A few extreneous points before I vote
If anyone says anything about how trees dictate the experience, or the fog (Bill V.) don't listen. He just mad at California
Olympic has more of the fog (Due to its location) and trees galore. That doesn't change the fact that it is a much more unidimensional golf course than SFGC. I've played it over 40 times, have attended major championships there, so I have some idea from where I comment. When you guys visit SF, play all
3 courses there SFGC, Olympic and CalClub. Decide for yourself.
California suffers from golf depravity. It is such a cool place with relatively no old golf courses in her cities. For all of its trendsetting and influence on the USA and the rest of the world, it surely didn't get it right with golf. i.e., no respect at all for Thomas and the ridiculous home building at Pasatiempo, for examples. At least they haven't screwed up Cypress point. Two
bad they couldn't have built Raynor's design, too.
The problem with these two in question is that both are over-rated relative to courses everywhere else.
A.W. Tillinghast built several golf courses in the NYC metro area that are not head and shoulders below SFGC, for example. Such is the "California Effect", it is real.
And Olympic
is a unidimensional slog, not even as interesting as Medinah, the other pariah of this group. I used to like to play there so I could wear out my long irons (Once I found my plugged ball). San Francisco is cute and more quirky. A little like Winged Foot East, a break from the slog in the fog. Shall we call The O the "Slog in the Fog" if they ever hold a Ryder Cup there?
As for SFGC give me #2, #4, #9, 12. Olympic #4 & #14 are really stimulating. Me, I want to play the CalClub again first when I get back to The City next. It's the one it has been the longest since I've played, not because I am a homer.
AS for the vote, SFGC gets my nod. The O is "harder", SFGC is a little better. The back nine just sags a bit too much to really be called a great course. It is a great experience.
I have no idea why this posted in bold type, sorry. I tried to edit it.