Now, the main reason for this little trip to SF. I made a connection recently and was invited up to play this very exclusive private club, so I got up here as soon as I could. My friend ppark81 joined... Continue »

Now, the main reason for this little trip to SF. I made a connection recently and was invited up to play this very exclusive private club, so I got up here as soon as I could. My friend ppark81 joined me as my guest. We ended up playing as a twosome, teeing off at about 1:30. They do allow some carts for certain members/guests, but mostly they try to enforce a walking-only policy. I wanted to walk it anyway, especially since we had a caddie. Our guy, Steve, handled both bags and was a good fit with us. The course is a workout of a walk with a lot of big hills to climb up and down, so we finished in a little under 4 hours and savored every minute of the experience. The course was in very nice condition. It's not really a lush/deep green look here. However, when I looked back at my photos it looks a richer green in pix than it did in person. Usually it's the opposite! Either way, the conditions are focused on having a pro style of play. Everything is very firm and tight, with fescue fairways and pure bentgrass greens. Lighter green look to everything, but it sure played nice. The tee boxes and fairways were great, with the firm fairways providing ample roll-out. The lies were tight, but the surfaces were very nice to hit from. The rough was cut down and easy to play from in most places, then there are some "native areas" that were sometimes very deep and other times less filled in. Most bunkers are lined with rough/tall fescue that provide a beautiful aesthetic, but make some escapes a bit intimidating. The greens were super firm and super fast, but pure as pure can be. Just a light topdress of sand that didn't affect putts in any way. This is just a neat old course with a ton of history and an incredible layout. The extensive bunkering (some of which done by Alister Mackenzie and definitely in his style), especially around the greens is both breathtaking and fear-inducing. It it is hilly and demanding. The winds this afternoon were very strong and that is pretty common here. It is just beautiful, fun and challenging. Everything you can want in a course. The club itself has a pretty laid-back vibe (not too stuffy) and we felt very welcomed as unaccompanied guests. It was a wonderful golf experience on a top-shelf course that I won't ever forget. Cal Club may not have as recognizable a name as Olympic or Cypress, but it is on the same level as any of Norcal's top clubs. If you ever have a chance to play it, take advantage!