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Poplar Creek Golf Course is an 18-hole public municipal course at Coyote Point in San Mateo, California. Its history begins in 1933, when the City of San Mateo built the San Mateo Municipal Golf Course as a Depression-era project providing work for unemployed labourers. The course closed in April 1999 for a complete renovation and redesign and reopened on July 11, 2000 under the Poplar Creek name, with Steve Halsey credited by the course as architect of the present layout.
Independent golf sources also credit Jack Daray Jr. with the redesign. The Black tees measure 6,042 yards at par 70, with the official course currently publishing a 70.2 rating and 115 slope.
The course is an 18-hole parkland golf course. It plays to par 70, 6,042 yards, course rating 70.2 and slope rating 115. Designed by Steve Halsey, the course originally opened in 1933. It is open to the public. On-site facilities include Driving Range, Putting Greens, Short Game Practice Area, Chipping Area, Golf Lessons, Golf Club Hire, Golf Cart Hire, Pull Cart Hire, and 2 more.
Poplar Creek's story begins with municipal recreation and Depression-era employment rather than a private golf development. The City of San Mateo built the original course in 1933 as the San Mateo Municipal Golf Course. The club's official history states explicitly that the project was created as a way to aid unemployed labourers during the Depression.
City documents likewise describe the municipal course as operating since 1933. For more than six decades it served as San Mateo's city-owned public golf facility at Coyote Point.
The architecture seen today largely dates from the wholesale 1999-2000 reconstruction rather than the 1933 course. Poplar Creek closed in April 1999 for what its official history calls a complete renovation and redesign. Steve Halsey is credited by the course as architect of the rebuilt layout, while independent golf-course histories also credit Jack Daray Jr.
The reconstructed course retained a relatively compact municipal scale at just over 6,000 yards from the back tees but introduced multiple tee positions, large greens and a new routing. The current par-70 Black configuration includes four par fives, six par threes and eight par fours.
The most important change in the property's history came after more than 60 years as San Mateo Municipal Golf Course. The facility shut in April 1999 for complete reconstruction. It reopened on July 11, 2000 with a new routing and the Poplar Creek name, referring to the trees and creek running through the property.
Modern practice facilities include a driving range, two large putting greens and a dedicated short-game area. The City has continued investing in course infrastructure; an irrigation-well project is currently under way, with Phase 2 expected to be completed in fall 2026.
Poplar Creek's significance is primarily as heavily used municipal golf on the San Francisco Peninsula. The official course says it averages more than 75,000 rounds annually, placing it among Northern California's busiest courses. It is also the home of the Robert O'Brien Junior Championship and San Mateo County Championship.
S. Open champion Johnny Miller among notable past winners associated with the county championship.
Poplar Creek remains an 18-hole City of San Mateo public golf course with separate general, resident, senior, junior, twilight and Youth on Course pricing. Online reservations are handled through foreUP. The driving range and golf operation remain active.
As of August 2026, the clubhouse restrooms have reopened after restoration, but the restaurant, banquet rooms and kitchen remain temporarily closed while the City seeks a new food-and-beverage operator. Irrigation-well improvements are also continuing, with the second phase scheduled for completion in fall 2026.
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| Fee Type | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Weekday | ||
| Weekday Monday-Friday – General | $47 | Current official walking green fee. |
| Weekday Monday-Friday – San Mateo City Resident with Resident Pass | $42 | Current official rate. |
| Weekday Monday-Friday – Twilight | $35 | Begins at 2:00pm April 1-October 31 and 1:00pm November 1-March 31. |
| Weekday Monday-Friday – Super Twilight | $25 | Begins at 4:00pm April 1-October 31 and 3:00pm November 1-March 31. |
| Weekday Monday-Friday – Early AM Back Nine | $29 | Current official rate. |
| Weekday Monday-Friday – Resident Senior 60+ with Resident Pass | $36 | Current official rate. |
| Weekday Monday-Friday – Junior 17 & Under | $18 | Current official rate. |
| Weekday Monday-Friday – Youth on Course, 1 Hour After Super Twilight | $5 | Walking only. |
| Weekend | ||
| Weekend & Holidays – General | $64 | Saturday, Sunday and holidays. |
| Weekend & Holidays – San Mateo City Resident with Resident Pass | $56 | Saturday, Sunday and holidays. |
| Weekend & Holidays – Twilight | $43 | Begins at 2:00pm April 1-October 31 and 1:00pm November 1-March 31. |
| Weekend & Holidays – Super Twilight | $33 | Begins at 4:00pm April 1-October 31 and 3:00pm November 1-March 31. |
| Weekend & Holidays – Early AM Back Nine | $33 | Current official rate. |
| Weekend & Holidays – Junior 17 & Under After 2pm | $23 | Saturday, Sunday and holidays. |
| Weekend & Holidays – Youth on Course, 1 Hour After Super Twilight | $5 | Walking only. |
Prices are indicative and subject to change. Contact the course to confirm current rates.
| Front 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 36 |
| Yards | 519 | 421 | 188 | 403 | 172 | 286 | 282 | 292 | 471 | 3034 |
| Back 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 34 | 70 |
| Yards | 455 | 321 | 210 | 407 | 537 | 158 | 423 | 136 | 361 | 3008 | 6042 |
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