Franklin Canyon Golf Course

Franklin Canyon Golf Course occupies a stretch of gently rolling hillside in Hercules, in the northern reaches of the East Bay between Richmond and Vallejo. Robert Muir Graves — who designed more Bay Area courses than any other architect, including Boundary Oak and Las Positas — routed 18 holes through 6,594 yards of canyon terrain lined with mature oaks and eucalyptus trees. The result is a course with genuine character: two ponds come into play on several holes, tight doglegs reward controlled ball placement over distance, and large undulating greens make the short game as important as the long game.

The layout has a par 72 that plays tougher than its rating suggests, largely because the canyon topography creates uneven lies and approach angles that don't appear on the scorecard. The signature stretch runs through the middle of the back nine, where back-to-back holes require carries over water and precise wedge play into small targets. Franklin Canyon attracts a loyal local following from the Hercules, Richmond, and Pinole communities, partly for the quality of the layout and partly because green fees are among the most accessible for an 18-hole championship course in the region.

The course also hosts an active community of golf clubs including the Franklin Canyon Golf Club, Silver Circle Senior Golf Club, and a Ladies Golf Club — making it one of the more socially active public courses in the East Bay. The Canyon Grill is a popular post-round destination with a full menu served seven days a week.