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Putting around in San Francisco and the Bay AreaFor a city that's easy to get around without a car, there's a lot of driving (and putting) in San Francisco. The city is home to the oldest municipal city golf tournament in the world (1917), the 2009 PGA TOUR Presidents Cup, and some of the best places to play, as cited by Golf Digest. The oldest golf course in the city dates back to 1895. San Francisco Golf Club was a nine-hole course in the Presidio, but moved to Junipero Serra Blvd. in the Sunset District in 1905.Lincoln Park opened as a six-hole course in 1909, and later expanded to 18 holes in 1913. Lincoln Park and Harding Park have been home to the San Francisco City Golf Championship, the oldest and largest municipal city golf tournament, since it began in 1917 and continues to this day. Former champion Ken Venturi won the tournament in 1950, 1953 and 1957 before he went on to win 14 PGA TOUR events including the 1964 U.S. Open. The 2009 Presidents Cup will be played at San Francisco's Harding Park Golf Course Oct. 6-11, 2009. U.S. Presidents Cup Team Captain Fred Couples has announced that Jay Haas will serve as his captain's assistant for the 2009 competition. Haas and Couples represented the United States at the first Presidents Cup in 1994. The U.S. Presidents Cup Team will be named on August 17, 2009, following the PGA Championship. The top 10 U.S. players who are highest on the PGA TOUR money list from the start of the 2008 season through the 2009 PGA Championship automatically make the team. Couples will announce his two captain's selections to round out the 12-man team. Greg Norman, captain of the International Team, is expected to name his captain's assistant in the near future. The Presidents Cup, a team match play competition featuring 24 of the world's top golfers --12 from the United States and 12 from around the world, excluding Europe - is held every two years, and since 1996 has alternated between the United States and international venues. The Presidents Cup was developed to give the world's best non-European golfers an opportunity to compete in international team match play competition. For more information, visit www.pgatour.com/tournaments/presidentscup/ or www.harding-park.com. Media contact: Laura Hill, 904-273-7655, lauraneal@pgatourhq.com or B.R. Koehnemann, 847-291-6740, brkoehnemann@kempersports.com.
Below is a list of some of the golf courses in and around San Francisco:
San Francisco Public Courses:
Gleneagles Golf Course This challenging course, designed by John Fleming and opened in 1962, is 3,195 yards long and is a hidden jewel with beautiful vistas located in the far southern part of the city. This nine-hole course can be played as 18 holes from different tee and pin locations that challenge even the most astute golfer. The course is moderate to heavily forested and located on rolling and sometimes steep hills. 2100 Sunnydale Ave. in McLaren Park 415-587-2425
*Golden Gate Park Golf Course Golden Gate Park This scenic par 3 course provides a relaxed golf experience and a world-class barbeque restaurant. Business golf specialists, customized learning and performance enhancement through golf teambuilding/leadership scrambles for groups of four to 140. 47th Ave. and Fulton St. 415-751-8987
*Harding Park and Fleming Golf Courses Sunset Harding, an 18-hole championship golf course, and Fleming, a nine-hole executive course, include a practice areas and full-service clubhouse available for banquets, weddings and events. 99 Harding Rd. 415-664-4690 Lincoln Park Golf Course Richmond This par 68, 18-hole course, designed by Tom Bendelow and opened in 1928, is 5,149 yards long and offers magnificent views of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. The course is moderately forested with mature cypress and pine trees and native landscaping on rolling and sometimes steep hills. Lincoln Park is also one of the courses used for the annual San Francisco City Golf Championship. 34th Ave. at Clement St. 415-750-GOLF (415-750-4653) www.lincolnparkgc.com/Lincoln_Park/Home.html Media contact: Elton Pon, 415-831-2782, elton.pon@sfgov.org
*Presidio Golf Course Presidio A superior 18-hole public course 10 minutes from downtown San Francisco, the Presidio Golf Course is managed by Arnold Palmer Golf. Restaurant, meeting space, golf shop, practice center and rental equipment. Group bookings up to one year in advance. 300 Finley Road 415-561-4653
Private Courses:
