Mill Valley Golf Course dates to 1919, when the Mill Valley Country Club was organized after failed attempts to start a course in 1896 and 1916. John H. "Dad" Clark, a greenskeeper and professional golfer, laid out the nine holes, and the roughly 2,200-yard course was pronounced fit for play on November 1, 1919. The Depression nearly killed it: membership had fallen to 38 by 1938, and the board asked the city to step in. A bond measure to buy the course passed on its third trip to the voters in 1939, and it has been Mill Valley's municipal course ever since.

On the course

The nine plays 2,140 yards at par 33, six par 4s and three par 3s, through a redwood-lined canyon at the base of Mount Tamalpais. Warner Creek, named for original property owner Dr. Alexander Warner, winds through the 42-acre site, and mature redwood groves frame several greens, so the modest 55.6 rating and 88 slope undersell how firmly the trees and the creek punish a crooked shot. Elevation change gives the short scorecard real teeth.

Who it suits

This is golf at its most convenient: a walkable nine that fits into a couple of hours, with friendly green fees and a Youth on Course program that keeps juniors on the tee sheet. In 2010 the course added a par-3 short course laid out within the existing nine, measured by the NCGA and carrying its own scorecard, which gives beginners and kids an even gentler entry point.

Facilities are simple and suit the setting: a practice putting green, a small pro shop, and private instruction, with KemperSports managing operations for the city and a clubhouse that hosts weddings and events. Mill Valley is the right pick for beginners, juniors, seniors, and anyone who wants a quiet after-work nine under the redwoods rather than a five-hour championship slog.

Architect: John H. Clark · Opened: 1919