San Francisco GC is hard to find! it's really tucked away in suburbia. And it is a step back in time when you do find it.

The magnificent old clubhouse reeks of history as does the caddie house nearby. Caddies are compulsory on this walking only course.

The golf course is majestic, with the site dominated by mature pine trees and flashes of white sand bunkering across a green canvass.

The front nine traverses more undulating terrain and is the more memorable in my opinion, but there are no weak holes.. The bunkering is both eye catching and strategic. The golfer must plot his way around San Francisco or be very confident about his sand game. The green are firm and slick, but not overly contoured. All of the playing surfaces were pristine.

There is a nice rhythm and variation to the holes as the routing takes you to the distant corners of the property and back. The par 3's are particularly strong, and all different.

Notable holes include:

- hole 1, a charming par 5 that sets the scene
- hole 7, a downhill par 3 to a heavily bunkered green set in a valley. The hole is known as "The Duel hole", being the site of the last legal duel in the USA
- hole 8, a lovely natural par 4 in the same valley as hole 7
- hole 11, a pretty, beautifully bunkered short par 3
- hole 13 (Little Tilly) has a small green in a sea of sand, and is a challenge!

Playing golf at San Francisco takes you back to golf in it's formative years in the USA. It's an experience I have had a number of times, and don't take for granted. It's a special place

Peter Wood is the founder of The Travelling Golfer – click the link to read his full review.