TPC Harding Park

Opened in 1925 and named after President Warren G. Harding, it has grown from the finest public course of its era into a modern championship venue, hosting the 2020 PGA Championship, the 2009 Presidents Cup, and the 2015 WGC-Cadillac Match Play. Remarkably, despite this pedigree, it remains a true public course open to any golfer who books a tee time.

Course History

Harding Park Golf Course opened on July 18, 1925, named in honor of President Warren G. Harding, an avid golfer who had died in San Francisco two years earlier. Designed by Willie Watson and Sam Whiting, it was hailed at its opening as the greatest municipal course in America, predating public landmarks such as Bethpage Black and Torrey Pines.

After decades of decline, a major renovation restored the course to championship standard, and it joined the TPC network. It hosted the 2005 WGC-American Express Championship (won by Tiger Woods), the 2009 Presidents Cup, the 2015 WGC-Cadillac Match Play (won by Rory McIlroy), and the 2020 PGA Championship, becoming only the second municipally owned facility ever to stage that major.

The Design & Architecture

Watson and Whiting, the same duo behind the Olympic Club's Lake Course next door, routed the layout across 163 tree-lined acres along Lake Merced. The design is defined by towering cypress and eucalyptus that frame narrow fairways, subtle elevation changes, and cool, damp coastal conditions that place a premium on shot control. A renovation ahead of its championship era stretched the course from roughly 6,743 to nearly 7,200 yards and rebuilt the greens to tournament specifications.

Playing the Course

Playing to a par of 72 and up to 7,169 yards with a course rating of 74.1 and a slope of 128, TPC Harding Park is a stern but fair test. The tree-lined corridors demand accuracy off the tee, while the frequent San Francisco fog and marine breezes off Lake Merced can add significant difficulty. The finish along the lake, culminating in a demanding closing stretch, has decided several of the course's biggest professional events.

Know Before You Go

• A public municipal course managed within the TPC network; tee times are open to all golfers and can be booked online.

• Located at 99 Harding Rd, San Francisco, CA 94132, along the shores of Lake Merced.

• Expect cool, foggy, and breezy coastal conditions year-round; pack layers and plan for firm, damp turf.

• The facility offers a full clubhouse, pro shop, and practice range; call (415) 664-4690 for details.