A Lost Hole(s) at Olympic Ocean

[Mike Benham]

The west side of Skyline Blvd. bordering Daly City and San Francisco is owned by the Olympic Club.  Over the years, this parcel of land was used for 4 or 5 holes of the Ocean course, and due to constant sliding of the sand dune, been built and rebuilt many times.

For those that have played the Cliffs course, the most recent design was primarily to the south of the 9-hole layout.

The golf holes were abandoned many years ago and I had a chance to go out last weekend.  I was only able to recognize one hole with the remainder of the property returned to its natural state or ravaged by continued erosion.

The first photo is scanned from a postcard of the 6th hole (courtesy of David Tepper):




This photo shows what remains today, taken from the teeing area, slightly farther back than the postcard.




An aerial outlining in yellow the location of the hole on the southern most corner of the property.




And finally, the remains of the infrastructure, wiring, piping and heads are still evident (this is just 20 yards or so in front of the tee box).

[Tommy_Naccarato]

Undoubtedly, one of the great tragedies in golf--at least the original course that was out there.

Great stuff Gnat Fan

[Jim Nugent]

Are there any other pictures of the lost holes?  

[Anthony Butler]

Undoubtedly, one of the great tragedies in golf--at least the original course that was out there.

Great stuff Gnat Fan

When I lived out in SF, around the time they had the Tour Championships at Olympic (93-94). The Chronicle did an article on this. There was a lot of friction between the City and the Club on what steps were taken to reinforce this piece of property. As I recall, doing it to the environmental standards of the city was going to be so cost prohibitive, Olympic just said 'screw it".

Tragic to lose that hole + 1-2 others I seem to recall. 100 days of the year, though, the wind would blow so hard on the ocean side of Skyline Boulevard that these holes would be almost unplayable. They certainly couldn't have the greens playing at the same speed as the holes on the main property.

[Brad Tufts]

I do not know too much about the evolution of the Oympic club's golf courses.  I know that now there is a Lake course and a Cliffs par 3 course, at least.  Now I see there was an "Ocean" course still there recently.  I remember Wexler's book said there was an oceanside course at Olympic literally hanging over the beach (for a least a few years, unless I'm thinking of another CA course mentioned) at some point.  My request is for a bit of background of how these courses all fit in to the club's timeline, if possible.

[Tom Huckaby]

I had the great fortune to play these now-missing
holes several times, as a member friend set me
up for several practice rounds leading up to a
tournament I was playing on the Ocean course...
In fact one time I played those holes on the west
side of the road over and over again, in a continuous
loop - very, very fun.

It is indeed a tragedy the sea reclaimed them, so to speak.

That par 3 Mike shows didn't have the bent tree
by accident - man was that a tough shot - wind howling
off the ocean meant you had to play it way out left
or not come close to the green...

The downhill hole was even more legendary though - any'
chance you have some pics of that?

TH

[Scott_Burroughs]

A pic of the old holes on the Ocean course taken in 2000 was
shown in the AOTD thread of the Ocean course.  These
approximate was was shown.  Here's that old par 3 (at left) as of June, 2000:



And the other holes (sorry I didn't meld them together AOTD-
style - current Cliffs at upper right of first pic):

[redanman]

When I moved to SF in 1980 or so there were about 5 holes in play
on the west side of CA 1.  They were fun to play, extremely scenic, but the par 5
that had been abandoned to the north
of the holes still in play at that time looked the best of all that
 was over there at that time.  The hole shown was a good par 3, really exposed to the wind.

[David_Tepper]

I have played the Ocean Course regulary since 1980.  It has had more permutations and combinations over the years than I can keep track of.

Up until 1983 or so, there were 3 par-4's west of Skyline Blvd. That area is now the 9-hole, par-3 Cliffs Course.

In the 1990's, 6 holes were planned to be built south of the Cliffs Course area & west of Skyline Blvd. Only 4 holes were ever built (a short par-4, the par-3 shown above, a par-5 and a par-4).

I don't think those holes were in play more than 24 months before the ground gave way, mostly under the whole length of the par-5. As I recall, Golf Digest ran a 2-page aerial photo of the holes after the landslide.

The 4th green of the Cliffs Course has slid down the hill twice in the past few years.

Mother Nature is relentless!        


 

[Evan_Green]

Everyone should consult their copy of Daniel Wexler's "Missing Links" for a great little chapter on the original orginal Ocean course from the 1920's which only lasted a year. I can only imagine how highly regarded that course would be today if it still existed, with 11 holes on the Ocean side of Skyline.

I am always shocked to think of the fact that originally the Lake was the "relief" course  

[Sean Leary]

OT for the O Club guys...I am playing there next week but heard that the greens may be punched.  Just want to set up my expectations conditionswise ahead of time that is all.

[Evan_Green]

OT for the O Club guys...I am playing there next week but heard that the greens may be punched.  Just want to set up my expectations conditionswise ahead of time that is all.

Lake Course is going to be punched March 20. Dont set your hopes too high for the greens if you're playing there that week.