Recommended courses in the San Fran/Monterrey Area

[Philip Spogard]

I am going to California in early September and I am looking to play a 4 or 5 rounds of golf.

What courses would you recommend in the San Fran area (within 30 miles) and down to Monterrey (excluding the 17-mile Drive courses).

I will try and get onto Pasatiempo as it is a long time must-play for me.

[Wayne_Freedman]

Public Courses:

Pasatiempo is a must.

In SF, Olympic Club Lake Course. It's almost public if you know someone. Seems do-able

IN SF, Harding Park. Prepare for a long round.

Along the 280 corridor, Crystal Springs is another old muni with beautiful views, and they're letting it go more natural.

In Oakland, Metropolitan Golf Links. Excellent muni.

In Pleasanton, Callippe Preserve. Award winning muni.

In Palo Alto, Stanford is private, but not if you know someone...

In Antioch, Roddy Ranch. Little known, but a very good design.

In San Jose, Cinnabar Hills

Private:

In Hayward, TPC SF at Stonebrae is new. It's a long shot,  but worth the effort.

SFGC, obviously....the best of them all.


Other ideas from the locals??

[John_Conley]

Pete Galea is a prince of a man and is the Supe at a nice course called Pajaro Valley.  It is close geographically to Pasatiempo.  There was talk about adding holes and modifying the routing.  I don't know if that happened.  Worth seeing if you are looking for 36 holes on your Pasatiempo day as they are very close.

You won't have any trouble accessing Pasatiempo if you are willing to pay the fee of around $200.  Enjoy!

[Dave_Miller]

About 20 minutes North of Monterey is Pajaro Valley.  We played there in the spring at the KPVI it was a great take.  Magnificent greens and a nice course.  Pete Galea is the Super.  Does a great job. 
Definitely worth playing and not overly expensive.
Best
Dave

[rchesnut]

I'd add Wente Vineyards in Livermore as a very enjoyable public course within 30 minutes or so of the city. 

[Kalen Braley]

If your out in the north bay area, take a look at Delta View.  The original 9 is credited to Dr. MacK, and some interesting stuff is to be found.  Plus the green fees are low and its a great value for the bay area.

I will also give a thumbs up for Pajaro Valley, some of the best greens I've ever played.

[Patrick Glynn]

I am going to California in 2 weeks, and am also looking for recommendations.

Having worked at Pasatiempo for a summer, I feel its an absolute must play. I am a big fan of Kidd and wonder just how good Stonebrae is... What are MPCC and Spyglass like? I will not pay the $$$ to play Pebble, but am open to other suggestions. And please someone tell me the weather is going to be good (sole purpose of this trip is to get away from our Irish summer, read wind and rain)

Patrick

[Matt_Cohn]

If you're coming all the way from Ireland and you're willing to pay $330 to play Spyglass, why not $495 for Pebble?

[Kyle Henderson]

Wayne Freedman summarizes things nicely, but I'd probably avoid Harding Park right now. It's conditioning is abysmal at present, not to mention the high price for foreigners (non-Nor Cal rates) and slow rounds.

I'd add San Juan Oaks (Couples- Bates) to the list of worthy candidates.

[Patrick Glynn]

Matt,

I am not saying I am willing to play Spyglass but I see your point! Pebble just doesnt do it for me, I play in Lahinch in the early morning with my father and we play in 3 1/2 hours max. To pay $495 (+ hotel) to play a 6 hour round, on bumpy greens, for the sake of a 4 hole stretch and the 18th...

Disclaimer - I appreciate Pebble is a Doak 10 & my view is quite closed - but it is my view, and my money so... 

A shortlist of courses I am playing in CA: (what am I missing?)

Pasatiempo
San Francisco Golf Club
Olympic Lake
Monterey Peninsula Country Club

[David Stamm]

Pasa is a must. I will also concur w/ John and Kalen. Pajaro is worth a look and a fun course. Some of the best conditioned greens I've ever seen. And John is right, Pete is a prince among men.

[Kalen Braley]

Matt,

I am not saying I am willing to play Spyglass but I see your point! Pebble just doesnt do it for me, I play in Lahinch in the early morning with my father and we play in 3 1/2 hours max. To pay $495 (+ hotel) to play a 6 hour round, on bumpy greens, for the sake of a 4 hole stretch and the 18th...

Disclaimer - I appreciate Pebble is a Doak 10 & my view is quite closed - but it is my view, and my money so... 

A shortlist of courses I would like to play in CA: (what am I missing?)

Pasatiempo
San Francisco Golf Club
Olympic Lake
Monterey Peninsula Country Club

The only one your missing is the obvious one that is on everyones list...

[Bill_McBride]

Peacock Gap if you are in the Marin County area, just redone by Forrest Richardson with some of the most interesting greens you've ever seen or putted on. 

