san diego trip

[QuigleyDU]

I am going to be headed to San Diego at the end of the month and was looking for some recommendations. I know Torrey, not sure if that is in the cards.

[zilli1010]

[quote name='QuigleyDU' timestamp='1438803541' post='12084594']
I am going to be headed to San Diego at the end of the month and was looking for some recommendations. I know Torrey, not sure if that is in the cards.
[/quote][quote name='QuigleyDU' timestamp='1438803541' post='12084594']
I am going to be headed to San Diego at the end of the month and was looking for some recommendations. I know Torrey, not sure if that is in the cards.
[/quote]

Aviara Golf Course
Maderas Golf Club

These are 2 I have played and liked a lot. THe really nice holes had water so not sure how the drought has affected the courses.

[bradski]

Barona
maderas
Aviara


cheaper options
Steele canyon- 3 9's canyon ranch are the better 2.
Coronado- muni but right on the bay and decent course

[AzSuperHack76]

Balboa Park was inexpensive and a fun track. Lots of good views of downtown. Old school feel to it, was in good shape. I did Balboa in the morning and Coronado in the afternoon. Made for a fun 36.

[sabram]

+1 on Barona

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/golfcoursepix/sets/72157646637756504/ Barona Creek photo tour

 

Barona Creek #11 par 3 P1050804 (2)

[Bizcut1]

+1 on Balboa Park - really nice layout. They keep it beautiful.

If you're willing to drive a little, there are lots of wonderful courses just north of SD.

Crossings at Carlsbad, Maderas among others.


Have fun!

[QuigleyDU]

thanks guys! anyone down there want to meet up with an internet tour pro real life hack?

[Grizz06]

I liked Maderas but it's a bit of a jaunt from DT

I actually really enjoyed Steele Canyon but I may have had too much to drink:)

[ruascott]

[quote name='bradski' timestamp='1438813397' post='12085462']
Barona
maderas
Aviara


cheaper options
Steele canyon- 3 9's canyon ranch are the better 2.
Coronado- muni but right on the bay and decent course
[/quote]

Yep this. I preferred Maderas over Barona. Good part about barona, was getting some table games in before my tee time, paid for the round!

[teejaywhy]

[quote name='Bizcut1' timestamp='1438895115' post='12091808']

If you're willing to drive a little, there are lots of wonderful courses just north of SD.

Crossings at Carlsbad...

[/quote]

First I've ever heard this steaming turd described as "wonderful."

[ruascott]

[quote name='teejaywhy' timestamp='1439056132' post='12101312']
[quote name='Bizcut1' timestamp='1438895115' post='12091808']

If you're willing to drive a little, there are lots of wonderful courses just north of SD.

Crossings at Carlsbad...

[/quote]

First I've ever heard this steaming turd described as "wonderful."
[/quote]

Can't be worse than Carleton Oaks. AWFUL

I'll be honest, for the most part golf is pretty lousy around SD...love the city, though.

[QuigleyDU]

[quote name='ruascott' timestamp='1439232566' post='12111472']
[quote name='teejaywhy' timestamp='1439056132' post='12101312']
[quote name='Bizcut1' timestamp='1438895115' post='12091808']
If you're willing to drive a little, there are lots of wonderful courses just north of SD.

Crossings at Carlsbad...

[/quote]

First I've ever heard this steaming turd described as "wonderful."
[/quote]

Can't be worse than Carleton Oaks. AWFUL

I'll be honest, for the most part golf is pretty lousy around SD...love the city, though.
[/quote]

Really? I would think that it would be decent.

[traderjason]

[quote name='QuigleyDU' timestamp='1439242115' post='12112558']
[quote name='ruascott' timestamp='1439232566' post='12111472']
[quote name='teejaywhy' timestamp='1439056132' post='12101312']
[quote name='Bizcut1' timestamp='1438895115' post='12091808']
If you're willing to drive a little, there are lots of wonderful courses just north of SD.

Crossings at Carlsbad...

