Lincoln Park Golf Course

Perched on the windswept northwestern tip of San Francisco, Lincoln Park Golf Course is one of the oldest and most scenic municipal courses in California. This historic 18-hole layout winds through the hills above Lands End, treating players to sweeping panoramas of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Pacific Ocean, and the downtown skyline. Compact and walkable at a par 68, it rewards accuracy and shotmaking over raw power, and its blend of rich history, dramatic coastal setting, and affordable public access makes it a bucket-list round for locals and visitors alike.

Quick Facts

Course History

Golf at Lincoln Park began in 1902 with a rudimentary three-hole layout carved into the hilly, largely treeless land at the city's northwestern edge. As the game grew in popularity, the course expanded to nine holes and then, in stages, to a full 18 by 1917. It holds the distinction of being the oldest golf course owned and operated by the City of San Francisco, and the surrounding park was formally dedicated to President Abraham Lincoln in 1909.

The site itself carries deep historical layers: before it became parkland, the parcel served as a public cemetery known as Potter's Field. Over the decades the course became a beloved fixture of San Francisco's public golf scene, valued as much for its history and views as for the challenge it presents.

The Design & Architecture

The full 18-hole routing is generally credited to the prolific Scottish-American architect Tom Bendelow, who shaped the course as it grew in the 1910s. Decades later, in the 1960s, longtime San Francisco course superintendent and designer Jack Fleming reworked the layout. The result is a tight, hilly course that plays across coastal terrain, where elevation changes, small greens, and ever-present ocean wind demand precision rather than length.

Playing the Course

At 5,416 yards and par 68, Lincoln Park is short by modern standards but far from easy, thanks to its undulating ground and coastal breezes. The undisputed highlight is the par-3 17th, a cliffside signature hole framed by a spectacular view of the Golden Gate Bridge on clear days. Elsewhere, the apex of the 7th fairway and the 13th tee open up to downtown San Francisco and, in the distance, Mt. Diablo across the East Bay. Few municipal rounds anywhere offer scenery this memorable.

Know Before You Go

• This is a public municipal course, so it welcomes all players and is very walkable given its compact, par-68 layout.

• Bring layers - the coastal setting means wind and fog can roll in quickly, even on sunny days.

• Book tee times in advance through the course's online system, especially for weekend and clear-weather mornings when the Golden Gate views are at their best.

• Don't miss the par-3 17th - it is the course's most photographed hole and a must-see even if your scorecard has other ideas.