San Jose Municipal Golf Course

Overview

Owned by the City of San Jose and operated by CourseCo, this par-72 layout has served Silicon Valley golfers for more than five decades. Set on flat, easily walkable terrain against the backdrop of the Santa Clara Valley, it pairs approachable, open fairways with a modern TopTracer practice facility, making it a popular choice for players of every skill level.

Course History

Opened in 1968, San Jose Municipal Golf Course has been a fixture of public golf in the South Bay for more than 50 years. Built by the City of San Jose as an affordable place for residents to play, the course has grown alongside the surrounding North San Jose community. Today it is managed by CourseCo and continues to host daily play, tournaments, junior programs, and instruction, while remaining committed to environmental stewardship through weather-based irrigation and the use of reclaimed and well water sourced from the Hetch Hetchy watershed.

The Design & Architecture

The course was designed by noted golf course architect Robert Muir Graves, whose firm shaped dozens of layouts across the western United States. At San Jose Muni, Graves produced a straightforward par-72 routing on flat ground with generous, open fairways and challenging greens. From the back (Gold) tees the course stretches to roughly 6,700 yards with a course rating of 71.2 and a slope of 118; forward tees bring the layout in to around 5,568 yards for a more relaxed round. The club's own marketing has at times attributed the original design to William P. Bell, but the widely documented architect of record is Robert Muir Graves.

Playing the Course

With flat terrain and open, forgiving fairways, San Jose Muni is one of the more walkable and accessible tracks in the area. The par-72 layout rewards steady ball-striking over raw length, and its well-maintained greens ask for a sharp short game. The longest hole is the par-5 18th at 544 yards, while the par-3 4th plays just 142 yards; the toughest test is the 417-yard par-4 2nd, rated the number-one handicap hole. A double-deck, lighted TopTracer driving range with 60 stations, two short-game greens, a large practice green and a chipping area let players warm up or practice under the lights.

Know Before You Go

• Address: 1560 Oakland Road, San Jose, CA 95131

• Phone: (408) 441-4653

• Type: Public municipal course; tee times bookable online

• Green fees (2026): weekdays from $47, weekends/holidays from $64; twilight, senior, junior and student rates available

• Practice: TopTracer double-deck lighted driving range (60 stations) plus short-game and chipping greens

• On site: Muni Bar & Grill and Yard 408, PGA instruction, junior golf, and tournament hosting