Presidio Golf Course

You're only a Tiger Woods drive from Lombard Street ... enough said.

If you love history and scenic views, and you don't mind hills, you must play Presidio Golf Course in San Francisco. While the terrain can make club selection a bear - not to mention what it does to golf cart engines - the beauty of 100-year-old trees on a fun layout in the middle of downtown San Francisco should give you a smile for days after your round.

Even the drive to the big city isn't that bad, provided you go at the right time. Just remember to take extra money for your bridge toll.

It's no wonder the century-old track has become a favorite of golfers across the state, even though it's only been open to the public since 1995. Before then, only military personnel and guests were in on the fun.

Fun is the operative word. You may not record a good score, especially if you struggle on the tough greens or hit into the trees, but you certainly can go low if you're on your game.

There are only three sets of tees, with the longest measuring just 6,424 yards. There isn't even any water.

But trouble still abounds, mostly in the form of huge cypress, eucalyptus and Monterey pine trees. There are also 65 bunkers, most on the large side.

The biggest hazards, however, are the steep ascents and descents.

The trees, bunkers and hills combine to make Presidio a true test, and a different one than most golfers face in this area. The white-tee rating is 70.8 with a 132 slope, a high number for a track measuring just 6,118 yards.

The first couple hundred yards are downhill, though, which should get you started in the right frame of mind. The short par-4 also doglegs to the right, one of only a few doglegs on the course. Get a birdie early.

Don't underestimate the second hole, a deceptively-tame-looking, short par-5. Only really long hitters will be able to reach the top of the hill with their drives, so play the blind second shot as a layup. A tiny green is guarded by five bunkers.

Another highlight comes on the fourth hole. The downhill, 125-yard par-3 looks like a birdie waiting to happen, as long as you ignore the six huge bunkers surrounding the green.

Get another par ... or birdie ... on the short par-4 fifth hole before the course starts to show its teeth.

No. 6 has a severely sloping fairway that pushes everything into the right rough. No. 7 is a very long par-3 with a green guarded in front by two bunkers. And No. 8's fairway slopes as bad as No. 6's, with another uphill second shot.

Back-to-back par-5s await at Nos. 9 and 10, along with a chance to get back a shot or two. Just play safe, and go with a longer club on the uphill approach to No. 10.

Head back down the hill on No. 11, and back up on No. 12, the hardest hole on the track. Just don't hit your approach long and left. Be happy with a bogey on this long par-4.

No. 13 is a weird par-3 over a huge tree. It's deceptively long, uphill, and guarded by bunkers.

Take your lumps on 12 and 13, and maybe No. 14, where three bunkers guard the smallest green on the course.

Get ready for a big finish. Nos. 15-18 all can be had, provided you stay in the fairway. The final hole is a beauty, a short par-5 with eucalyptus running down the entire left side. End your day on a high note.

Book your next round while you're there, since you'll probably think you should have done better on the fun-but-deceptively-tough track.

The upsides are huge here, with lots of trees and great views of the city. The carts have "ParView" GPS, which gives distances to pertinent hazards as well as the greens. Of course, the hills may still leave you guessing on club selection, even with accurate yardages.

The downsides ... well, there aren't many. The greens were aerated on March 14, and should be fine soon. The course survived a harsh winter, and is rounding into shape nicely despite a few muddy spots.

Don't forget to bring extra clothes. You may take off layers, only to put them back on later in the round. Fog can be a problem, as well as wind, although the trees provide good wind barriers. The heavy air also will take yards off your shots, so be prepared.

The $93 weekend rate is steep, but the price is a respectable $58 (with cart) Monday through Thursday. There also are twilight and super-twilight deals, and some e-mail coupons are available at the course's Web site (www.presidiogolf.com).

You can also save $16 by walking, although that may be more of a test than the actual golf.

Directions - (There are several different ways to go. This may be the least stressful). Take Interstate 80 to Vallejo. Take Highway 37 west to 101 south. After the Golden Gate Bridge, take the 19th Avenue exit south. Turn right on Lake Street (you can't turn left), but make a U-turn as soon as you can. Head east on Lake, and turn left on Arguello. The road ends at the Presidio. At the top of the hill, turn right and then left.

Davis duo qualifies third

<#>By Reporter wire services

Green Valley Country Club's Cliff Davis and Eddie Davis teamed up for a round of 69 to lead local players in Northern California Golf Association Four-Ball Qualifying on Thursday.

The Davis duo tied for third at Poppy Ridge's Zinfandel and Merlot nines, one of five teams on that track to qualify for the 38th annual NCGA Four-Ball championships, May 7-9 at Spyglass Hill in Pebble Beach.

Green Valley's Dan Bieber teamed up with Robert Fulton of Las Positas and also qualified, shooting 69 in the same Zinfandel-Merlot event.

Jack Anthony and Jason Anthony, also of Green Valley, fired a 73 at Shadow Lakes in Brentwood. They tied for third to qualify for the NCGA event.

Scott Watson of Green Tree also moved on, pairing with Chris Johnson of Catta Verdera in Lincoln to shoot 74 at Lincoln Hills Club in Lincoln.

Those local groups will join Green Valley's Jeff Wilson and San Joaquin Country Club's Todd Barsotti at the May event. Wilson and Barsotti are the defending champions, and were exempt from qualifying.