On the eponymous front (and man I've been waiting YEARS to be able to use that word)... we have a bunch in the Bay Area...
Major city (screw SF, we're bigger and more important than that over-rated hack town)
San Jose CC - quirky, funky, fun. Mike Golden used to be a member there.
Others:
Saratoga CC - 9 holer, weird.
Burlingame CC - very cool old course
Los Altos G&CC - pretty neat, but good lord sets the standard for overpriced Bay Area private clubs...
Napa GC - very fun public course, one of the better excuses it one tires of great wine and great food...
Orinda CC - wonderful quirky old course
Pacific Grove GL - 'nuff said in here already
Palo Alto GC - decent muni
San Jose GC - indecent muni
Sunnyvale GC - slightly more decent muni