Olympic Club
U.S. Junior Amateur: 2004 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball: 2015 | |
Website | olyclub.com |
---|---|
Lake Course | |
Designed by | Sam Whiting Willie Watson |
Par | 71 (70 for 2012 U.S. Open) |
Length | 7,170 yards (6,560 m) (2012 U.S. Open)[1] |
Course rating | 76.5 |
Slope rating | 145[2] |
Ocean Course | |
Designed by | Tom Weiskopf |
Par | 71 |
Length | 6,925 yards (6,332 m) |
Course rating | 73.2 |
Slope rating | 131[3] |
Cliffs Course | |
Designed by | Jay Morrish Tom Weiskopf |
Par | 27 |
Length | 1,800 yards (1,646 m) |
The Olympic Club is an athletic club and private social club in San Francisco, California.
First named the "San Francisco Olympic Club",[4] it is the oldest athletic club in the United States. Established on May 6, 1860, its first officers were President, G.W. Bell, Secretary, E. Bonnell, Treasurer, H.G. Hanks, and Leader, Arthur Nahl.[4]
Its main "City Clubhouse" is located in San Francisco's Union Square district, and its three golf courses are in the southwestern corner of the city, at the border with Daly City. The "Lakeside Clubhouse" is located just north of the Daly City border; the two clubhouses are separated by about 10 miles (16 km).
The three golf courses are named Lake, Ocean, and Cliffs. Lake and Ocean are 18-hole par-71 courses, and the Cliffs is a nine-hole par-3 course in the bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. All three venues are lined with many trees and offer views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Golden Gate Park. The United States Golf Association recognizes the Olympic Club as one of the first 100 golf clubs established in the United States.
In November 2017, it was announced that Olympic Club would host the 2033 Ryder Cup.[5]
History
First named the "San Francisco Olympic Club",[4] it is the oldest athletic club in the United States. Established on May 6, 1860, its first officers were President, G.W. Bell, Secretary, E. Bonnell, Treasurer, H.G. Hanks, and Leader, Arthur Nahl.[4]
Women's Athletic Club
Women who could not join the men-only Olympic Club built their own modest athletic club a few doors down, named the Women's Athletic Club of San Francisco. Begun in 1912 and completed in 1917, it provided many of the same facilities as the Olympic Club. In 1966, the Club changed its name to the Metropolitan Club of San Francisco. It may be found on Sutter St., in back of the Olympic Club's parking garage.[6]
Discrimination lawsuit
In 1987, San Francisco City Attorney Louise Renne filed suit against the Olympic Club for discrimination against women and (allegedly) against minorities. Renne contended that the Club's lease of City-owned land upon which fell one hole of the Lake Course and two holes of the Ocean Course required them to conform to the City's anti-discrimination policies.[7] Rather than face a protracted legal case with an uncertain outcome, the board voted to accept women as members in 1990.[8] The allegation involving minorities was withdrawn.[citation needed]
Golf club
In 1918, the club took over the Lakeside Golf Club, which had just opened in 1917 but was struggling financially. Lakeside had one 18-hole golf course designed by Wilfrid Reid, but following additional land purchases the club decided to replace it with two courses. These were designed by Willie Watson, a well-known Scottish architect, and the Lake and Ocean courses opened in 1924. The Ocean course was shortly thereafter damaged by landslides, and Sam Whiting (who had constructed the two courses, and would remain as superintendent until 1954) remodeled and rebuilt both courses in 1927. In 1953, the Lake course was modified by Robert Trent Jones in preparation for the 1955 U.S. Open. The Ocean course was altered several times over the years, and following heavy storm damage in 1996 was completely redesigned by Tom Weiskopf and reopened in 2000.[9]
The Cliffs Course opened in 1994 with Jay Morrish and Tom Weiskopf as the course architects.
The Olympic Club hosted the 2004
Competition
In 1909, Olympian and club member Ralph Rose set a world record shot put throw of 51 feet.
In 1915, the club's
Cycling is one of the sports with the longest tradition at the Olympic Club. From 1893 to 1903, the Olympic Club Cycling Team was one of the club's premier teams. Although the sanctioned cycling team disbanded in 1903, many Olympians participated in cycling on an individual basis. The most illustrious of these was Ernest Ohrt. Ohrt capped his cycling career by being named coach of the United States Olympic Games cycling team in 1924.
