There is a small bar and restaurant in the Oakland hills that may be the only of its kind in America. It is a place that actually encourages drinking and driving.
Montclair Golf Course is located in a canyon off of the top of Park Boulevard in the central part of the Oakland Hills. Just east of the Montclair district and west of the Mormon Temple, Montclair Golf Course has been somewhat of an institution for Oakland’s young and old for years.
The place is owned by the city making it a bit dilapidated, which should come as no surprise. The steep narrow driveway – hard to find by those not in the know – empties into a large parking area. To the left is a nine-hole pitch and putt course, where many of Oakland’s youth took their first golf swing. An old school putt-putt course has been replaced with, well, nothing but the memories of one’s first hole in one. A pro shop offers great deals on clubs and balls for bargain conscience golfers.
Straight ahead is a double-decked driving range that is always busy, despite the fact that many of the range balls have not been replaced since Julius Boros won a golf tournament. By the way, what is it that makes aiming at the guy in the cart scooping up range balls so irresistible?
A bar, affectionately known as “The Hole,” overlooks the driving range with hackers in full view. The bartenders are friendly and the California Lotto’s Hot Spot game is available for play at the bar for those looking for other forms of entertainment. Sports are always on the numerous TV’s.
A few draft beers are featured along with a full complement of liquor, accessible to the swingers by a sliding window behind the bar. A tap on the window and a cold Red Hook is close at hand to those slicing on the practice range.
The restaurant makes very serviceable fare, with breakfast on weekends particularly popular. Try the Joe’s Special with sourdough toast and any of the previous night misgivings are quickly eliminated.
The joint is truly a local hangout. Only people from Oakland would know it was there, which seems to be just how the faithful throng of neighbors like it. But, what the heck? They paid for it with their tax dollars. -D.M.