Q: I've seen all kinds of chatter over the past week or so about The Olympic Club. I assume this is due to the upcoming U.S. Open, but it makes me intrigued nonetheless. Do you know how it would be possible to play The Olympic Club, even if I don't know a member?
A: The Olympic Club is a private golf course, so the most obvious way to get on there would be to know a member. However, not many of us are that lucky. Over the years, through many experiences, we've compiled a variety of strategies to getting on private golf courses, and some of them also apply to The Olympic Club.
Being the elite golf course that it has been over the years, publicity due to PGA Tour major championships is nothing new for The Olympic Club. In fact, The Olympic Club is the oldest athletic club in the United States.
The Olympic Club's Lake and Ocean Courses were designed in 1924 by Willie Watson and Sam Whiting, but the Lake Course (where most competition is held) was altered by none other than Robert Trent Jones, Sr. prior to the 1955 U.S. Open being held there.
Thankfully, there are ways to play The Olympic Club (and virtually every other private club) without a member connection.
One of our most common strategies is to play in a charity golf outing. While I don't have the complete list, I do know that there are a number of annual charity golf outings held at The Olympic Club. For example, Kids in the Klinic holds an outing there every year in late June.
Have you played The Olympic Club? Let us know your thoughts on it in the comments below!
the cliffs course is the nicest par 3 course I have ever played