San Francisco has a few beautiful golf courses. One of the most lavish is the Presidio Golf Course (tel. 415/561-4664). Greens fees are $42 Monday through Thursday, $52 on Friday, and $72 on Saturday and Sunday; rates decrease later in the day. Carts are $15. There are also two decent municipal courses in town.

The 9-hole Golden Gate Park Course, 47th Avenue and Fulton Street (tel. 415/751-8987), charges greens fees of $13 per person Monday through Thursday, $17 Friday and Sunday. The 1,357-yard course is par 27. All holes are par 3, tightly set, and well trapped with small greens. The course is a little weathered in spots, but it's casual, fun, and inexpensive. It's open daily at 6:30am.

The 18-hole Lincoln Park Golf Course, 34th Avenue and Clement Street (tel. 415/221-9911), charges greens fees of $31 per person Monday through Thursday, $35 Friday and Sunday, with rates decreasing as evening draws near. It's San Francisco's prettiest municipal course, with terrific views and fairways lined with Monterey cypress trees. The 5,081-yard layout plays to par 68, and the 17th hole has a glistening ocean view. This is the oldest course in the city and one of the oldest in the West. It's open daily at daybreak.

A good place for a tune-up is the Mission Bay Golf Center, Sixth Street at Channel Street (tel. 415/431-7888). San Francisco's most popular driving range is an impeccably maintained 7-acre facility that consists of a double-decker steel and concrete arc containing 66 covered practice bays. The grass landing area extends 300 yards, has nine target greens, and is lit for evening use. There's a putting green and a chipping and bunker practice area. The center is open Monday from 11:30am to 11pm, Tuesday through Sunday from 7am to 11pm. A bucket of balls costs $8, and the last bucket is sold at 10pm. To get there from downtown San Francisco, take Fourth Street south to Channel Street and turn right.