Useful golf links and others.

Oh man, did you catch that pun in the title. Gee, I am ever so clever... or not.

I'll start with non-golf links for everybody that's smart enough to stay away from this wicked game. I had an old personal home page that I've let fall apart, but used it to have lots of common links I used daily/often. That personal page is on my prodesma.com site. Some of these links are from that page.

LINEonline is a newsletter from the SF chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Some very interesting short articles. Mostly focuses on modernism.

Current/today's SF Chronicle is available for viewing without a paid subscription.

Some know I am a big fan of oxymorons. I just find them entertaining. Like act natural, press release, motion picture, and critically acclaimed. Here is a long oxymoron list, I think some are a bit of a stretch to be on there, but anyways.

Another movie review site is Movie Review Query Engine. Huge database of films (they've been around a long while), just type and search.

Okay, now golf links (heh heh):
Presidio Golf Course: Arnold Palmer Golf does NOT know how to manage courses, and this is no exception. Ask people in the industry, they will concur. Too bad, because there are always sure to be problems that diminish the quality of the course. I simply can't believe it.

Harding Park Golf Course is where locals all rave about, and it surely is playing great right now. After nearly $17 million sunk into its renovation, I'm still a fan of more undulating fairways/greens, and hilly California-style courses. But it is a great deal for residents and a great test of golf. SF Course Rates are listed on this Parks & Rec page.

San Bruno Golf Practice Center is the practice center to go to, with a grass range open 7 days a week (weather permitting) and a short-game area that offers top-notch practice facilities.

Cypress Golf Course in Colma is a great 9-hole course to work on shot making and they have a fantastic short game practice facility. The staff is really friendly (to me, anyways) and it's pretty inexpensive.

Metropolitan Golf Links in Oakland is a beautiful track, re-designed by Johnny Miller, is one of the best maintained courses around, and drains better than anywhere during the wet season. They also offer a grass range, Mon-Thursday I think.

Crystal Springs Golf Course may be slightly overpriced, but I've played there in the past when they've had some of the purest rolling greens in the Bay Area (and fast!). Very scenic, very hilly. A track I really enjoy but rarely pay the rate to play.

While Poplar Creek Golf Course in San Mateo is relatively flat and unassuming, it drains well and is relatively well kept for a reasonable greens fee (even as a non-San Mateo resident).

Surely the toughest test of golf in the SF Bay Area is The Bridges Golf Club in San Ramon. They sometimes have internet or monthly specials that make the drive and rate worthwhile. Meticulously kept and the third most-difficult rated course in Northern California. Sure to get you practicing you curse words.

Tilden Park Golf Course is an East Bay favorite of mine. It plays tough (although short) with sloping fairways and some tricky greens, but is beautifully nestled into the Berkeley hills.

The Links at Bodega Harbour is a Robert Trent Jones designed course that somehow falls short of my expectations. The staff is not very courteous and the course has some quirky design features. The only other RTJ courses I don't love are The Links at Spanish Bay (Pebble Beach) and Shoreline Golf Links (Mountain View). Poppy Hills Golf Course and Laguna Seca Golf Club are two of my fave courses of all-time.

DeLaveaga Golf Club in Santa Cruz is a beautiful track that I feel is worth the drive. It is short, but plays tight and with some severe dog-legs it plays plenty long.

image credits: Transamerica Building from LINEonline, Crystal Springs photo is my own original photo, The Bridges photo from thebridgesgolf.com, Poppy Hills #10 from PoppyHillsGolf.com.