Extremely memorable with uniqueness to the design of each hole.”, “Tom Doak has finished his job of bringing back the three original Tillinghast holes (Nos. Was this review helpful? Pin A = 303 ft. Pin B = 368 ft. Pin C = 405 ft. Hole 6. Local lore has it that they once carried a railroad across this corner of the property. It’s what we call the Bay Club Lifestyle. Membership in the club provides members unlimited use of the public course, as well as access to the private clubhouse (just off of the 9th green). The green are firm and slick, but not overly contoured. The magnificent old clubhouse reeks of history as does the caddie house nearby. Designed by A.W. Was this review helpful? Women members are limited to one day a week on the greens and one day a week for approved activities. Become a Member of the University Club of San Francisco Apply Now. There is not a doubt in my mind that San Francisco Golf Club is one of the best members club in the US and with 40,000 courses that truly says a lot. Shows what I know. A medium length drop shot par 3 (see photo) with another hole right behind it – needless to say a true dual (duel) hole. Was this review helpful? See other reviews from Lawson Gay, Respond to above review  Olympic Club membership overview The Olympic Club has two clubhouses: one is located in Downtown San Francisco, and the second – called the Lakeside Clubhouse – with golf courses in southwest San Francisco, is adjacent to the Pacific Ocean and Lake Merced. A tricky shot with a short iron in the wind. Surrounded by great views and beautiful grounds, it is no wonder why this club is regarded as one of the best in the Bay Area. Albert Warren Tillinghast was probably the greatest American golf course architect of his day and “Tilly” was the genius who crafted San Francisco in 1915. Tillinghast visited the Bay Area and created a layout which could only be described as architectural brilliance. Pin A = 243 ft. Pin B = 252 ft. Pin C = 282 ft. Hole 5. Located in the heart of the city, Nob Hill. It was strategic, featured no weak holes, had immaculate conditioning and left nothing to be desired. The terrain is used imaginatively, not straight up and down and there are many subtle, challenging dogleg holes. 0 people found this review helpful As I headed out the door, a friend I was staying with in Carmel, said San Francisco Golf Club does not deserve its notoriety: “I’ll be interested to see if your assessment of it is the same as mine.”… My friend believes San Francisco Golf Club – only 6,600 yards from the tips and par 71 – is not in the same league as, The above review is an edited extract from. See other reviews from Fergal O'Leary, Respond to above review  See other reviews from Steve MacQuarrie, Respond to above review  The par 3's are particularly strong, and all different. It's a bit hard to describe exactly what we did, without knowing which version of the course you are familiar with. Somehow none of these aspects were my most vivid takeaway from my visit. 0 people found this review helpful San Francisco Golf Club, wrote Tom Doak in his seminal 1996 Confidential Guide To Golf Courses, “was Tillinghast’s first masterpiece.”. ", “A total gem. The San Francisco Golf Club does not admit Jewish members. About 5 years ago, we rebuilt holes 13-14-15 to the original Tillinghast design. Respond to above review  San Francisco is an old school club with a small membership. Masterfully designed by A.W. San Francisco GC is hard to find! Previous ranking: 37, Panelist comments: Oh, and one warning in case your host doesn’t mention it: SFGC does not allow shorts. The back 9 just doesn't have that wow factor and when you start thinking about whether Doak was right or not in his renovations, you are concentrating on the wrong things. This restoration was a cause of some heavy political infighting at the club: almost none of the members remembered the course prior to 1949, so to them it was a redesign, and a few of the opponents of the project are still critics of the work, even though no one has argued that what we did wasn't true to form. Course Located just minutes from downtown San Francisco, this 18-hole course plays 6,500 yards of challenging golf winding through beautiful Eucalyptus and Monterey Pine trees in The City's trademark hills. What it does have is ample room to drive the golf ball. In 2006, the original holes were re-established by Tom Doak and his then-associate, Jim Urbina. Fewer people know that some of his absolutely best work happened on the West Coast. 0 people found this review helpful How to Play the World’s Most Exclusive Golf Clubs. San Francisco Disc Golf Club. Three holes were replaced in 1950 in anticipation of a street widening project that never happened. Link Here . I've played. This is the entrance/property line to the San Francisco Golf Club near the intersection of Junipero Serra and Brotherhood Way Photo by Kim Komenich in San Francisco … Between the fairway bunkers and the ubiquitous doglegs, the line of charm is in play on every tee ball. For me it encompasses most of what is great about golf and why I love this game. As a private, members only club, the amenities and exceptional services are unmatched. Pin A = 311 ft. Pin B = 343 ft. Pin C = 369 ft. Hole 4 . San Francisco Golf Club’s original routing was done mostly by a trio of club members, who first staked out the course in 1918. 