Beginning in the mid-1990s, a revived Olympic Club cycling team supported several cyclists who went on to become professional road cyclists. Former Olympic Club cyclists who later turned professional include Skyler Bishop, Nick Kelez, James Hibbard, Jackson Stewart, Mike Tillman and Zach Walker.
In addition to being a springboard for aspiring professional cyclists, the modern cycling team also boasts some of the finest masters-age cyclists in the nation, including Brian McGuire, Hal Johnson, Cynthia Mommsen and Lisa Hunt.
Club member
At least five Olympic Club members have won the
In 1992, the Club set up the Winged "O" Foundation, which changed its name to The Olympic Club Foundation in 2002. Its purpose is to fund youth sports programs which primarily target less advantaged youth who live in the Bay Area.
Winged-O football and rugby
The Olympic Club fielded a
In 1926,
Olympic Club members played a major part in the first All-Star football game. E. Jack Spaulding, the founder of the Shrine East-West football classic played, coached and was football commissioner of the Olympic Club. In 1925 the first game was played in San Francisco. Spaulding served as managing director of the first two games. An award in his name is presented each year at the game. O.E. "Babe" Hollingbery played for the club and was coach in 1925. He headed the selection process for the West team and served as the first Coach of the West team which defeated the East by a score of 6-0. He later had a long distinguished career as coach of the Washington State football team and coached in 18 Shrine games.[16][17]
Rugby
Olympic Club fields a rugby team that participates in the Pacific Rugby Premiership and formerly in USA D1 and in the
In 1913, the Olympic Club's
City Clubhouse
The Olympic Club's City Clubhouse is a masonry building on Post Street, two blocks west of
The courses
General course information
Bent grass covers the greens. The fairways are a rye and poa annua grass combination. The roughs also have a bit of bluegrass mixed in.
Setup for the 2007 U.S. Amateur Championship:
- The Lake Course played at 6,948 yards and par 35-35=70. The Ocean Course, which was used for the first two days of stroke play only, played at 6,786 yards and par 35-35=70.
- The Lake Course was set for green speeds of approximately 11 feet, 6 inches on the Stimpmeter. The primary rough was grown to 4 inches, with a strip of intermediate rough cut to 1½ inches in height.
- The Lake Course carried a USGA Course Rating of 74.8 and a USGA Slope Rating of 143. The Ocean Course carried a USGA Course Rating of 74.0 and a USGA Slope Rating of 136.
The Lake Course
The Lake Course has been recognized by
The yardage of the Lake Course is 7,060
The Lake Course was lengthened to prepare for the 2007 U.S. Amateur and 2012 U.S. Open by architect Bill Love. Included in the improvements by Bill Love were new tees that have added significant length to the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 9th, 12th, 13th and 16th holes. In addition, drastic changes were made to the par-4 seventh and par-3 eighth holes as part of the greens replacement project. A new two-tiered green at the seventh replaces the old three-level green constructed in the 1970s. This green is located approximately 20 yards behind the old one. The most dramatic alterations were made at the par-3 8th. Previously just a short uphill pitch, a completely new hole has been built with a teeing area well back and to the right of the original, changing the angle of approach and pushing the length of the hole back to 200 yards. A new green has also been built at the par-3 15th. The controversial 18th green has also been changed further to reintroduce, in a more playable manner, the slope that was previously removed while at the same time creating more diversity in pin placements for the finishing hole. The new 7th and 8th holes opened for play in May 2009.
