Presidents Cup week must-plays

October 7, 12:03 PMGolf Travel ExaminerVic Williams

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No. 17 at Cordevalle in San Martin, Calif.

While America prepares to hang with Greg, Freddie and their respective dozen-man armies at Harding Park in San Francisco starting this Thursday, most Americans will view the competition on TV between their own autumn rounds (you are still out there playing golf, aren’t you?), or during or after work.

Since the event is spread over four days instead of the Ryder Cup’s three, it’ll feel more like a regular PGA Tour stop, with the added bonus of team and individual match play deciding the outcome. And with Tiger, Phil, Vijay, Anthony and the rest strapping it on for nationalistic pride, make no mistake, for a golf fan this is must-see stuff.

If you’re still holding out hope to attend the Presidents Cup in person, it’s possible, but most likely you’ll have to go the inflated StubHub route or, if you’re so blessed, lobby for a VIP ticket through a business connection. Ticket sales have always been strong, but once International Captain Greg Norman announced Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa as one of his two captain’s picks — much-maligned Adam Scott is the other — demand for passes from the Bay Area’s large Asian population went through the roof. Korean star Y.E. Yang beating Tiger at the PGA only upped the ante, and now everyone wants to see those two duking it out again during the Sunday singles. That matchup is up to Norman and American skipper Fred Couples, but either way, the fact that Harding Park is truly an urban venue made a sell-out not just likely, but inevitable. Throw in the fact that October commonly serves up some of the region’s best golf weather (perfectly placed between summer’s fog and winter’s rains), plus the fact that Michael Jordan is one of Fred Couples' co-captains, and you’ve got the final recipe for gigantic crowds on the shores of Lake Merced.

If you can’t grab a greenside seat at Harding in person, but are lucky enough to be in the San Francisco area this week with clubs in tow, why not fill your own cup with some world-class par-seeking fun? Think three intense days of wall-to-wall golf by day, some killer San Fran, Wine Country or Monterey cuisine by night and ample doses of Golf Channel Prez Cup coverage in between. So, FG Magazine — the West's top travel publication — has come up with a trio of courses in each of three destinations within a two-hour drive of the City by the Bay, moving north to south. Enjoy.