Lake Merced Golf Club

Founded in 1922, it is one of the Bay Area's most storied clubs, blending a classic golden-age pedigree with modern championship conditioning. Set in a coastal microclimate near Lake Merced and the Pacific, the course is known for firm Poa annua greens, tree-lined corridors, and a demanding test that has drawn the world's best players to its fairways.

Course History

Lake Merced Golf Club was founded in 1922, with the course opening the following year. Laid out originally by Willie Locke, the club quickly established itself as a fixture of Northern California golf. In 1929, the legendary Alister MacKenzie was engaged to improve the bunkering and the areas around the greens, adding to the course's design lineage during golf's golden age.

In more recent decades the club has hosted top-tier professional golf, serving as home to the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic from 2014 to 2016 and later the LPGA Mediheal Championship. Lydia Ko won three of the first four LPGA events staged at the course, cementing Lake Merced's reputation as a proving ground for the women's game.

The Design & Architecture

The course reflects the hands of several notable architects. Following the original Willie Locke design and Alister MacKenzie's 1929 bunker refinements, Rees Jones, the acclaimed "U.S. Open Doctor," updated the layout in 1996 in conjunction with a drainage overhaul, and returned in 2014 to add forward tees and enhance playability. In 2021, Gil Hanse and his team moved roughly 75,000 cubic yards of earth to reroute and restore elements of the original MacKenzie vision, giving the course a renewed classic character.

Playing the Course

Measuring 6,925 yards to a par of 72 with a course rating of 74.3 and slope of 133, Lake Merced is a genuine championship test. Bentgrass tees and fairways give way to firm Poa annua greens, and the frequent Bay Area wind, marine air, and thick rough keep low scores rare, quickly turning par into a golfer's best friend. Precise ball-striking and patience are rewarded on this timeless, tree-framed layout.

Know Before You Go

• This is a private club; access is generally limited to members and their guests.

• Located at 2300 Junipero Serra Blvd, Daly City, CA 94015, just south of San Francisco.

• Pack an extra layer: coastal wind and cool marine air are common and can affect play year-round.

• A practice facility and driving range are available on site.