| Challenging and beautiful golf courses are open to | | | | available 8 - 30 days in advance. A non-refundable |
| everyone in Northern California. Here are three | | | | deposit is required for advance booking at the |
| you can play next week, including Harding Park | | | | time of the reservation. To make an advance |
| home of the 2005 World Golf Championships and | | | | reservation, call the Harding Park Pro Shop at |
| Berkeley's Tilden Park with its notorious 420-yard | | | | 415-664-4690. |
| par 4 straight uphill to an elevated green, first | | | | If You Are Staying In SF Consider Playing These |
| hole. | | | | One-Of-A-Kind Bay Area Golf Courses. |
| Part of the fun of city golf is having a San | | | | Lincoln Park Golf Course, 300 34th Ave, San |
| Francisco limo or car service pick you up at your | | | | Francisco, (415)221-9911, is easily one of the two |
| hotel and deliver your party to the course. Then | | | | or three most beautiful courses in northern |
| when your game is over, your driver awaits, just | | | | California. Lincoln is the oldest course in this list; its |
| as he does of Tiger. | | | | 18 holes were built in 1908, designed by Tom |
| It's always smart to call several weeks ahead for | | | | Bendelow. |
| tee times, deposit requirements and to reserve a | | | | Located west of the famous bridge, several |
| Quicksilver Towncar or Suburban to pick you up | | | | fairways provide postcard views of the Pacific |
| at the airport. (800) 486-9622 The Suburban | | | | and Golden Gate. If you play this course carry a |
| easily holds four golf bags and all your luggage. | | | | camera in your bag. City of San Francisco golf |
| Harding Park San Francisco was designed by | | | | info: |
| architect Willie Watson in 1925. Among its kudos | | | | Tilden Park Golf Course is located across the bay |
| are a Top 50 US Courses ranking by Golf Digest | | | | in Berkeley at the intersection of Grizzly Peak and |
| and a place among "Top 100 You Can Play" by | | | | Shasta Road, above the University of California |
| Golf Magazine. | | | | campus. (510)848-7373. This is a challenging hillside |
| Harding Park played host to the 2005 World Golf | | | | course. Tilden Park's signature first hole is a |
| Championships-American Express Championship. | | | | 420-yard par 4, straight uphill to an elevated |
| The American Express event in October of 2005, | | | | green. My father-in-law compared it to playing the |
| which saw Tiger Woods defeating John Daly on | | | | Royal Course in Nepal. The 18 hole course was |
| the second playoff hole. | | | | built in 1937 and designed by William P. Bell. |
| Harding Park Golf Course is located next to the | | | | Tilden is notorious for its hills and natural setting. |
| private Olympic Club course which has been host | | | | According to one report, the front nine is fairly |
| to many U. S. Open tournaments and is less than | | | | forgiving, but things change on the back nine, |
| one mile from the Pacific Ocean and the San | | | | which starts with a vertigo-inducing tee that |
| Francisco Zoo. Harding Park's layout follows the | | | | recalls Olympic ski jumps, followed by narrower |
| original 1925 plan, using the property's existing | | | | fairways. |
| topography, contours and vegetation. Features | | | | There are many golf courses in the Bay Area, |
| include the towering Monterey Cypress trees and | | | | but we suggest trying these courses which are |
| a view of Lake Merced where high school crews | | | | open to the public, inexpensive and well know to |
| practice on a dogleg 2k course. | | | | your Quicksilver Towncar driver. |
| Tee-times for Harding Park Golf Course are | | | | |