Staff WriterLake Merced Golf Club is set to take centre stage once again as it hosts the 2027 Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown, bringing one of women’s golf’s most prestigious global events back to San Francisco. The announcement by Hanwha and the LPGA Tour confirms the club’s return to the world spotlight — a fitting honour for a venue steeped in golfing history and recently rejuvenated to Alister MacKenzie’s original vision.
For the uninitiated, Lake Merced Golf Club isn’t just another pretty patch of turf tucked beside the Pacific. It’s a cathedral of golf heritage — founded in 1922, shaped by one of golf’s most brilliant minds, and restored under the watchful eye of Gil Hanse to capture the strategy and spirit of its early design.
Over the years, it’s played host to the game’s finest, including Lydia Ko, Sei Young Kim, and Matilda Castren, during the LPGA’s Swinging Skirts and MEDIHEAL Championships.
Now, the course will once again welcome the world’s best players as they compete for national glory in the Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown — the only global women’s team golf event where countries, not individuals, battle for supremacy.
“San Francisco is home to the Hanwha AI Centre (HAC), which serves as the AI hub for Hanwha Life Insurance, Hanwha General Insurance and Hanwha Asset Management.
It is also a city with special ties to us, as our joint financial brand, LIFEPLUS, has been sponsoring the San Francisco Giants — where player Jung Hoo Lee belongs — since 2024,” said Chan Hyuk Park, Head of Wellness Experience Division at Hanwha Life Insurance. “We are very pleased to host the next tournament at the historic Lake Merced Golf Club in San Francisco.”
The 2027 edition follows a dramatic 2025 event at New Korea Country Club, where Australia edged the United States in a thrilling finale. The return to the Bay Area continues the event’s proud history — from Caves Valley in 2014, to Merit Club in 2016, Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea in 2018, and San Francisco’s TPC Harding Park in 2023, where Thailand lifted the trophy.
“After such a successful Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown in Korea, we are thrilled to bring the next playing of this exciting team event back to San Francisco and the spectacular Lake Merced Golf Club,” said Chris Madsen, managing director of LPGA APAC Region.
“The International Crown is a brilliant demonstration of the global power of women’s golf, with athletes playing for both country and personal pride. We look forward to working with our partners at Hanwha in the continued growth of this special event.”
Lake Merced Golf Club’s president, Wilson Leung, shared the club’s enthusiasm for the return of top-tier women’s golf to its fairways.
“Lake Merced is excited to once again partner with the LPGA and host one of the year’s premier events — the 2027 Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown,” said Leung. “Our diverse membership has enjoyed hosting multiple LPGA events in the past, including the LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship and the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic.
This time, we are eager for the players to experience Gil Hanse’s recent restoration of the strategic Alister MacKenzie design from the early years of our club’s history. We are thrilled to welcome 32 of the top players from around the world to compete in this great tournament!”
This will be the second time the International Crown lands in San Francisco, but with Lake Merced Golf Club’s revitalised layout and its proximity to Silicon Valley’s hum of innovation, the 2027 edition promises something even more memorable — a showcase of golf’s finest talent against a course built for precision, daring, and drama.
Details on dates, tickets, hospitality, and volunteer opportunities will be released closer to the tournament.
Information on the official dates, as well as tickets, hospitality packages and volunteer opportunities, will be available as the event approaches. Click here to be notified when tickets go on sale.
