Recommended courses in the San Fran/Monterrey Area

[TX Golf]

It reopened for play on the 12th of July. However, they aren't letting guests out for a while as they want to keep the level of play down.

[Bill_McBride]

Of course that assumes he has access to private clubs; and this all turns on that issue, of course.

The reason there haven't been recommendations for Olympic, SFGC, Meadow, Lake Merced, Cypress, MPCC, etc, is that it doesn't sound like he has access to those courses.

Just being frank.

With that assumption, the next step is recommending the best of the public access courses in the Bay Area and it's a big world out there with lots of options.

[Tom Huckaby]

Of course that assumes he has access to private clubs; and this all turns on that issue, of course.

The reason there haven't been recommendations for Olympic, SFGC, Meadow, Lake Merced, Cypress, MPCC, etc, is that it doesn't sound like he has access to those courses.

Just being frank.

With that assumption, the next step is recommending the best of the public access courses in the Bay Area and it's a big world out there with lots of options.

Fully agreed, Bill.  It's just that would you really put Peacock Gap, Lincoln, Gleneagles, Lake Chabot among the "best"?

I sure hope not... maybe Peacock, heck I don't know as I haven't seen the re-do... but the others are each quirky acquired tastes at best, so to speak.

TH

[SPDB]

Quick question:

I have an afternoon game at SFGC upcoming, and I am wondering if it is at all possible to pair it up with a morning round at Pasa? Otherwise I just might try to get a morning round at Olympic.

[Tom Huckaby]

Quick question:

I have an afternoon game at SFGC upcoming, and I am wondering if it is at all possible to pair it up with a morning round at Pasa? Otherwise I just might try to get a morning round at Olympic.

That CAN be done, but the logistics would get a bit problematic.  Allow at least one hour drive time from Pasa to SFGC, maybe more if you hit any traffic or don't know the roads well.  On top of that, early morning times at Pasa are reserved for members so you'd have to go with one or get some other special dispensation.  I'd say Pasa is great... but if you can do Olympic, just do that and save the stress.

TH

[Jed Peters]

Quick question:

I have an afternoon game at SFGC upcoming, and I am wondering if it is at all possible to pair it up with a morning round at Pasa? Otherwise I just might try to get a morning round at Olympic.

That CAN be done, but the logistics would get a bit problematic.  Allow at least one hour drive time from Pasa to SFGC, maybe more if you hit any traffic or don't know the roads well.  On top of that, early morning times at Pasa are reserved for members so you'd have to go with one or get some other special dispensation.  I'd say Pasa is great... but if you can do Olympic, just do that and save the stress.

TH

"Save the stress" by playing Olympic?

That's funny. A round of golf at Olympic in and of itself is stressful!

[Kalen Braley]

Of course that assumes he has access to private clubs; and this all turns on that issue, of course.

The reason there haven't been recommendations for Olympic, SFGC, Meadow, Lake Merced, Cypress, MPCC, etc, is that it doesn't sound like he has access to those courses.

Just being frank.

With that assumption, the next step is recommending the best of the public access courses in the Bay Area and it's a big world out there with lots of options.

Fully agreed, Bill.  It's just that would you really put Peacock Gap, Lincoln, Gleneagles, Lake Chabot among the "best"?

I sure hope not... maybe Peacock, heck I don't know as I haven't seen the re-do... but the others are each quirky acquired tastes at best, so to speak.

TH

Tom,

You make a really good point here, so lets put together a list of where to play in the bay area assuming he has zero access....but also assume he can afford to play a few pricey courses.

This is what I would submit.

Pasatiempo - Yes its pricey, but it shouldn't be missed.  A must play.
Pacific Grove - Good on wallet, a terrific little gem, assuming the greens are playable! 
Cinnabar Hills - A not too spendy good example of architectually interesting Bay Area golf for lack of a better word.
Metropolitan Links - Not pricey with some very interesting holes especially on the back 9.
Delta View - I know I know I'm a homer for this course, but it really is a fun inexpensive course with a very famous grandfather that designed the original 9.

Bonus kickers/optional.
SpyGlass - If you really want to pick up a nice Monterey option, this would be the one.
Harding Park - Conditions could be iffy, but its in a great local with nice views accross the pond!
Roddy Ranch - Reasonable rates with some fun holes.

[Tom Huckaby]

Kalen - any list like that is going to depend on how far out from SF he wants to go.  If geography is not limited, of course a bunch more can be added. 

In any case we've covered "best public courses in the greater Bay Area" countless times, so no need to re-hash now.  Again I'd say Wayne's list at the beginning here is good enough for this thread.

TH

[Kevin_Reilly]

Quick question:

I have an afternoon game at SFGC upcoming, and I am wondering if it is at all possible to pair it up with a morning round at Pasa? Otherwise I just might try to get a morning round at Olympic.

