THE OLYMPIC CLUB - SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

 THE OLYMPIC CLUB

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

THE OLYMPIC CLUB

599 SKYLINE BLVD

SAN FRANCISCO, CA  94132

415-404-4300

HOURS:  Tuesday thru Sunday 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM

www.olyclub.com

Playing Torrey Pines South, Congressional and Olympic Club in the same year is epic and a lot of things off my bucket list in golf.  There is something about teeing it up at courses that have hosted a U.S. Open.  They are both beautiful and challenging and the home to some of golfs greatest moments.   I am a hacker who just enjoys the scenery and moment.  Playing a great round on one of these courses would be great but I always seem to fall apart.  On this day at Olympic I played an uninspiring round with maybe one Par.  Then came the 18th Hole on the U.S. Open Lake Course.  I nailed a drive down the fairway and then hit a shot that landed me under a tree and in front of bunkers fronting the very small 18th Green.  Hitting three from under the tree and I was depressed.  There was no way I could hit a low shot under the tree and clear these bunkers.  Double Bogey will be great I thought.  I pulled out my 60 Degree Wedge and and just went for it without much thought.  My ball shot off the club low and over the bunker.  I may have yelled out a bad word as I thought that I skulled it twenty yards off the green.  I ran up the hill to see where my ball had landed and found that it was ON THE GREEN!!!!  I was about 30 feet from the Pin with a big downhill putt for Par.  I was euphoric.  Felt like I had won the U.S. Open with that shot and being able to putt for par on the 18th hole at Olympic.  My caddy who was a twenty year old student from Ireland was classic all day.  Young, full of life and a great sense of humor.  Prior to this hole I told him the Caddy Shack line "there will be no money, but when you die you will receive total consciousness - which is nice".  He smiled and said that it was my choice not to tip or something to that effect.  Basically he was nice about it and laughed.  I called him over to my huge smile and told him that I would give him $100 if I hit this putt for par.  If I miss he would pay me $100.  He refused the bet but said we could make the putt.  He lined me up and then walked towards the pin.  He pointed to a spot on the green to the left of the flag stick has he had done all day.  All day I had missed the putts.  I was still laughing about making the shot to the green and my heart was pumping as I stood over my par putt.  Without much hesitation, I pulled back the club and lightly hit the ball so that it could take the natural path downhill towards the pin.  The balled rolled and picked up steam.  It started to break right towards the pin and slowed to what appeared to me to be slow motion.  The ball headed for the cup and oh so slowly dropped in the cup.  I threw my putter in the air and screamed.  The Caddy was in amazement and smiling along with me.  I gave him a fist pump and went straight to my wallet.  Pulled out the $100 bill and handed to him with a smile.  Laughing and cheering to myself like I had just won a Major Championship.  Then I thought of what I paid for the round of golf plus the tip.  Most expensive par of my life.  This was a golf moment I will never forget! 

BLOG AUTHOR IS IN GOLF HEAVEN AT OLYMPIC CLUB

THE OLYMPIC CLUB IN SAN FRANCISCO

CLUB HOUSE AT OLYMPIC CLUB

COULD NOT WAIT TO GET INSIDE AND VIEW GOLF HISTORY

SIMPLE AND ELEGANT RECEPTION 

FLOWERS WERE AMAZING

OLD SCHOOL CHARM AND VERY QUIET 

THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE MORE HISTORY ON THE WALLS HERE LIKE CONGRESSIONAL 

FIRE PLACES WERE LIT ON A SUMMER DAY

FOUND SOME U.S. OPEN HISTORY IN THE DINING ROOM

BEN HOGAN PLAYED SAME HOLE AS ME!

VINTAGE PHOTOS OF THE OCEAN AND LAKE COURSES

GOLFS GREATEST HAVE PLAYED HERE

THE U.S. OPEN PLAYED AT OLYMPIC CLUB

COURSE LAYOUTS LINE THE WALLS OF THE MENS LOCKER ROOM

THE LAKESIDE COURSE

1964 WAS EPIC YEAR FOR OLYMPIC CLUB MEMBERS

OLYMPIC CLUB MENS LOCKER ROOM

LUNCH AND A COCKTAIL BEFORE OUR ROUND

PERHAPS A BLODDY MARY TO START THE DAY

ONE OF THE BEST CLUB HOUSE SANDWICHES EVER!   THIS THING WAS THE BOMB

MY BUDDY LOVED THIS SANDWICH

AFTER LUNCH AND A FEW COCKTAILS WE HIT THE DRIVING RANGE AT OLYMPIC CLUB

THEN WE HIT THE PUTTING GREEN

AND THEN WE HIT THE COURSE

COURSE IS BEAUTIFUL AND GREEN

LONG OPEN FAIRWAYS

LUCKY TO STAY OUT OF THE BUNKERS ON THIS DAY

HIT EM STRAIGHT AND KEEP IT ON THE FAIRWAY

LOOKING UP TO THE CLUB HOUSE

TAKING A PHOTO BREAK ON 9TH HOLE

9TH HOLE AT OLYMPIC LAKE COURSE

9TH HOLE AT OLYMPIC CLUB

CLUBHOUSE AT OLYMPIC CLUB COMING OFF 18TH HOLE

THE HAMBURGER DOG AT OLYMPIC IS FAMOUS WE WERE TOLD

GREAT FRIENDS ON A OVERCAST DAY AT OLYMPIC CLUB - 18TH HOLE TEE BOX

MY TEE SHOT ON 18 WAS IN THE FAIRWAY

18TH GREEN IS TINY COMPARED TO MOST ON COURSE

MY THIRD SHOT WAS UNDER A TREE WITH BUNKERS ON THE LEFT AND ABOVE RIGHT.  GREEN WAS SMALL AND I HAD TO HIT THE BALL LOW - CLEAR THE BUNKERS AND LAND ON GREEN.
I DID IT!!!!!!!

MY PAR PUTT ON 18TH HOLE AT OLYMPIC CLUB.  THE CADDY ON LEFT WALKS TOWARDS ME.  I TELL HIM THAT IF I HIT THIS PUTT I'LL GIVE HIM $100.  IF I MISS HE PAYS ME $100.   HE QUICKLY SAID NO AND THEN LINED ME UP FOR THE PUTT.  HE SHOWED ME THE LINE THAT WAS A FEW INCHES OUT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF PIN.  I HIT THE PUTT AND IT WENT IN!!!!!! PAR ON 18 AT OLYMPIC CLUB LAKE COURSE!!!!!!!  A GOLF MOMENT I WILL NEVER FORGET.  PAID THE GUY $100 TOO.