New Golden Gate Park Golf Course clubhouse opens after 2018 fire

California Construction News staff writer

The new Golden Gate Golf Course and Clubhouse was unveiled by San Francisco officials last week.

The new and completely redesigned 1,500 square-foot clubhouse features a multifunctional lounge, enhanced public restrooms, a new golf pro shop, food and beverage concessions, additional storage space and an outdoor patio.

Other improvements include an ADA pathway that connects the outdoor patio to the putting greens and driving range.

In 2018, the clubhouse was demolished after a fire and the course closed last year as construction on the $5.9 million redesigned clubhouse project got underway.

Located in Golden Gate Park’s west end, the municipal golf course and previous clubhouse were both built in 1951.

The new clubhouse was constructed on the same footprint as the previous structure with a design that maintains aspects of the original facility, while enhancing the indoor and outdoor recreational areas to increase accessibility.

“I am proud of the investments we have made to ensure San Francisco continues to deliver world-class parks, open spaces, and recreation centers,” said Mayor Karen Breed. “This kind of project is exactly what we need to do to uplift our neighborhoods and ensure our diverse communities have access to enjoy and learn sports and activities.

San Francisco Public Works played a significant role in the clubhouse project, providing architectural, landscape architectural and engineering design services, as well as managing construction, on behalf of Rec and Park.

“The project team hit a hole in one with the new clubhouse,” said Public Works Director Carla Short. “The design and materials incorporate smart green-building practices, such as the use of climate-conscious mass timber, and the building and patio will serve as a welcoming home base for golfers before and after they play a round.”

As part of a separate project funded entirely by First Tee, the 9-hole par-3 golf course recently underwent landscaping upgrades to strengthen the natural turf while facilitating drainage and reducing maintenance.