The Olympic Club: Ocean
The Olympic Club: Ocean
599 Skyline Blvd
San Francisco, CA 94132-6328
United States
Overview
The Ocean Course at The Olympic Club has a tumultuous history. Originally named Lakeside Golf Club, it was bought by Olympic in 1918 after falling into some financial trouble following World War I. The course became the Ocean course in 1924, but winter storm damage just months after it opened forced the need for the course to be remodeled before finally reopening in 1927. Set on the western (ocean) side of the Olympic Club property, the land is more naturally invigorating than that of the more famous Lake Course, with wonderful variety in the holes and incredibly undulating greens, along with San Francisco's beautiful Cypress trees. Designer Jim Urbina will begin a major overhaul of the course in 2026 that will pay homage to architect William Watson while also infusing the course with new strategic blood.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
Best in State: Ranked 31st since 2021.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“Great challenge with deep rough and smaller contoured greens. Well conditioned with firm fairways and receptive and true rolling greens. Well defended greens give the golfer the option of attaching more tucked pins vs playing safely onto the putting surface."
Read More2025
Review
“Olympic Club’s Lake Course feels revitalized yet respectful of its storied history. The recent renovation increased green and fairway size, reintroduced classic bunkering, and added just enough routing adjustment to feel fresh. Players who value architectural integrity and challenge will appreciate how it demands precision off the tee, tight lies into small greens, and a strategic carry into well-repositioned bunkers. Visually, the course is more polished than it’s been in years — the new bunkers and cleaner tree lines bring back a sense of classic major venue style. Conditioning also stood out with it's smooth, true greens and firm, orderly fairways. It still tests you, but has a clarity and intention that's easy to respect."
Read More2025
Review
“The Ocean Course at The Olympic Club is a very good golf course that is only held back by its somewhat disjointed feel as a result of the course's evolution. The holes at the top of the property #1-4 and #12-18 are very good holes on really good land for golf. Holes #8 and #9 are good golf holes, but feel much more like you are playing the Lake Course than the other Ocean Course holes. Holes #5-7 and #10-11 suffer from being on some of the most difficult and severe land on the property as well as some presentation/maintenance issues that could pretty easily be fixed (i.e. mow down native grasses right of #7 to prevent lost balls). It's worth playing the Ocean Course to be able to get a Burger Dog from Hot Dog Bill's at the turn as well as hang out at such a great facility with amazing history. The fact that the golf on the Ocean Course is really good mostly is a bonus."
Read More2024
Review
“If you are fortunate enough to play 36-holes at the O-Club, don't hesitate to start your first round on the Ocean Course. While this course has been called "the little brother" to the Lake Course, the Ocean holds its own and delivers a wonderful challenge with beautiful views of the Northern California coast line. Numerous shot options start the fun as you navigate around the course. The local prevailing wind will normally impact your club choice, and the excellent layout provides good risk-reward opportunities throughout the round. The weather at Olympic is normally cooler thanks in part to the marine layer. This keeps the fairways / rollout softer than expected but it also produces very receptive greens. Natural beauty highlights your senses and the character of both courses will help you forget that you are playing in a large City. The Ocean Course is a great walk and very fun to play."
Read More2024
Review
“The Olympic Club’s Ocean Course doesn’t have the pedigree of its championship caliber sibling, but it makes up for its lesser challenge with some fun and quirkiness. Shot options aren’t elite either tee to green or around the greens, but the layout variety and conditioning are strong. If not standing in the shadow of its sibling, it may have a more well-known reputation."
Read More2024
Review
“Great experience. Must visit"
Read More2023
Review
“The Lake course's younger brother more than holds it's own, typically playing under fast/firm conditions over and through it's undulating terrain."
Read More2022
Review
“The collective continuity is definitely there on the Ocean Course, even though holes have been swapped in and out over time due to weather issues. The Ocean Course also has a different continuity and feel to it than the Lake Course. The main nuances to the course come in the approach shots and green complexes as well as the prevailing wind that make two holes with similar distances on the scorecard feel very different."
Read More2018
