Golf Course

With iconic tourist attractions, scenery that’s radiant come sun or fog, and some of the best food and wine in the world, golf might not be the very first thing that comes to mind when people think of California. But they would be mistaken: California actually has many of the best courses in the United States, and perhaps in the world. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a total novice, take a day off sight-seeing, grab a set of irons and head to the fairway.

You don’t have to head far from the city to find a course. The likes of The Olympic Club, San Francisco Golf Club and TPC Harding Park can all be found bordering Lake Merced. You can spy professional games here too: over the years shouts for Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan and Tiger Woods have rung across the lake.

But it would be a pity not to take a couple of days to head south to the Monterey Peninsula, where you’ll find the famous Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spanish Bay and Spyglass Hill, just to name a few. Pebble Beach is an extremely elite community, full of perma-tanned actors and politicians who love a game of golf. Try not to put them off their swing.