Question:
I think Shakespeare is for members only. Try the following: Hiddenbrooke (Napa Valley, close to Chardonnay) Poppy Ridge (Livermore) Coyote Creek (South San Jose) (very windy in pm) Presidio (San Francisco military course, long narrow fairways, small greens) Half Moon Bay (2 courses old and new, old course was called the "poor man’s pebble beach" but the green fee is $125)
If you are willing to drive two hours, you should definitely visit the Monterey/Carmel area. Scotland may be the birthplace of golf, but Monterey/Carmel is it’s mecca. Until just recently, I’ve been sidelined for a couple years with a back problem, so you might want to verify that the info below is still true, but as far as I know: * yes, Shakespeare is private, but Chardonnay also has the Vineyard Course, which is open to the public. VERY challenging course. No easy shots anywhere!! Very well maintained. * Poppy Ridge — great course… three nines all perfectly maintained. Significant penalties for errant shots. * San Juan Oaks — I got hurt before I got a chance to play there, but I’ve heard GREAT things. Conveniently located… about halfway to Pebble!! * there may be several, but I think the REAL "poor man’s Pebble Beach" is Pacific Grove Muni. Here are my notes after first playing it: Beautiful but challenging, this short course has two completely different nines. The front is a rather traditional layout, with some fairways that are tree-lined and some that run alongside houses. But after the turn (where you cross the street), the course becomes an ocean/links-style course, with large iceplant-laced sand dunes. Four or five of the holes on the back have great views of the ocean, but the best view has to be from the par 5 12th hole. The PG lighthouse is visible for much of the back nine as well. The greens were in very nice condition, and the fairways were above-average. The only real complaint would be the fact that layout on the back nine was confusing (I even went for a wrong green on one hole!!). But, in all, a great course for a great price ($31? in 12/99). I’m sure I’ll go back!! * you might also consider going north about 3.5 hours and sample some courses in Lake Tahoe (and pound some thin-air drives!!). Hope that helps!! — Brad
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It is difficult to get on. I was fortunate about 3 years ago to get the opportunity to journey to the "Cistine Chapel". My best friend had a member of his CC who had a brdother who lived in the area and was able to arrange a round for us. We played on the Monday following Thanksgiving and the weather was perfect. Had caddies and soaked in the entire experience. It only cost us $60 plus caddy fees to play. Yes’ #16 is just as you imagine. I tried to hit the green but crashed in the rocks in front. Next shot was a safe 5 iron and then a chip and 2 putts for a smooth 6 but who cares. We saw deer all over the course and the experience is one I will never forget. It could only be topped by a round at Augusta. Not planning that one in the near future but then – I didn’t think I would ever get to play Cypress either. Keep the faith maybe you’ll get lucky like I did.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Cypress Point (if I ever get back , this is the next one). Oh do let us know how you manage that, Mack the K. It’s a private club, AFAIK. Unless you know a member, I don’t know how you get to play the course. However, if you have a way, kindly let us know. I’d love to play Cypress, just once. Only once. Please, golf gods???? Purty please????? Peter
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Try the following: Hiddenbrooke (Napa Valley, close to Chardonnay)
Not too far from Chardonnay, but not in Napa. Hiddenbrooke is in Vallejo. – cja
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A good friend will help you move, a true friend will help you move a body.
Here’s another: A good friend will come bail you out of jail, but a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "That was fucking awesome!!" — Brad
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I think Shakespeare is for members only. Try the following: Hiddenbrooke (Napa Valley, close to Chardonnay) Poppy Ridge (Livermore) Coyote Creek (South San Jose) (very windy in pm)
<snip – The poster above recommended Coyote Creek. I played there and all I can say is that this course used to be a muni that was upgrade to an expensive muni. Ugh. Try Cinnabar Hills about 5 miles away. 27 holes up in the hills (as opposed to Coyote which is in the valley and is 100% flat), very scenic, forced carries that are not too tough, lots of elevation changes.2nd most memorable course I played after PB. Located in the San Jose area off of Hwy 101.
