Fairmount San Jose to Half Moon bay

gyippie · September 11, 2013

Hi All,

I will be staying near the Fairmont San Jose for a conference. Is it possible to get to Half Moon bay without a rental car? I just did the estimate the taxi fare and it came out to @ 130$!!! I don't want to pay a green fee just to get the golf course!

Is there another less expensive method to get there?

Thank you ahead of time for you help :D

SkyyDesigns · September 11, 2013

I'm not sure if BART goes past San Jose, which is a rail train that is used all over the Bay Area. Check out thier website or maybe look into playing CordeValle or another course closer to where your hotel is. SJCC is a very old course and usually in good shape if you could get on.

gravel42 · September 11, 2013

[quote name='gyippie' timestamp='1378952010' post='7835761']
Hi All,
I will be staying near the Fairmont San Jose for a conference. Is it possible to get to Half Moon bay without a rental car? I just did the estimate the taxi fare and it came out to @ 130$!!! I don't want to pay a green fee just to get the golf course!
Is there another less expensive method to get there?
Thank you ahead of time for you help
[/quote]

No, there really isn't a great, inexpensive way to get from San Jose to HMB. I suppose you could take multiple buses, but you'd have to leave 6 hours early to make sure you got there with time. Only a couple ways to get over there, and many of them are windy single lane (1 each way) roads through the mountains. You're better off playing Cinnabar Hills or something more local.

sharkiesj · September 12, 2013

The only way to get to HMB is by car and going over the 92 from the 280 is a slow and windy road. Sorry but why can't you rent a car? Rentals aren't that expensive compared to the HMB experience of playing golf along the coast on a very pristine golf course.

gyippie · September 12, 2013

Merci everyone....I think I'm renting a car, Sharkiesj, I'll take your word on it (and everyone else's) that's it's worth it!

eb808 · September 13, 2013

I believe there's a Hertz outpost at the Fairmont. Should make the rental process easy.

poppyhillsguy · September 13, 2013

[quote name='gyippie' timestamp='1379030079' post='7841141']
Merci everyone....I think I'm renting a car, Sharkiesj, I'll take your word on it (and everyone else's) that's it's worth it!
[/quote]

You didn't take my word for it. HMB is overpriced and overrated. I'd rent a car and drive over 17 to play Pasatiempo in a hearbeat though.

SkyyDesigns · September 14, 2013

Ya if your down from a different country might as well make it worth it and drive to Monterey to play Pebble or Spyglass or like Poppy said take 17 over the hill and play Pasatiempo...

sharkiesj · September 14, 2013

Gotta love it when someone asks a question about how to arrive and play at a certain course and the response is drive in the complete opposite direction and play a different one. JC, can we be any more helpful?

SkyyDesigns · September 14, 2013

So you would play HMB over Pasa or any of the Pebble courses? Pinto to a Bulgatti...if links is your thing then stick to HMB or try Spanish Bay.

poppyhillsguy · September 14, 2013

[quote name='sharkiesj' timestamp='1379168682' post='7849693']
Gotta love it when someone asks a question about how to arrive and play at a certain course and the response is drive in the complete opposite direction and play a different one. JC, can we be anymore helpful?
[/quote]

SkyyDesigns and I are just trying to help a fellow GolfWRX'er from making a very bad decision.

gyippie · September 15, 2013

I appreciate all the opinions! ....I am in town for only 3 days and can only get one day of golf. I've checked HMB and Pasatiempo's web sites (the only info beside on this forum, I can gather). I am more on the Links than Parkland side, that's why I was leaning on HMB. I know these are 'bucket list' chances, but with Pasatiempo at 250$ green fee, HMB is at 175$. I've also checked Presidio and Harding park - also more affordable.
I've lived my dream and played the rota courses in Scotland, so the Pebble golf links don't really interest me (obviously with the greatest amount of respect due to them) and the $$$ is kinda way over my budget. Spyglass at @$370!!! However, the links at Spanish bay may interest me.
So with all of your opinions...if I head toward San Francisco what do you think? 1. Harding park 2. Presidio 3. HMB and if I head more south I'll just go to Spanish Bay.
Thanks again for you information!

gyippie · September 15, 2013

....Forgot to ask!!! How's the drive from Fairmount SJ to Pebble??? Is it a difficult drive? Long drive (time), easy directions?

Upper Michigan · September 15, 2013

The drive from San Jose to Monterey/Carmel. Will take you an hour to an hour and 15 minutes. It all depends on time of day and traffic. South on highway 101, west on highway 156. Follow the signs to 17 mile drive. It costs $20 bucks (roughly) to take a car on 17 mile drive. The last time I did the drive I stopped at pebble beach's restaurant and they validated the entry fee. The wife and I enjoyed a nice lunch on the out door veranda overlooking the 18th green.

If you end up playing HMB, bring some warmer gear to play in . San Jose may be in the 80's but the coast gets socked in with fog quite often. This will keep you from having to spend a boat load of money in the clubhouse on a new jacket. Hopefully the weather cooperates but you don't want to chance it.

One_Putt_Blunder · September 15, 2013

Just got home from the bay area. Stayed with family in downtown SJ took me just under 1 hour to get to HMB with zero traffic issues. Fyi there is no range at HMB if you want to warm up there is a range west of the 1 on kelly ave (I think that's the street) maybe 10 min from the courses.

I played pasa bayonet and HMB old. Hmb was 3rd on that list but still enjoyed it. Lots of fond memories there from playing it in high school.

One_Putt_Blunder · September 15, 2013

Honestly if I had to do one on a budget I would go to bayonet or blackhorse in monterey also an hour drive but 85 dollars on fri and even less midweek