0 people found this review helpful A.W. Situated close to Golden Gate Bridge, the course was not only the first remarkable example of the great architect’s craft, it was also the first course of any real quality to be constructed on the West Coast of America. And while there are plenty of greenside bunkers, half the holes still provide options other than an aerial approach. The course rating is 73.0 and it has a slope rating of 134 on Blue grass. Hole 1. Memberships are available to all Men, Women and Juniors. I thought when Winged Foot had changed its policy to allow them that this rule was extinct in American golf. And it is a step back in time when you do find it. The California Golf Club of San Francisco dates back to the Golden Age of design and, although the club can trace its roots back to 1918, California Golf Club did not truly come of age until it moved to its present site in the mid 1920s. John Sabino is the author of How to Play the World’s Most Exclusive Golf Clubs, Respond to above review  Formerly known as Harding Park Golf Club and referred to as Harding Park by the regulars, this municipal golf course is owned by the city and county of San Francisco. San Francisco Golf Club’s original routing was done mostly by a trio of club members, who first staked out the course in 1918. The first clubs. A century later, thanks to a 2001 Doak green renewal and his 2006 restoration of the original 13th, 14th, and 15th holes, the course again shines brightly. Enjoy unlimited golf on our challenging and well-maintained premier 18-hole, par 72 golf course located in the Golden Gate National Recreation area, just minutes from downtown San Francisco. Overall this is a world class golf course which is a must play if you are lucky enough to get an invite just be sure to soak it all in when you are standing on the 7th tee box. Albert Warren Tillinghast was probably the greatest American golf course architect of his day and “Tilly” was the genius who crafted the course for San Francisco Golf Club in 1915. Was this review helpful? Fairway bunkering well placed along with the mounding and contoured fairways to collect mishit drives, yet bunkers were not punishing. The course challenges all golfing abilities, testing finesse, accuracy and imagination. To meet new fellow golfers in the San Francisco Bay Area who share same interest and passion as you do. Was this review helpful? 0 people found this review helpful What to Expect: San Francisco Golf Club is one of the most historic clubs in all the West and takes you back to the roots of golf with club-carrying caddies, no carts, and no yardage markers. It would've given it a 9 (or more) except there were a couple of greens where in very small areas they were killing off poa-annua infestation (#12 and #17).”, “Tremendous variety in one 18-hole routing: doglegs each direction, uphill and downhill holes of varying length. A rare visit to San Francsico Golf Club is like stepping back in time to the beginning of golf in American. The result is a startling transformation that makes the California Golf Club of San Francisco arguably one of the golf-rich state’s five finest courses for the first time in its history. In compliance with COVID-19 health orders from the San Francisco Department of Health and the City of San Francisco, The Olympic Club is closed to non-members until further notice. See other reviews from Larry Berle. I did, however, love the two huge mounds that frame the cross bunker short of the 12th green. A short little hole with postage stamp type green elevated and surrounded by huge bunkers. it's really tucked away in suburbia. Without question one of the most underrated courses on the top 100 list.....I played here in early November and was overwhelmed by the variety of shots that presented themselves over the course of 18 holes. The California Golf Club of San Francisco was incorporated in the City and County of SF in 1918, thus the name even though the club is located in South San Francisco, San Mateo County. SFGC is world class, of that there is no doubt. Tillinghast remodeled the course in 1923, establishing its signature greens and bunkering. Peter Wood is the founder of The Travelling Golfer – click the link to read his full review. Was this review helpful? San Francisco is an old school club with a small membership. Laid out on a rolling pine-forested landscape near Lake Merced, the course stretches out across a number of valleys and ravines with the front nine occupying the most dramatic terrain. And Lake Merced Golf Club in Daly City added a six-month trial membership… See other reviews from regripped. San Francisco Golf Club gives Bethpage Black a run for being A. W. Tillinghast’s best course. All of the playing surfaces were pristine. Top San Francisco Golf Courses: See reviews and photos of golf courses in San Francisco, California on Tripadvisor. Playing golf at San Francisco takes you back to golf in it's formative years in the USA. The club and clubhouse are understated and stands out as one of the best in the world. The golf course is actually hemmed in by the city so doesn't have necessarily dramatic views. 