The Course
18 holes of history on the San Francisco coast
An 18-hole, par-68 public course of 5,146 yards, threading the clifftops of Lands End. Short by modern standards — and all the more memorable for it.
- Established
- 1902
- Holes
- 18
- Par
- 68
- Length
- 5,146 yds
- Type
- Public
- Hours
- Daily, 7am–sunset
A course built on history
Lincoln Park sits on the northwestern corner of the San Francisco peninsula, on land once known as Golden Gate Cemetery. As the city moved its burial grounds south to Colma, the heights above Lands End were reborn as public parkland — dedicated to President Abraham Lincoln in 1909.
Golf came first: in 1902, local enthusiasts laid out a three-hole course here. Demand grew quickly. Built in stages — the City credits prolific municipal architect Tom Bendelow — the course expanded to 14 holes by 1914 and reached a full 18 holes by 1917, making Lincoln Park San Francisco's oldest municipal golf course and one of the oldest public courses in California.
Today it's part of the San Francisco Recreation & Park municipal golf system, operated by Yugi Golf Management — a public course in the truest sense, accessible to residents and visitors alike, wrapped around the grounds of the California Palace of the Legion of Honor.
A short timeline
- 1902
A three-hole course is laid out by local golfers.
- 1909
The parkland is dedicated to President Abraham Lincoln.
- 1914
The course expands to 14 holes.
- 1917
Lincoln Park reaches a full 18 holes.
The holes you'll remember
Lincoln Park alternates between sheltered, tree-lined corridors and exposed clifftop holes with some of the best views in public golf.
The 17th — the Golden Gate hole
A clifftop par 3 framed by an unobstructed view of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Pacific — one of the most photographed holes in public golf.
Coastal front nine
Tight, tree-lined fairways weave between Monterey cypress before opening to ocean and Marin Headlands vistas.
Legion of Honor turn
Holes wrap the grounds of the California Palace of the Legion of Honor, blending world-class art and golf in one walk.
Views from the course
- Golden Gate Bridge
- Pacific Ocean
- Marin Headlands
- San Francisco skyline
- Legion of Honor Museum
Short scorecard, big challenge
At par 68 and roughly 5,146 yards, Lincoln Park looks gentle on paper. It isn't. Wind off the Pacific, sharp elevation changes, narrow tree-lined fairways, and small, sloping greens defend par far more than length ever could.
It's a course that rewards accuracy and creativity over raw power — quick to walk, fun for every level, and tougher than its yardage when the fog rolls in. Lincoln Park is a cart-path-only course; walking is welcome and popular.
Scorecard
18
Holes
68
Par
5,146
Yards
Course rating 65.9 · Slope 113 (Blue)
- Blue tees
- 5,146 yds · par 68
- White tees
- 4,948 yds · par 68
- Red tees
- 4,732 yds · par 70
The scorecard
Yardages from all three tee sets, par and stroke index, exactly as the official card has them.
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | 316 | 257 | 156 | 321 | 359 | 285 | 334 | 170 | 309 | 2507 |
| White | 299 | 245 | 140 | 313 | 344 | 267 | 325 | 163 | 294 | 2390 |
| Red | 281 | 231 | 133 | 304 | 336 | 251 | 314 | 150 | 279 | 2279 |
| Par | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 34 |
| Handicap | 3 | 11 | 15 | 7 | 1 | 17 | 9 | 13 | 5 | — |
| Par (forward) | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 34 |
| Handicap (forward) | 3 | 13 | 15 | 11 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 17 | 5 | — |
| Hole | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | 268 | 265 | 203 | 500 | 259 | 282 | 239 | 240 | 383 | 2639 |
| White | 256 | 260 | 193 | 486 | 251 | 277 | 229 | 230 | 376 | 2558 |
| Red | 246 | 247 | 177 | 464 | 242 | 272 | 219 | 218 | 368 | 2453 |
| Par | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 34 |
| Handicap | 18 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 4 | 10 | 2 | — |
| Par (forward) | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 36 |
| Handicap (forward) | 12 | 10 | 14 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 16 | 18 | 4 | — |
| Tee | Yards | Rating | Slope | Ratingforward | Slopeforward |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | 5146 | 65.9 | 113 | 70.3 | 123 |
| White | 4948 | 65.0 | 112 | 69.1 | 119 |
| Red | 4732 | 64.2 | 110 | 68.1 | 117 |
Par is 68 from the Blue and White tees and 70 from the Red, which play the 16th and 17th as par 4s. Ratings and slopes are USGA figures from the official card; the forward columns are the women’s ratings for the same tee set. Lincoln Park is cart-path only.
About the course
What is the par and length of the course?
Lincoln Park is an 18-hole, par-68 course playing 5,146 yards from the back (Blue) tees — course rating 65.9, slope 113. It's short by modern standards but demanding: wind off the Pacific, elevation changes, and small greens defend par far more than length does.
Which hole has the Golden Gate Bridge view?
The par-3 17th is the signature hole, with an unobstructed view of the Golden Gate Bridge. The course also overlooks the Pacific Ocean, the Marin Headlands, and the San Francisco skyline from several holes.
Is there a driving range at Lincoln Park?
Lincoln Park does not have a full-length driving range, but it offers putting and short-game practice areas plus two indoor TrackMan simulator bays for full-swing practice and lessons year-round.
Can I walk the course, and is there a cart?
Walking is welcome and popular at Lincoln Park. It's a cart-path-only course; carts are available first-come, first-served for $50 and must be returned 45 minutes before sunset.
Is Lincoln Park Golf Course open to the public?
Yes. It's a public, city-owned municipal course operated within the San Francisco Recreation & Park system — open to residents and visitors alike, with discounted rates for SF residents.
Ready when you are
Play San Francisco's most scenic public course
Book your tee time online, up to 6 days in advance — 7 days for SF Resident Card holders.