Week Long SoCal Trip in April

[RichieHunt]

Hello,

 

I am planning to be down in SoCal from April 19 thru April 24. I will be flying into LAX, but spending time in both LA and San Diego.

 

I was looking for public courses to play in LA, SD and in between. Obviously, Torrey Pines is a consideration. I’d be willing to spend up to $250 for a round, but value is always a good thing.

 

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

 

 

 

RH

[bradski]

Well your best courses are going to be.

 

 

Orange county

-Pelican hills, both courses(pricey but right by the ocean)

-oak Creek in irvine is solid

 

San Diego

-Torrey

-maderas

-aviara (most expensive)

-Barona

 

 

if you want cheaper round that is ok

Coronado golf (basic muni course right on the bay and in solid shape)

steel canyon (mid priced)

 

 

many threads on this

[hlca]

I've heard good things about Rams Hill (Borrego Springs) and Sandpiper (Santa Barbara)

[thevaporz]

Check greenskeeper.org for aerification alerts when it gets closer to April. Lots of good deals on golfnow Hot Deals. I always recommend Balboa Park or Coronado if you don't wanna pay outrageous Torrey prices.

 

Be aware of LA to San Diego traffic. Could be 2.5hrs, could be 4 hours, you just never know.

[RSinSG]

Palm Springs is kinda half way between LA and SD. You wouldn't be adding much drive time if you spent a day/night there. That opens up a lot of courses to you.

[Hackster]

Temecula has some nice tracks. Cross Creek is one of my fave’s. I visit inland empire once or twice a year. Oak Valley in Beaumont is awesome. Sierra lakes always in great shape, goose creek in Mira Loma fantastic. Oak Quarry great to name a few.

[Schley]

Temecula has some nice tracks. Cross Creek is one of my fave’s. I visit inland empire once or twice a year. Oak Valley in Beaumont is awesome. Sierra lakes always in great shape, goose creek in Mira Loma fantastic. Oak Quarry great to name a few.

 

There is also the Golf Club at Rancho California in Murrieta, the Temecula Creek Inn, Journey at Pechanga.

 

with your budget hit Torrey Pines, Rustic Canyon, Ram's Hill, Pelican Hill and Aviara. Trump National LA has the best ocean views and most don't like the tight layout, but it is well maintained and beautiful location (although overpriced). This is the closest course to LAX in the recs as well so your last day to get to LAX without having to fight too much LA traffic.

[Argonne69]

I think Pelican Hill is a must play. Expensive, but worth it. Oak Creek is nice, but waaaay overpriced. I'd skip it. The Crossings at Carlsbad is a much better bargain. Aviara is nice, but a bit pricey. Just played Maderas this morning, and it was solid. Rams Hill is supposed to be great, but it's a two hour drive each way. Ouch.

 

Barona Creek is highly rated. I'm playing it on Saturday, and I'll let you know. I'll be playing Trump National on Sunday morning. It's supposed to have great views, but a meh layout. I'll post after my round. I chose it mainly for its location close to LAX.

 

[Argonne69]

Palm Springs is kinda half way between LA and SD. You wouldn't be adding much drive time if you spent a day/night there. That opens up a lot of courses to you.

 

Huh? How is PS half way? It's 3+ hours west from LAX with traffic. SD is 3 hours away south with traffic.

 

I really enjoyed my trip to Palm Springs, but no way would I consider including it with a LA/San Diego combo.

[Schley]

I'll be playing Trump National on Sunday morning. It's supposed to have great views, but a meh layout. I'll post after my round. I chose it mainly for its location close to LAX.

 

That is a good decision for the LAX proximity as you have found So Cal traffic absolutely sucks!

[RichieHunt]

Thanks to everybody that has contributed. I hope to finalize my plans in the next week or two and will post here as to what I plan on doing.

 

 

 

 

 

RH

[RichieHunt]

Okay, so finalizing my plans took a lot longer than expected.

 

I will be staying in Hermosa Beach

 

Thursday - Heading to Fujikura for a fitting on their ENSO machine and probably playing golf afterward in the Vista area.

