The U.S. Women’s Open will be the first major female golf event at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, and the Lake Course is sure to present a formidable challenge. Understanding where and how to miss a fairway may play a pivotal role in determining a champion.
The Lake Course has earned praise since the William Watson and Sam Whiting design fully opened in 1927. It ties for No. 34 on Golfweek’s Best 2021 list of top Classic Courses built before 1960 in the United States, and it is No. 6 on Golfweek’s Best list of private courses in California. Architect Bill Love restored and renovated the course in 2009, creating a new No. 8 below the clubhouse, and the bunkers were restored again in 2016. More recently, architect Gil Hanses has submitted a new master plan for renovating the course, and work could begin this year.
What makes The Lake Course unique? Here are five things to consider.