The California Club (TCC) is a unique “gentlemen’s” club in San Francisco. I was introduced to two very fine members via a friend and they quickly became “great mates”. My “mates” provided a wonderful experience to match this mightily impressive layout.
I couldn’t believe how close TCC was to the SFO Airport. Literally, it’s only a few blocks from exiting the terminal and the drive down the entrance lane to the clubhouse reminded me of that at Stoke Park in England. The historic clubhouse remains a constant backdrop throughout the round and the décor within is certainly “grand” – I loved the views out onto the course itself plus the atmosphere within the confines of the golfers bar are something to behold.
The course has undergone a significant restoration / redesign through Kyle Phillips and I must say (not having seen the original) he has done a marvellous job with what he has put in the ground. It’s probably the best work I have seen from his firm: Kingsbarns and Dundonald being two GB&I courses that I have seen in the past.
TCC has some interesting topography changes as it winds its way around the property. I found the F9 whilst moving up and downhill affords much fewer side hill lies than the B9 which primarily moves across certain ridges – most notably the “new” 7th which in my mind was close to the best hole on the property. Ran has done a great review and pictorial comparing the old v new routing – I certainly recommend one read same.
Holes I noted:
1st = (P5: 530yds) is a gentle opener that takes one away from the clubhouse back towards the entrance. The hole progressively narrows and is well protected by bunkers including a flanking bunker and a cant in the fairway poses enough questions on the golfer who hasn’t warmed up. The green has quite a steep back right to front left slope.
3rd = (P4: 435yds) is a lovely downhill dogleg right P4 that was created in the “controversial” process of the moving of the driving range to where the old 8th was located behind the clubhouse. Phillips move was a masterstroke as he created a dramatic shot that encourages the player to open their shoulders when rather the best line to the green is as close to the fairway bunkers as possible.
5th = (P4: 340yds) requires a drive of accuracy and not necessarily length as I found out. The green is set at a very oblique angle to the fairway and doesn’t have much depth so a full spinning shot may be a better option than a mere flip of a half wedge-SW as I certainly found out.
6th = (P3: 195yds) requires a exact shot on a high and exposed part of the layout and is quite tricky with the green sloping away from the golfer on the tee.
7th = (P4: 410yds) is a completely new cape hole on previously unused section of the property and probably my favourite on the course. The hole swings sharply to the right and the golfer is then faced with a tricky downhill approach – the risk v reward angles on this hole are amazing. A tip: don’t be long on your approach.
12th = (P3: 230yds) plays across a gully to a green that is angled right to left – notably in the same direction as the prevailing breeze. The green is well protected by bunkers and one can play a low running shot into the undulating green.
15th = (P5: 513yds) plays uphill and one has to be careful not to catch the left fairway bunkers off the classic risk v reward line off the drive. There are some deep centreline bunkers short of the green which need to be avoided as do those fronting the green.
16th = (P3: 130yds) is a downhill and has a very narrow offset green that is well protected by bunkers.
17th = (P5: 560yds) is a great P5 that requires a drive over a hill then the hole progressively becomes more difficult the closer you get to the green. One should be advised to land their lengthy approach short and let the contours feed the ball onto the green.
The bunkering is very thoughtful and I really liked the terrain and angles changes into and on the green
18th = (P4: 410yds) the approach shot is one of the more memorable on the course and whereas the 17th favours a fade into the green this hole certainly favours the opposite. The green has some lovely little contours and is well protected by an array of bunkers. Interestingly there used to be a pond short left of this hole and it was removed during the construction process.
TCC is a great course and for mine should be very much in the mix of discussion for “the best“ course in San Francisco. If this course is not considered by those who play it among the elite of golf courses in California and in turn World then I’d be very surprised. For mine – the mix of holes, the terrain changes combined with the quality and variety of holes (particularly the P3’s and P5’s) and relative wide fairway corridors make this course immensely “playable” for all levels of golfers.
The club should be congratulated for the wonderful vision it provided in setting the course up for many years to come and Kyle Phillips has done a superb job.
Long considered by many as the poor cousin to SFGC and the Olympic Club in the region – it may very well now be - the Grand Daddy of them all.