The day is long enough now that it is possible.  Especially given the fact that your round at SF should take no longer than 3.5 hrs, tops.

[Tom Huckaby]

Quick question:

I have an afternoon game at SFGC upcoming, and I am wondering if it is at all possible to pair it up with a morning round at Pasa? Otherwise I just might try to get a morning round at Olympic.

That CAN be done, but the logistics would get a bit problematic.  Allow at least one hour drive time from Pasa to SFGC, maybe more if you hit any traffic or don't know the roads well.  On top of that, early morning times at Pasa are reserved for members so you'd have to go with one or get some other special dispensation.  I'd say Pasa is great... but if you can do Olympic, just do that and save the stress.

TH

"Save the stress" by playing Olympic?

That's funny. A round of golf at Olympic in and of itself is stressful!

Only if one lets it be.   

But what I meant more was the stress of driving to Santa Cruz and back to SF.  That's a long way and our roads are not always stress-free, as you know.

TH

[Bill_McBride]

What do I know?  I used to get up early to play Tilden and loved it.

[Kalen Braley]

Bill,

Good call, forgot Tilden.  A fun layout with some interesting holes.

Just avoid in the wintertime when its a slogfest!! 

[Tom Huckaby]

Guys, again, let's stick to the question here.  It's not "name every golf course that might be fun to play", it's name the 4-5 must plays.

And if Tilden - as fun as it is, and it is quirky and interesting and I've definitely had some good times there - makes this top 4-5, then I shall eat my hat.  And I do not enjoy Hat Flambe nor Hat Fricassee nor Mu Shu Hat.

Would you REALLY recommend this to someone coming from Ireland, at the expense of all others except 4?

[Kalen Braley]

Tom,

Once again, you make a good point, but you being Americas Guest of all people should know that sometimes scheduling can be a bitch!!! 

If his schedule or connections do not allow for some of the other big name courses to be played, then this is a feasible alternative.

True, it is not a top 5 course in the area much less a top 10.  But it is an alternative if he's got nowhere to play.  I sure as hell wouldn't recommend that goat track they call Santa Theresa!!   

[Tom Huckaby]

You might learn to spell the name of my home course before you disrepect it again.

 

But yes, I understand recommending alternatives.  But Wayne's list has enough to cover basically anything the visitor would truly want to / need to play.

Knock yourself out, though.... heck, get him down to Spring Valley in Milpitas....

TH

[Kalen Braley]

I was thinking more along the lines of The Ranch.  American ingenuity and architectual engineering on a marginal-piece-of-land-at-best at its finest!!!

I'm going to re-check my notes to see if I've left off any obvious one.

Perhaps Mariners Point if one only has a couple of hours at the end of the day!!  Great views to boot!

Edit:  Another course to consider - Chardonnay in Napa

[Dan King]

Sticking within the Bay Area counties, (Wikipedia doesn't have Santa Cruz county as part of the Bay Area, but I always believed it was, so I'm leaving it in.)  and with no worries about access, I'd advice a visitor from Ireland to play:

San Francisco G.C., Olympic- Lake (warm up on the Cliffs), Burlingame, Stanford, and Pasatiempo. (I'd want to see the Cal Club, for the recent changes.)

If access is an issue:

Pasatiempo, Half Moon Bay (the newer course), Harding Park, Chardonnay, De Laveaga, and Monarch Bay.

Cheers,
Dan King

There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign.
 --Robert Louis Stevenson

[JSPayne]

Ok, my personal top 4-5 for SF/Monterey in line with Huck's requirement of "BEST" possible choices:

Access no issue:

Meadow Club
SFGC
Olympic Club-Lake
Cypress Point (a guy can dream)
MPCC - Shore
[Cal Club as an alternate if they truly are allowing guest play....I don't know, and Lake Merced as an alternate as well]

No access, but cost no issue:

Pebble Beach
Spyglass
Pasatiempo
Wente Vineyards
Fifth choice toss up between Harding Park & Links at Spanish Bay

Access and cost an issue (read: best bang for the buck):

Pacific Grove
Pajaro Valley
Poppy Hills
Half Moon Bay - Ocean
Fifth choice toss up between Crystal Springs, Presidio, and Peacock Gap

You could of course shoot for a combo pack depending on scheduling, logistics and budget. Have a good time in CA!

[Tom Huckaby]

LOL
It's not MY requirement.  Read post one.  Both Dan and JSP give great suggestions, but neither follow the rules of the question... not completely anyway.  Remember he said within 30 miles of SF, and then down to Pasa and Monterey, not including 17 Mile Drive courses.  Sitcking to the publics, that precludes Chardonnay and several on each JSP list.

