an extension of Lover’s Point, Pacific Grove’s oceanfront park that transverses along the shoreline. In my mind, it’s a special place. You can have a grand experience with any level of player from beginner to advanced at a cost that feels like the equivalent of paying the entrance fee at Point Lobos. I played here twelve years ago and it still is my number one best valued golf course.
(Looking down the 303 yard par four eleventh.)
(The 300 yard par four eighteenth)
