California Golf Club of San Francisco
San Francisco, California
A recently restored Alister MacKenzie gem in South San Francisco, Cal Club has surged in rankings after Kyle Phillips's meticulous restoration of MacKenzie's original design intent. The rolling coastal terrain and creative green complexes now shine as the master architect intended.
History & Heritage
California Golf Club was founded in 1926 with Alister MacKenzie reworking a layout by A. Vernon Macan on rolling coastal terrain in South San Francisco. Over decades, trees encroached and alterations obscured MacKenzie\'s original vision.
In 2005, Kyle Phillips was brought in for what became one of the greatest golf course restorations in history. Phillips cleared trees, created five new holes (including a new par-4 2nd in the old practice range), restored MacKenzie\'s greens and bunkering using 1927 as the benchmark, and reimagined the routing. The course reopened in 2008.
The result was immediate: Cal Club surged from obscurity to No. 45 in GOLF\'s 2025-26 Top 100 World list, No. 36 Golfweek Classic, and No. 19 in North America. Now considered the third gem in the Bay Area golf trinity alongside Cypress Point and San Francisco Golf Club.
Signature Holes
A short but devious par 3 in a back-to-back par-3 sequence — an under-utilized design feature found at great courses like Sand Hills and Cypress Point. Tests touch and creativity over pure power.
A terrific match play hole with a tucked green that rewards a specific angle of attack. Demonstrates the strategic width that sets Cal Club apart from lesser designs.
What to Expect
A course that feels simultaneously retro and modern after the Phillips restoration. Broad fairways, flamboyant MacKenzie-style bunkers, and expansive undulating greens. Plays firm and fast with treacherous green sites and very little punitive rough. Tumbling coastal terrain creates a varied routing.
The restoration is widely considered one of the greatest in golf history — returning Cal Club from a forgettable layout to a world-ranked masterpiece.
Strictly private — one of the most exclusive clubs in the Bay Area.
Playing Tips
Firm, fast conditions favor a ground game. Bump-and-run approaches are often more effective than lofted shots to these MacKenzie greens.
The dramatic bunkering frames holes strategically — they are more visual than penal, but avoid them when possible.
Being on the correct portion of the large greens is essential. Wrong-side misses can leave 60+ foot putts.
Highlights
- ✓ Alister MacKenzie design restored by Kyle Phillips
- ✓ Surging in national rankings post-restoration
- ✓ Rolling coastal terrain south of San Francisco
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the restoration so significant?
Who originally designed it?
Can the public play?
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