San Francisco Golf Club

[Jeff Fortson]

It looks as though I may be playing here on March 13th right before the King's Putter.  I've never played it and I am really excited about the opportunity.  

I was just hoping that some of you could comment on this course and give me some idea of what I am in for.  Maybe some holes or features of note that I should look for.

If this does hopefully happen I'll have a lot to report on when I get to Pasatiempo on the 15th.  

Any information is appreciated. Thanks!

Jeff F.

[David_Tepper]

Jeff-
You are in for a real treat. I have played SFGC 4 or 5 times, but not since the recent restoration. I would have to rank it my favorite course in the SF Bay Area.
You might want to search thru the prior SFGC postings on this site. Some do include photos.
To me, the most notable feature of the course is its open feeling and the beautiful fairway bunkering. #7 is a very famous par-3.
Be sure to check out the men's locker room with its fireplace.
Hope you get good weather for your visit.
DT  

[Mike Benham]

Jeff,

I have played it a couple of times (about 6 years ago, on Mondays courtesy of the Superintendent, pre-Doak renovation) and have these observations - both architectural and playing the course:

Listen to the caddies - no yardage markers and the caddies know their business ... and they will learn your game pretty quick

Fairways are generous as are the number of bunkers

As has been mentioned on the board a few times, I didn't find to many of the holes memorable.

The condition was superb but similar to O Club, Lake Merced, Cal Club in that it plays soft (at least it did back then).

Not much to go on ...

[Mike Hendren]

Mike

Cal Club was the only course on either GolfWeek list that I had never even heard of.  Can you or your neighbors tell us a little about it?

Thanks,

Mike

[A_Clay_Man]

Jeff- Both Cal Club and SFGC will not disappoint. I think tommmy did a marvelous thread on some of the recent work done at Cal and it was amazing. I've played both only once and while there may or may not be much Mackenzie left at Cal club the golf is still top notch.
As for SFGC, The course starts out very strong with the second being #1 hndcp. Make sure you look at the tarantula bunker on three. Illusion at its best. And throughout the course the way that the waves were mimicked in the bunkering implies that at one time you could see the coast from there. The fourth is a tough Par 3 especcially in Javier or into it. Appreciate it early as The course takes an abrupt turn to the forgettable 13-17 but 18 brings you back into the friendliest of confines.

[Kevin_Reilly]

Bill, have you played CC since the tree trimming done recently?

[Joel_Stewart]

Here is a photo of the 18th at SFGC with the clubhouse.   It's in spectacular condition although it's generally wet. The greens will run about 11 or 12.  The bunkers are superb, some of the best in the country.  You will be one of the few people out on the course, walking is mandatory and you are expected to play in 3+ hours.  The first 7 holes are excellent, #8 is a piece of trash and 9 is nothing special.  I personally like #10 because it's so pretty and #12 is one of the great par 4's in the world.

You are in for a treat although I like the Lake course at Olympic better.  email me if you want more details.

[Matthew Mollica]

Jeff F - The latest edition of Golf Architecture, the annual publication of the Society of Australian Golf Course Architects, boasts several pages on SFGC.

You could send a message to Neil Crafter through this site for more info. It's a helpful guide, but something tells me that taking reddanman as your wingman would be helpful too  

Matthew

[Matthew Mollica]

The Golf Architecture article I mentioned has several pictures, including one looking towards the 18th green and the clubhouse, and another of the 2nd green, 9th and 10th fairways, with clubhouse behind. There is also an old picture (c.1920's) of the greenside bunkering at the par 3 11th. More like MacKenzie than Tillie, and darn good !

For more on the publication go to www.sagca.org.au

Matthew

[David_Tepper]

redanman-
Unfortuantely, SFGC dropped out of the rotation for holding USGA qualifying events in the early 1990's, when the USGA adopted the policy current of holding events only at clubs with non-exclusionary memberships. My first memory of SFGC was watching Johnny Miller qualify there for the 1987(?) US Open, held at OC Lake and won by Scott Simpson.
Lake Merced GC, a very tough track in its own right, took SFGC's place as a sectional qualifying site for the US Open. It is held there every second or third year and alternates with Valencia in SoCal.
Lake Merced was scheduled to hold the US Women's Open in 2004, but bailed on doing it.
DT  

[THuckaby2]

Great stuff, redanman.  I wouldn't disagree with how you rank what you call the big 3 in SF (the last isn't in SF, as you know!)... but regarding:

The big 3 in SF? (I played a lot of golf there, boys) I give them this order SFGC, O-Lake and CalClub.  But how close they are and what their individual numbers I give them and how they relate to say WFE, Medinah and Saucon Valley-Old, no let's say Lehigh,  are not up for discussion in this arena.  That's way too complicated and I am a lazy typist.  Suffice it to say all have been evaluated very objectively, carefully and thoughtfully.

wild guess - all three CA courses fall way below the others you mentioned.  