So here's my take on the publics, sticking to the rules - figure I ought to put such up given I'm being such a hardass here.  One ought not to dish out if one can't take it:

Pasatiempo
HMB - newer
Presidio (I think it's better than Harding and the comments about conditions at Harding scare me, and he needs one SF course)
Cinnabar Hills (on the way south, insert instead of Chardonnay and DeLaveaga)
Metropolitan Golf Links (I prefer this to Monarch Bay)

Note none of Pebble, Spyglass, Wente, Poppy Hills, Chardonnay meet the rules.

So now apologies to those to whom I gave crap... the other ones listed aren't THAT far afield from my list, sticking to the rules.  Mea culpa.

TH

[Chip Gaskins]

As far as the publics go I would recommend Presidio GC.  I used to live about 1000 yards from it and thought it was always wet and bumpy but there isn't another course that gives you that much of a "San Francisco" experience. 

I often had to stop in the middle of a hole because the fog was so thick you couldn't see where you were going....but it would quickly pass. 

Again, wet, bumpy, slow, expensive (wow thats a lot of negatives  ) but quintessential San Francisco.

I also used to play Crystal Springs down if you want "breather" course.  Fantastic valley views and I have heard in much better shape than when I used to play it.

[Kalen Braley]

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.

This gets better and better by the minute.

So as to clear things up, here is the original post.

1)  Cinnabar Hills is DQ'd because according to Google maps is 62.6 miles from San Francisco.  That its on the way to Monterey is irrelevant!!  

2)  Chardonnay on the other hand while still DQ'd is much closer at 42 miles!  

3)  HMB golf course while only just barely missing out is 32 miles, so that too is also DQ'd according to google maps.

Are you sure your playing by the rules Huck?     

[Tom Huckaby]

Kalen, I respectfully disagree and feel that I followed the rules completely.

Here's what he said:

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

I read the "down to Monterey" part as meaning anything generally between SF and Pasa heading down 101 or 280 or 1 is OK - that seems quite logical and reasonable to me.  The distance south from SF is irrelevant.  So Cinnabar and HMB both definitely count.  "In the San Fran Area (within 30 miles") would seem to mean any direction from SF within 30 miles.  Thus Chardonnay is precluded.  And yes I did check that before I posted.

Next?

[Wayne Wiggins, Jr.]

As far as the publics go I would recommend Presidio GC.  I used to live about 1000 yards from it and thought it was always wet and bumpy but there isn't another course that gives you that much of a "San Francisco" experience. 

I often had to stop in the middle of a hole because the fog was so thick you couldn't see where you were going....but it would quickly pass. 

Again, wet, bumpy, slow, expensive (wow thats a lot of negatives  ) but quintessential San Francisco.

I also used to play Crystal Springs down if you want "breather" course.  Fantastic valley views and I have heard in much better shape than when I used to play it.

I posted this earlier in the thread, but Presidio is in the best shape I've ever seen it in the 12+ years I've been playing there.  Played it about 2 weeks ago and the fairways were dry, firm, and fast and the greens were playing very well.  The usual suspects (i.e. #4 and #5) were a little damp, but nothing to bitch about.  Except for the beginner-level bunkering, in terms of depth, this is a nearly a must play.

In fact, I have a buddy coming to town from MD and we're playing the biggies, and I've included one day of 36 at Harding in AM and then Presidio in the PM (so we can get some of that fog action).

[Kalen Braley]

Kalen, I respectfully disagree and feel that I followed the rules completely.

Here's what he said:

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

I read the "down to Monterey" part as meaning anything south of SF is OK - that seems quite logical and reasonable to me.  The distance south from SF is irrelevant.  So Cinnabar and HMB both definitely count.  "In the San Fran Area (within 30 miles") would seem to mean any direction from SF within 30 miles.  Thus Chardonnay is precluded.  And yes I did check that before I posted.

Next?

Tom,

Fair enough, I can buy that intrepretation, Cinnabar is on the way.

But when I read "San Francisco area" I read that to mean just that...the area, not city limits.  So if the area around san francisco is extended out, and you go within 30 miles of the "area" boundary, then all of my previous choices work including Delta View, Chardonnay, etc, etc!!  

I win!! 

[Tom Huckaby]

Kalen, I respectfully disagree and feel that I followed the rules completely.

Here's what he said:

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

I read the "down to Monterey" part as meaning anything south of SF is OK - that seems quite logical and reasonable to me.  The distance south from SF is irrelevant.  So Cinnabar and HMB both definitely count.  "In the San Fran Area (within 30 miles") would seem to mean any direction from SF within 30 miles.  Thus Chardonnay is precluded.  And yes I did check that before I posted.

Next?

Tom,

Fair enough, I can buy that intrepretation, Cinnabar is on the way.

But when I read "San Francisco area I read that to mean area, not city limits.  So if the area around san francisco is extended out, and you go within 30 miles of the "area" boundary, then all of my previous choices work including Delta View, Chardonnay, etc, etc!!   

I win!! 

Good lord.

OK, if we take it to mean as you do, then the whole freakin' state counts.  So fire away - make sure to include Rustic Canyon.

TH