A century-old golf course is about to reclaim its place in women’s golf history. Alister MacKenzie left his signature stamp on this Bay Area gem back in 1929, redesigning bunkers and greens with the same strategic vision he’d later bring to Augusta National. Now, nearly a decade after hosting its last LPGA event, the course is preparing for an even bigger stage.

Lake Merced Golf Club will welcome the 2027 Hanwha LifePlus International Crown back to San Francisco. The announcement came just one week after Australia captured the title at New Korea Country Club in South Korea. The legendary architect also designed Augusta National and Cypress Point. His strategic bunkering and undulating greens made Lake Merced a player favorite for decades.

Gil Hanse led a significant restoration project that was completed in 2022. The project brought back MacKenzie’s original design intent. Workers removed trees to open sightlines and reconstructed signature bunker complexes. The course now measures 6,923 yards and plays to a par 72.

The LPGA faces a serious hurdle ahead of 2027. Beth Ann Nichols, the lone American journalist covering the 2025 event, didn’t mince words about what’s at stake. “The LPGA has a lot of work to do to ensure there’s a good crowd in 2027. Vital to the event’s success.”

Her concern isn’t unfounded. The tour has struggled to generate stateside buzz for the biennial team event, with only one American reporter attending the event in South Korea this October. European media skipped it entirely. Meanwhile, the 2023 edition at TPC Harding Park drew “little fanfare” despite Thailand’s victory on American soil.

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The timing presents another headache. Positioning media and players domestically when the event returns to the United States in 2027 will require careful planning. San Francisco’s golf-savvy crowd showed up for major championships at Olympic Club and TPC Harding Park. But sustaining that energy for a team event remains the big question.

Chan Hyuk Park, Head of Wellness Experience Division at Hanwha Life Insurance, expressed confidence in the venue choice. He pointed to San Francisco’s connection with the company through its AI Center and partnership with the San Francisco Giants. The title sponsor clearly sees value in returning to the Bay Area.

Lake Merced’s proven LPGA track record

The course has hosted women’s professional golf since the 1940s. More recently, it welcomed the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic from 2014 to 2016. The LPGA Mediheal Championship followed from 2018 to 2020.

Lydia Ko dominated at Lake Merced. She won the Swinging Skirts title in 2014 and again in 2015 after a playoff with Morgan Pressel. Then she captured the 2018 Mediheal Championship. Her three victories at the venue prove that the course tests the world’s best.

Wilson Leung, president of Lake Merced, welcomed the return of top-level competition. He highlighted the club’s diverse membership and their excitement about showcasing Hanse’s restoration. The strategic MacKenzie design from the course’s early years now gets a fresh spotlight.

The 2027 tournament will follow the same format as recent editions. Eight four-player teams representing their countries will compete in match play. The round-robin format leads to semifinals and finals. The $2 million purse mirrors that of the 2025 event, with $125,000 allocated to each member of the winning team.

San Francisco boasts one of America’s largest golf markets. The Bay Area’s knowledgeable fans consistently support major championships. Multiple world-class courses are situated in proximity. That infrastructure provides the LPGA with a solid foundation to build upon.

But infrastructure alone won’t fill grandstands. The tour needs a comprehensive fan engagement strategy. Youth clinics, autograph sessions, and hospitality upgrades must complement the venue’s history. Local golf communities respond when organizers make the effort.

The 2027 International Crown returns to a venue with deep roots and a fresh new look. Now the LPGA must prove it can deliver the crowds to match.