Bay Area Trip May 15-19

[Kalen Braley]

JS,

I'm sorry, but I'm just not seeing either one of these.

Yes Half Moon Bay is in a nice spot but $170 to play either of these courses is very low on the value scale.  For that rate I'd better be getting something very very good if not exceptional.

And Sharp Park is so far from what it originally was, someone should go to prison for what happened.  While it is cheap, its hardly even a shadow of its formself and is a poorly maintained slog...especially in wet winter conditions.  For the same money I would recommend Lincoln Park.  At least the holes are quirky and the views are world class.

[JSPayne]

Kalen,

Don't misread my post. I did honesly enjoy my round at Half Moon Bay-Ocean, however I only played as the sun was setting (which besides sunrise is the absolute best time to play, especially on the west coast) and therefore only paid the twilight rate of $80. THAT value is worth it, IMO.

As for Sharp Park....I never claimed it was great. I merely suggested that it has some history and, true, is nothing of it's former self, but for a golf history/architecture buff, it's worth looking into. Golf isn't always about beautiful, pristine, presitgious country clubs.

I merely suggest that you don't limit yourself. It can be a treat to play the best of the best, but there's still something to be said for public golf. I would have never been able to afford growing my passion for golf without affordable, somewhat simple courses like Sharp Park to grow up on. And for that reason I have deep admiration and respect for the lowly publics and munis that keep plodding along trying to keep their heads above water. They help grow the game more than most country clubs IMO.

[JohnV]

A friend of mine who was in town recently recommended Green Hills which is another Mackenzie private course and is very close to the SF airport.  He and his buddies played it the afternoon they arrived and enjoyed it a lot.  I've never been there so I'll leave it to others to chime in.

[rchesnut]

I've played Green Hills...it's pretty good, but I wouldn't put it above the others you're looking at.

Play San Francisco and Olympic if you can get on.  I think  SF is slightly better but it's also harder to get on.  I'm biased, but I agree with everything that's been said about Pasatiempo, it's in the same league with SF and Olympic, you'll love it.    Obviously, if you have connections, use them to play Cypress or Monterrey Peninsula (either course).  That's it for the top tier.

The public options around San Jose are really limited.  I definitely like San Juan Oaks ahead of Cinnabar.  Cordevalle is good.  Wente Vineyards is a real fun course, but it's a bit of a drive from San Jose.  Harding Park is ok, I like it better than Half Moon Bay. 

This area is golf heaven, you'll have a great time.

Rob

[Tom Huckaby]

The man says he has time for 2-3 rounds, and already is planning SFGC and Olympic.  There have been great suggestions made as to where to play the ONE extra round, later expanded to perhaps one more.  I'd therefore agree with Kalen that under these parameters, it's tough to include HMB-Ocean (but I could see that if he really wants a seaside feel - I do truly like that course) and REALLY tough to include Sharp Park,as there's as much Mackenzie there these days as I have in my backyard.  Man, I'd say go there only if one is desparate or wants to be depressed.  Golf is most definitely NOT all about pristine private courses, but remember we've suggested several good publics, and my friend there is just no history to see at Sharp Park as it is today. 

In any case re Cinnabar, well... he just wanted one near San Jose, remember, and that's quite close in and it is pretty darn scenic, and fun enough.  I fully understand some (like my friend Mike Golden) don't like it, but that's cool.  I just would indeed recommend it to a visitor looking for a fun golf experience close to San Jose.  San Juan Oaks is darn good too, and sure, arguably superior, but it's about a 45 minute drive from San Jose.

TH

[Kalen Braley]

Huck,

Thanks for clarifying that...I should have mentioned that in my last post.  If you are visiting the bay area for a few days, there really is no point to go anywhere near these courses.

Now if you live in the bay area, and have plenty of time to explore, then by all means they could be interesting enough to check out, especially on the $80 twilight at HMB Ocean.  But I will re-iterate what Huck said about Sharp Park, it really is despressing to see what is there now and to know what was once there...just a big bummer.