 

Friday - Having a lesson with George Gankas in the morning and then headed to Bear Creek in Murietta for a seminar. Then heading back to Hermosa Beach that night.

 

Saturday - Rustic Canyon

 

Sunday - Hillcrest

 

Monday - Hope to get on Torrey Pines South.

 

Tuesday - Probably try to find something close by since my plane flight is at 7pm. Probably something like SkyLinks or El Dorado.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RH

[hlca]

Torrey Pines South was aerated on 4/10 and 4/11. Hopefully they will be fully healed by the time you play.

[WildcatGolfer]

Hillcrest is a great track. I actually like the layout of Rancho across the street a little more but when conditioning is factored in it's no contest.

[Schley]

Okay, so finalizing my plans took a lot longer than expected.

 

I will be staying in Hermosa Beach

 

Thursday - Heading to Fujikura for a fitting on their ENSO machine and probably playing golf afterward in the Vista area.

 

Friday - Having a lesson with George Gankas in the morning and then headed to Bear Creek in Murietta for a seminar. Then heading back to Hermosa Beach that night.

 

Saturday - Rustic Canyon

 

Sunday - Hillcrest

 

Monday - Hope to get on Torrey Pines South.

 

Tuesday - Probably try to find something close by since my plane flight is at 7pm. Probably something like SkyLinks or El Dorado.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RH

 

I'm playing Hillcrest this summer myself. What is going on at Bear Creek as I used to live in Murrieta?

[RichieHunt]

 

I'm playing Hillcrest this summer myself. What is going on at Bear Creek as I used to live in Murrieta?

 

I will be doing a presentation discussing analytics and the game.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RH

[Schley]

I'm playing Hillcrest this summer myself. What is going on at Bear Creek as I used to live in Murrieta?

 

I will be doing a presentation discussing analytics and the game.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RH

 

Cool is this about PGA data or amateurs?

[Djuga06]

Hey Richie, I’m in the same boat. Out here til the 29th and had planned to play the south the afternoon of the 27th. Going to the Kingdom on the 26th for a I’ll analysis. I have no problem paying to play if the greens have healed and at that point it’d be 17 days since aeration. I’m also stuck playing in the PM since I have a work function all morning. Any advice, as a single, on walking up and hoping for a twilight rate?

[RichieHunt]

Thursday I played Shadowridge CC in Vista. I'm a big fan of this course even though they were doing some repairs to certain surrounds and greens and had aerified the fairways and greens. Just an old school design, nothing tricked up or fancy with a lot of good looking holes. That's what I like about California golf...you have the land to build a lot of nice looking holes without having to do a lot. And I think where course designers can screw up is by shoehorning a design that isn't necessary.

 

Then I played Rustic Canyon with ShutSteepStuck. This is my first Gil Hanse design and I liked this as well. It was interesting how the green surrounds were designed where they were cut down like a green, but I didn't have an issue with that. Usually what I don't like about those type of inland, American links designs is that they often feature blind tee shots and one can easily get into trouble after a well struck shot. But not here. Hanse really took that into account and created a really good course. I recommend Rustic Canyon.

 

Played Hillcrest CC today. I'm a huge fan of traditional designs and this was a great case. It's only about 6,500 yards, but it's very tight. If you drive it well you should have an easy time around the course. The holes that the members hated there are #3, #10 and #17. I can see #3 and #10. I actually don't mind #17...but the issue with it is that it loses its luster since 3 and 10 are somewhat similar, conceptually. The course was in outstanding condition.

 

I didn't get to play Bear Creek, but I was taken around it and boy....what I difficult looking track!

 

It's a Nicklaus design that I think most of the tee shots are fair, but the approaches are very difficult looking. Lots of great sight lines and dramatic changes in elevation.

 

Not sure where I'm playing tomorrow and Tuesday. I'm a little tired of driving (spent 8 hours on the road on Friday alone). May try Pelican Hill. I'm thinking Torrey is just too long of a drive for me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

RH

[Argonne69]

I'd play Pelican Hill over Torrey 8 days a week.