109 on Golf Digest's America's Second 100 Greatest Golf Courses of 2019-20. See other reviews from joe. Was this review helpful? It's an experience I have had a number of times, and don't take for granted. From the hidden entrance, to the way the course just unfolds from the first tee next to the clubhouse, this is such a pleasure to play and a tremendous experience.”, “The conditioning is my new ideal as the fairways were perfectly rolling and the greens were very fast, firm, and rolled true. Located within a national park, San Francisco’s Presidio Golf Course is renowned for its spectacular forest setting, as well as its challenging play. This short hole is situated on the site of the last legal duel in American history (when a Supreme Court Justice shot and killed a US Senator in 1859) and it plays downhill to a small kidney-shaped green that drops off to the right. 0 people found this review helpful Was this review helpful? I had a chance to play May River over Thanksgiving week while on the Palmetto Bluff pro... Because the Black course is "The Black Course," few are lucky enough to have experience... From tee to green, San Francisco Golf Club is as good as it gets. I'm from Ireland, where everyone and anyone has probably played, I was very lucky to have the chance to play this course several times as a teenager in the late 80's because I was a caddie there. Namely San Francisco Golf Club which arguably is the very best of what he left behind. John Sabino is the author of How to Play the World’s Most Exclusive Golf Clubs 1 person found this review helpful The gentleman and ladies, which compose the sacred membership, are incredibly proud, courteous, privileged and uphold all of the fine traditions of this game. It’s here that one of Tilly’s favourite holes, the appropriately named par three 7th “Duel Hole,” is located. Pin A = 185 ft. Pin B = 206 ft. Pin C = 216 ft. Hole 3. A.W. So historic looking is the locker room that upon entering you swear Bobby Jones or Walter Hagen will come walking around the corner at any minute. Tillinghast, the San Francisco golf course opened in 1915. 0 people found this review helpful And we invite you to enjoy this lifestyle with a custom membership designed especially for you. The back 9 doesn't have the same flair as the front although whatever is lacking in the routing is more than made up for in the bunkers and the par 3s, which are each stellar in their own ways. The club and clubhouse are understated and stands out as one of the best in the world. The Lowcountry. The similarly august California Club was founded in Los Angeles in 1888 when "at least 12 of the 125 founding members were Jews." Presidio G.C. The bunkering is both eye catching and strategic. The golf course is majestic, with the site dominated by mature pine trees and flashes of white sand bunkering across a green canvass. San Francisco Disc Golf, Golden Gate Park, California, USA. Respond to above review  Named after avid golfer and former President Warren G. Harding, the golf course was designed by Willie Watson (who also designed the Olympic Club) and opened in 1925. The following comments were kindly provided by Tom Doak: About 8-9 years ago we rebuilt all of the greens at SFGC in order to combat nematode infestation which had gone beyond the bounds of chemical control. Highest ranking: No. “Traditional Tillinghast course with very generous landing areas. The golfer gets a sense of its greatness standing on the practice putting green or first tee perched above the wide fairway with massive bunkers strategically placed throughout. Well-maintaine... Adam Tomasiello's review of the course effectively captures the essence of The Cardinal... A solid championship layout which hosted the 2010 US Amateur Public Links (a fantastic... "A good course to seek out if in the area, worthy of a full day out". A view from the 5th fairway at San Francisco Golf Club (GolfClubAtlas) GolfClubAtlas. He also added the par-3 seventh, called the “Duel Hole” because its location marks the spot of the last legal duel in America. Members are responsible for their (non-Bay Club member) guests’ green fees. To enhance your golf skills by competing with other members possessing similar skill level. Pin A = 239 ft. Pin B = 243 ft. Pin C = 294 ft. Hole 2. SFGC is a 6 ball experience when you factor in the front 9, the bunkering and SFGC's place in the game and clubhouse but it is a slightly reluctant 6 ball for me. Once you get to the greens, however, things get less exciting. There is a nice rhythm and variation to the holes as the routing takes you to the distant corners of the property and back. The full benefits of this membership include use of the Member dining room and bar, use of the fitness studio and amenities, access to all social programming, and access to instructional golf clinics. 