Checked in last Wednesday and hardly anyone there. Guy at pro shop said they increased the green fees in advance of the upcoming tournament to thin the herd a bit to keep the course in shape and it worked. So even though we paid a few bucks more, nobody pushed us nor did we wait and the course was in great shape all around. I'm not seeing too many reviews from others for the Bay Area courses, just SoCal mostly. I'm thinking writing reviews here is not too relevant to this group so I am laying low for awhile.

According to the weather report winds were gusting up to 25 mph today and maybe more because this course is set in the mountains above south San Jose. This is a tough course and just about every hole is either going up the hill or down the hill with many undulations in the fairways and greens alike. Many forced carries, some water hazards, stiff rough and many trees make this a difficult course for first timers without course knowledge. Although there were no brown patches to speak of, the fairways were hard in many places. The greens were in good shape but difficult to judge both in speed and line. I don't play this course very often because of the pricy green fees but we had a Groupon. I remember this course as being in great shape but probably because of the drought, it has gone down in stature in my mind.

Greens were punched end of February but greens still a couple of weeks away from smoothing out. Otherwise fairways and rough were in nice shape. Some of the tee boxes were really beat up but I'm sure they'll change the tee box markers around soon. Most of the trouble is on the right side so slicers beware. Fairways are wide but lots of trees and some water hazards. Fairly interesting but mostly straight and flat. Got a good rate but a bit of a drive for us San Franciscans. Cart lady was nice and ran into her 3 or 4 times. Weather nice now but gets hot in the summer. Used a coupon bought back in December that expires end of month. Aeration rate was cheaper than coupon so that was a loss. We tried to book weekends a couple of times but were unsuccessful. It was a waste for the weekday rate. Beware of these coupons that they sell in December because if it's a rainy winter you might put the coupon away and forget about it until closer to the deadline then you remember about it just about the time they are aerating.

Played today (sunday) for $60. Slope is 134 off the whites even though it's less than 5800 yards. There is trouble everywhere so this course presents many challenges but the layout is very interesting if not a bit tricked up. There are many elevation changes, creeks, ponds, bunkers and forced carries. The greens were punched two and a half weeks ago and most were 75% healed so it was tough for the flatstick. For a top-rated course and one that the LPGA played, the bunkers were surprisingly sub-standard filled with what looked like sandy dirt some with gravel. Once the greens heal I would go back again packing some course knowledge because it's so challenging. Check the weather because Vallejo can be windy especially when you are up in the hills like this course is.

As the WCG Cadillac tourney approaches late April, Harding's assiduous groundskeepers are mowing, top dressing, rough trimming and building grandstands everywhere. Despite all of the furious activity, nothing interfered with our round although there was a paucity of players perhaps due to the tournament surcharge of $10.00 per player. But if you want to play as the top players in the world will play in about a month, then now is the time to do it. The rough is longer than normal but perfectly flat like Howie Long's famous flat top haircut. Weather was perfectly calm and warm.

Rooster Run might be considered a sleeper course as we rarely have a problem finding decent tee times here on most Sundays. A traffic free 40 minute ride from San Francisco gives us city boys a nice countryfied round with pleasant weather, birds and wildlife in a peaceful atmosphere. Oh yeah, the golf is good here as the conditions overall are very acceptable from tee box to green. Fairways are well manicured with no hardpan conditions unlike many other muni courses in the drought-strickened bay area. Layout is flat with plenty of hazards to negotiate including ponds and crossing streams and an island green. Playing off the whites will give you an opportunity to go low with a slope of 118. For a better challenge, play the blues which bumps the slope up to 127. Buy your green fees on golf guide.org for a $42.00 green fee/cart for weekends after 10am. Good bargain with very decent conditions and layout. Pop was 4.25 hours.