No hassles, just wanted you to know there is little mystery to this!


TH

[Joel_Stewart]

Here is a small picture of the famous 7th.  The 8th is in the background.   I had a huge response written but it was lost in the preview???

Anyway for those who have not played it since Tom Doak restoration it was fantastic and the course is far better now.  So many new pin placements with the greens being restored, #15 is a far better par 3, etc, etc.

[Mike Hendren]

redanman,

Thank you for the information.

Joel,

Stupid question from flyover country:  Is that the duel hole?

Regards,

Mike

[THuckaby2]

Mike - in case Joel doesn't see this, yes, that is the famous duel hole.

I too have only played SFGC pre-Doak work.  Gotta get there again someway, somehow.... Joel isn't the only one to give very positive reviews re how it is now.

Mr. Fortson, a full report will be required when we see you at Pasa!

TH

[Joel_Stewart]

This is my last photo but one of my favorites.  It's the 12th at SFGC (par 4 around 440 yards)which I think most people consider the best hole on the course.

Mike, yes my previous photo is the duel hole which Tom answered.  The photo does not show the amazing contour of the green which has 2 tiers, the bottom and the upper which in this photo is in the shade.  Tom Doak had huge balls to tinker with this hole and he pulled it off by slightly enlarging it.

Jeff is in for an amazing 2 days of golf playing SFGC then Pasatiempo.  Jeff: Make sure you look at the locker room at SFGC, it's classic.

[Scott_Burroughs]

Am I the only one who can't see any of Joel's pics?

[Kevin_Reilly]

Am I the only one who can't see any of Joel's pics?

Unless the pics are of red X's, then no.  

[Jeff Fortson]

I can't see the pictures either.  They just come up as a red "x".  I really hope everything goes as planned and I get to play this course.  I am very excited at the prospect.

Jeff F.

[John_D._Bernhardt]

There are few places in a metropolitan area in america with as much great golf in a small area as the southwest corner of SF. Olympic lake and ocean are great. SFGC is unbelievable and I have not played Lake Merced or Cal Club yet. wow what golf.I cannot wait to see and play SFGC again. I am assuming Doaks work is finished.

[Joel_Stewart]

The pictures come up fine on my computer?  Scott (or anybody) any suggestions on what the problem is?  I've done the basic copy of the properties and added the [img].

[Kevin_Reilly]

Maybe the yahoo server that is hosting the pics does not allow direct links.

[David_Tepper]

John D. Bernhardt-
Don't forget to include Harding Park (remodel to be finished this summer) on the roster of notable golf courses in the SW corner of San Francisco. The recently remodeled Ocean Course at the Olympic Club is not shabby either.
When one thinks of what could have been if Alister MacKenzie's original design of Sharp Park in Pacifica had survived in tact, the mind boggles at the density of quality golf per acre!
The only place I can think of that comes close is Southport on the Lancashire Coast in England, where Royal Birkdale, Hillside and Southport Ainsdale are adjacent to each other and Formby is just a few miles down the coast.
I guess the East Lothian Coast (North Berwick, Gullane, Muirfield, Dunbar, etc.) is also a pretty good contender.
DT

[Adam_Messix]

I was fortunate enough to play at San Francisco Golf Club this past Saturday.  My first impression is that the course is every bit as good as advertised and is very different from it's neighbor on the other side of Lake Merced, the Olympic Club.  

The reconstruction of the greens has really improved the course, however be very careful before playing there as the greens are quite a bit firmer than any of the other courses in the area that I played and do not have the spongy feel that the poa greens at the other courses have.  

The comments that I have heard listening to the gentlemen I was playing with was that the greens are currently slower than they normally are, they are probably stimping around 10...so you will not have the scary putts, especially on the 2nd green, that you might have under normal circumstances.  

Several holes have been lengthened, most notably the par 3 15th that now plays around 185 yards to a right to left sloping green.  The only bone of contention that I heard was regarding the trees on the 13th hole that were NOT removed.  This makes the landing area rather narrow.  

SFGC is a special place, with beautiful bunkering, and a very strategic design.  Jeff, enjoy your visit.

[Adam_Messix]

Also listening to the guys I was playing with, I don't think Harding Park has reopened yet, even though the construction work has finished and the grass is growing.  I was planning on stopping by and taking a look, but there was something going on in the park and traffic around it was awful.

[THuckaby2]

Harding Park won't reopen until June at the very earliest.  I tried to book a June tournament and they wouldn't let me.

TH