Men's Trip 2020 - San Diego in May

[Scooter McGavine]

I organize a yearly golf trip for 16, and this year we've selected the San Diego area as our destination. The past two years GolfWRXers have helped a lot giving me suggestions of what tracks to book in Scottsdale and Palm Springs. I'm hopeful some of you can do the same for this year. We will be in San Diego in mid May. I already contacted Torrey Pines, and unfortunately their costs next year are a bit outrageous as the prepare to host the Open in 2021, so $327 per person is a bit out of our price range. What four courses should we get into the rotation for this year's trip? We will likely be staying somewhere near the La Jolla area. Thanks in advance!

[Sjewell94]

Besides Torrey, most public tracks will be a decent drive from La Jolla. The Grand Golf Club in Carmel Valley, Maderas in Poway, Barona Creek in Lakeside, Aviara and La Costa in Carlsbad. Goat Hill Park in Oceanside is a fun shorter course that is pretty laid back. A ton of nice private courses as well.

[Scooter McGavine]

Are any of the private courses "Semi-Public"? Out of our sixteen guys only 5 or 6 are private course members.

 

[Cachaulo]

These would be on my list for guys trip to SD, remember to look for online deals... good prices on some of these courses can be found on golfnow or other sites.

Mount Woodson, Maderas, Balboa, La Costa, Salt Creek (not close but I used to love this place)

[Lincoln_Arcadia]

Not sure about the latest conditions, but Vineyard Estates is an inexpensive option.

[GolfyGolfy]

For May I would still think about doing Torrey North which would be a cheaper option and still as scenic.

I like courses based on scenery and condition( fairways and greens but mainly pure fast greens) please be aware of punching schedule as that might be around that time

Torrey Pines North (should be half the price of south)

encinitas Ranch (forgiving, scenic, and good mixture of elevation)

Steele Canyon 3 9s ONLY DO CANYON RANCH (not the VINEYARD 9 it’s trash). Courss conditions are always pure and the craziest elevation changes in San Diego.

Aviara (Every hole is a postcard) always green and in great shape LPGA Event is held here

Barona creek was closed down for a while and have not been back since they reopened but it’s one of my favorite track but I would be skeptical on how it is now. I have no first hand experience but would probably go to the 4 listed if you want nice conditions and memorable

Aviara 1-2

torrey north 3-6

 

[Serenity Now]

Temecula Creek Inn is very nice option. Just spent a million redoing all the bunkers and tee boxes. Great track for under 60 bucks. Rancho Bernardo Inn is managed by same people and is an equally good option closer to downtown

[thevaporz]

Balboa (SD city course) 15 mins from airport

Coronado (its own city course) 15 mins from airport

Sycuan (Singing Hills) play both full courses Willow Glen and Oak Glen (golfnow.com) --35 mins

Maderas 45 mins (golfnow.com)

The Crossings at Carlsbad 45 mins (golfnow.com)

 

Should all be around the $70+ range with cart but Maderas is more like $100-$150 weekday or weekend and I'm not sure what group rates you may be able to score.

 

[Scooter McGavine]

Great information everybody. Thanks for the input!!!!

[Sparky14]

Aviara - Maderas - Barona Creek are an easy 3 choices.

#4 - these are all a step lower, but still worthwhile: Arrowood, Rancho Bernardo Inn, Mt Woodson.

Another option would be an hour drive to Pechanga (in Temecula, great course, and you can hit the casino after).

Sorry to a previous poster - but Salt Creek closed down a couple of years ago. Sad, I really liked that place.

[tonyw84]

I think Sparky14's review was spot on. I would definitely not fly out to SD to play courses like Temecula Creek, Encinitas Ranch, Sycuan, Mt. Woodson, Vineyard. Balboa has history and conveniently located, but I wouldn't put it in the top 5. Arrowood is a great cheaper option, and you can always pair that with Goat Hill, which is nearby.

Aviara, Maderas, and Torrey are an absolute must-play.

[ButterCutter2]

if 5-6 of your guys are private club members, then they should use thousandgreens to request rounds at sdcc, la jolla cc, rancho santa fe cc and really anywhere else in the area and see what can be lined up. the only downfall would be it would split your group up.