[rchesnut]

Patrick, if you'll be here in two weeks, I'll go out on a limb and guarantee the weather for you, at least at Pasatiempo.  It doesn't rain here in the summer.  It hasn't rained here all summer this year, and probably won't rain again at least until October or November.  There's not much wind at Pasatiempo either.   You might get some cool overcast weather in the morning, and some fog further south on the Peninsula, but if that doesn't bother you, you're set. 

[Dave_Miller]

Matt,

I am not saying I am willing to play Spyglass but I see your point! Pebble just doesnt do it for me, I play in Lahinch in the early morning with my father and we play in 3 1/2 hours max. To pay $495 (+ hotel) to play a 6 hour round, on bumpy greens, for the sake of a 4 hole stretch and the 18th...

 

Patrick:
At least your cost per minute at Pebble would be low
Besgt
Dave

[Matt_Cohn]

Patrick, if you'll be here in two weeks, I'll go out on a limb and guarantee the weather for you, at least at Pasatiempo.  It doesn't rain here in the summer.  It hasn't rained here all summer this year, and probably won't rain again at least until October or November.  There's not much wind at Pasatiempo either.   You might get some cool overcast weather in the morning, and some fog further south on the Peninsula, but if that doesn't bother you, you're set. 

The only place you're likely to get lame weather is at Harding - it will probably be about 60, breezy, and you won't see the sun.

[Mike Benham]

Matt,

A shortlist of courses I would like to play in CA: (what am I missing?)

Pasatiempo
San Francisco Golf Club
Olympic Lake
Monterey Peninsula Country Club

Assuming they haven't killed all the greens yet, the back 9 at Pacific Grove is always a fun test ...

[CJ Carder]

In SF, Olympic Club Lake Course. It's almost public if you know someone. Seems do-able

Just curious, but how exactly does this work?  Aren't most places "almost public" if you know someone?  Now if you mean, "might as well be public for all the guests out there," then I understand, but I sort of chuckled at the phrasing there.   

[Carl Nichols]

In SF, Olympic Club Lake Course. It's almost public if you know someone. Seems do-able

Just curious, but how exactly does this work?  Aren't most places "almost public" if you know someone?  Now if you mean, "might as well be public for all the guests out there," then I understand, but I sort of chuckled at the phrasing there.   

Olympic is pretty easy to get on as an unaccompanied guest, even if you don't know a member, so long as you have (for example) a pro who will make a call for you.  SFGC, on the other hand, is not. 

[David_Tepper]

Kyle Henderson -

You describe the conditions at Haring Park as "abysmal." When did you play there last?

I have played Harding 4-5 times in the past 6 weeks, including this past Saturday morning. I thought the course was in pretty good shape and did not see or experience any problems, condition-wise.  It may not be up to country club standards, but it is certainly comparable to the majority of the better daily fee courses in the SF Bay Area.

DT

[Jed Peters]

In SF, Olympic Club Lake Course. It's almost public if you know someone. Seems do-able

Just curious, but how exactly does this work?  Aren't most places "almost public" if you know someone?  Now if you mean, "might as well be public for all the guests out there," then I understand, but I sort of chuckled at the phrasing there.   

Olympic is pretty easy to get on as an unaccompanied guest, even if you don't know a member, so long as you have (for example) a pro who will make a call for you.  SFGC, on the other hand, is not. 

Not necessarily the Lakeside course.....Sure you could get on Ocean, but come on....who wants to play Olympic for the first time and not play the Lake?

[Jed Peters]

Peacock Gap if you are in the Marin County area, just redone by Forrest Richardson with some of the most interesting greens you've ever seen or putted on. 

Wait, he's coming from Ireland and you're recommending Peacock?

Holy letdown, batman!

[Patrick Boyd]

Gotta throw Meadow Club in there.....

[Jed Peters]

Gotta throw Meadow Club in there.....

For sure. A worthy play.

[Kyle Henderson]

Kyle Henderson -

You describe the conditions at Haring Park as "abysmal." When did you play there last?

I have played Harding 4-5 times in the past 6 weeks, including this past Saturday morning. I thought the course was in pretty good shape and did not see or experience any problems, condition-wise.  It may not be up to country club standards, but it is certainly comparable to the majority of the better daily fee courses in the SF Bay Area.

DT

May 6th, 2008. The fairways were in decent shape. Many of the bunkers were being rebuilt, despite the complete course overhaul 5 years ago. The greens were the slowest I've EVER played on. They literally stimped at 5-6 and were very bumpy. Mud bogs around the greens... Very poor overall.

I'm a public golfer. I don't need perfect conditions by any stretch, but for the $90 "Nor Cal Resident" rate it was not acceptable. I've played sand greens that were better.

Spaulding was there, if he would like to chime in.