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. Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner substantially rerouted and rebuilt the course in 2021–22. Set in a coastal microclimate near Lake Merced and the Pacific, the current layout has 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 updated the layout in 1996 and returned in 2014. From October 2021 through 2022, Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner rebuilt all 18 greens, moved roughly 75,000 cubic yards of earth, and substantially rerouted the course while restoring elements of the original MacKenzie vision. The renovated course reopened in October 2022.

Playing the Course

From the Plates tees, the USGA lists Lake Merced at 6,932 yards, par 72, with a 74.3 course rating and 142 slope. Coastal wind and marine air add to the demands of the renovated, tree-framed layout. Precise ball-striking and patience are rewarded.

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.

Playing figures: USGA Plates tee record.

Membership inquiry

Lake Merced is in Daly City, just south of San Francisco. Its official contact page provides a membership contact. Ask for current categories, golf privileges, initiation and recurring charges, and availability; a public rate sheet was not found. Compare its location with city clubs in our San Francisco country club and membership guide.