<snip You are referring to Poplar creek in San Mateo. It is exactly what you described. Coyote Creek is a brand new jack nicklaus facility which I heard is turning private soon. http://www.coyotecreekgolf.com/ez.php?Page=1050 As for Cinnabar Hills, it is similar to poppy ridge’s merlot course. Might as well play Poppy ridge for the price $67 for non members (accompanied with ncga members) versus $100 (or is it more)…. Glad you enjoyed your golf round in SF. Aldo
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Visiting from Scotland from 2 weeks and would like recommendations on some of the finest gems to play around San Francisco and surrounding area. very low handicap requiring nice challenge.. 
Was thinking of the Chardonney – Shakespeare or the Diablo Grande or Bayonet Black. Can anyone tell me if they are worth some of their good reviews. ?
Bayonet is long and tight. Bring your "A" game.
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Second the recommendation for Half Moon Bay. Lincoln Park is not a very challenging course, and wasn’t in terribly good shape when I played there back in ‘96 or so, but man, the views are something else! If I was in charge of SF’s munis, I’d pump some big money into that course to shape it up, and fund it by charging $100 for out of towners. It sure seemed like a hidden gem to me. Where else can you have a view looking over the top of Golden Gate bridge, a great view of a good portion of the city, AND drive a cart right through the setting of a Hitchcock movie? If I remember correctly, you could get all three in the same hole!
San Francisco’s muni’s seem to be looked upon as "cash cows"… they generate loads of revenues, but never have anything put back into them. Very sad. But, Harding Park’s $10M?, 14 month renovation is now under way, because they claim they want to be able to hold Tour events there. I always said that Harding had a great layout, but the pros would eat that course alive unless they really tricked it out. — Brad
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– Did not play but a lot of locals recommended Lincoln park (in SF) and Half Moon Bay. If you know people, there is the SF CC and Olympic in the area as well.
Second the recommendation for Half Moon Bay. Lincoln Park is not a very challenging course, and wasn’t in terribly good shape when I played there back in ‘96 or so, but man, the views are something else! If I was in charge of SF’s munis, I’d pump some big money into that course to shape it up, and fund it by charging $100 for out of towners. It sure seemed like a hidden gem to me. Where else can you have a view looking over the top of Golden Gate bridge, a great view of a good portion of the city, AND drive a cart right through the setting of a Hitchcock movie? If I remember correctly, you could get all three in the same hole! — A good friend will help you move, a true friend will help you move a body.
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Cypress Point (if I ever get back , this is the next one).
Oh do let us know how you manage that, Mack the K. It’s a private club, AFAIK. Unless you know a member, I don’t know how you get to play the course. However, if you have a way, kindly let us know. I’d love to play Cypress, just once. Only once. Please, golf gods???? Purty please????? Peter
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I think Shakespeare is for members only. Try the following: Hiddenbrooke (Napa Valley, close to Chardonnay) Poppy Ridge (Livermore) Coyote Creek (South San Jose) (very windy in pm) Presidio (San Francisco military course, long narrow fairways, small greens) Half Moon Bay (2 courses old and new, old course was called the "poor
man’s pebble beach" but the green fee is $125) Regards, Aldo
Visiting from Scotland from 2 weeks and would like recommendations on some of the finest gems to play around San Francisco and surrounding area. very low handicap requiring nice challenge.. Was thinking of the Chardonney – Shakespeare or the Diablo Grande or Bayonet Black. Can anyone tell me if they are worth some of their good reviews. ? Thanks Graeme.