Scorecard
Tee | Rating/Slope | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 U.S. Open | 75.7 / 143 | 520 | 428 | 247 | 438 | 498 | 489 | 288 | 200 | 449 | 3557 | 424 | 430 | 451 | 199 | 419 | 154 | 670 | 522 | 344 | 3613 | 7170 |
Par | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 34 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 36 | 70 | |
Black | 75.0 / 142 | 533 | 418 | 229 | 430 | 457 | 439 | 294 | 181 | 439 | 3420 | 422 | 430 | 415 | 195 | 417 | 157 | 609 | 522 | 347 | 3514 | 6934 |
Blue | 73.2 / 134 | 515 | 380 | 212 | 417 | 434 | 426 | 284 | 169 | 424 | 3261 | 395 | 414 | 399 | 180 | 402 | 142 | 579 | 491 | 334 | 3336 | 6597 |
White | 71.7 / 130 | 500 | 367 | 198 | 396 | 420 | 415 | 263 | 154 | 382 | 3095 | 385 | 384 | 375 | 172 | 388 | 133 | 562 | 464 | 322 | 3185 | 6280 |
SI | Men's | 13 | 5 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 17 | 15 | 9 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 16 | 6 | 18 | 2 | 14 | 12 | |||
Par | Men's | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 35 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 36 | 71 |
Par | Women's | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 38 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 38 | 76 |
SI | Women's | 11 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 13 | 1 | 15 | 17 | 3 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 16 | 4 | 18 | 6 | 14 | 12 | |||
Green | 68.6 / 123 | 455 | 286 | 185 | 296 | 328 | 380 | 241 | 115 | 350 | 2636 | 371 | 369 | 359 | 156 | 366 | 122 | 457 | 443 | 310 | 2953 | 5589 |
The Ocean Course
The Ocean Course has seen many changes over its history including a recent complete redesign and reconstruction in 2012 by architects Bill Love and Brian Kington. The Ocean Course's storied past includes winter El Niño storms in 1983, and 1997 that caused significant damage and required major changes to the course and layout. During the mid-1990s, the club built 4 holes west of Skyline Blvd. along the bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Holes of par 4, par 3, par 5, and par 4 had dramatic views, but these holes were severely eroded and fell victim to the 1997 storm. Prior to the recent 2012 renovation project the course had been rebuilt in 1999.
The regular yardage for the Ocean Course is 6,925 yards from the Black Championship tees with a course rating of 73.6 and a slope rating of 136. From the Blue tees, the course measures 6,496 yards and has a course rating of 71.1 and a slope rating of 129. From White tees, the course measures 5,898 yards with a course rating of 68.8 and a slope rating of 121. From the Green tees, the course measures 5,386 yards with a course rating of 66.5 and a slope rating of 115.
In preparation for the 2007 U.S. Amateur, the 14th hole was changed, to allow the 15th hole and driving range to be lengthened. The Ocean Course recently hosted the U.S.G.A. Amateur Four-ball Championships in May 2015.
Scorecard
Tee | Rating/Slope | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Black | 73.6 / 136 | 555 | 196 | 420 | 565 | 172 | 337 | 446 | 423 | 391 | 3505 | 184 | 546 | 395 | 365 | 396 | 475 | 438 | 207 | 414 | 3420 | 6925 |
Blue | 71.1 / 129 | 535 | 176 | 382 | 544 | 161 | 306 | 431 | 396 | 377 | 3308 | 167 | 504 | 376 | 354 | 380 | 422 | 406 | 187 | 392 | 3188 | 6496 |
White | 68.8 / 121 | 498 | 151 | 361 | 479 | 159 | 299 | 386 | 370 | 354 | 3057 | 144 | 454 | 353 | 318 | 333 | 389 | 352 | 170 | 328 | 2841 | 5898 |
SI | Men's | 7 | 15 | 5 | 9 | 17 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 4 | 6 | 16 | 8 | 2 | 10 | 18 | 12 | |||
Par | Men's | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 35 | 71 |
Par | Women's | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 35 | 71 |
SI | Women's | 3 | 17 | 5 | 11 | 15 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 9 | 18 | 4 | 6 | 16 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 14 | 12 | |||
Green | 66.5 / 113 | 479 | 134 | 326 | 437 | 142 | 275 | 359 | 359 | 339 | 2850 | 120 | 433 | 313 | 292 | 249 | 355 | 343 | 113 | 318 | 2536 | 5386 |
The Cliffs Course
The 9-hole, par 3 Cliffs Course is the windiest because it is set on the bluffs above the Pacific Ocean. Though it is short, it is very challenging. Designed by Jay Morrish and Tom Weiskopf, it is the most scenic of all three courses. It measures 1,800 yards.
Major tournaments held at the Olympic Club
U.S. Open
The Olympic Club has hosted five U.S. Opens, in 1955, 1966, 1987, 1998 and 2012.
The 54-hole leader has failed to win every time the Open has been played at The Olympic Club.
Lee Janzen won at Olympic in 1998 with a score of 280 (even par, as the course played a par 70 for the U.S. Open). Players complained about the pin position at the 18th hole in the second round. The pin was set at the top of a ridge, and, many balls rolled on way past the cup. Kirk Triplett incurred a two-stroke penalty when he used his putter to stop the ball from rolling. Payne Stewart, the runner-up to Janzen, complained as he three-putted the hole. The green was flattened around 2000 as a result, but was given more slope in the recent renovation to the course.
