Golf Courses in San Francisco

Grab your clubs and head to the links!

For some folks, the ideal vacation involves getting out their golf clubs and swinging them with malice and (hopefully) finesse on the golf courses wherever they travel for business and/or pleasure. Given San Francisco’s hilly terrain, you might think that the city has few great golf courses where players can test their skill and temperament, but you’d be mistaken, as San Francisco has been home to the U.S. Open, Tour Championships, Amateur Opens and other prestigious tournaments. Where you play in the city will depend on skill level, available funds, and who you know (for the private clubs,) but if you want to get in a round or two of golf, check out the following great San Francisco courses:

  • TPC Harding Park
    This course is lined with old cypress trees and has the reputation for slow and very challenging greens.
  • The Olympic Club
    No less than four U.S. Opens have been played on this course, which is carved into a hillside. It is beautiful, challenging and regarded as one of the toughest courses in the country.
  • Lincoln Park Golf Course
    This public course is one of the most affordable places to play in the city. The greens may be a bit rough at times and the course is hilly, but the views are spectacular.
  • Presidio Golf Course
    This course is so popular that it can be difficult to get reservations on short notice. However, when you can get a reservation, you’re in for a treat, as this course is very well maintained and quite challenging.
  • Golden Gate Park Golf Course
    The features of this course and the modest greens fees tend to attract beginning and mid-level players, but the views are spectacular and the course plays fast. If you want to play but are on a tight schedule, this may your best option.

There are a few other courses in the city and many more scattered throughout the Bay Area but if you have the means and desire to get in a round or two during your visit to the city, you can’t go wrong with any of the choices listed here. If the weather’s fine, traffic is often heavy and you may have to wait or play more quickly than you’d like. However, if it’s chilly and you don’t mind playing in the fog, you can often play at the time of your choosing. So if you like to golf and take in the scenery of new places, rent some clubs or grab your own and head out to these San Francisco links!