Just got back from a visit to the SF area and I was in the same boat as you: looking for some nice places to play. Here’s what I found out: – If you have the $$$, go down to the Monterey area – Pebble (played here), Spy Glass. Cypress Point (if I ever get back , this is the next one). A whole lot of top courses with scenery, history, and challenges (especially if the wind is gusting). Very expensive ($350 for PB) but worth the 2 hour dirve from SF. Ever since 9/11 and the slowing economy, PB has loosened up its tee time system (I made mine 1 week out with no problems) although they have not made this public knowledge. – The poster above recommended Coyote Creek. I played there and all I can say is that this course used to be a muni that was upgrade to an expensive muni. Ugh. Try Cinnabar Hills about 5 miles away. 27 holes up in the hills (as opposed to Coyote which is in the valley and is 100% flat), very scenic, forced carries that are not too tough, lots of elevation changes.2nd most memorable course I played after PB. Located in the San Jose area off of Hwy 101. – The Presidio is an excellent older course. Now run by Arnold Palmer’s co, in very good condition, lots of trees and tight fairways, elevation changes, sloped fairways. Very nice but very busy. Good value. – Did not play but a lot of locals recommended Lincoln park (in SF) and Half Moon Bay. If you know people, there is the SF CC and Olympic in the area as well. Good Luck! — The Golden Rule: He who has the gold makes the rules.
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Visiting from Scotland from 2 weeks and would like recommendations on some of the finest gems to play around San Francisco and surrounding area. very low handicap requiring nice challenge.. Was thinking of the Chardonney – Shakespeare or the Diablo Grande or Bayonet Black. Can anyone tell me if they are worth some of their good reviews. ?
If you happen to get down to Carmel Bay but don’t want to come up with the $300 (or whatever it is now) for Pebble Beach, they have a pretty nice muni. The front is an American-style inland wooded course, the back is a Scottish style links. Quite interesting, and definitely a challenge when the wind is up. It is also quite inexpensive, when I played it about five years ago it was $30. Can’t remember the name, but AFAIK it is the only muni in Carmel. It isn’t the challenge of a course like Bayonet Black, but might be a nice diversion if you get homesick for windswept dunes 
— A good friend will help you move, a true friend will help you move a body.
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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Visiting from Scotland from 2 weeks and would like recommendations on some of the finest gems to play around San Francisco and surrounding area. very low handicap requiring nice challenge.. Was thinking of the Chardonney – Shakespeare or the Diablo Grande or Bayonet Black. Can anyone tell me if they are worth some of their good reviews. ? If you happen to get down to Carmel Bay but don’t want to come up with the $300 (or whatever it is now) for Pebble Beach, they have a pretty nice muni. The front is an American-style inland wooded course, the back is a Scottish style links. Quite interesting, and definitely a challenge when the wind is up. It is also quite inexpensive, when I played it about five years ago it was $30. Can’t remember the name, but AFAIK it is the only muni in Carmel. It isn’t the challenge of a course like Bayonet Black, but might be a nice diversion if you get homesick for windswept dunes
Sounds like you’re describing Pacific Grove Muni. Short course, IIRC. 5 par 3’s, 3 par 5’s, 5732 from the tips. Recommend Poppy Ridge, in Livermore, about 50 m. east of SF, easy to get to via freeways. Check www.ncga.org for info about that course, as well as Poppy Hills, in Pebble Beach. Both courses are immaculate, difficult, and I love ‘em. Oughta play ‘em more often, but… home course is free (I work there) and 15 minutes away. Beautiful, but not in the same class as others that have been suggested. It’s Tilden Park Golf Course, in Berkeley. Par 70, 5800+ from the whites, 6200+ from the blues, in a park, so you see no houses. Ever. (Well, there’s one in the woods across a street visible from the second tee box if you really want to see one, but otherwise, the place is house-free. Challenging course from the tips, and for me, challenging from the whites. But I an ol’ guy. HTH, Peter
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Visiting from Scotland from 2 weeks and would like recommendations on some of the finest gems to play around San Francisco and surrounding area. very low handicap requiring nice challenge.. Was thinking of the Chardonney – Shakespeare or the Diablo Grande or Bayonet Black. Can anyone tell me if they are worth some of their good reviews. ? Thanks Graeme.
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I think Shakespeare is for members only. Try the following: Hiddenbrooke (Napa Valley, close to Chardonnay) Poppy Ridge (Livermore) Coyote Creek (South San Jose) (very windy in pm) Presidio (San Francisco military course, long narrow fairways, small greens) Half Moon Bay (2 courses old and new, old course was called the "poor man’s pebble beach" but the green fee is $125) Regards, Aldo – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Visiting from Scotland from 2 weeks and would like recommendations on some of the finest gems to play around San Francisco and surrounding area. very low handicap requiring nice challenge.. Was thinking of the Chardonney – Shakespeare or the Diablo Grande or Bayonet Black. Can anyone tell me if they are worth some of their good reviews. ? Thanks Graeme.
