TPC Harding Park, San Francisco’s historic public golf course, is throwing a party for its 100th anniversary on July 18. This milestone underscores the enduring legacy of a venue that has seen some of golf’s greatest moments. According to the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, the centenary celebration promises special festivities, including limited-edition giveaways and contests for attendees.
Opened on July 18, 1925, the course was named after U.S. President Warren Harding, a known golf enthusiast, and it has since played host to significant events like the 2020 PGA Championship and the 2009 Presidents Cup. Despite facing challenges, including when the greens turned into an impromptu parking lot, Harding Park has managed a resurgence, largely thanks to a comprehensive renovation in 2002. Tom Smith, TPC Harding Park’s general manager, touted the anniversary as a “remarkable milestone” and a testament to the course’s “rich history, enduring traditions and resilience,” per the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department.
The upcoming event on July 18 is set to honor the course’s storied past with exclusive centennial prints and challenge coins for the first 200 golfers. Moreover, all players have a shot at prizes in the closest to the pin contests across each par-3 hole. The course boasts 27 holes of championship golf. It is the only city-owned public course in the prestigious TPC Network, balancing high-quality recreation with community accessibility.
The course restoration, which helped reinvigorate the site for a new generation of golfers, benefited from the efforts of key figures like Sandy Tatum, a former USGA president. Contributing to a revamped Harding Park was a collaboration among the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, the PGA TOUR, and local civic leaders, “To see a historic course reclaim its former glory and become part of the TPC Network was such a satisfying result,” Tim Finchem, former PGA TOUR Commissioner, told San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. The renovation preserved the course’s character while incorporating modern design elements to accommodate contemporary golfers.
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