Lincoln Park Golf Course

Firstly, I am not a Golfer. I used to live half a block from LPGC as that is where I had served as inspector for the Department of Elections (DoE) of CC of San Francisco. It started out nice as it was prime location other than some dark, damp, dank, garage somewhere. The clubhouse restaurant would even offer us workers a FREE dinner! (The Lincoln Highway Terminus now celebrates its centennial dedication (1915)!
Then new ownership, the Palmer Golf Association (or the like) weren’t so cool. No longer had they offered us poll workers free meals, not so much as even water! Some of us did go into their small restaurant and ordered food. I don’t know about the other crew of our polling place, but I got sick and just after closing, and during the post election duties phase, I had to go home! (I still got paid as I worked all throughout the opening hours). I was sick with food poisoning with all the usual symptoms from fatigue to diarrhoea for nearly a full WEEK! Needless to say the next (and last for me as I had moved) election as most were the same people, I had warned them as not to bother patronising that restaurant as I got sick from it! I never myself to this day ever ate there again!

3* Lincoln Park Golf Course
The bad news is this place is run down. The drought has exacerbated the condition of the fairways to where there are very large barren and dirt areas. The ball does travel a little further though.
The course is hilly and the greens seem small.
The good news is that the views e.g., Golden Gate Bridge, are fantastic weather permitting.
Minimal food/​beverage service.
Golf carts are real chuggers.

The views are amazing! Especially hole 17. Gorgeous! It was our first time to play here and while the course is not really in great shape, the view of the Golden Gate Bridge, Legion of Honor, etc. were so beautiful. For that I would forgive the condition of the course. It would help if the would put the Hole numbers on the Tee mound. We were so getting lost looking for the next holes. Would I play here again? I sure will!

Lincoln Park is either a love it or hate it golf affair in San Francisco. However Lincoln Park possesses one of the most beautiful views of the Golden Gate Bridge from a golf course. Presidio, Harding Park, Olympic, Lake Merced and SFGC cannot boast that quality… however they all are of tremendously higher quality than the modest Lincoln Park Golf Course. Currently the greens are in very, very poor shape. We can only hope it gets better soon.
Facts:
The course itself is a par 68 with 5 par 3s & 1 par 5. Par 4s range from 245 — 383 yards and the 3 par 3s on the back 9 range from 200 — 240 yards. Most holes are uphill or downhill to various degrees and slopes from both angles. No hole is truly flat with the exception of the shortest par 3, the 3^rd. The 18^th is the flattest, but by the end of the round it is just what one needs. Many holes without bunkers. Greens are small mostly circular in shape with varying degrees of slope and topography. The course boasts picturesque views of the bay, the city skyline, the legion of honor & the sprawling coastline of ocean beach.
My Opinion:
I love to go out to Lincoln with friends for fun and not to work on my game. A few par 4s are driveable for me so I love to swing hard at Lincoln from the tee. A fun course if you don’t expect too much from it. However, if you are looking for high quality golf, go to Presidio or Harding Park.

A lot of whining golfers have an auto outlet for their frustrations. «It’s not my fault.»
But we live in a generation of silver spooned brats who don’t say «please» and «thank you» and really, really hate it when their underdeveloped fragile egos loaded up with lousy beer and cheap respectability take on a par 68 golf course less then 6000 yards and feel naked when they have to go home and explain to wifey, pal or dog that «my life is intolerable ’cause I got my ass kicked by a walk in the park!»
Sure, the course has some maintenance problems. Same gardeners at Harding’s TPC are also working here so maybe it has to do with union issues or just the right hand to crack the whip? The fairways are at best unkempt, the daisies proliferate and the greens are weedy but this is one of the greatest cities in the world and personally it’s a disgrace to the staff at this facility that implements no growth grass, no weeding and no effort policies when they are supposed to be maintaining the same standards at all other city courses. In conclusion, you will not break par from the blues as only a handful of players achieved that honor during the recent City Championship qualifier. You will get some very sordid lies in the middle of the fairway after a good tee shot but to top it all off the views are incomparable. This was a working class city and Lincoln Park reflects that.

The view from the 17^th hole, looking at the Golden Gate Bridge is incredible. I’ve played at better, I’ve played at worst courses and even though the weather in SF isn’t always conducive but when you find that perfect day, you should make it out here. The views alone are worth it!

The greens suck. But hey, for a muni course in SF it could be worse. Just make sure you take a minute to admire the view on 17. It’s the best.

