Time to start making San Francisco travel plans for the Presidents Cup at Harding Park Golf Course

Fresh up on TravelGolf.com is a feature on San Francisco Bay-area golf leading up to the Presidents Cup next month.

I visited the Bay Area for the first time in August for four days, checking out municipal Harding Park Golf Course and Olympic Club’s par-3 Cliffs Course (where hang gliders are flying over you at all times) and the Links at Bodega Harbour over the Golden Gate Bridge north in Sonoma. The feature includes both golf and off-course things to do, timely for those who will be at the event but serves as a starter guide should you be headed to San Francisco anytime soon.

Like anyone should when they’re in San Francisco, I spent a good amount of time off the golf course. We didn’t spend much time around Fisherman’s Wharf or Alcatraz, instead opting for other neighborhoods like North Beach/Chinatown, and hanging with the hippies on Haight St. Sunday afternoon after a Giants game. “I’m making a change heart, care to donate a quarter?” asked one peace, love (and broke) hippie with a half-made spare change heart in front of her as she sat on the sidewalk.

One thing I noticed is that a weekend in San Francisco isn’t as horribly expensive as I’d expected. I’d heard rumors it was tough to find a decent hotel under $300 on the weekends, but that was hardly the case, more like $100-150, and bars aren’t all that expensive if you head to the right joint, like the Buccaneer on busy Polk St. which had $3 beers on Saturday night.

The city is also very easy to get around, so don’t feel the need to rent a car (especially considering the lines at the airport to pick cars up were absurd). Just stick to the easy-to-use “Muni” system or ride the cable cars (taxis to Harding Park or Presidio for golf won’t be bad at all) and you’ll do just fine.

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