UPDATED May 6, 2022
My grandfather, William “Brand” Filmer, was born and raised in San Francisco and attended Polytechnic High School (in operation from 1884-1973) in the 1920s where he immediately made a name for himself as a competitive high jumper. His athletic career followed him after high school when he was invited to be a member of the Olympic Club’s swim and track teams. The photo above is Brand jumping over a young boy as a publicity shot for the Club. He continued competing for the Olympic Club until World War II[1].
The San Francisco Olympic Club[2] was the first athletic club in the United States. When it was initially established there were amateur teams in football, basketball, rugby, track and cycling. From 1893 until 1903 when club cycling teams were disbanded, the Olympic Club Cycling Team dominated the sport. In the 1990s, the Olympic Club began sponsoring individual cyclists.
Golf did not come along until 1918 when the Club acquired the the Lakeside Golf Course and purchased its adjoining lands. Today there are three golf courses: Lake, Ocean, and Cliffs, all located in the southwestern quadrant of the City. The Olympic Club has hosted the US Open five times. In November 2017 the Club announced that the it will host the 2032 Ryder Cup.
The Club’s main facility is located at 524 Post Street in Union Square[3]. The original building, built in 1893, did not survive the 1906 Earthquake and Fires[4], but the current facility contains a pub, dining room, meeting rooms, banquet halls, guest rooms, fitness center, handball and squash courts, two basketball courts, and two indoor pools.
Starting in 1894 with the Midwinter Exposition[5], the Olympic Club has hosted some version of what today is known as the New Year’s Day Hike N Dip. Members run from the Dutch Windmill[6] in Golden Gate Park[7] to Baker Beach[8], followed by a swim in the ocean. In the beginning it was a way of demonstrating to the East Coast just how mild California winters are. The event has traditionally been followed by an open house at the Club.
As was customary at the time, the Club was originally comprised of wealthy white men. There were Friday socials where members could bring their ”lady friends”. In 1987 the San Francisco City Attorney filed a lawsuit for discrimination against women and minorities and to avoid litigation, the Olympic Club board began accepting female members. The allegation against minorities was withdrawn.
In 1992 the Club set up the Winged “O” Foundation, later changed to the Olympic Club Foundation[9] which funds youth sports programs throughout the Bay Area.
[1] World War II: https://thesanfranciscophoenix.com/?p=4222
[2] Visit them at www.olyclub.com [3] Union Square: story coming July 25th [4] 1906 Earthquake and Fires: https://thesanfranciscophoenix.com/?p=2849 [5] 1894 Midwinter International Exposition: https://thesanfranciscophoenix.com/?p=4428 [6] Dutch Windmills: story coming December 6th [7] Golden Gate Park: story coming April 4th [8] Baker Beach: https://thesanfranciscophoenix.com/?p=3402 [9] Visit them at www.olympicclubfoundation.org
