By Clarisse Kim
"We hit a hole in one with the new clubhouse!" said Public Works Director Carla Short.
The Golden Gate Park Golf Clubhouse celebrated its reopening ceremony on Feb. 16. More than 150 golf enthusiasts and community advocates gathered at the newly remodeled Golden Gate Park Golf Course to celebrate persistence through a year of closure.
First Tee, a youth-centered golf non-profit, Public Works, the civic facility overseer, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department and SF Mayor London Breed were on hand to reveal the new course.
After a fire destroyed the old clubhouse at the Golden Gate Park Golf Course in 2018, a new facility was built in its place. A ribbon-cutting ceremony officially reopened the new structure on Feb. 16. Courtesy photo.
According to numerous speakers at the event, the clubhouse and course's return symbolizes a lot to San Francisco's west side and to the City as a whole. The golf course's story highlights its rich resilience, diversity and community.
According to Phil Ginsburg, Rec. and Park general manager, the idea for creating the course began in 1912. The golf course finally came to fruition in 1951. Nestled among cypress trees, sand dunes and sea breezes, the course was built in the place originally meant for the Palace of Fine Arts 40 years prior.
Sixty years later, a fire severely damaged the clubhouse in 2018.
"The clubhouse was completely destroyed," said Daniel Montes, representative of Rec. and Park. "There was no fixing the damage – the clubhouse had to be demolished."
That's when First Tee and the broader community pushed for renovation. After the City and associated organizations gathered the required support and funds, the course began reconstruction in the spring of 2023. The entire project cost $5.9 million.
"The plan was to build a whole new clubhouse on the same footprint as the old one," Montes said. "We took the same outline and built a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility."
Architects and engineers from SF Public Works spearheaded the design process, making sure the new design maintained and enhanced aspects of the original facility.
Now, the clubhouse boasts a wide array of upgraded amenities. Golfers are able to enjoy a redesigned lounge, pro shop, concessions stand, accessible entryways and a scenic outdoor patio. First Tee also oversaw and funded a separate landscaping project that upgraded the efficiency of the natural turf's drainage and maintenance.
"Despite facing all of these challenges, and despite seeing this clubhouse burn down, we persevere," Breed said. "San Francisco showcased the same resilience in the 1906 earthquakes and fires. The clubhouse represents this resilience."
"Just like San Francisco itself, this is the phoenix rising from the ashes," Ginsburg added.
The golf course has now returned as a hot spot for golfers of all backgrounds and ages. According to Montes, one thing that makes the Golden Gate Park Golf Course special is its rich cross section of people.
"The community here is so diverse," Montes said. "We're municipal golf – public golf. You get people from all over the City. Golfers here could be from the Richmond to the Bayview to the Western Addition."
Montes also said that the golf course takes pride in its accessibility and low barrier. Players of all skill levels are welcome; the course frequently hosts both experienced senior golfers and novice youth players.
First Tee, a nonprofit focused on youth equity, accessibility and empowerment, manages the majority of the course's activities and programs. These programs include golf lessons for underprivileged youth.
"Our goal is to teach core values that will help these youngsters through life," First Tee Executive Director Dan Burke said.
The nonprofit is based out of the Golden Gate Park Golf Course and strives to empower kids of all backgrounds using golf as a conduit.
"The Golden Gate Park Golf Course is a very special place to me," First Tee alumna and current staff member Kelly Woo said. "The experiences, friendships, and connections I've gained here have played a significant role in shaping who I am today."
At its core, the Golden Gate Park Golf Course has brought people together and continues to unite the golf community. According to Montes, numerous golf enthusiasts and advocates banded together to push for the course's renovation after the fire in 2018.
Project leads wanted to highlight this unity during reconstruction.
"The whole point of this project was to make sure the golf community has a place to gather," Montes said. "We really wanted to enhance the community aspect of golf."
"This facility is magical," Ginsburg said. "We are so pleased with all of the work that got done, and we're looking forward to our continued association with the City."
"Our tee times are fully booked for days," Montes adds. "So many golf enthusiasts attended the reopening celebration – the community is just excited to be back."
The Golden Gate Park Golf Course is located at 970 47th Ave. Learn more at goldengateparkgolf.com. To learn more about First Tee and its mission, visit firsttee.org/.
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