David,
The golf course at the Presidio was originally designed and built by the members of the newly-organized San Francisco Golf Club. It opened for play on May 23, 1896. Although the lease agreement for the property that SFGC had with the military allowed for public play, actually very little occurred because their membership was given preference over anyone else who would show up to play.
In 1904, the Army’s recently appointed newest general, Douglas Macarthur, was named commandant over the Pacific forces. Macarthur hated golf and was greatly annoyed that there was a golf course on his base, so he decided to hold a full-out practice war games. Because the golf course was on land that was green and soft he decided that it was a perfect spot for the ARTILLERY and the CAVALRY to conduct their portions of the game. Basically they pretty much destroyed the course.
This is how it was reported on in the San Francisco Chronicle:
February 26, 1904 - Marks Of War On Golf Links
"Gun wheels and Horses' hoofs will tear the Presidio's swards - inspection today. The thorough inspection which is being made at the Presidio by Inspector-General Pratt and his assistant Major J.P. Wisser, was continued yesterday. In the morning Major Wisser tested the Ninth Cavalry in "first aid to the injured" work, and in fencing. During the afternoon the field artillery were carefully looked over.
"Some work of a practical nature will be done this morning, as it is the intention of the of the inspecting officers to have the cavalry and the field artillery out in service conditions. The inspection and review, according to the orders promulgated yesterday, will take place on the Presidio golf links at 9 o'clock today. There will be four troops of cavalry and three batteries of artillery under arms. Major Bigelow will be in command. The wail of the golfers over the destruction of the level swards will thus go unheeded. Just what four troops and three batteries can do in the way of cutting up ground will be seen after today's exercises., for in addition to the ordinary field maneuvers the troopers and the gunners will be exercised in making camp and in digging shelter trenches. The golfers will have some startling "hazards" when the soldiers get through."
March 1, 1904 - Troops Fight On Golf Links
"Colored Cavalrymen Reproduce Battle of San Juan on a Small Scale"
"The rattle of musketry along the Presidio heights yesterday morning disturbed the late sleepers in the southwestern section of the city... Major Bigelow of the Ninth colored Cavalry was exercising his dusky squadron in field sorties.
"The battle was a miniature San Juan Hill. Disparity in the number of troops engaged and the absence of bullets in the cartridges and the very evident fact that attackers and attacked alike wore the uniform of Uncle Sam...
"The hill of the golf links was the point to be defended..."
March 2, 1904 – Colored Troops To Be Inspected
"Squadron of Ninth to Be Drilled on Golf Links" - "The thoroughgoing inspection which the troops and quarters at the Presidio are now having at the hands of Inspector-general Pratt and his assistant Major Wisser, was continued yesterday, the quarters of the artillery coming under observation. This morning the Ninth Cavalry squadron will be inspected on the golf links in mounted and dismounted drill in close and extended order. major Bigelow does not intend his command to be behind any squadron in the service..."
The determined members of the SFGC actually held a previously scheduled match on the course the next day, March 3rd. The newspaper reported that the course was in “rough condition.”
They decided to move to a new location and built an 18-hole course in Ingleside where they would stay until another move to their present location in 1918.
Ironically, they day after the club moved, the Army signed a new lease for the existing course to continue being used, this time by the Presidio Golf Club, another private entity. They had the same arrangement as SFGC and so the public play was still limited to only times when members of the club were not playing.