The Lake Course at San Francisco’s Olympic Club is recognized as one of the country’s top layouts today and of all time. That’s because of the venue’s history and the private club’s ability to upgrade. The Olympic Club hosted U.S. Opens in 1955, 1966, 1987 and 1998 and will do so again in June. The Lake Course has changed significantly since the ’98 U.S. Open, when Lee Janzen finished at even-par 280 to beat Payne Stewart by a stroke. A renovation project lengthened and widened the course a bit, with many trees and overgrown brush removed. The course will measure 7,145 yards for the pros in June, substantially longer than its 6,797 yards 13 years ago. Some of the extra yardage is at the par-5 16th hole, which can be lengthened to 662 yards if the USGA is feeling overly diabolical. The Olympic Club also has two other layouts – the Ocean Course, with four holes along bluffs above the Pacific Ocean, and the nine-hole, par-27 Cliffs Course that is perhaps the most scenic venue of the three. Tickets for the U.S. Open, which will be held June 11-17, are available at usga.org.