[/quote]

First I've ever heard this steaming turd described as "wonderful."
[/quote]

Can't be worse than Carleton Oaks. AWFUL

I'll be honest, for the most part golf is pretty lousy around SD...love the city, though.
[/quote]

Really? I would think that it would be decent.
[/quote]

The golf in SD is "decent". There are a lot of options and different flavors (coastal, inland, desert, foothills) but most courses are underwhelming. The County has many courses but they are pretty spread out and somewhat expensive for what you get. For my money, I still recommend Balboa (just played there two days ago, nice shape despite the drought), Coronado for the views (expect a slow round on the weekend), Steele Canyon if you can get a good rate on Golfnow, Maderas if you want a great course, and Mt. Woodson for a fun round. Good luck and report back.

[ruascott]

[quote name='QuigleyDU' timestamp='1439242115' post='12112558']
[quote name='ruascott' timestamp='1439232566' post='12111472']
[quote name='teejaywhy' timestamp='1439056132' post='12101312']
[quote name='Bizcut1' timestamp='1438895115' post='12091808']
If you're willing to drive a little, there are lots of wonderful courses just north of SD.

Crossings at Carlsbad...

[/quote]

First I've ever heard this steaming turd described as "wonderful."
[/quote]

Can't be worse than Carleton Oaks. AWFUL

I'll be honest, for the most part golf is pretty lousy around SD...love the city, though.
[/quote]

Really? I would think that it would be decent.
[/quote]

It never rains, so most of the courses are baked out, often to the point of dirt. The really nice ones that aren't, cost a LOT.

Just my experience driving all over the place my last trip trying to play. Maderas was a lot of fun, but not cheap.

[Pepperturbo]

I suppose others have said what I am about to say. Anyhow, haven't played Carleton Oaks in my be 18yrs. When I did it was in Amateur events. It use to be frequented by mini-tours, even the now re-branded Web.com visited there a few times. It use to be a testy, well kept course with mounds left and right and fast greens with a marginal club house. Steel Canyon use to be a fine 27 hole facility but takes time to get there. I heard last week the private "Farm" opened to some public play. Arrowood in Oceanside is an excellent test of golf. Don't let its 6700+ yardage mislead you, its near Pendleton. Mt. Woodson has maybe three holes worthy of driver, the rest are 2-3 iron tee clubs, but it's target golf, a test of self-control and inexpensive. Maderas and Aviara are really fun well kept facilities too, but costly. Coronado is nicely kept, inexpensive, wide open, great views and nice walk in the park, but can be difficult to get on.

[Chilidog]

Anyone know if you can get on The Farms now? Going to be there in 2 weeks from today and have played everywhere. Was going to book Torrey or Aviara again, but if I can get on there, I would rather go there.

[sharkiesj]

[quote name='Chilidog' timestamp='1439421215' post='12126206']
Anyone know if you can get on The Farms now? Going to be there in 2 weeks from today and have played everywhere. Was going to book Torrey or Aviara again, but if I can get on there, I would rather go there.
[/quote]

1. You can stay at Rancho Valencia in RSF and you'll have access to The Farms GC. This is Michael Jordan's fave place to stay in SoCal.

2. You can postpone til Sept. 21. The SCGA will be having an outing there on Sept. 21 for $160. Normally you have to be a SCGA member but every year they never sell out the outing because most people despise this place. If there are open spots available they will usually open it up to non-SCGA members who are willing to pay. Get on the SCGA website and you can email the member-outing director..initials are BK.

I was so pumped to play this course but it left me completely underwhelmed. You cannot hit it anywhere but straight. Hit it slightly crooked and you're reloading. Also, the whole time I felt like I was playing in a big hole in the ground. Many of the holes have mounding and the course sits below the level of the mounds. Very weird and really bizarre. But hey, a lot of sticks play there so it's got a players reputation.

[Chilidog]

They wanted $799+$300 for golf. $1100 for one round of golf there is ridiculous. Maybe if the name was AGNC.

[dicko999]

The obvious is Torrey Pines, preferably the South Course but the North is enjoyable on the front 9 as well. I'd suggest the following public courses based on my experience:

Barona Creek - about 30 minutes outside of downtown.
Maderas - also about 30 minutes from downtown. You have a good chance of seeing some local celebrities depending on time of year i.e. Marshall Faulk, David Justice, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, etc.
Journey at Pechanga - it's a longer drive than Barona and Maderas as it is in Temecula, but it is well worth the hour drive.

I see some other good suggestions here as well, but this is just my $0.02....