Unfortunately, these last two weeks have been a little too hectic for me to post as steadily as I normally do. However, I think I can sneak one in before the weekend to start 2015 right. Even though a late post right after New Year’s means less readers, that’s okay. Less readers means writing about something those people won’t mind missing, which means one less golf related item on my «to write» list!
While my friends and I have been checking out different places around the Bay Area, Lincoln Park is one of a handful that we keep coming back to, even if it’s not one of the best we’ve played on. In fact, it’s somewhat shabby compared to the courses we’ve tried in San Jose. The brown grass and barren dirt patches are understandable given the drought, but why are other holes muddy? Plus, the grass is tough and isn’t cut with a fringe to transition from fairway to rough.
As for the course itself, I won’t detail every hole, but I will say it plays pretty fair while still presenting some challenges. There aren’t any water hazards, but there are enough traps to keep you on your toes and the rough is THICK (I’ve lost my fair share of balls). What really makes it interesting though is the elevation. Although there’s some side-​to-​side sloping, it’s really with how nearly every has you hitting uphill/​downhill (a couple even have «valleys» in between the tee and the cup).
Also, while Lincoln is walkable, I’d recommend renting a cart (or having a push cart, at the very least). Between the hills and how spread out the course is (it wraps around the Legion of Honor), you’ll get your money’s worth. Plus, even if they are a bit worn down and beaten (and apparently scarce, as they ran out once), having a cart will help save your energy for looking for lost shots instead (or is that just me?).
Given my complaints and the three stars, why do we come back, you ask? Well, the city isn’t exactly overflowing with alternatives, it’s convenient, and the green fees are actually pretty fair ($ 29 with resident card, $ 42 otherwise). Mostly though, it’s still a fun course and the views are awesome. You get a little bit here and there through the first 16 holes, but the 17^th? Damn. That breath taking view is worth it all on its own. Assuming it’s not all that cloudy, that is.

A great course for the short straight hitter! A par 68, the average player will find this a great course to break 80.
Some of the SF City Championship Qualifying rounds take place here. The course has only one par 5 and 5 par 3s, but is tight and hilly with uneven lies, distracting city views, swirling sea breezes, and the random tourist who will walk right in front of you when you are hitting. Both front and back are 34s.
The 230 yard 17^th hole is the picturesque hole overlooking the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge that many have called the poor man’s Pebble Beach No. 18. Just beware of tourists who wander across not realizing they are in harm’s way as they are mesmerized by the view.
Best opportunities for birdies are 2, 6, 7,10, and 11, so make them count!
Because of the proximity to the ocean and the difficult slope which make the course difficult to hold water, leaving dry patches so the ball will roll.
There are only 12 bunkers on the course which help for fast play which regularly allows for a four and a half jours

Great golf course with amazing views of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Course is hilly and challenging, a golf cart is a must.
It could be better maintained, but overall a great value for the money. With a resident’s card, green fees are under twenty five dollars.
A must visit for any avid SF golfer!

Yeah yeah I know the greens are in bad shape as is most of the course, but for the cost, views and the convenience nothing beats Lincoln.
Lance, George and Paul in the pro shop are very friendly and damn good golfers too! I may be biased because its my home course but I love the challenge lincoln provides. Quit hating on the conditions and step up your game!

It’s a great course with the best views of any course in the Bay Area. The condition is so/​so at best, and that’s the reason you can come on here because if it were prestine, prices would be upward of $ 100 with a 2-​week wait. The fairways are pitted and scuffed often leaving terrible lays, and the greens are pocked with months of ball marks there weren’t properly fixed. Additionally, I’d be willing the bet this is the most organic course in the Bay Area too judging by the weeds and other stuff growing. But that’s all ok because again, the view, especially on 3, 4, 5 & 17 are superb, the staff are really pleasant, and really, what better way is there to spend a Sunday afternoon in September than with blue skies, a gentles sea breeze, sunset views of the GG Bridge, beers, and the change to score a birdie or bogey. Can’t wait to come back.

Good course, cheap (and it shows), but damn — one of the best burgers I’ve ever had @ the clubhouse.
The only thing that REALLY bothered me is that we had a spectator riding along with us and it seems they still are charged? Now this might not seem too strange since it’s a golfcourse, but when you start to play you actually see other people hiking/​walking through the course! So next time we won’t tell them there is a spectator and just have them walk with us.
Pros:
— Super affordable, especially if you’re a local
— The views are amazing compared to the Presidio which costs a lot more to play
— That F-​in burger in the clubhouse, I don’t know if I was tired or they put crack in it, but the burger was not bad at all. I’d go back just for it (add bacon of course)
Cons:
— The semi nazi regulations around having someone spectate for «liability reasons» when they have people hiking through the course…
— The quality of the grounds is what you’d expect when paying such a low price.
I will come back just for fun and of course get the burger or two while I’m there.

Portions of the movie Saw were filmed in the men’s bathroom.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this course, but this review will be objective and sincere analyzing the golfing experience and the course’s condition.
PS. Did I mention that I LOVE this course?
PROS:
— PHOTO OPS:
Bring your camera. If you have golfing friends/​family visiting you in SF, take them here! If it’s foggy go to a museum, this course with bad weather loses at least 2 stars.
— CHEAP:
I believe it’s a great value
— PEOPLE:
All sorts of patrons play here, always had a great time in my random pairings, never encountered a wanna be «Tiger» attitude.
— LAND MARKS:
The GG Bridge, The Ocean, Downtown Views, the Museum. This is probably the only course in the city that will remind you at every hole that you are playing in SF… and I love it!
— LAYOUT:
Not a «back and forth», plenty of dog-​legs, elevated tees and greens, it’s just various and fun!
CONS:.yeah yeah, I have to mention them
— WEIRD HOLE’S LENGTHS and DIFFICULTY:
You will play a bunch of very short and super easy Par 4s (i.e. ²⁴⁰⁄₂₆₀ Yards straight) VS extremely long and super challenging Par 3s (i.e. Hole 16 = Elevated Tee, 230 Yards, Blind landing slightly on the right, extremely undulated green)
— CONDITIONS: whatever… we know about that
*********Only things you really need to know are***********
1. It’s NOT a championship course, I believe it’s a low 60 Par on the score card
2. Bad weather = Bad Course
3. Hard to walk = long distance between some of the holes and very hilly
4. It will play slow on peak hours and weekend’s

