The Olympic Club Lake Course
Cut into a cypress and eucalyptus hillside above Lake Merced, the Lake Course at The Olympic Club is the graveyard of golf favorites, the San Francisco classic where five US Opens have produced one famous upset after another. A par 71 of about 7,170 yards by Willie Watson and Sam Whiting, it has no water and almost no flat lies.
Photo: golfclubhouses, Google Maps via Google.
The verdict
Few courses own a reputation quite like the Lake Course. Laid out by Willie Watson and built by Sam Whiting in 1924, then reshaped by Whiting after storm damage later that decade, it sits on a steep, tree covered slope minutes from the Pacific. There is no water in play and the bunkering is modest, yet the Lake is brutally hard, because the fairways tilt and roll, the long rough is thick and damp, and the doglegs bend against the natural lean of the land.
Its place in history is secure. The Lake Course is where Jack Fleck stunned Ben Hogan in 1955, where Billy Casper erased a seven shot deficit on Arnold Palmer in 1966, and where Scott Simpson, Lee Janzen and Webb Simpson all claimed US Opens as bigger names faltered. It hosted the US Women's Open in 2021 as well. For the traveling golfer it is a private club, but a round on the Lake is one of the great tests in American championship golf and a true bucket list experience.
The Olympic Club Lake Course at a glance
- Opened
- 1924
- Designer
- Willie Watson and Sam Whiting
- Type
- Tree lined parkland
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- About 7,170 yds
- Green fee
- Members and guests
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from The Olympic Club and leading course databases. The Lake Course was laid out by Willie Watson and built by Sam Whiting in 1924, then redesigned by Whiting later that decade, and plays as a par 71 of about 7,170 yards in championship trim. The Olympic Club is a private members club with no public green fee, so any visit must be arranged through a member.
The holes worth the trip
The Lake Course defends itself without the usual weapons. There is no pond or creek to carry and the bunkering is restrained, so the difficulty comes from the ground and the trees. Thousands of cypress, pine and eucalyptus line tilted fairways that throw even good drives toward the rough, and many holes dogleg in the opposite direction to the slope, asking you to work the ball against the land.
The closing stretch is the heart of the legend. The uphill par 5 16th bends left through a chute of trees, the short par 4 17th has tormented champions with its canted fairway and tiny green, and the par 4 18th climbs to a green set against the clubhouse amphitheater where so many US Opens have been decided. None of these holes is long by modern standards, yet each has broken a leader walking up the final nine.
Scoring on the Lake is about position and patience. Keeping the ball below the hole, finding the proper side of these sloping fairways and accepting that par is a fine result are the keys. It is a course that flatters no one and exposes any weakness in the long game, which is precisely why it has produced such unlikely champions and such enduring drama.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private members club; play is as a guest of a member, with no public tee times |
| Green fee | No published public green fee; member and guest play only (2026) |
| Booking | Arranged through a member; the club does not offer outside or resort tee times |
| On the day | Caddies available; a traditional dress code applies; expect a long walk on hilly terrain |
| Getting there | On the southwest edge of San Francisco above Lake Merced, about 20 minutes from San Francisco International Airport |
| Best months | Playable year round; late summer and early autumn bring the warmest, clearest San Francisco weather |
Access arrangements verified June 2026; The Olympic Club is private and admits guests only with a member, so always confirm directly before planning any visit.
Where to stay nearby
Most visiting golfers stay in San Francisco itself, a short drive north of the club, with its full range of hotels, dining and the attractions of one of the world's great cities. The club's location near the airport and the coast makes it easy to reach from anywhere in the Bay Area.
For a golf focused trip, a San Francisco base puts the Lake Course alongside the other revered layouts of the city and the wider Bay Area, with the Monterey Peninsula and its ocean courses about two hours south. It is a natural anchor for a Northern California itinerary built around classical championship golf.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near The Olympic Club Lake Course.
Build a San Francisco golf trip
Access to private clubs like The Olympic Club depends on the right introductions. Tell us who is travelling and what is on your list, and one concierge will shape a Bay Area golf trip around the courses you can play, with no obligation.
The Olympic Club Lake questions
Who designed the Lake Course at The Olympic Club?
The Lake Course was laid out by Willie Watson and built by Sam Whiting in 1924, then redesigned by Sam Whiting later that decade after storm damage. It is one of the most respected championship layouts in the United States.
What is the par and length of the Lake Course?
The Lake Course is a par 71 of about 7,170 yards in championship trim. It famously has no water hazards and relatively few bunkers, with difficulty coming from sloping fairways, thick rough and tree lined doglegs.
How many US Opens has the Lake Course hosted?
The Lake Course has hosted five US Opens, in 1955, 1966, 1987, 1998 and 2012, along with the 2021 US Women's Open. It is known for producing surprising champions and dramatic final round collapses.
Can visitors play The Olympic Club?
No. The Olympic Club is a private members club. Play on the Lake Course is as a guest of a member only, with no public tee times or published green fee. Always arrange any visit through a member.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; access rules verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.