California Golf Club

A 1926 course south of San Francisco, rebunkered by Alister MacKenzie in 1928 and rebuilt by Kyle Phillips in 2008, with fescue fairways and 144 bunkers.

The California Golf Club of San Francisco was founded in 1918 and moved to its current site in South San Francisco in 1926, with A. Vernon Macan as architect of record. Two years later the club brought in Alister MacKenzie and Robert Hunter, who rebunkered the course and adjusted several greens. For decades it was known mainly locally, and as the home club of Ken Venturi.

Kyle Phillips's renovation, which began in April 2007 and was completed in July 2008, changed that. Working from a 1938 aerial photo, he restored MacKenzie-style bunkers, built a new 7th hole, and moved the driving range. The course now has 144 bunkers, fescue fairways across hillside terrain, cypress trees and views of the San Francisco skyline, and many consider it among the best in California outside the Monterey Peninsula.

Holes to know

4

Par 5 · 592 yd

The longest hole on the card, a par 5 across the hillside.

7

Built new by Kyle Phillips in 2007–08 to relieve crowding on the opening holes.

16

Par 3 · 133 yd

A short par 3 with deep bunkers front and back; wind makes club selection difficult.

Design history

• 1928: Alister MacKenzie and Robert Hunter rebunkered the course and reworked several greens
• 2007–08: Kyle Phillips restoration and partial redesign, including a new 7th hole and MacKenzie-style bunkering