TPC Harding Park, SF Rec and Park unveil high-tech practice facility

TPC Harding Park, the only city-owned public course managed by the PGA TOUR, has wrapped up renovation of its practice facility that started in November and added Toptracer Range technology.  

“Through collaboration with our PGA Tour partners, it’s exciting to see this vision come to life,” TPC Harding Park general manager Tom Smith said. “We’re incredibly proud of the end product and to be the only driving range in San Francisco with this cutting-edge technology.” 

Open to the public every day, the new practice facility features artificial turf, a grass putting green and short game area, new range balls, 20 hitting stalls, nine targets, and professional instruction and club fittings, along with the Toptracer Range technology. Toptracer allows golfers a virtual component that measures the speed, distance and direction of their shots. Through an app, players can chart their improvement over time or play a multitude of games.  

The $880,000 project received $500,000 in funding from the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department and approximately $380,000 from the PGA Tour.

“TPC Harding Park is a jewel that shone brightly during the 2020 PGA Championship,” San Francisco Recreation and Park Department general manager Phil Ginsburg said. “But it’s always been a treasure for locals — from high school kids to elderly folks who walk the course for exercise. The new practice facility just adds to the fun, and its high-tech component and is something both avid golfers and novices will enjoy.” 

TPC Harding Park features 27 holes designed by Willie Watson, who also designed the city’s Olympic Club. The course underwent a major renovation project in 2002 to restore the fairways, concluding just in time for the 2005 WGC-American Express Championship and later the 2009 Presidents Cup. TPC Harding Park also hosted PGA Tour Champions’ Charles Schwab Cup Championship in 2010, 2011 and 2013, as well as the 2020 PGA Championship.