Presidio Golf Club Facing the Presidio Golf Course, one of the three oldest courses in continuous operation west of the Mississippi, the Presidio Golf Club is a private golf and city club organized in 1905. The challenging 18-hole, par 72 course was built in 1895 by a group of local San Francisco businessmen. Members gather and dine in the Tudor-style clubhouse, built in 1897, and is considered one of the best examples of early clubhouse architecture. 8 Presidio Terrace 415-751-0139
San Francisco Bay Area
Public Courses: Eagle Vines Golf Club The beautiful landscape of the Napa Valley blends with a great championship golf course designed by Johnny Miller. Open to the public and tournament groups. Just 50 minutes from downtown San Francisco. 580 South Kelly Rd., Napa, 94558 707-257-4470 bbonetti@eaglevinesgolfclub.com
Franklin Canyon Golf Course Franklin Canyon Golf Course is an 18-hole, par 72 course amid gently rolling hillsides, mature oaks, and majestic gum trees. The Robert Muir Graves design features many obstacles to keep the interest of all players. Two ponds, several tight doglegs, and large undulating greens are some of the characteristics that require precise tee shots and will test golfers' skills. Hwy 4, Hercules, CA 94547 510-799-6191 http://franklincanyon.americangolf.com/
*Half Moon Bay Golf Links Two 18-hole championship golf courses, the Links Course and the Ocean Course, both play along the ocean. 25 miles south of San Francisco along Highway 1. Open daily. 2 Miramontes Point Rd., Half Moon Bay, 94019 650-726-1800 Media contact: Lyn Nelson, 650-726-1800, lnelson@hmbgolflinks.com
*San Geronimo Golf Course The 18-hole course in the hills of Marin County features 6,801 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72. The course rating is 73.8 and it has a slope rating of 135 on Rye grass. Designed by Robert Muir Graves, ASGCA, San Geronimo golf course opened in 1965. American Golf Corporation manages this facility, with Bill Burney as the General Manager. 5800 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Geronimo, 94963 415-488-4030
Sharp Park Golf Course
The 18-hole course, opened in 1931, was originally designed by famed architect Alister Mackenzie and landscaped by John McLaren. The par 72 course is 6,299 yards long and offers fabulous views of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding areas. This is a walkable inland and seaside course lined with Cypress and Pine trees that wraps around Laguna Salada, a natural lake ringed with reeds, cattails and tulles. Living in the marsh are a variety of birds including mallards, coots and red-winged blackbirds. Sharp Park Road off Interstate 280 Pacifica, CA 94044 650-359-3380
StoneTree Golf Club
One of the Bay Area's premier golf clubs, this handcrafted classic 18-hole championship layout plays across meadowlands, oak-covered hills and valleys. Spectacular craftsman style, clubhouse is ideal for events. The course satisfies players requiring the finest playing surfaces and the highest level of personal service. Daily from dawn to dusk. 9 StoneTree Lane, Novato, 94945 415-209-6090
Private Clubs
The Chardonnay Golf Club The Lakes, Meadows and Vineyard Courses offer challenges for players of all skill levels. All three 9-hole courses meander through 150 acres of Chardonnay and Merlot vineyards and feature numerous lakes, creek crossings, and a wide variety of flora and fauna. 7 am-varies daily. 2555 Jameson Canyon Rd., Napa, 94558 707-257-1900 rbillings@chardonnaygolfclub.com
Celtic Golf Management Union Square Golf event consulting, on-site golf activities, instructional clinics, awards, tee-prizes. Owns and operates Plumas Pines Golf Resort in Graeagle, CA. By appointment. 445 Bush St., Ninth Floor, San Francisco 415-296-8400 PGA TOUR - Charles Schwab Cup Championship - Oct. 26-Nov. 1, 2009 Napa County The Charles Schwab Cup Championship is the PGA Tour's Champions Tour's year-end Championship where fans can watch the best professional golfers and taste some of the best wine in the world Oct. 26-Nov. 1, 2009. 17700 Arnold Drive Sonoma, CA 95476 707-939-4131 www.charlesschwabcupchampionship.com Press contact: Leon P Gilmore Executive Director, 707-939-4131, leongilmore@pgatourhq.com
*Golf Around the Bay Sonoma County Books tee times at courses surrounding the Bay. Foxtail Golf Club, Metropolitan Golf Links, Crystal Springs Golf Course, Napa Golf Course and Callippe Preserve Golf Course. Minimum number in a group: 16 players. Annually, sunrise to sunset. 707-789-3268 Media contact: Kelly Scullion, 707-789-3268, kellyo@golfaroundthebay.com
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