Top Golf for Surfing? Inside San Francisco’s $50 Million Wave Pool

Originally posted on SURFER | By Dashel Pierson | Last updated Jun 26, 2025 8:52 AM ET

Lots of surfers love golf. Why? Extremely unclear, since on the surface, the two pastimes couldn’t appear more different. However, look at any pro surfer on the Championship Tour during a lay day of competition, and chances are, many of ‘em are hitting the links. Hell, even Kelly Slater is nearly pro.

With the advent of wave pools, the divergent worlds of golf and surfing, however, become somewhat closer. You see, lots of wave pools are being built around housing developments, like golf courses. In fact, some wave pool projects which are currently in the works include golf courses as well.

So, when a newscaster asked William Duncanson, the architect behind the proposed wave pool for Alameda in northern California’s Bay Area, if his project was similar to a Top Golf, he wasn’t that far off. But Duncanson, nonetheless, was quick to shut down the comparison. And add more details.

“I wouldn’t call it a Top Golf for surfing,” Duncanson replied. “But I mean, it is a recreational facility that provides surfing in a manmade environment. A lot of people do, I suppose, liken it to Top Golf. But we’re trying to create a destination for the community, for surfers, that have experience with surfing, and for those who don’t.”

The wave pool proposal, dubbed Neptune Beach Surf Club, would occupy a former area occupied by the Navy on the island community of Alameda on the East Bay. It would utilize Endless Surf’s wave-making technology – the same stuff we’ve seen pumping out waves at Germany’s 02 Surftown Muc pool. And if things go according to plan, it could be operating by 2029.

As for the potential future clientele at Neptune Beach Surf Club, Duncanson added:

“We would expect that the majority of the people who would come to the park wouldn’t have a lot of experience surfing. We will have waves that accommodate expert surfers, novice surfers, and people everywhere in between. It really is for everybody. We think the majority of the people who come, are those who are curious about surfing, and honing their skills in a controlled environment.”

More details to come on this proposed surf park for the Bay Area.

This article first appeared on SURFER and was syndicated with permission.

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