TPC Harding Park facts for kids
Aerial view from north in 2018
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| Location | San Francisco, California |
| Established | 1925, 100 years ago |
| Type | Public |
| Owned by | San Francisco Public Utilities Commission |
| Operated by | PGA Tour Golf Course Properties |
| Total holes | 18 holes |
| Tournaments hosted | WGC-American Express Championship (2005), Presidents Cup (2009), Charles Schwab Cup Championship (2010, 2011, 2013) WGC-Cadillac Match Play (2015), PGA Championship (2020) |
| Greens | Bentgrass (007, Tyee) |
| Fairways | Poa annua, bentgrass, and ryegrass |
| Website | tpc.com/hardingpark |
| Designed by | Sam Whiting Willie Watson |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 7,169 yards (6,555 m) |
| Course rating | 74.1 |
| Slope rating | 128 |
TPC Harding Park is a famous golf course in San Francisco, California. It used to be called Harding Park Golf Club. This course is owned by the city and county of San Francisco, which means it's a public golf course.
It is now part of the PGA Tour's network of courses called Tournament Players Club (TPC). This happened after an agreement was made in 2010. The course is located in the southwest part of San Francisco, next to San Francisco State University. It is also surrounded by Lake Merced on three sides.
Contents
The History of Harding Park Golf Course
How Harding Park Started
Harding Park Golf Course first opened its doors on July 18, 1925. It was named after President Warren G. Harding. He loved golf and had passed away in San Francisco just two years before the course opened.
The golf course covers about 163 acres (0.66 km2) right by the shores of Lake Merced. Two designers, Willie Watson and Sam Whiting, created the plan for the course. They also designed another famous course nearby called the Olympic Club's Lake Course.
Early Success and Challenges
Harding Park quickly became well-known. It hosted big tournaments like the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship in 1937 and again in 1956. In the 1960s, it was a regular stop for the PGA Tour, hosting the Lucky International Open.
However, things changed after 1969. The PGA Tour stopped coming to Harding Park because the course was getting old and run-down. Over the next two decades, the course got even worse. This was because the city had less money for maintenance. In 1998, it was even used as a parking lot for a different golf tournament nearby.
Bringing the Course Back to Life
Around the year 2000, a man named Sandy Tatum, who loved golf and was a former president of the United States Golf Association, decided to help. He wanted to make Harding Park great again. He got permission from the mayor, Willie Brown, to let a company called Arnold Palmer Golf Management fix up and run the park.
But some people in the city government worried that this company would make the public course private. Because of these worries, Arnold Palmer's company decided not to be involved. They couldn't agree on how much to charge people to play.
When it seemed like the renovation might not happen, Sean Elsbernd, a city official, helped out. He and Sandy Tatum convinced everyone that fixing up the course could bring a lot of money to the city. They thought it would attract the PGA Tour back. They also found money from a special fund called Proposition 12, which was meant for parks in California.
Even though some groups thought the money should be used for other city parks, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors agreed. They voted to use the money in 2001, hoping Harding Park would host professional golf events again.
The Renovation and Reopening
Finally, the renovation started in the spring of 2002. The project took 15 months. The course was made longer, from about 6,743 yards to nearly 7,200 yards. The driving range and clubhouse were also improved to meet PGA Tour standards.
The city and county of San Francisco still own the course. The city's parks department takes care of its maintenance.
After the renovation, the PGA Tour's Golf Course Properties now runs the course. It has world-class facilities, including a modern clubhouse, a restaurant, and a full-sized practice range. The renovation also improved The Fleming 9, which is a shorter, nine-hole course named after John Fleming, a long-time park superintendent. San Francisco residents get a special discount to play there.
Harding Park Golf Course officially reopened on August 22, 2003. Since then, it has hosted many professional golf tournaments.
Tournaments Hosted at Harding Park
Harding Park has a history of hosting important golf tournaments. After hosting the PGA Tour's Lucky International Open from 1961 to 1969, it took a long break from elite golf.
Then, in 2005, it hosted the WGC-American Express Championship. After that, the city and the PGA Tour made an agreement for more big events. Harding Park has since hosted:
- The 2009 Presidents Cup
- The 2015 WGC-Cadillac Match Play
- The 2020 PGA Championship
It is also scheduled to host the 2026 President's Cup. Harding Park has also hosted the Champions Tour's final event, the Charles Schwab Cup Championship, in 2010, 2011, and 2013.
