TPC Harding Park - Harding Course

Can't believe this is a TPC course. They have narrowed the fairways significantly in prep for the PGA Championship in 2020 but the greens were much slower than average Muni. It's a decent course but not at all worth the green fees. The layout is fairly straightforward and maintenance was average.

The guy at the pro shop, think his name was Evan, was very rude. Won’t be coming back.

It should come as a surprise that this course is in such terrible condition, they pump 90,000 rounds with little to know upkeep. It's groundskeepers are San Francisco Recreation Dept, and they literally could care less. All Greens are full of Ball Marks, not one or two, but dozens & dozens and NO ONE fixes their mark. All Fairways are full of Divots, NO ONE replaces their Divots, the setting is beautiful, but the Course is in TERRIBLE Shape! The "Sand" bunkers are like Concrete, I used my 8 iron to get out of a Greenside Bunker, it was better to chip than pretend it was a resting on SandNot My opinion, take a look at the pictures. When I went into the Pro Shop and said that we should be warned before paying Astronomical fees, how TERRIBLE the condition is.

It is shocking that this is a TPC Course, it is worse that they are trading off this moniker and charging outrageous prices.

TPC Harding Park was the third leg of my six round rodie to Pebble in advance of the US Open and the home of next year’s PGA Championship provided a solid test. They’ve begun narrowing the fairways for the Championship and it is still very clear where the old borders are compared to the new… it’s quite a difference. Still, my playing partners and I often wondered how certain holes were going to be toughened up for major golf competition. The “tips” only go 7169 74.3/129, that 129 slope is really eye catching (although, to be fair, it’ll probably be a bit longer next year).

I wanted to play Harding because of it being a major venue next year, but I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a good straightforward round of golf. It’s not cheap by any stretch, with a cart, yardage book, and a little swag I was set back over $300. It’s also worth noting that while riders are allowed on the course, they are not allowed to leave the cart at any time. This came as a surprise to my wife and I, but it worked out okay.

I didn’t play that far back and felt the blue tees at 6845/72.9/126 were rated just about right. I found the course to be very recoverable and didn’t think it really did a lot to overly punish wayward shots, something I view as a positive. My tee shot on 1 wound up on the 9th fairway (not impressive I know), but I was still able to play smart and only cost myself a single stroke. With a little luck I could have salvaged par.

There is not a ton of bunkering on the course, which offers a pretty straight forward golf experience. The fairways are a bit narrow now, but as they usually play seem very findable and I feel a good score is out there to be had by anyone going station to station hole after hole. I shot three over my handicap while adjusting to playing 2700 feet below my usual altitude (about a full club difference).

Harding was in terrific condition tee to green and I thought the routing was solid, especially the last 4 or 5 holes sharing opposite sides of lake Merced with the Olympic Club (another major venue). I really enjoyed the finishing hole (although I believe they are routing the course differently for the Championship and it will actually be #9 for that event) which was equal parts attractive and challenging.

Despite there being relatively few traps, I managed to find two of them and it was nice to play right and proper bunkers, they played exactly as they should. My experience in the pro-shop was a little brisk as there was a good line of people getting checked in even with our very early tee time (we were the third group out). However, I found the staff as friendly and helpful as time allowed.

The practice facility (range) is closed, perhaps for upgrades for the championship and if you want to hit balls you can, but it’s just into a net about 20 yards in front of you. The nets aren’t that high and my gap wedge was enough loft to send balls over. Given that I don’t imagine many people are at Harding to work on flighting their clubs, but rather are on the range to just get warmed up for their round, I think this is fine (I did find it a little ironic that I’d never had to play into a net before and this was the second time in three rounds it happened on this trip).

Overall, I enjoyed my experience at TPC Harding Park and would probably play again although it is a bit pricey for my budget and taste.

Very beautiful course, rough is tough, we played from blue tee and it’s difficult for me, green is slow today, overall it’s a very nice course and will play again if I have another chance to visit San Francisco!

Punched greens

Driving range closed

Tree manicure piles all over

Par 3 green destroyed by crows

Full price

I love Harding. The layout is awesome, the challenge varies depending on the weather or any upcoming tournaments, and the scenery is beautiful. But cartpath only golf is slower than just mandatory walking. Not a fan of cartpath only at all. If you're playing with a partner who's a bit up there in years, has a bad back, etc.. It makes the round pretty tedious.

Greens roll true and overall course is in great shape. Sand is relatively thin but playable and can easily score on this course. My only recommendation would be to remove the entire practice range or to a different area because it takes away from part of the beauty of the course.

The course is in fairly good shape. The driving range has not been repaired since high winds blew it down many months ago. They hung up a net about 20 yards in front of stalls. There are no hitting areas and they have had several months to repair the poles and nets. When I was in the practice area a ball almost struck me from a golfer hitting the poles that hold up the nets in front of the range. This is unacceptable and the range should be fully repaired.

This is a course you must play at least once. Among the many courses in the Bay Area, the layout and quality of this course are premium. The fare is high. So be careful when you book the T time.

They can improve the pace with Cart access on the Par Fives.. I’m 62 and this holes were laboris because of the Cart restrictions

Harding Park is absolutely a great round of golf and a must play. I play there 2/3 times a year and it is always a marvelous experience. I walk my round which is an extra benefit. It is like a 4.5 hour walk in a beautiful park. Staff is great and the bar and restaurant is super.

This course is for 2020 PGA championship open. The course is simple and easy. Layout is not fun. Not much management required. Hit far and straight. Green is slow. This course seems one of your neighborhood course or county course. GolfNow deal would be the best to play. Still pay for a cart of $25. Not worthy to pay almost $200 as a non resident. My GHIN is 14.9. But anyway honored to play at 2020 PGA championship course.

Every time I finish a round at Harding Park I have the same recurring thoughts- the course layout is so great, pace of play is a disaster, the staff is always so helpful, and would people PLEASE FIX YOUR PITCH MARKS on the green. That being sad, if you are from out of town, and want a great experience...PLAY HARDING PARK!!!

The new mowing patterns in the fairways places a premium on driving the ball.

This course should be walked, not ridden. You will regret renting a cart.

The course was in great shape. Unfortunately the winds were 25-35 mph and the greens had just been punched. So, from a pure golf standpoint it was very hard.

The rough is lush and long. In two weeks you will have difficulty finding your ball. In a month you will not find your ball.

The fairways are being narrowed (20 yds max), so accuracy is a premium over length.

If you want a real challenge, in a month when the greens are back you will have one of the most difficult rounds of your life.