San Francisco

[Jack Marr]

What courses would you recommend in this area that are value for money. I am trying to plan a trip around the Whiskies of the World Trade Expo and hope to have time to stumble around a golf course. Do you have to book in advance in places like Spyglass, or can you even get out on them? What's the weather like in March?

[A_Clay_Man]

Jack- While it is tough to find value in SF it's not impossible. If Gib can chime in you'll get all the skinny thats fit to print. As for Spyglass, in March this year could be iffy. El Nino may have things moist and if there is any precip within a few weeks of your visit, I'd look elsewhere. But if conditions allow the twilight is a doable option at spy in march and is of value.

[THuckaby2]

'Value" is in the eyes of the beholder... is Spyglass worth $250?  Then Pebble ought to be a no brainer at $400.  So it goes.

One things for sure, walking up at any of these biggies CAN be done, but it's a crapshoot.  Same goes for the weather, as redanman said.  Odds are in your favor that it will be playable, but if we get another El Nino year, well... that means wetter than Oregon.

If you really want the low-down, send me an email and we'll see what's what.  Let me know how far you want to travel from SF, how much you're willing to spend, what you have in mind.  There's a big universe of possibilities here, and in my 20 years I believe I've covered it all.

TH
tom.huckaby@clorox.com

[Kevin_Reilly]

in my 20 years I believe I've covered it all.

So Tom, when we played a couple of years ago you were 17 or 18?  Wow, you carry yourself well for such a young kid.

[THuckaby2]

Thanks, Kevin.  You know I try to eat wrong and never excercise and do all the wrong things.  

What I meant there is that I have lived here and played golf here for 20 years and there is little I haven't seen, for good or bad.

Which reminds me... ever played Nicklaus' Ruby Hills in Pleasanton?  That remains on my to-do list.  I've heard good and bad, mostly bad.  Still I want to see it... if my back ever heals I'm gonna make a push to play there.

TH

[Kevin_Reilly]

No, I've never played Ruby Hills.  I've played Jack's course at Diablo Grande, and I have an invite to play Mayacama from a well-heeled friend, but that's about it for me on the JN front.

[SL_Solow]

Play Pasatiempo if it is not too wet

[THuckaby2]

Pasa is indeed a great call always, Shel.  But it does get wet in the winter... drainage is said to be improved (by Doak's group!) but we'll see what the winter holds.

And Kevin, I've played each of the Diablo courses as well as Mayacama.. the latter is an absolute gem... that has not been said about Ruby Hills... we'll see....

TH

[David_Tepper]

Jack-
As the other posters have noted, conditions in March can range from decent to wet & muddy. It all depends upon how wet a winter we have out here and whether it rains while you are here. So far, we have not had much rain at all.
Here are some suggestions for public courses within 45 miles of downtown S.F. that are decent:
Inexpensive ($30 to $60) -  Monarch Bay (San Leandro), San Geronimo (Fairfax), Rooster Run (Petaluma), Poppy Ridge (Livermore), Chardonnay (Napa)
Country Clubs For A Day ($60 to $120)- Ocean Course at Half Moon Bay (Half Moon Bay), Wente (Livermore), Hiddenbrooke
(Vallejo), Stone Tree (Novato)
The Presidio GC in SF tends to get wet and stay wet all winter. I would avoid it in March unless you have no other choice.
Pasatiempo, a great course, is in Santa Cruz and is probably 75 miles or so from SF. Green fee is $100+.  
I know that Rooster Run, the Ocean Course HMB and Hiddenbrooke drain pretty well during the winter rains.
DT

[mpeck]

I would just call up Olympic or SFGC and introduce yourself.  I'm sure they would hook you up at any time........the members are reasonable and would love for an unaccompanied guest to be on the grounds.

If not, try half moon bay...

[Joel_Stewart]

I would just call up Olympic or SFGC and introduce yourself.  I'm sure they would hook you up at any time........the members are reasonable and would love for an unaccompanied guest to be on the grounds.

This is good advice, better yet, just show up and I'm sure they will let you be the first on.  Then drive down to Cypress Point and demand that you be first off..  Tell them MPeck said it was OK and they won't even charge you.

Jack, what is Whiskies of the World trade expo?   Have you checked to see if they are having a golf outing associated with the convention?

[Jack M]

Thanks for all your advice. I will certainly look up some of these courses if and when I make it.

Joel, the whiskies expo is on in the Nikko Hotel in March. I hope to pick up some info there for a project I'm trying to initiate. That's a good idea about the convention outing -  I will check it out.

Jack

[Dan King]

I would first read Slag Bandoon's tribute to small town golf:
Click here
San Francisco doesn't qualify as a small town, but it is made up of various little neighborhoods so often can have a small town feel.

Then I would:

Assuming the Whiskies of the World has a bottle of Caol Ila (or some suitable substitute) lying around you could get your hands on, I'd take that bottle and head over to Lincoln Park by cab.

Head on into the club house, open up the bottle and have a wee dram or two, you'll instantly make new friends. Some of them might want to head out for a quick 18. Time it so you are finishing close to the gloaming (it should only be a 2-3 hour round.) and bring the bottle along. Raise the bottle on the 17th tee and hit a ball out into the Pacific.

Then repeat:
Gie him strong drink until he wink,
That's sinking in despair;
An' liquor guid to fire his bluid,
That's prest wi' grief and care:
There let him bouse, an' deep carouse,
Wi' bumpers flowing o'er,
Till he forgets his loves or debts,
An' minds his griefs no more.

Finish up and you and your new mates head for the bar and finish off the night, then it is just a cab ride back to bed when/if that time ever comes.

Only concern is that Lincoln Park can be a pit in the winter, but not to worry, wear boots instead of spikes.

Dan King

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne.
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

And surely ye'll be your pint stowp!
And surely I'll be mine!
And we'll tak a cup o'kindness yet,
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne.
 --Robert Burns

[Gib_Papazian]

Jack,
Just e-mail me and between myself, Huckster, Dan King and Joel Stewart, we will be able to give you plenty of options.

That said, if it turns out you aren't too much of a stiff, I know a guy who would be happy to play with you at Olympic