We played here a few weeks ago for the first time in a long time. The greens are fast and challenging which we liked. The rest of the course is muni-grade and at that time was is good shape relative to what it is. So we decided to give it another go since the price was right. Yesterday the greens were still good but the fairways were for the most part green and grassy but the fairways played like hardpan. So I give it a lower grade this time around. Still an interesting course and for $36.00 on a Sunday, a good value play. Oh yeah, it was a horribly slow round though. Five hours 15 minutes. We keep jumping around on Sunday play wherever the good deals are. So does everyone else of course so we can't expect much more. The 2nd, 4th and 6th holes are par 3's so things back up right away and usually it starts spreading out after that but not yesterday. Hole 13 is an uphill par 5 that culminates with a very slick, undulating green that will play havoc with your downhill putts often running past the hole all the way down to the bottom of the green. Hole 14 is an unusual par 4 downhill dogging right 90 degrees with bunkers lining the last 150 yards down to the green. Hope there's some rain in the forecast to help our courses.

It was a beautiful day in San Francisco. POP was a little over four hours. Grass was well-kept and new grass filled in many areas of the course where it was previously junk. Staff served well throughout, free breakfast (loyalty program) was good as always and greens for the most part were running well. Walked the course for senior $34.00, plentiful uphills notwithstanding. Good time to play this course. Dress accordingly for San Francisco fickle weather patterns although today was a no jacket, shorts day.

What a gorgeous day in San Francisco and Harding is getting ready for the Cadillac Match Play end of April. The rough is well, rougher. Fairways good as always, Tee boxes nice and flat, bunkers perfect and the greens are rolling well but never that fast as the bent grass is well established after taking over for the previous Poa Annua. Alex Levy was in the group ahead practicing for the Cadillac. He was hitting from some of the tees from other holes just to add length for his drives. One of the grandstands was erected next to the driving range which btw is open again after being damaged by December's big storm. Were lucky to live in San Francisco and pay residents rates for Harding. Such a short drive from home and plenty of great restaurants around!

Played Presidents' day for $38 special with cart and it was packed but POP was pretty normal for a holiday at 4.5 hours. Haven't played here in awhile and conditions overall rates an 8. The tee boxes were fair, fairways were good enough, bunkers average but the greens were fast with some bumps. The course begins with a dog left, an uphill par 3 and then a downhill par 4 and so starts an interesting day that features a decent amount of hazards to keep you on your toes and yet no tricked out holes to ruin your round. For the price, a nice bargain of interesting holes with greens that were actually a little soft but lots of roll to keep you honest. I think $50.00 on a weekend would be my limit here but anything below that would be a bargain. Drink carts are available, greasy spoon, full bar too. Clubhouse a bit on the old side but not too dive-like.

Great weather today, POP is 4 hours 15 minutes, no waiting and no one pushing us. Conditions are great throughout entire course. Probably will continue to get even nicer as Cadillac tourney approaches in April. Rough maybe 2-3 inches deep. Doesn't seem to be as crowded last couple of weeks which is good for us. Greens a little soft but rolling true with medium speed. Temp green on 12. SF residents lucky to have this course as many of the bay area courses are in drought battered conditions.

My weekday 4some usually alternates between Harding and Presidio but haven't been to Presidio since the big storm back in December. Presidio is very hilly and does not drain well and even though there has not been any rain for well over one month, the course was still a bit sparse on many fairways especially on the hills where huge trees can create many a sunless day. Greens were fairly good. We always walk but because we've been playing Harding which is mostly flat, we were huffing and puffing our way around the course. But it is only $34 and because of the Loyalty program, a full breakfast is free. They gave out logo metal repair tools which is nice. Everyone there is nice. POP was good. Short game area and matted range is available. Arnold Palmer managed. It was foggy as heck for the first couple of hours, then sunny and kinda warm for another hour or two and by the time we finished, it was foggy and cold again. Typical SF weather. No refreshment cart today but there is a snack hut centrally located and of course at the clubhouse. Bad weather coming in this weekend so we'll break from here for a while.