San Francisco Bay Area Courses

My trip to CA/Hawaii has been altered.  I will be in SF from April 11-15 and then Hawaii (Kauai) from the 15-19.  Will only have two days to be able to play.

Which of the following courses would you play if you could only play two in the area?

Half Moon Bay - Old Course

Half Moon Bay - Ocean Course

Presidio

Monarch Bay - Lema Course

Any others to should consider?

I also have access to the following private clubs:

Sequoyah Country Club

Ruby Hill Golf Club

Castlewood Country Club

Discovery Bay Country Club

Thanks for the advice.

Have you considered going a bit South towards the Monterey peninsula. You could play Bayonnet and Black Horse on the same day (36 holes)? Those are beautiful and challenging courses, with white sand bunkers, criss-cross fairways, firm and fast greens and some nice views.

The Ocean course at Half Moon Bay is very much worthwhile. I haven't played it yet, but everyone I met who mentioned it had positive comments about it.

I would skip the Presidio (I did play it a few times) and I agree with Big C's comments: it's an Ok course but not as worthy compared to the others you have on your list (and/or Bayonnet/Black Horse), specially for the money.

Monarch Bay is a nice links course (high fescue, wind, etc...), but it's a municipal course (in San Leandro), and though it is in good condition, does not rival some of these other courses you have on your list, but it is really affordable and a good test of golf.

You could also check out Pasatiempo (in Santa Cruz) designed by Alistair MacKenzie of Augusta fame: he even lived in a house on the #6 fairway. It's beautiful, tough... and a bit expensive, but nowhere near Pebble Beach expensive!

Pasatiempo was just on Morning Drive as one of Ginella's ten best public access courses in the US.  I don't know current condition, but it's a favorite.

I just played Sequoyah CC this past summer.  It was fun.  Sequoyah and the Castlewood CC Hill course are similar.  They aren't long, have small fast greens, tight driving areas and lots of up and down.  Both ask for precision.  I've never played the CCC-Valley course.  I haven't played the Hill course in a lot of years, but my remembrances are that I might prefer it over Sequoyah.  Could be that I just played a lot better then.

I don't think Disco Bay is worth the drive from San Leandro, especially compared to your other private options.

What about Harding Park?  Sadly, I've only galleried since the remodel, but it looks fantastic.  The WGC Match Play will be there in July.  That would be kind of a treat and its NorCal golf history is second only to Pebble Beach.

I've only played the HMB Old course.  It's OK, but that 18th hole is spectacular.  HMB Ocean gets better reviews than the Old.

Has anyone played the Chardonnay golf course in Napa?  We're trying to meet some friends up there and we were going to try and get in a round before we start to his the wineries at 1 pm?

I haven't played Chardonnay, but I have played Eagle Vines, next door, several times and have been told several times that they are very similar. It's an enjoyable and challenging track that works its way through the vineyards, which create many hazards and OB areas. A worthwhile course, IMHO.

I played both last year.   Eagle Vines was in slightly better condition than Chardonnay, but both weren't bad for a drought year.  I think Chardonnay has more green fee discounts, if that matters.  I imagine both should be pretty good right now.

Which course do you think had the better layout?

Hmm.  They are certainly different approaches to the same terrain, since they are right next door to each other.  Chardonnay is a bit more "natural" and the primary water feature is a natural creek. Eagle Vines has man-made lakes, plus the creek.  The first few holes at Chardonnay are pretty bland, but there are plenty of decent holes.  Eagle Vines catches your interest and holds it a bit better.  Eagle Vines actually took some holes from one of the "extra" Chardonnay nines some years ago in some type of land swap.  Both have course tours on their website.

http://www.chardonnaygolfclub.com/coursetour/

http://www.eaglevinesgolfclub.com/course-tour/

There are a lot of very good public tracks in the Bay Area. Other than those mentioned, one of the best, maybe 45 minutes south of San Leandro is San Juan Oaks. Very nice, tough track designed by Fred Couples and another architect whose name eludes me. Another fine course in Livermore is Poppy Ridge. I believe there are 27 holes out there. Try Metropolitan Gold Links in Oakland. There's a good looking Nicklaus course off of 101 called Cinnabar Hills.

But as mentioned above, if you want to play a great track, it has to be Pasatiempo.

Would love play Pastatiempo, not sure I want to spend that much.  Maybe we will the next time we come out.

Since Saturday afternoon is the only day we'll have to play, we'll probably stick close to San Leandro.  So I'm leaning towards these three courses.

Half Moon Bay - Old Course (I want to play that 18th hole)

Monarch Bay - Lema Course

TPC Harding Park

Then going to Napa on one day and will play one of the Napa courses, as we are meeting some friends at a winery after we get done playing.

Going to opening day of the Giants and then an entire day in Napa.

Can't wait to play, I have Half Moon Bay, the old course, currently booked for Saturday afternoon on April 11th and then we're playing the Chardonnay course on the 12th.  With the way this winter is going here in the DC-Metro area, that's probably when i'll finally get to pick up the sticks and play.

Getting closer.