Destination: San Francisco

California's northern coast is famously loaded with some of the world's most coveted golf courses, including the courses of Pebble Beach Resort and exclusive Cypress Point.

A two hour's drive north from 17-Mile Drive, San Francisco may take a back seat to the Monterey Peninsula in terms of sheer golf quantity and excellent coastal courses, but it's is at the epicenter of the golf world often, including the 2009 Presidents Cup and the 2012 U.S. Open.

San Francisco is among America's most diverse and exciting cities to explore, especially when you factor in so many world class restaurants from practically any culture imaginable. A golf trip to the bay will certainly keep you entertained off the course.

Golf in San Francisco can get exclusive fast, thanks to private mainstays San Francisco Golf Club and the Olympic Club, home to 45 holes including regular U.S. Open host the Lake Course.

Just around the corner from these two clubs, Harding Park Golf Course is a historical municipal gem dating back to 1925 that has recently enjoyed an incredible second life. Once down and out, the city jumped back on board with a massive restoration in preparation for the 2009 Presidents Cup and now offers world class golf for residents, while
out-of-towners can get a taste for a higher fee.

A newer daily-fee option right in the heart of San Francisco is Presidio, a former army base course at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, and on many days the fog rolls in thick across the course.

Further outside of town, nearby San Jose is home to upscale daily-fee options like CordeValle Golf Club, a robert Trent Jones Jr. design attached to a resort, and Cinnabar Hills, featuring dramatic golf through steep canyons. Or head north over the Golden Gate Bridge to Bodega Harbor Golf Club, a Robert Trent Jones Jr. design overlooking the ocean on tumbling, exposed heathland-style terrain.

And fans of the famed architect Alister Mackenzie shouldn't miss the opportunity to visit Pasatiempo, 60 miles south of the city in Santa Cruz. Once a hidden gem, it was recently restored to it's former glory and now the secret is out.

Also to the south about halfway to Pebble, Half Moon Bay Golf Links features 36 holes on the coast as well as a Ritz Carlton hotel, so you don't have to go all the way to Monterey to find some of America's top plays around San Francisco.