Top 5 Public Courses in So Cal?

[Schley]

I'm taking out palm springs area but including LA/SD/Orange County.

 

1. Trump National LA - politics aside this place has it all, ocean views, in great shape, challenging layout, wind, clubhouse, but pricey!

2. Torrey Pines - Like Trump better, and disappointed in Torrey Pines because it is always in bad shape when I have played it.

3. Aviara - very lush layout with breautful landscaping

4. Rustic Canyon - very nice layout, high end, immaculately kept when I played

5. Talega - I love the white sand bunkers

 

Others?

[Shades234]

I've only heard great things about Rams Hill out in Borrego Springs. Could probably argue for Maderas as well.

[oldpalchamp]

Full Disclosure, I played Trump National before he got into politics, and I think it is the biggest waste of a beautiful piece of property I have ever seen! Absolutely horrible design. The holes basically go back and forth on the side of a hill. Then there are the 3 holes, I believe 10, 11, and 12 shoehorned into a tiny parcel of land so they could actually get 18 holes. I understand when the original developer purchased the land, it was a larger parcel, but the city (Rancho Palos Verdes) took back a section.

 

When I played it, if you missed a fairway, you would not be able to find your ball. If only they ran some holes down the hill to the ocean, and the routed holes back up the hill! The course was in excellent condition, and the 18th hole was easily the best hole on the course, but the best course in SoCal? Not even close. I would play either course at Pelican Hill before I would play Trump.

[ryu123]

Trump LA is built on the side of a hill, & was formerly called Ocean Trails.

 

In 1999 Ocean Trails lost 3 holes in a landslide. So when it reopened as an 18 hole course in 2006 there was less land than in 1999.

[Clambake]

Trump LA is built on the side of a hill, & was formerly called Ocean Trails.

In 1999 Ocean Trails lost 3 holes in a landslide. So when it reopened as an 18 hole course in 2006 there was less land than in 1999.

 

I don’t think they lost land. I lived in the area, and recall the slide took out part of the 18th fairway and the instability caused them to close 16 and 17 until a lot of dirt could be moved in to stabilize the hillside and rebuild 18. The rebuild alone was reported to cost $60M.

 

But the real problem was an uninspired design right from the start, partly due to restrictions from Rancho Palos Verdes, but it isn’t one of Dye’s better works. As Oldpalchamp says, the design just goes back and forth across the hillside and it feels very repetitive, which is a real shame for such a wonderful location. At least they took out the ridiculously out of place waterfalls. It is usually in very good shape but not always, and the boring design makes for extremely overpriced round of so-so golf. No way is it a top 5 SoCal. I don’t think I’d put it in the top 25.

[mark174ace]

I played Trump National once and it was in fantastic shape and I loved the sand in the bunkers. I really liked the 9th and 18th hole, but other than that I felt the layout was lacking and I probably wouldn't go back. I love iOak Quarry in Riverside. I also have a special place in my heart for the Eisenhower Course at Pacific Palms. I realize neither are top 5 public in So Cal, but personal favorites of mine when I come to L.A..

[Clambake]

If following the OP’s criteria of taking out the Palm Springs area, these would be my top picks:

 

1. Rams Hill - without a doubt the best public course in SoCal. Probably unfair to include it if we’re leaving out Palm Springs since it is also in the desert and well away from the coastal area, but it is so good it needs to be here anyway. The layout is superb, great but fair challenge, and perhaps the best conditioning you’ll find short of Augusta.

 

2. Torrey Pines South - probably a controversial choice to some, but it is a strong yet fair test of golf on the ocean bluffs with a long tournament history. Conditioning can be up and down, but it’s usually pretty decent. To me, it is one of the more strategic courses around, where you really need to think backward from pin location to best play a hole, in like many courses where you can just whack away. Torrey demands shotmaking to score well, and the rough will punish you if you’re errant.

 

Numbers 3-5 are really close to each other so consider these in no particular order. And I’m adding a 6th just because it is hard to draw a line and leave any of these 4 off a best list.

 

Rustic Canyon - love the layout and that it offers very different shotmaking options than most SoCal courses. Playing it, one can see how Hanse has moved into the upper tier of course architects.

