The San Mateo County Peninsula offers some of the most scenic golf in the Bay Area — from the ocean-view fairways of Half Moon Bay Golf Links to affordable municipal courses in San Mateo and Burlingame.
San Mateo County's Peninsula packs in nine distinct courses — most notably the spectacular Half Moon Bay Golf Links, which offers two championship layouts (Ocean and Old) with Pacific Ocean views on nearly every hole. Closer to the freeway corridor, you'll find Crystal Springs in Burlingame, the San Mateo municipal course, and Poplar Creek — all solid public options. At the tip of the Peninsula near Menlo Park and Palo Alto, Baylands and Stanford's private course bookend the region.
The crown jewel of Peninsula golf — 18 holes hugging the Pacific cliffs at Half Moon Bay. The finishing hole is one of the most photographed in California. A bucket-list Bay Area round.
View & Book →The more traditional sibling to the Ocean Course. Slightly more forgiving and considerably more affordable, with the same stunning Half Moon Bay setting and resort conditioning.
View & Book →A mature, tree-lined public course in Burlingame adjacent to the Crystal Springs Reservoir. One of the Peninsula's most popular public layouts with consistent conditions year-round.
View & Book →A flat, walkable municipal course in San Mateo. Wide fairways and minimal hazards make it beginner-friendly — and the SFO proximity makes it convenient for a quick round.
View & Book →San Mateo's affordable municipal option with a flat, accessible layout in a park setting. Great for casual rounds and walking golfers in the mid-Peninsula.
View & Book →Set on the gorgeous Stanford University campus, this semi-private course is home to the Cardinal golf teams. Public access is limited but available on certain days.
View & Book →A highly regarded private club in Menlo Park with a sophisticated membership drawn from Silicon Valley's tech and venture capital community.
View Course →One of the oldest and most prestigious private golf clubs on the Peninsula, founded in 1920. A classic parkland course with deep roots in Bay Area golf history.
View Course →A compact 9-hole course in the hills above Redwood City. One of the Peninsula's most affordable rounds with a scenic wooded setting.
View & Book →Not sure which course to play? Here's where to start.
Flat, walkable and well-maintained in San Mateo for $30–$50. Close to SFO and easy to get a tee time — a reliable Peninsula workhorse.
View Course →Pacific Ocean views on every hole, Ritz-Carlton service, and one of the most photographed finishing holes in California. Worth every penny for a special day.
View Course →A friendly municipal course with flat terrain, wide fairways and an affordable price. No intimidation factor — just a straightforward enjoyable round.
View Course →The Peninsula's golf seasons divide neatly by location. The bay-side courses (San Mateo, Poplar Creek, Crystal Springs) are sheltered and play well year-round. The coastal courses at Half Moon Bay are a different story entirely.
Half Moon Bay's best golf weather is September through November — the Pacific winds calm, the summer fog clears, and the course conditions peak. Summer at Half Moon Bay is often cold and windy — spectacular but challenging. Bring an extra layer even in August.
For the bay-side Peninsula courses, April through October is excellent. Crystal Springs in Burlingame is particularly beautiful in spring when the reservoir is full and the surrounding hills are green.
Half Moon Bay rewards a full day trip. Morning round at the Old Course (better value, same scenery), lunch at one of Half Moon Bay's excellent coastal restaurants, afternoon walk on the beach or through the pumpkin farms (the area is famous for its fall harvest), and dinner at Miramar Beach Restaurant with the sun setting over the Pacific.
For a mid-Peninsula day: Crystal Springs in the morning, then head to downtown Burlingame's restaurant row for lunch, and explore the Coyote Point Recreation Area on the bay in the afternoon. A low-key, genuinely enjoyable Peninsula day that most tourists miss entirely.