Plans for the San Francisco club include improvements to short-game practice facilities, a San Francisco-themed Lombard Putting Course, and restoration of the Lake Course. The club will also undertake a clubhouse renovation beginning this winter to add outdoor dining and lounge space as well as increased indoor fitness offerings.

The Board of Directors for the Olympic Club in San Francisco, Calif. approved plans to enhance golf facilities and restore its historic Lake Course in collaboration with renowned golf course architect Gil Hanse. Construction expected to begin in the second half of 2022.

C+RB reported on preliminary plans in and hiring Hance in 2020.

The plans include improvements to short-game practice facilities, a San Francisco-themed Lombard Putting Course, and restoration of the Lake Course. The club will also undertake a clubhouse renovation beginning this winter to add outdoor dining and lounge space as well as increased indoor fitness offerings and improvements to the food and beverage experience.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Gil Hanse on this historic restoration of our famed Lake Course,” said Olympic Club President Marcus Colabianchi. “With a tremendous lineup of championships over the next 12 years, we can’t wait to see this project come to life. For Gil to restore and improve our Lake Course is a fantastic opportunity to enhance our daily member experience while giving the golfing world something new to look forward to at Olympic.”

“We are very excited to work on the restoration of the Lake Course at Olympic Club,” Hanse said. “Working closely with the master plan committee, we feel as if we have identified areas where we can restore some variety to the character of the holes. Taking our cues from the history of the design, we look forward to restoring the features of the course and to capitalize on the advantages provided by the natural lay of the land. With a terrific history of major championships and a strong lineup of events to come in the near future, we are honored to have been selected to lead this restoration project.”

Founded in 1860, The Olympic Club has enjoyed a storied history in golf. The Lake Course has been home to many tournaments over the years, including five U.S. Opens and, most recently, the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open. The restoration portion of the project will center around adjustments that bring the course back in line with its original vision by designer Sam Whiting.