 

Maderas - fun and quite a challenge, it winds up and down the hills with no two holes feeling at all alike. Very challenging greens that usually run quite fast. Almost always in great condition, with service second to none.

 

Pelican Hills South - while I think PH is horribly overpriced, all golf in Orange County is overpriced and mostly very mediocre, but at least Pelican provides good service, a decent routing, and lovely views. I like the back-to-back par 3s on the water, and although there are some weak holes and condition can be iffy, it does offer a solid SoCal experience.

 

Barona - very fun layout in a beautiful valley setting, with holes that rise up from the valley and back down. It is fairly forgiving off the tee but also requires strategic thinking to score well, while its great green complexes offer the biggest challenge to shooting low numbers, with large, fast, enjoyably contoured greens and extensive bunkering. Condition was an issue for a few years, but it seems to be back now - it’s in the best shape in years.

 

I realize my list is fairly San Diego-centric, but although I do live here I’m trying to be very objective about the neighboring counties to the north. But objectively, there just isn’t much in great public golf in LA or OC. Honorable mention can be given to a number of places such as Oak Quarry and the Industry Hills courses, and while many of those are fun to play I don’t think they are on the same level as the ones above.

 

 

[Jab3384]

Man... so many people seem to love Rustic Canyon and I’m on the total opposite end of the spectrum. Betweeen the rocks in the bunkers that chew up your clubs and the unfair green/pin location combos, I can’t stand the place. Furthermore, they bumped the price up to ~$80-90 on the weekends, which makes it even easier to keep out of the rotation.

[jp7249]

others in the running.....

 

journey at pechanga

 

cross creek

 

golf club of california

 

woodson

[Chanceman]

Any knowledge or comment on Los Verdes down in the Long Beach area.?

[keeponlivin]

Any knowledge or comment on Los Verdes down in the Long Beach area.?

 

I played it a couple weeks ago and was o k I just moved to the area and I'm trying out everything..... Los Verdes had a nice little design with some great ocean views but it being a County course and American Golf property you can tell with the 6 hour rounds and very weak course conditioning

 

I really like so far in the LA area.... Strawberry Farms, Rustic Canyon, Ike at Pacific Palms.....gonna try Oak Creek soon and hopefully if anyone else posts some more recommendations

[mark174ace]

Any knowledge or comment on Los Verdes down in the Long Beach area.?

 

I played it a couple weeks ago and was o k I just moved to the area and I'm trying out everything..... Los Verdes had a nice little design with some great ocean views but it being a County course and American Golf property you can tell with the 6 hour rounds and very weak course conditioning

 

I really like so far in the LA area.... Strawberry Farms, Rustic Canyon, Ike at Pacific Palms.....gonna try Oak Creek soon and hopefully if anyone else posts some more recommendations

 

Oak Creek is extremely overrated in my opinion. The conditions are fine but the layout is boring and certainly not worth paying full price. Much better options in So Cal.

[Jagpilotohio]

I Haven’t lived out there for 10 years but I used to enjoy Tijeras creek quite a bit in Rancho Santa Margarita.

 

San Clemente was always a reasonably priced city course as well.

 

Pelican hill is nice but super expensive.

[Schley]

I really like Talega in San Clemente.

[DaveGoodrich]

Don't forget the Beaumont courses: Oak Valley and the two courses at Tukwet Canyon. All three are interesting, challenging layouts with typically good conditioning and nice views of the mountains. The Tukwet courses have been an especially good value lately on Golfnow.

 

Edit: I'm not arguing that these are Top 5 in SoCal. I haven't experienced some of the nicer coastal courses to make that judgement. But along with Oak Quarry, IMO, these are the nicest public courses in the Inland Empire.

[Schley]

Don't forget the Beaumont courses: Oak Valley and the two courses at Tukwet Canyon. All three are interesting, challenging layouts with typically good conditioning and nice views of the mountains. The Tukwet courses have been an especially good value lately on Golfnow.

 

Edit: I'm not arguing that these are Top 5 in SoCal. I haven't experienced some of the nicer coastal courses to make that judgement. But along with Oak Quarry, IMO, these are the nicest public courses in the Inland Empire.

Are these the old PGA of Southern California courses?

