Metropolitan Golf Links

Designed by major champion Johnny Miller together with architect Fred Bliss, the wide-open, treeless layout offers sweeping views of the Oakland Hills, San Francisco Bay, and the city skyline, with Bay breezes providing much of the challenge.

Course History

Metropolitan Golf Links opened in 2003 after a long development effort to transform the site of the former Galbraith Golf Course near the Oakland shoreline. To create firm, well-draining playing conditions on the low-lying bayfront property, the site was capped with roughly two feet of sand before modern turf hybrids were established, giving the course a reputation for staying playable even during the wet Bay Area winters.

The design pairs seven-time major champion Johnny Miller with golf course architect Fred Bliss (Fredrick C. Bliss, ASGCA), who together crafted a layout inspired by the traditional links courses of the British Isles and adapted to the open, windswept Oakland setting.

The Design & Architecture

True to its links-style billing, Metropolitan is largely treeless and spacious, with wide fairways, native grasses framing the play, minimal bunkering, and only limited water hazards. The greens are large, USGA-spec, and receptive, so scoring often comes down to managing distance control and, above all, the wind funneling in off San Francisco Bay rather than dodging forced carries.

Playing the Course

Playing to a par of 72 and stretching to 6,959 yards from the back tees (rated 73.5 with a slope of 129), the course offers six sets of tees ranging down to about 5,099 yards, making it accessible to players of every level. Calm mornings can yield friendly scores, but afternoon breezes off the Bay can turn the open holes into a stern, ground-game test that rewards low, controlled ball flight.

Know Before You Go

• This is a public course open to all players; located at 10051 Doolittle Dr, Oakland, CA 94603, just minutes from Oakland International Airport.

• Wind is the primary defense, so plan for breezy afternoons and consider teeing off early or bringing extra club for the exposed holes.

• Excellent drainage from the sand-capped design keeps the course playable in wet weather when other Bay Area courses may be cart-path only or closed.

• Practice facilities include an all-grass driving range and short-game area; book tee times and check rates at playmetro.com or call (510) 569-5555.