Green Hills Country Club
Encyclopedia
Green Hills Country Club, located in Millbrae, California
, is often referred to as the San Francisco Peninsula’s “hidden gem”. Green Hills is a private members-only country club located on the San Francisco peninsula approximately 20 minutes south of the city.
Green Hills was originally known as the Union League Golf and Country Club
of San Francisco when it was built in 1929, opening to great fanfare in 1930. The Union League golf course was designed by famed architect Alister MacKenzie
, who was responsible for Cypress Point, Augusta National and many others. The golf course was built upon a fertile hilly area that was used as nursery land to grow flowers and vegetables. Flowers grown on the property were used by famed horticulturist John McLaren
, to decorate the 1915 Pan Pacific Exhibition, or World's Fair
.
In 1929, when MacKenzie was shaping the land into what is now Green Hills he said “When the Millbrae course is completed it will rank with the first three in the San Francisco district and will be one of the sportiest in the entire state. The natural topography has made it easy for us to plot the course, and with plenty of water for the tees and fairways, the new club will be one of the finest of its kind on the coast”.
Green Hills Country Club has hosted a number of prestigious tournaments, including the U.S.G.A. Open
and senior Open
qualifying. For many decades, the club was host of the annual Professional Baseball Player-Babe Ruth
Cancer Fund golf tournament with stars such as Ty Cobb
, Bing Crosby
, Lefty O'Doul
, Leo Durocher
and many others.
Green Hills today is a proud representation of Alister MacKenzie
at his finest. The picturesque golf course has survived the test of time and remains the not so “hidden gem” of Northern California.
In 2007, the original clubhouse was demolished. A new clubhouse opened in 2009.
Millbrae, California
Millbrae is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States, just west of San Francisco Bay, with San Bruno on the north and Burlingame on the south. The population was 21,532 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, is often referred to as the San Francisco Peninsula’s “hidden gem”. Green Hills is a private members-only country club located on the San Francisco peninsula approximately 20 minutes south of the city.
Green Hills was originally known as the Union League Golf and Country Club
The Union League Golf and Country Club
The Union League Golf and Country Club of San Francisco was constructed in 1929 in Millbrae, California, USA. It was one of the most ambitious golf and country club projects of its era in Northern California...
of San Francisco when it was built in 1929, opening to great fanfare in 1930. The Union League golf course was designed by famed architect Alister MacKenzie
Alister MacKenzie
Dr. Alister MacKenzie was an internationally renowned, British golf course architect whose course designs, on three different continents, are consistently ranked among the finest golf courses in the world...
, who was responsible for Cypress Point, Augusta National and many others. The golf course was built upon a fertile hilly area that was used as nursery land to grow flowers and vegetables. Flowers grown on the property were used by famed horticulturist John McLaren
John McLaren
John McLaren is the name of:*John McLaren , built Golden Gate Park*John McLaren, Lord McLaren , Scottish Liberal MP and judge*John McLaren , Australian cricketer...
, to decorate the 1915 Pan Pacific Exhibition, or World's Fair
World's Fair
World's fair, World fair, Universal Exposition, and World Expo are various large public exhibitions held in different parts of the world. The first Expo was held in The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, United Kingdom, in 1851, under the title "Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All...
.
In 1929, when MacKenzie was shaping the land into what is now Green Hills he said “When the Millbrae course is completed it will rank with the first three in the San Francisco district and will be one of the sportiest in the entire state. The natural topography has made it easy for us to plot the course, and with plenty of water for the tees and fairways, the new club will be one of the finest of its kind on the coast”.
Green Hills Country Club has hosted a number of prestigious tournaments, including the U.S.G.A. Open
U.S. Open (golf)
The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...
and senior Open
United States Senior Open
The U.S. Senior Open is one of the major championships in men's senior golf. It was first played in 1980 and is administered by the United States Golf Association and is recognized as a major championship by both the Champions Tour and the European Seniors Tour...
qualifying. For many decades, the club was host of the annual Professional Baseball Player-Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
Cancer Fund golf tournament with stars such as Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
, Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
, Lefty O'Doul
Lefty O'Doul
Francis Joseph "Lefty" O'Doul was an American Major League Baseball player who went on to become an extraordinarily successful manager in the minor leagues, and also a vital figure in the establishment of professional baseball in Japan.-Player:Born in San Francisco, California, O'Doul began his...
, Leo Durocher
Leo Durocher
Leo Ernest Durocher , nicknamed Leo the Lip, was an American infielder and manager in Major League Baseball. Upon his retirement, he ranked fifth all-time among managers with 2,009 career victories, second only to John McGraw in National League history. Durocher still ranks tenth in career wins by...
and many others.
Green Hills today is a proud representation of Alister MacKenzie
Alister MacKenzie
Dr. Alister MacKenzie was an internationally renowned, British golf course architect whose course designs, on three different continents, are consistently ranked among the finest golf courses in the world...
at his finest. The picturesque golf course has survived the test of time and remains the not so “hidden gem” of Northern California.
In 2007, the original clubhouse was demolished. A new clubhouse opened in 2009.