Founded in 1922, Lake Merced officially became a club when a small group of seven directors met at the Merchant’s Exchange Building in downtown San Francisco to formalize a purchase of 140 acres from the Spring Valley Water Company just south of the property owned by the San Francisco Golf and Country Club. Within a year, a golf course was being designed by transplanted Scot Willie Lock for a fee of $750.

Lake Merced Golf Club opened for play in 1923 and shortly thereafter hosted an exhibition match between U.S. Open champion Gene Sarazen and reigning British Open champion Arthur Havers. Sarazen prevailed in the 36-hole match. Later that decade, the course underwent a redesign by noted architect Dr. Alister MacKenzie, who utilized his signature “cloud shaped” bunkering style throughout the layout.  During the 1930s, the club routinely hosted the San Francisco Open, which produced winners such as Tom Creavy and Masters champion Jimmy Demaret.