13 through 15). For more information, visit thepgcc.org or call (650) 638-2200. Membership. The front nine traverses more undulating terrain and is the more memorable in my opinion, but there are no weak holes.. Many trees have been removed and old, lost bunkers have been added.”, © 2020 DISCOVERY GOLF, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, USE OF AND/OR REGISTRATION ON ANY PORTION OF THIS SITE CONSTITUTES ACCEPTANCE OF OUR. Managed to play this course about 10 years ago when I worked there as a caddy during the summer. See other reviews from Peter Wood. Meet new friends to play with and share your common interest as well as gain potential business network opportunities. Was this review helpful? Any member cancelling inside of 24 hours is subject to a $100 cancellation fee per player. The routing on the front 9 is audacious and holds your attention in the best possible way throughout. When I think of tradition, history, privilege and a golf course which silently narrates the genius of times gone by, the San Francisco Golf Club is second to none. The Bohemian Club was founded in San Francisco in 1872 as a journalists' social group, but it grew to become a refuge for some of the most powerful men in American business and politics. The hole is known as "The Duel hole", being the site of the last legal duel in the USA- hole 8, a lovely natural par 4 in the same valley as hole 7- hole 11, a pretty, beautifully bunkered short par 3- hole 13 (Little Tilly) has a small green in a sea of sand, and is a challenge! My second favorite hole was the par 3, 15th. Unlike some Tillinghast designs that are tightly tree lined, San Francisco is not hemmed in by trees. With a membership which once included golfing legends such as Eddie Lowry, this club is dripping with history. Members at Blackhawk Country Club in Danville can earn a $5,000 certificate by referring a new member. Those three holes had been completely re-routed in 1949-50 by a local club professional, Harold Sampson, when the highway on the eastern boundary of the course was being expanded. Select your region and explore our offerings to find the collection of benefits and privileges that you and your family desire. - hole 1, a charming par 5 that sets the scene- hole 7, a downhill par 3 to a heavily bunkered green set in a valley. Once restricted to military officers and private club members, today the 18-hole course is open to the public. Respond to above review  Cal Club, located in San Francisco, California, is ranked No. See other reviews from John Sabino, Respond to above review  The golfer must plot his way around San Francisco or be very confident about his sand game. Benefits of Membership. True to our founding principles, The University Club of San Francisco welcomes alumni from all almae matres. 1 person found this review helpful A.W. 18, 1999-02. While standing on the 11th tee, my heart was touched by none other but the former USGA President and living legend, Sandy Tatum. Outside of the Sandhills region, Greensboro arguably boasts more breadth and depth of g... Cariari is the most challenging of Costa Rica’s six major golf courses. Caddies are compulsory on this walking only course. The private membership of California Golf Club of San Francisco was founded in 1918. Bunkering is one of Tillinghast’s strong suits and Tom Doak’s restoration shows them off brilliantly. See other reviews from David Davis. Greg Davis, CCM manages the course as the General Manager. The artistic bunkering looked like Tillinghast had Alister MacKenzie hanging over his shoulder during construction. The Regular membership is the most popular way to enjoy the Club. Was this review helpful? 2 Images Write Review. They are fast and often steep, but lacking the contours (except at #7) that I prefer. Seeing him swing the club truly inspired me and reminded us that San Francisco Golf Club is a shining jewel amongst a constellation of golfing stars. It's a special place. All cancellation charges are up to the discretion of the Director of Golf. 100 Greatest History: Ranked since 1971. A view of green #8 at San Francisco Golf Club (GolfClubAtlas) GolfClubAtlas. With no cart paths or yardage markers to distract on the fairways, a round here with a member at San Francisco is one to savour. The objective of the Club is to promote the game of golf by providing members the opportunity to create new friendships on and off the golf course through social and competitive golf events. Respond to above review  It really has it all, a wonderful golf course, an original and understated clubhouse with the original locker room, amazing views, history, a magical routing and usage of a small property and on top of it all an truly iconic hole in The Duel hole – home to the last legal duel to ever take place in the United States – which was also without a doubt one of my favorite holes. I could write thousands of words about the excellence of San Francisco Golf Club’s design. You can see the fairway and thus, you can view the real majesty of Tillinghast's skills, his ability to use bunkers strategically and with a sense of beauty. 0 people found this review helpful It’s an honour to walk this property and learn about the many contributions that this club has made to American golf history. “Now Tillinghast’s genius was being given free rein and it shone brightly out in California as well, at the San Francisco Golf Club.” Wrote Philip Young in the book entitled: Tillinghast – Creator of Golf Courses.