[Scooter McGavine]

We’ve now booked our rental house. It is literally across the street from the Santaluz Club, which I realize is a private club. 7 of the 16 guys in our group are private club members. So my questions for the locals are: 1. is that a course worth playing on our trip and 2. anybody know the likelihood of getting on there?

[bfizzy]

It’s a fun track with really good facilities. Assuming the guys in your group could get some times there then I’d definitely play Santaluz over Aviara Or Maderas, that’s a personal preference though.

if your group has access to private courses then I’d look at RSF CC and San Diego CC as options for some awesome tracks.

[Scooter McGavine]

Got the first three rounds scheduled:

Thursday - La Costa Legends

Friday - Maderas

Saturday - Crossings @ Carlsbad

 

Still looking to fill Sunday. Aviara is under golf course renovations and will be completely closed during the time that we are there. That would have been my preference. If you could choose one or the other of Del Mar Country Club or Torrey Pines North (for within $10 of the same price) which would you choose. If not there then where as I want the last round of our trip to be something memorable (I contacted The Grand and Santaluz but both are outside our price range).

[bfizzy]

Torrey North is classic and has awesome views, real fun track that won’t kill you. Del Mar is a tougher track, good looking course.

My vote would be Torrey especially if you haven’t been before. It’s a classic and it in a way defines San Diego golf.

Not sure if this would be possible for your group, but I would swap out the Crossings with Del Mar, then play your last round at Torrey. Or if price is a concern I prefer Encinitas Ranch over Crossings at around the same rate with both being managed by JC

[Scooter McGavine]

Thank you all that provided feedback and guidance. I have now completed booking for our trip. Here are our four courses:

Thursday- La Costa Legends

Friday- Maderas

Saturday- The Grand Del Mar

Sunday- Del Mar Country Club

Total cost for all four rounds per person is $630 (includes forecaddy fee at the Grand and at Del Mar CC).

So give me a grade. How did I do?

[bfizzy]

Solid list and price wise seems reasonable. Also good variability in the style of golf as well

Have fun!

[Invincentble]

I've planned a trip to San Diego for a large group the last 4 years and I feel pretty confident about my choices. I try and do a health balance between value and must play $$$$ courses.

It sounds like you already have most planned. For the future, here are my recommendations:

 

Rent a house via AirBnB or VRBO in Temecula, Carlsbad, or Oceanside as its central to LA and San Diego. I chose Temecula this year because it puts us in an 1.5 driving range to Palm Springs. 1 hour from Irvine and 1 hour from SD. There are services to have groceries, booze, etc... delivered to the house to save time.For 12 individuals, rent a Mercedes Sprinter(hard to find in SD but easy in LA) or Ford Transit XLT High Roof. They will easily fit all the golf clubs and 12 comfortably. Its always fun having 12 guys in one car with banter and trash talk. For 16, you will need an additional 4 passenger car. There are 15 passenger Sprinters but no room for golf clubs.Call the course and negotiate with head pro. Courses - Use underpar.com but pay atention to restrictions. If anything use the coupons to negotiate with courseSteel Canyon - Usually find an online coupon for $50 a person. Best Value, Fun Course, great views and elevation changeMaderas - Great course but one of the hardest I have played in SOCALTorrey Pines - must play but near impossible with a group of 16. Save it for a solo or foursome tripBalboa - nice views but its a muni. Dont expect great conditions but decent valueArrowood - Great value and great conditionsPachenga - worth the 1 hour drive and $$$. I wouldnt pay more than $125 though but I have paid as low as $99. Great for the gamblers post round.Aviara - Beautiful Course but $$$$Being in Temecula this year my course lineup is:

Cross Creek - It seems to be a great value and since we fly in that morning into LAX we need to play close to the rental house. Ram Hills - 1.5 hour drive but supposedly one of the best in CaliforniaPGA West Stadium(morning) and Niklaus(afternoon) - 1.5 hour driveOmni LaCosta - close enough to LAX to get us back for a 6PM flight.

Airfare, Mansion rental , 5 rounds of golf, Sprinter rental and car rental puts us at about $1100 per person.

 

Cheers to All

 

[thevaporz]

^That's expensive plus a ton of driving. Balboa is fantastic condition right now by the way. Expect a two hour drive from La Costa to LAX. Have fun.