-- Golfweek Photo
“The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer
in San Francisco.”
Mark Twain did not utter these famous words.
They are, however, quite true. San Francisco
is well known for it’s brisk,
foggy days, or what locals consider their
summer air conditioning.
Just as well known are San Francisco’s golf
courses. The likes of The Olympic
Club, San Francisco Golf Club, and TPC Harding
Park all inhabit the same
stretch bordering Lake Merced. Plenty of roars
have echoed across the water
for Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods
—though none have managed
to tame the elusive Lake Course at Olympic.
And another fun fact: Where did Tiger play his
first USGA championship?
Answer: Lake Merced Golf Club, just down the
street, a few steps into Daly
City.
Those are the famous clubs that will cost you
a pretty penny to play -- if
you're able to get on. Let’s take a look instead
at the hidden gems of the Bay
Area that won’t cost half a paycheck.
BEST PLACES TO PLAY ON A BUDGET
Poplar Creek |
Poplar Creek Golf Course:
Straightforward, and tough to lose a ball.
Poplar
might not have the most elaborate greens or
tricky holes, but for a relaxing
day on the course, this is the place to go.
Measuring a lick over 6,000 yards
with lots of short par fours and fives, players
are guaranteed to enjoy
themselves. Don’t expect to go and break the
course record though, as local
player Adam Ichikawa once shot a 58 in a
tournament here. That’s right, 12
under. Showoff.
Earl Fry |
Chuck
Corica Golf Complex - Earl Fry
Course: Another East Bay jewel, the
Earl
Fry course is one of two championship courses
at Chuck Corica. Tipping out
to only 6,339 yards, this parkland course tests
accuracy, not length. Tight
fairways and grand eucalyptus trees defend
this course, host of the annual
Alameda Commuters Golf Tournament, one of
Northern California’s major
amateur championships. Make sure to take
enough club on the signature 15th
hole, a 196-yard par three that is all carry
over a lake. And if you are feeling
extra masochistic, sneak back 30 yards further
to the thimble-sized
“Commuters” tee. Might need to bring the
driver.
COURSES OFFERING THE MOST VALUE
Sharp Park |
Sharp Park Golf Course:
This Alister
Mackenzie design has seen major changes
over its lifetime thanks to the widening of
Highway 1 and the building of a
seawall on the back nine, but many Mackenzie
characteristics still exist.
Located just south of San Francisco in
Pacifica, but managed and owned by
San Francisco, this beauty of a course starts
off slow and peaks on the back
nine with some fantastic links-style golf just
feet away from the ocean. For
those looking to boast that they’ve played a
Mackenzie, Sharp is certainly the
cheapest and has character to boot. Don’t
forget to head in to the clubhouse
after for their famous garlic fries.
Monarch Bay |
Monarch Bay Golf Club:
For a true
test of golf, look no further than this links-
style course set right on the bay in San
Leandro. Listed at 7,015 yards from
the tips, it plays even longer thanks to the
prevailing winds that come off the
water. The course is always in great shape,
and it might be the best deal for
a championship golf course in the entire Bay
Area. At only $32 a player on
weekdays and $49 on weekends, Monarch Bay
is a steal.
MUST PLAY COURSES
Lincoln Park |
Lincoln Park Golf
Course: Some might
consider Lincoln to be rough around the
edges; dandelions line the fairways and the
greens are slow. It’s still a joy to
play, and perfect for match play. With multiple
reachable par fours and a
downhill, downwind 500-yard par five, this is
the course for someone who
wants to get aggressive. The real reason
every golfer should play Lincoln
Park, however, is the 17th hole. Not only is it a
brute of a par three at 240
yards, but just left is a beautiful, unobstructed
view of the Golden Gate
Bridge. Nothing like it.
Gleneagles International
|
Gleneagles GC at
McLaren Park:
Gleneagles is the craziest course in San
Francisco. If nothing else, it is an experience.
Set in the middle of McLaren
Park, Gleneagles only has nine greens, but with
two sets of tees on each
hole, it can be played as a unique 18. The Jack
Fleming-designed layout is
built on the side of a hill, and has perhaps the
most devilish greens in the city,
making it a short but difficult test. As is well
known in San Francisco golf lore,
Lee Trevino played here twice in the 1980’s
and shot 71 the first time around.
As for the second round, sportswriter C.W.
Nevius noted, “After he got to
know the course a little, he fired a 73.”