[dicko999]

[quote name='Pepperturbo' timestamp='1439245780' post='12112864']
I suppose others have said what I am about to say. Anyhow, haven't played Carleton Oaks in my be 18yrs. When I did it was in Amateur events. It use to be frequented by mini-tours, even the now re-branded Web.com visited there a few times. It use to be a testy, well kept course with mounds left and right and fast greens with a marginal club house. Steel Canyon use to be a fine 27 hole facility but takes time to get there. I heard last week the private "Farm" opened to some public play. Arrowood in Oceanside is an excellent test of golf. Don't let its 6700+ yardage mislead you, its near Pendleton. Mt. Woodson has maybe three holes worthy of driver, the rest are 2-3 iron tee clubs, but it's target golf, a test of self-control and inexpensive. Maderas and Aviara are really fun well kept facilities too, but costly. Coronado is nicely kept, inexpensive, wide open, great views and nice walk in the park, but can be difficult to get on.
[/quote]

Carlton Oaks is very testy indeed! I have not played there in a couple of years, but conditions were average at best at that time (at least they keep green fees cheap). With the drought, I assume not much has changed today.

[kejoal11]

Quigley what dates are you here. I play with another wrx'er and if you like we can get you on one of the military courses as well.

[double or triple?]

[quote name='kejoal11' timestamp='1439957191' post='12167162']
Quigley what dates are you here. I play with another wrx'er and if you like we can get you on one of the military courses as well.
[/quote]

Have you played miramar or Pendleton lately?

[golferdrmjr]

[quote name='ruascott' timestamp='1439244036' post='12112734']
[quote name='QuigleyDU' timestamp='1439242115' post='12112558']
[quote name='ruascott' timestamp='1439232566' post='12111472']
[quote name='teejaywhy' timestamp='1439056132' post='12101312']
[quote name='Bizcut1' timestamp='1438895115' post='12091808']
If you're willing to drive a little, there are lots of wonderful courses just north of SD.

Crossings at Carlsbad...

[/quote]

First I've ever heard this steaming turd described as "wonderful."
[/quote]

Can't be worse than Carleton Oaks. AWFUL

I'll be honest, for the most part golf is pretty lousy around SD...love the city, though.
[/quote]

Really? I would think that it would be decent.
[/quote]

It never rains, so most of the courses are baked out, often to the point of dirt. The really nice ones that aren't, cost a LOT.

Just my experience driving all over the place my last trip trying to play. Maderas was a lot of fun, but not cheap.
[/quote]Since ruascott does not appear to be a local, and who knows when his last trip was, you might want to take his observations with a grain of salt.

I've lived in San Diego all my life and been playing golf here for 23 years. The statement of "most" of the courses are baked out because of the drought is just not true. Of course, if you go to a really inexpensive course that might be the case. But most all of the decent courses are fine. This drought did not happen overnight, they all knew it was coming and have taken appropriate action.

You have to remember that San Diego is a very big city with a lot of golfers. So supply and demand means nice courses cost a lot more to play than a many other areas of the country. You're just not going to find a sweet course for $20 or something. Places like Coronado are the exception because of the Port District's building out the side of the course with dredging from the bay. Coronado has a limit placed by the Port District on how much profit they can make. Otherwise their $35 weekday rate to walk could easily be twice as much.

There are many nice courses to play in San Diego. It just depends on how much money you want to spend and what kind of course you are looking for. Just asking for recommendations, without giving some kind of ideas for what you are looking for, makes it really hard to give you answers that will help you out. I could name 20 courses that I wouldn't mind playing, but that doesn't help anybody else out unless you know why I like them.

All that being said, Torrey's in good shape right now. And Coronado also is in very nice condition. The OP is coming to town at the hottest time of the year for San Diego. I'm playing at the coast, or somewhere near, at the break of dawn at this time of the year. That's because I like to walk and I don't like it really hot. Half the courses in town that are inland, I'm not playing this time of year, because it's just to hot. And luckily, I have other options.

I'd be happy to give more options, if I had some guidelines. Such as day, time, $$, length, difficulty, and conditions. You know, stuff that's important to [u]You[/u]!

Cheers and enjoy our great city! :-)

[Pepperturbo]

Courses without reclaimed water basins are going to be dried out and firm. @Golferdrmjr is right. There are a number of well kept courses in SDCty. All depends on ability to pay and difficulty.