Broncos Win! Party in San Francisco!

Legendary Bay Area is Perfect for Golf

Chris Duthie

Pictured above: Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay

Denver Broncos fever is running high and with it comes sizable attention to Super Bowl 50 host San Francisco, one of our favorite destinations for premium golf, lodging, wine-and-dine restaurants and other scrapbook-worthy experiences.

Indubitably, nearby Monterey’s legendary landscape is compelling —think of Pebble Beach Resorts, Cannery Row, Monterey Bay Aquarium and sublime Carmel-By-The-Sea. That said, don’t neglect the regal riches of the Bay Area. Here are four persuasive reasons why:

1. While it’s tempting to take the 120-mile journey to Monterey, awesome public golf is as close as recently renovated TPC Harding Park (crafted by Olympic Club designer Willie Watson), former military-only gem The Presidio (Alistair Mackenzie), Bodega Harbour (Robert Trent Jones Jr.), 36-hole Half Moon Bay (Arnold Palmer/Francis Duane and Arthur Hills), and 2016 Women’s U.S. Open venue CordeValle Golf Club (Jones). And if you have strings to pull, tee it up at the ultra exclusive San Francisco Golf Club (A.W. Tillinghast).

TPC Harding Park

2. San Francisco will soon become Super Bowl City. During the week leading up to Super Bowl 50 (Sunday, Feb. 7), experience the numerous free-to-the-public attractions located throughout the metro area, including a mind-blowing fan village featuring an interactive NFL theme park, family friendly activities, culinary indulgences and cultural extravaganzas. Kick off the week by attending the official re-lighting of The Bay Lights of the Willie L. Brown Jr. Bay Bridge (Jan. 30).

3. The Bay Area is a coffer of bucket list attractions, including biking the Golden Gate Bridge, touring infamous Alcatraz, wandering through colorful Chinatown, sourdough and clam chowder noshing at Fisherman’s Warf, riding the Nob Hill cable car, hiking Muir Woods’ majestic redwood forest, photographing barking sea lions at Pier 39, or counting off the eight hairpin turns on Lombard Street.

4. San Francisco accommodates an annual tally of nearly 16 million guests with opulent resorts, funky motor inns, charming B&Bs and everything in-between. Stalwart luxury lodgers include the Château du Sureau in Oakhurst; Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay; Claremont Hotel & Spa in Berkeley; Mill Rose Inn in Half Moon Bay; Sofitel San Francisco Bay; and the always fabulous Fairmont San Francisco.

Half Moon Bay

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Chris Duthie is a Durango-based contributor to Colorado AvidGolfer, the state’s leading resource for golf and the lifestyle that surrounds it. It publishes eight issues annually and proudly delivers daily content via www.coloradoavidgolfer.com.