[MikekiM]

Don't forget the Beaumont courses: Oak Valley and the two courses at Tukwet Canyon. All three are interesting, challenging layouts with typically good conditioning and nice views of the mountains. The Tukwet courses have been an especially good value lately on Golfnow.

 

Edit: I'm not arguing that these are Top 5 in SoCal. I haven't experienced some of the nicer coastal courses to make that judgement. But along with Oak Quarry, IMO, these are the nicest public courses in the Inland Empire.

Are these the old PGA of Southern California courses?

 

Morongo at Tukwet Canyon is the old PGA of SoCal course.

Oak Valley is on the north side of the I-10 fwy, and has always been Oak Valley.

[Schley]

Don't forget the Beaumont courses: Oak Valley and the two courses at Tukwet Canyon. All three are interesting, challenging layouts with typically good conditioning and nice views of the mountains. The Tukwet courses have been an especially good value lately on Golfnow.

 

Edit: I'm not arguing that these are Top 5 in SoCal. I haven't experienced some of the nicer coastal courses to make that judgement. But along with Oak Quarry, IMO, these are the nicest public courses in the Inland Empire.

Are these the old PGA of Southern California courses?

 

Morongo at Tukwet Canyon is the old PGA of SoCal course.

Oak Valley is on the north side of the I-10 fwy, and has always been Oak Valley.

 

I know Oak Valley, but PGA of SoCal used to have 2 courses there back when I lived in So cal, so are there 2 Tukwet courses?

[scratchswinger]

If following the OP’s criteria of taking out the Palm Springs area, these would be my top picks:

 

1. Rams Hill - without a doubt the best public course in SoCal. Probably unfair to include it if we’re leaving out Palm Springs since it is also in the desert and well away from the coastal area, but it is so good it needs to be here anyway. The layout is superb, great but fair challenge, and perhaps the best conditioning you’ll find short of Augusta.

 

2. Torrey Pines South - probably a controversial choice to some, but it is a strong yet fair test of golf on the ocean bluffs with a long tournament history. Conditioning can be up and down, but it’s usually pretty decent. To me, it is one of the more strategic courses around, where you really need to think backward from pin location to best play a hole, in like many courses where you can just whack away. Torrey demands shotmaking to score well, and the rough will punish you if you’re errant.

 

Numbers 3-5 are really close to each other so consider these in no particular order. And I’m adding a 6th just because it is hard to draw a line and leave any of these 4 off a best list.

 

Rustic Canyon - love the layout and that it offers very different shotmaking options than most SoCal courses. Playing it, one can see how Hanse has moved into the upper tier of course architects.

 

Maderas - fun and quite a challenge, it winds up and down the hills with no two holes feeling at all alike. Very challenging greens that usually run quite fast. Almost always in great condition, with service second to none.

 

Pelican Hills South - while I think PH is horribly overpriced, all golf in Orange County is overpriced and mostly very mediocre, but at least Pelican provides good service, a decent routing, and lovely views. I like the back-to-back par 3s on the water, and although there are some weak holes and condition can be iffy, it does offer a solid SoCal experience.

 

Barona - very fun layout in a beautiful valley setting, with holes that rise up from the valley and back down. It is fairly forgiving off the tee but also requires strategic thinking to score well, while its great green complexes offer the biggest challenge to shooting low numbers, with large, fast, enjoyably contoured greens and extensive bunkering. Condition was an issue for a few years, but it seems to be back now - it’s in the best shape in years.

 

I realize my list is fairly San Diego-centric, but although I do live here I’m trying to be very objective about the neighboring counties to the north. But objectively, there just isn’t much in great public golf in LA or OC. Honorable mention can be given to a number of places such as Oak Quarry and the Industry Hills courses, and while many of those are fun to play I don’t think they are on the same level as the ones above.

 

+1

[DaveGoodrich]

... I know Oak Valley, but PGA of SoCal used to have 2 courses there back when I lived in So cal, so are there 2 Tukwet courses?

 

Yes, same two courses. Now owned and operated by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians.

[Technoguru]

The Grand - Del Mar

Black Gold - Yorba Linda

[socal]

The Grand, Torrey south, rams hill, Maderas and Journey at pechanga would be my top 5. Stay away from trump and pelican. Very overpriced and overrated