For those of you who have had experience with the San Francisco city tournament, I have a few questions. I just moved to San Francisco from midwest and am looking into playing in some friendly tournaments. I've come to know that the city tournament takes place starting in early February. I am a double-digit handicapper, so I am thinking about men's open flight. It's stated in the tournament webpage that the qualifying as well as the first two rounds of the match play will be played at Lincoln Park Golf Club, before moving to Harding Park for more advanced matches.

I didn't know what kind of golf course Lincoln Park was (.. I am still a little uncertain), so I did google mapping and drove to what I thought was Lincoln Park. Unfortunately, because of some severe storms that hit the city the past few days, I wasn't able to get to the club house, etc, and neither was I able to speak to anyone working there (... the place seemed to be closed). I parked my car near the course and walked into the course anyway just to see what the course looks like.

No offense to anyone who may love this course, or I might be wrong on what course I am talking about, but I thought that course that I just saw was easily the worst golf course that I have ever seen in my whole life. Actually, greens, while very small, looked pretty decent, but .. where are the fairways?? I don't think I saw anything that looked like fairways. Or, is that how it's supposed to be there? Or, is that because of bad weather or some sort, and the city is going to drastically take care of the situation right before the tournament?

I guess I really could be wrong about which "Lincoln Park golf club" is going to be used in the city tournament. I am talking about the one that's kind of close to golden gate bridge and some veterans hospital (.. these are the two objects that I saw there...).

Please, let me know which course exactly is Lincoln Park that's going to be used in the city tournament. Street address, etc will be appreciated. If the one that I just saw is indeed the one to be used..., I don't know what to say. Is the city really going to host the tournament there?? I saw the entry fee for the open flight is $100, which is not by any means cheap to me.

Any info regarding the SF city tournament will be appreciated. Thank you for your time.

You got it. Its a Public Course and its condition is what makes it "special". There's a few threads on here about its intricacies and how the Champions come from all parts of society and its History is very rich. You could be playing with a fortune 400 Exec or a city plumber. The quality of the field drawn to it is very good.

I signed up for SF City this year as well, but in the Championship flight. For me the qualifying is 1 round at Lincoln, then 1 more at Harding. All of the match play for the championship flight is on Harding thankfully. Only downside is that the entry fee does not cover green fees, so each match won hurts the wallet. On a side note, I have also played in the SF Jr. the past 3 years, which is strictly played at Lincoln. Yes, it is a piece of garbage, but the history is deep. The 17th has one of the best views I have ever seen playing golf. It makes you think, because you can hit just about any club off of any hole out there (driver, 3 wood, hybrid, long iron, or even middle iron,and still have a wedge in on most holes). It's a diamond in the rough if you ask me. And just because it is short does not by any means equate to easy. People don't go too low out there.

I am signed up for the San Francisco City also in the Championship division. Lincoln Park is a fairly easy course where many of the wholes a very short and all u need is a 3 wood and a wedge. But the course is not kept in too good of shape and you will be faced with bad lies in the fairways even. Depending on the course conditions it can play difficult on some days. And just like you said there is not much difference between fairways and the rough.

Ahh, the SF city golf championship. Unfortunately, it seems as though they cater more towards the history of the tournament than anything else. The championship flights will get to play all their match play rounds at harding, while the other flights will get to fight it out on a course that probably shouldn't even be holding qualifying rounds. Like BJackson also stated, once you get to match play, you continue to pay green fee's. Each round at harding is an extra 70 bucks. Overall, its a lot of fun to play in. Weather conditions can vary from shorts to full rain gear and cold weather gear. Good luck, hopefully you make it to match play at harding, because anything can happen on that course.

I am going to miss out on the S.F. City this year. I just moved from there to the midwest. Good luck fellas.

whatever you do don't join lincoln park
join one of the other clubs like harding, olympic, merced, san francisco, or california club
all of those are way better

You do realize you mixed public and private courses in your advice of what to join and what not to join, right?

You can't join Lincoln Park, you can join the men's club for keeping track of your index and a few other mini perks, but it's not a private club.

And you don't just walk in and join the Olympic Club either...