I have been fortunate enough to live in San Francisco for the past five years and experience the many delights this city has to offer. It has everything – a rich cultural diversity, excellent food and wine, beautiful architecture and amazing panoramas. But what people don’t often associate with SF is a fantastic golf venue.

Within the city limits, San Francisco has 9 golf courses, which considering its size of 7×7 miles, is testament to how much the people here love the game. The sloped terrain and mild climate provide high quality golf courses with great coastal views and excellent shot value. Famous golf course designer, Alister MacKenzie, once said that The Olympic Club in San Francisco (host of 4 US Opens) was the finest piece of land for a golf course in the world, outside of his masterpiece at Cypress Point on the Monterey Peninsula.

Along the shore of Lake Merced in the south of the city you will find Harding Park Municipal Golf Course. Rennovated in 2002, Harding has hosted 2 PGA Tour events including the 2005 World Golf Championships and it will host the President’s Cup next month. Harding is a world class venue and you will not be disappointed by a visit here. The gently rolling fairways meander through cypress and eucalyptus trees, and it is a challenging and stimulating golf experience. At 7200 yards off the tips, this golf course can be as difficult as you want it to be, but the generous fairways make it suitable for all levels of player. The signature hole has to be the 18th, which requires a drive over the corner of Lake Merced followed by a long approach to a green perched on the water’s edge.

Coverage of the President’s Cup will no doubt show you what a first class golf facility this is. There aren’t many public courses that are host to such high profile events and it is great for the game that the public can share in the experience of the world’s best players.

Harding Park also has a nine hole course, “Flemming”, which is a great beginners course or quick round if you only have a couple of hours.

Generally speaking, you cannot go wrong to combine a golf trip with your cultural visit to SF. After your round you will be spoilt for choice for fantastic restaurants and other activities. On your way back into town from the golf courses be sure to stop at the Beach Chalet, a brew pub with fantastic beers, right across from Ocean Beach. Two of my favorite restarants in the city are Yank Sing, for Chinese Dim Sum and Boulevard for excellent Californian cuisine. For me San Francisco is not only the most beautiful city in the world, but it’s also one of the world’s best cities to play golf.

For your next golf trip consider San Francisco. It has so many great golf courses to play and so much more available! To read more on traveling to San Francisco click Travel Guide – San Francisco.