Half Moon Bay Old Course
Forty five minutes south of San Francisco, the Old Course at Half Moon Bay is the elder of two coastal layouts and the one that builds to a famous finish. Arnold Palmer and Francis Duane laid it out in 1973 as a tree lined parkland test of angles and strategy, then sent the closing holes out to the cliff edge, where the par 4 eighteenth plays along the Pacific with the Ritz-Carlton above. It is one of the Bay Area's most photographed rounds.
Photo: Half Moon Bay Golf Links via Google.
The verdict
The Old Course is a study in restraint and reward. For most of the round Palmer and Duane keep you inland among the trees, asking for placement and shape rather than power, with doglegs and water that punish the careless and flatter the thoughtful. It is a proper, classic American parkland, the kind that holds up decade after decade because the strategy never dates.
Then comes the finish, and it is the reason the course lingers in the memory. The closing holes break out to the cliff top above the Pacific, the eighteenth running along the edge to a green beneath the Ritz-Carlton, the ocean filling the view. For the travelling golfer it is an easy and rewarding addition to a Bay Area trip, a coastal round within reach of the city and a natural pairing with the famous golf an hour or two south on the Monterey Peninsula.
Half Moon Bay Old Course at a glance
- Designers
- Arnold Palmer and Francis Duane
- Opened
- 1973
- Type
- Coastal parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- approx 7,001 yds
- Green fee
- Around 250 dollars
Designers, opening, layout, par and length verified June 2026: the Old Course at Half Moon Bay Golf Links was designed by Arnold Palmer and Francis Duane and opened in 1973. It plays around 7,001 yards, par 72, through tree lined parkland that finishes along the Pacific cliffs. Indicative 2026 green fees are around 250 dollars, varying by season, day and time. Always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
For sixteen holes the Old Course is a thinking golfer's parkland. The fairways tilt and dogleg between mature trees, water comes into play at several greens, and the smart line is rarely the longest one, so the player who plots a route around the hazards is rewarded over the one who simply hits it hard. It is a fair, enjoyable test that asks you to commit to a shape and a target on almost every tee.
The reason to make the trip, though, is the close. The course swings out to the coast for the finish, and the par 4 eighteenth is the showpiece, hugging the cliff top above the Pacific with the ocean down the right and the Ritz-Carlton standing over the green. Few finishing holes in northern California can match it for drama, and it sends you off the course with the image that defines the place.
Bring a layer or two, because the coast can be cool and foggy even in summer, and savour that walk up the eighteenth. It is the moment the round is built around.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A public, daily fee resort course; visitors are welcome, with Ritz-Carlton guests getting preferred access |
| Green fee | Around 250 dollars, varying by season, day and time (2026, indicative) |
| Booking | Book ahead for weekends and the summer; staying at the resort eases tee time access |
| On the day | Carts available; the sister Ocean Course and a full resort with practice ground sit alongside |
| Getting there | At Half Moon Bay, around 45 minutes south of San Francisco over Highway 92 |
| Best months | Playable year round; late summer and early autumn bring the clearest coastal weather |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026; rates change by season, day and time, so always confirm directly before booking with Half Moon Bay Golf Links or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The natural base is the Ritz-Carlton that overlooks the closing holes, a cliff top resort that bundles rooms with golf on both the Old and Ocean courses and puts you steps from the first tee. It is the indulgent option and the most convenient one for an early time.
For a wider trip, San Francisco is under an hour away for a city base, and the Monterey Peninsula, with its world famous golf, sits around two hours south down the coast, making Half Moon Bay a fine first or last round on a northern California golf week. Either way the gateway is San Francisco International.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts at Half Moon Bay and around San Francisco and Monterey.
Plan a California golf trip around Half Moon Bay
We build the trip around a round at Half Moon Bay's Old Course, add the best of the Monterey Peninsula and a San Francisco base, and sort lodging and tee times. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Half Moon Bay Old Course questions
Who designed the Old Course at Half Moon Bay?
The Old Course was designed by Arnold Palmer and Francis Duane and opened in 1973. It is the older of the two courses at Half Moon Bay Golf Links, a tree lined parkland layout that ends with a memorable run toward the Pacific cliffs.
What is the par and yardage of the Old Course?
The Old Course plays around 7,001 yards, par 72, from the back tees. It rewards the strategic player over the long hitter, with doglegs, water and tree lined fairways setting the angles.
How much does it cost to play the Old Course?
Indicative 2026 green fees are around 250 dollars, varying by season, day and time. Fees change through the year, so always confirm current rates directly before booking.
What is the famous finishing hole at Half Moon Bay?
The Old Course closes with the par 4 eighteenth playing along the cliff top above the Pacific, with the Ritz-Carlton as a backdrop, one of the most photographed finishing holes in northern California.
Where is Half Moon Bay Golf Links?
Half Moon Bay Golf Links is on the coast at Half Moon Bay, around 45 minutes south of San Francisco over Highway 92, making it an easy day trip or a coastal base for a Bay Area golf visit.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designers, layout, par and length verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.