California Golf Club of San Francisco, affectionately known as “Cal Club,” is one of America’s most prestigious and exclusive private golf clubs, currently ranked #45 in Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Courses in the World and #27 in the United States. Founded in 1918 and originally located in Ingleside southwest of San Francisco, the club moved to its current location in South San Francisco in 1926.

What Makes Cal Club Special

Cal Club is distinguished by several unique characteristics:​

Fescue Fairways: Unlike most Northern California courses, Cal Club features fescue grass fairways that play firm and fast—a rarity in the region that creates links-like conditions.​

Bentgrass Greens: The greens roll pure with pace, consistently running at 11+ on the stimpmeter, comparable to PGA Tour conditions.​

Spectacular Bunkering: The sprawling bunkers, with edging that complements the shape of the Monterey cypress tree tops, are among the most attractive in the world.​

Dramatic Terrain: The course is built on the side of a hill, guaranteeing wind exposure and offering spectacular views of San Francisco, the bay, and surrounding areas.​

Course Difficulty Analysis

Hardest Aspects:

Relentless Two-Shotters (Holes 9-12): The stretch from holes 9-11 showcases masterful design where each two-shotter falls across the land differently: the 9th plays up and over a hill, the 10th fairway slopes right-to-left off the tee then left-to-right near the green, and the 12th glides through its own lovely valley.​

Wind Exposure: Afternoons at Cal Club are notoriously windy with temperatures rarely getting warm—having a jacket or sweater handy is strongly recommended. The wind can transform holes dramatically, with the par-5 15th (only 474 yards) playing “more like a legit par-6” when into the wind and uphill.​

Firm and Fast Conditions: The fescue fairways and bentgrass greens create conditions that change daily based on weather. Players must constantly adjust to how firm and fast the course is playing.​

MacKenzie Bunkering: The strategic bunkering demands precision on every shot. These are not decorative hazards but active defense mechanisms requiring careful course management.​

Green Speed and Undulation: Greens run like PGA Tour events at 11+ and feature subtle breaks that require local knowledge to read properly.​

Easiest Aspects:

Wide Fairways: Despite the challenge, “the fairways offer plenty of width to navigate within”. Players can shape their ball when needed but have room to miss slightly.​

Multiple Tee Options: With tees ranging from 5,310 to 7,216 yards, golfers can select appropriate challenge levels.​

Caddie Support: Caddies are available upon request to help read greens, select clubs, and provide strategic advice.​

Thoughtful Pace: The expected pace of play is 3 hours 45 minutes, allowing time for careful shot selection.​

Practice Facilities

Cal Club provides excellent practice amenities for members:​

Driving Range:

• 6 practice tees for comfortable practice sessions​

• State-of-the-art practice facility

• Natural grass hitting surface

• Unlimited access for members

Short Game Areas:

• Pitching/chipping practice area​

• Sand bunker practice facility​

• Multiple putting greens