Gleneagles at McLaren Park

About Gleneagles at McLaren Park

Gleneagles is San Francisco's youngest city course, a par-36 nine cut into the side of a hill in McLaren Park. Jack Fleming, who worked with Alister MacKenzie at Cypress Point and Sharp Park, designed it, and when it opened on February 2, 1962, as McLaren Park Golf Course, it had cost more than $500,000, the most ever spent on a nine-holer. It has a reputation to match. It's been dubbed the toughest nine holes in America: uneven lies, tight fairways, often-fierce wind and fast greens. The 6th, a par 5 that doglegs for more than 575 yards, is one of the hardest long holes in Northern California.

Alternate tees let you go around twice for 18. Those came from Erik de Lambert, who leased the struggling course in 1980, renamed it after his favorite course in Scotland and opened a Scottish-style pub, Old Peculiar's. Lee Trevino came by in those years and shot 71, then 73. The map survey fits the stories: no water anywhere, but about 32 bunkers, trees along six holes, five doglegs (four of them left) and roughly 78 feet between the high and low points. Course character from OpenStreetMap contributors' survey data.

Tom Hsieh's group took over the lease in December 2004. In July 2010 age, turf trouble and insects killed the greens, and play fell 70 percent. Thomas Bastis, the superintendent at the nearby California Golf Club, and his crew donated countless hours to the rebuild, consulting architect George Waters reshaped the surfaces, the greens went from Poa annua to bentgrass, and Fleming's original first green was brought back. Golf World named it one of the country's Top 20 nine-hole courses in February 2010, and Anthony Pioppi gave it a chapter in his 2006 book To the Nines.

It's one of 4 courses in San Francisco on Yoink, and the closest alternative is TPC Harding Park Golf Club, about 3 miles away — handy when your first choice is booked solid.

What it's like to play Gleneagles at McLaren Park

There's real elevation change: some holes rise or fall about 78 feet from tee to green. 5 of the 9 holes bend, most of them to the left, which favors a draw, so position off the tee matters more than length.

Course character from OpenStreetMap contributors' survey data (ODbL).

Booking a tee time at Gleneagles at McLaren Park

Tee times are advance and prepaid only; book on the course site. The rates page (no year, subject to change) lists $36 for nine with an SF Golf Card on weekdays and $41 Friday to Sunday and holidays, $35 for seniors 65 and up ($31 with the card, weekdays only) and $29 for juniors. Sales are final within 24 hours of the tee time and there are no rain checks. Carts are limited, $18 for a single rider for nine. Everyone needs their own clubs, and spectators aren't allowed on the course. Call the pro shop at (415) 328-8735.

How to get a tee time at Gleneagles at McLaren Park