San Francisco Course


San Francisco Golf Club guards its privacy as fiercely as it protects its hallowed turf. Nestled in the city's southwestern hills near Lake Merced, this course remains a haven for its tight-knit membership. Designed in the Golden Age by A.W. Tillinghast, the course presents a unique challenge. The rolling, windswept terrain demands strategic shot-making. Instead of brute force, the course favors players who can expertly navigate its contours and deceptive greens. While not overly long, the layout features demanding approach shots and subtly undulating putting surfaces. San Francisco Golf Club has hosted its share of prestigious events. Most recently, the 2021 U.S. Girls' Junior Championship graced its fairways. While not often in the national spotlight, its demanding layout and storied history endear it to those fortunate enough to experience it. Beyond the course, the club is known for its understated elegance and commitment to tradition. Members often speak of the club’s camaraderie and the generations of families who have called it their golfing home. The clubhouse’s famous clam chowder is a post-round ritual, a symbol of the club's enduring appeal.
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Private column compares member-only and guest-restricted courses.
Best in World
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Best in USA
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Best in CA
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San Francisco Golf Club sits tucked into the southwestern corner of the city, perched along the coastal bluffs near Lake Merced - a rare enclave of privacy within urban limits. Most visitors arrive via San Francisco International Airport (SFO), a straightforward twenty-minute drive north along Highway 280 or the Great Highway, depending on fog and traffic. The approach feels distinctly San Franciscan: you leave the terminal's glass and steel, wind through neighborhoods of pastel Edwardians, then suddenly break into open sky and cypress as the Pacific comes into view. The club's discreet entrance on Junipero Serra Boulevard offers little fanfare, only the quiet assurance that you've arrived somewhere intentionally hidden in plain sight.

FAQ
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
San Francisco has a Course Vaults score of 9.1 out of 10 based on 122 logged golfers.
San Francisco was designed by A .W. Tillinghast, Jack Neville, and Tom Doak.
San Francisco is listed as private on Course Vaults; guest access is typically restricted.
Par at San Francisco is 71.
San Francisco plays 6,828 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at San Francisco is 135.
San Francisco Course

San Francisco Golf Club guards its privacy as fiercely as it protects its hallowed turf. Nestled in the city's southwestern hills near Lake Merced, this course remains a haven for its tight-knit membership. Designed in the Golden Age by A.W. Tillinghast, the course presents a unique challenge. The rolling, windswept terrain demands strategic shot-making. Instead of brute force, the course favors players who can expertly navigate its contours and deceptive greens. While not overly long, the layout features demanding approach shots and subtly undulating putting surfaces. San Francisco Golf Club has hosted its share of prestigious events. Most recently, the 2021 U.S. Girls' Junior Championship graced its fairways. While not often in the national spotlight, its demanding layout and storied history endear it to those fortunate enough to experience it. Beyond the course, the club is known for its understated elegance and commitment to tradition. Members often speak of the club’s camaraderie and the generations of families who have called it their golfing home. The clubhouse’s famous clam chowder is a post-round ritual, a symbol of the club's enduring appeal.
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Private column compares member-only and guest-restricted courses.
Best in World
All courses
Best in USA
All courses
Best in CA
All courses
Golfers say this course delivers an unforgettable experience defined by exclusivity and old-school tradition, with strict policies like no phones and pants-only dress codes signaling a special round ahead. Reviewers praise the staff for exceptional hospitality, noting they're treated like members despite limited tee times. Most describe the routing as one of the greatest walks in golf, with the setting and atmosphere creating memories that last a lifetime. The lack of a driving range and intimate daily access add to the course's unique, privileged character that golfers find truly special.
9.1
122 players
No phones allowed
Anytime you get told “pants only and they don’t have a range” it’s usually going to be a sweet experience.
Was lukcy enough to go off in the first group, on a Friday, in the fog, at 7am. I'll never forget that day as long as I live. Course was special.
Public courses closest to San Francisco.
San Francisco Golf Club sits tucked into the southwestern corner of the city, perched along the coastal bluffs near Lake Merced - a rare enclave of privacy within urban limits. Most visitors arrive via San Francisco International Airport (SFO), a straightforward twenty-minute drive north along Highway 280 or the Great Highway, depending on fog and traffic. The approach feels distinctly San Franciscan: you leave the terminal's glass and steel, wind through neighborhoods of pastel Edwardians, then suddenly break into open sky and cypress as the Pacific comes into view. The club's discreet entrance on Junipero Serra Boulevard offers little fanfare, only the quiet assurance that you've arrived somewhere intentionally hidden in plain sight.

FAQ
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
San Francisco has a Course Vaults score of 9.1 out of 10 based on 122 logged golfers.
San Francisco was designed by A .W. Tillinghast, Jack Neville, and Tom Doak.
San Francisco is listed as private on Course Vaults; guest access is typically restricted.
Par at San Francisco is 71.
San Francisco plays 6,828 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at San Francisco is 135.