Okay, so I wanted to get back into golf, and Harding Park is like the place to go, right? But getting a tee time there? Forget about it. It’s super popular. So, I started my quest, my golfing adventure, to snag a spot.

Figuring Out the System
First, I just Googled “Harding Park tee times.” I mean, that’s the obvious first step, isn’t it? The website came up, looked official and everything.
I poked around, and man, was it confusing at first. Resident cards, non-resident cards, booking windows… it was a lot to take in. Basically, I learned you gotta book in advance, way in advance, especially if you’re not a San Francisco resident. Those residents get priority, lucky ducks.
My Booking Attempts
Attempt 1: The Spontaneous Approach
- I thought, “Hey, maybe I’ll get lucky and someone canceled.” Nope. Big mistake. Nothing. Not a single open slot for days.
Attempt 2: The Early Bird (Almost)
- I set my alarm for, like, 6:58 AM, because I read somewhere that the tee times open up at 7:00 AM. I was ready, phone in hand, refreshing the page like a madman.
- 7:00 AM hit, I clicked “Book Now” so fast, and… still nothing. It felt like everyone in the city was trying to do the same thing I was.
Attempt 3:The Planner method

- I marked my calendar before 9 days to check the available tee time, I found a time slot at 7:00 AM.
- I asked 3 of my friends, and finally, we all agreed to play on that date.
Lessons Learned
My biggest takeaway? You gotta plan! And be persistent. And maybe make some friends who are San Francisco residents. Just kidding (mostly!).
But seriously, getting that tee time felt like a victory in itself. Can’t wait to actually play!