An extensive renovation and a new management team have transformed a soggy cow pasture into one of the Bay Area s best munis Expect firm fairways reasonable rough and subtle but slick greens The course peaks with a stretch of first rate par 4s on Lake Merced In the April 2007 issue of GOLF Magazine Course Spy visited Harding Park and had this to say Service For all the prestige of hosting a 2005 PGA Tour event Harding retains a refreshingly blue collar feel High falutin types who demand a butt kissing will be disappointed by the disinterest shown them at the bag drop If you appreciate an on time starter you ll love it Pace of Play Tee times are nine minutes apart and the marshals actually muster the courage to marshal Most play comes from locals who know the layout and get around in under four hours It s the casual golfer on the corporate outing that has you glaring at your watch Quality An extensive renovation and a new management team have transformed a soggy cow pasture into one of the Bay Area s best munis Expect firm fairways reasonable rough and subtle but slick greens The course peaks with a stretch of first rate par 4s on Lake Merced Value Like most good urban munis Harding is a steal for locals and a worthwhile splurge for out of towners like us We paid 89 on a weekday morning In the Bay Area you could pay a lot more for a lot worse Verdict Forget the frills common at highpriced daily fee courses Harding Park is proof that plain is better It is the closest you ll come to a must play public access course this side of Monterey and perhaps Pasatiempo in Santa Cruz