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: I think Shakespeare is for members only. : Try the following: : Hiddenbrooke (Napa Valley, close to Chardonnay) : Poppy Ridge (Livermore) : Coyote Creek (South San Jose) (very windy in pm) : Presidio (San Francisco military course, long narrow fairways, small greens) : Half Moon Bay (2 courses old and new, old course was called the "poor man’s pebble beach" but the green fee is $125) : Regards, : Aldo I would second the motion on Hiddenbrooke. Poppy Ridge is challenging, and well kept, but not very pretty. If you can get down to the Monterey area, there are several choices. Poppy Hills is the sister NCGA home course to Poppy Ridge and there is always Pebble Beach if you don’t mind the green fees! If you come up north for some wine tasting, we have a few fine courses in the North Bay. My favorites are Bodega Harbour Golf Links (Bodega Bay) and Fountaingrove (Santa Rosa). Either should give you a good challenge. Adobe Creek and Rooster Run in Petaluma are also pretty good, but I wouldn’t put them quite in the same league with Hiddenbrooke and Poppy Hills/Ridge. I have a friend from Scotland (South Queensferry) that is an avid golfer. He grew up playing at St Andrews. He absolutely loved Bodega Harbour. He says is reminds him of some of the courses from home. All of these courses have homepages on the web, so you can check them out at your leisure. Marshall Ward
: Visiting from Scotland from 2 weeks and would like recommendations on : some of the finest gems to play around San Francisco and surrounding : area. very low handicap requiring nice challenge.. : : Was thinking of the Chardonney – Shakespeare or the Diablo Grande or : Bayonet Black. Can anyone tell me if they are worth some of their good : reviews. ? : : Thanks Graeme.
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Wente Vineyards is my favorite Bay Area course. Diablo Grande is in the Central Valley about an hour away from the East Bay. They have 2 courses there and you can generally play both in the same day for a special rate of $100. Be aware that most of the nice courses in the area will cost you around $100/round. Hiddenbrooke is a lot of fun, I’ll third that suggestion! Have fun! Tom Wright
: I think Shakespeare is for members only. : Try the following: : Hiddenbrooke (Napa Valley, close to Chardonnay) : Poppy Ridge (Livermore) : Coyote Creek (South San Jose) (very windy in pm) : Presidio (San Francisco military course, long narrow fairways, small greens) : Half Moon Bay (2 courses old and new, old course was called the "poor
man’s pebble beach" but the green fee is $125) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – : Regards, : Aldo I would second the motion on Hiddenbrooke. Poppy Ridge is challenging, and well kept, but not very pretty. If you can get down to the Monterey area, there are several choices. Poppy Hills is the sister NCGA home course to Poppy Ridge and there is always Pebble Beach if you don’t mind the green fees! If you come up north for some wine tasting, we have a few fine courses in the North Bay. My favorites are Bodega Harbour Golf Links (Bodega Bay) and Fountaingrove (Santa Rosa). Either should give you a good challenge. Adobe Creek and Rooster Run in Petaluma are also pretty good, but I wouldn’t put them quite in the same league with Hiddenbrooke and Poppy Hills/Ridge. I have a friend from Scotland (South Queensferry) that is an avid golfer. He grew up playing at St Andrews. He absolutely loved Bodega Harbour. He says is reminds him of some of the courses from home. All of these courses have homepages on the web, so you can check them out at your leisure. Marshall Ward
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – : Visiting from Scotland from 2 weeks and would like recommendations on : some of the finest gems to play around San Francisco and surrounding : area. very low handicap requiring nice challenge.. : : Was thinking of the Chardonney – Shakespeare or the Diablo Grande or : Bayonet Black. Can anyone tell me if they are worth some of their good : reviews. ? : : Thanks Graeme.