The 2012 U.S. Open was won by Webb Simpson when he made 4 birdies in the last 13 holes. This U.S. Open was part of three sports championships involving San Francisco that year, along with the Giants' World Series victory and the 49ers' sixth Super Bowl appearance.
Year | Winner | Score | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up |
---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | Webb Simpson | 281 (+1) | 1 stroke | Graeme McDowell Michael Thompson |
1998 | Lee Janzen | 280 (E) | 1 stroke | Payne Stewart |
1987 | Scott Simpson | 277 (−3) | 1 stroke | Tom Watson |
1966 | Billy Casper | 278 (−2) | Playoff | Arnold Palmer |
1955 | Jack Fleck | 287 (+7) | Playoff | Ben Hogan |
U.S. Women's Open
The Olympic Club has hosted one U.S. Women's Open, in 2021.
Year | Winner | Score | Margin of victory |
Runner-up |
---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | Yuka Saso | 280 (−4) | Playoff | Nasa Hataoka |
Ryder Cup
In November 2017, it was announced by the
The Tour Championship
The Olympic Club has hosted the
Year | Winner | Score | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up |
---|---|---|---|---|
1994 | Mark McCumber | 274 (−10) | Playoff | Fuzzy Zoeller |
1993 | Jim Gallagher Jr. | 277 (−7) | 1 stroke | David Frost John Huston Greg Norman Scott Simpson |
U.S. Amateur
The Olympic Club has hosted three
Year | Winner | Result | Runner-up |
---|---|---|---|
2007 | Colt Knost | 2 & 1 | Michael Thompson |
1981 | Nathaniel Crosby | 37 holes | Brian Lindley |
1958 | Charles Coe | 5 & 4 | Tommy Aaron |
U.S. Women's Amateur
The USGA announced that The Olympic Club will host the 2030
U.S. Junior Amateur
The Olympic Club has hosted one
Year | Winner | Result | Runner-up |
---|---|---|---|
2004 | Sihwan Kim | 1 up | David Chung |
See also
- List of American gentlemen's clubs
- Olympic Club Foundation
References
- ^ "U.S. Open course 2012". USGA. Archived from the original on June 21, 2015. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
- ^ "Course Rating and Slope Database: Olympic Club - Lakeside". USGA. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
- ^ "Course Rating and Slope Database: Olympic Club - Ocean". USGA. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
- ^ a b c d Janssen, Frederick William (1888). A history of American amateur athletics and aquatics: with the records (Digitized March 9, 2010 ed.). Outing Company. pp. 131–2.
- ^ Inglis, Martin (November 3, 2017). "Report: 2032 Ryder Cup host venue decided". bunkered.
- ^ "About Us". Metropolitanclubsf.org. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
- ^ "Olympic Club Faces Suit". Los Angeles Times. September 4, 1988. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
- ^ "Olympic Club to Open Its Doors". Los Angeles Times. May 10, 1987. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
- ^ "History of Olympic Club Golf". Archived from the original on November 13, 2004. Retrieved March 29, 2007.
- ^ Olympic Club at a glance, 2004
- ^ PFRA Research (1987). "When Did they Start?" (PDF). Coffin Corner. 9. Professional Football Researchers Association: 1–5. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 27, 2010.
- ^ PFRA Research. "Five Hundred Reasons" (PDF). Coffin Corner. Professional Football Researchers Association: 1–6. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 29, 2010.
- ^ Stanford Football Media guide (PDF copy available at www.gostanford.com)
- ^ California Golden Bears Football Media guide (PDF copy available at www.gobears.com)
- ^ a b "Carry Me Back". Archived from the original on June 8, 2007. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
- ^ Shrinegame.com. 2020. History | East-West Shrine Bowl. [online] Available at: <https://www.shrinegame.com/history1> [Accessed 2 November 2020].
- ^ Shrinegame.com. 2020. MVP Awards | East-West Shrine Bowl. [online] Available at: <https://www.shrinegame.com/mvp-awards> [Accessed 2 November 2020].
- ^ "PGA of America to host 2028 PGA Championship, 2032 Ryder Cup at The Olympic Club". Ryder Cup. November 8, 2017.
- ^ "USGA announces future U.S. Amateur sites, including return to Oakmont, Merion and Olympic Club". Golf.com. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
- ^ Pine, Julia. "The Olympic Club to Host 2030 U.S. Women's Amateur". United States Golf Association. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
External links
- Official website
- The Ocean Course at golfcourse.com
- The Lake Course at golfcourse.com
- The Cliffs Course at golfcourse.com