Can’t beat the price for the views and hills on this course. The grass could be better and only one par 5 on the whole course however.

I’d say the only good things about this course is the food (if you can afford it).
–extremely bumpy greens that do not roll true at all.
–daisies everywhere
–greenskeepers always put the cup on a severe slope on half of the holes making even 3 foot putts hard.
–black «stuff» on the greens look like someone took a torch and started burning the grass.
–horrible time/​pace of play management (i.e. single, then foursome, then single, then foursome etc.)
–all Lance, the guy that runs the course, cares about is money (i.e. overpricing everything in the proshop, charging money for renting pushcarts that don’t even have straps on them, green fee is not proportionate to how horribly conditioned the course is).
–george is extremely annoying trying to be funny when really he is just wasting your time (actually lance does that too).
— very severe sidehill lies
–horrible course lay out (a lot of drivable par 4s and par 3s that require a driver or 3 wood).

This is probably the best course in SF to play on a clear sunny day. It has by far the greatest views and scenery that the city can offer. I was lucky to catch this on one of the best days of the year. At some point, i started playing with my phone in my pocket the entire round. lol. What you get with this course is jaw dropping beautiful.
Ok, now about the course itself. It’s very short. You honestly can go out with a wedge, a putter and a 7 iron and still shoot in the 70’s. There are a lot of undulations and challenges at this course. Since it is a muni course, you get what you play. It’s not in the best kept shape. The tee boxes were ok, the fairways were ok, and the greens… slow.
The only real gripe I had were the people playing there. SLOW! VERY SLOW! I believe a lot of them were beginners (i saw them at the tee box). Hence, the slow play, but hey whatever… they gave me the opportunity to take some great photos! Thanks jerks. lol
Pro shop has a lot of nike apparel. Most i’ve ever seen at any golf course.

You know, it’s funny. I’m trying to pound out a few reviews for my Epic Breakdown of NorCal Golf, and I had my thoughts in my head about this course and went to put pen to paper. It’s been a few months since I played Lincoln and in trying to get my head around what I actually thought, I started reading through some of the other reviews. It’s a mixed bag and I guess that’s kind of how I felt about the round.
The first review I read (from Thomas L. G.) stopped me from wanting to lament about how shitty the course was. It is and it isn’t and I just committed myself to going back to play this course soon to reassess… I’ll update. Thomas was right though. It’s easy to play a lot of golf on modern courses in the bay area and forget that this sport has been around for a long time and the original courses weren’t designed to be these 600 yard par 5 monsters. It’s a game of precision and working towards a repeatable swing. It lets you be outside, enjoy your surroundings and enjoy the people you’re with. Lincoln Park is great at those things.
It’s one of those courses that you wish someone would dump a ton of money into, fix what needs fixing, spruce up the landscaping and really take advantage of those priceless views… and this place has them. But then you realize that as soon as that happened, it becomes another financially unplayable course in San Francisco. San Francisco golfers need Lincoln Park to stay playable for the majority of us that can’t go pay $ 150 to play Harding. So I get it.
However, it’s kind of frustrating to hit a great drive and then spend 15 minutes looking for your white ball in a sea of dying dandelions because the fairways hadn’t been mowed in a few days. It’s kind of frustrating to hit your green in regulation and realize your putting line consists of a few different lengths of grass and a dirt patch.
Overall, I liked the course. I enjoyed it even with the numerous rough spots. The price was reasonable for an inner-​city course. The pace was a little grueling, but not unbearable. The views were absolutely amazing. It is what it is and you’ve got to go knowing that. Manage your expectations and enjoy the game.

Notes: This course is a goat ranch. Half or more of your approach shots are blind. 70% of the greens are so rough that you will never get a true roll.
I’m a single digit handicapper and always up for a challenge. But this is beyond challenge — it’s just insane. Miss the green by 5 yards and you may find yourself on grassless mud, 5 inch bent, or in dandelion lettuce — you never know.
But here is why you would play the course: 1) you want to play something like your grandpa played in the 1960s, 2) you want to test your mental stamina on a course that will deal you an awkward lie two out of three times, 3) you are a tourist and have time enough to kill and want to see the 17^th hole view, 4) part of the SF City Championship qualifier is at Lincoln Park, and you must know it well enough put up a decent score (my case).
Notes: Played in November 2012 after a week of significant rain. Cost was $ 56 with cart (same cost as Rooster Run and Boundary Oak, which are much better modern courses).