La Jolla

kchiefsfan · February 20, 2012

Please Vote

Please vote for your top 2 choices as this will help me decide which courses to play when I visit La Jolla in July. I like a course that is challenging, risk/reward, one that you don't use driver off every tee, amazing scenery, fairways that are usually soft, not hard tight lies, and well manicured. This probably describes most of the courses around San Diego, but being from NW Arkansas, these are hard to find. I like to smoke a couple of cigars and enjoy a beautiful day of golf on a beautiful course. Please help me decide which courses to play so I come back to Arkansas a happy man. Also, please let me know if anyone would be interested in joining up with me between the 9th of July and the 13th.

JCLJorgenson · April 24, 2012

[quote name='kchiefsfan' timestamp='1329780435' post='4334639']
Please vote for your top 2 choices as this will help me decide which courses to play when I visit La Jolla in July. I like a course that is challenging, risk/reward, one that you don't use driver off every tee, amazing scenery, fairways that are usually soft, not hard tight lies, and well manicured. This probably describes most of the courses around San Diego, but being from NW Arkansas, these are hard to find. I like to smoke a couple of cigars and enjoy a beautiful day of golf on a beautiful course. Please help me decide which courses to play so I come back to Arkansas a happy man. Also, please let me know if anyone would be interested in joining up with me between the 9th of July and the 13th.
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I am a San Diego local. Maderas and Barona are great courses, but they can get really hot in July, since they are inland (like 90+ degrees). The other courses are all coastal, which will provide a more confortable temperature - if that is important to you (more like upper 70s).

TP North and South are great. I also liked the Crossings, but would not rate it as high as TP. I hear Aviara is actually better than TP, but I have not played it yet. La Costa is where the LPGA plays, but have also not played it yet.

IllestLmac13 · April 24, 2012

I would love to make a trip down south one of these days to play Tory Pines(either lol). The area down there is amazing from the views the the entertainment there really isnt much you CANT do out there!

CuseHokie · April 24, 2012

[quote name='IllestLmac13' timestamp='1335305514' post='4782950']
I would love to make a trip down south one of these days to play Tory Pines(either lol). The area down there is amazing from the views the the entertainment there really isnt much you CANT do out there!

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Just got back from San Diego after playing golf there last week.

Monday: Torrey North, probably the best skies along the coast all week. Greens were rolling well after being aerated the first week of April. Fairly easy course, but I played in the rough all day and couldn't hit many greens in reg.
Tuesday: Drove to La Quinta to play the Mountain course. It was gorgeous, but fell victim to some of Pete Dye's lame creations. That par3 on the back is basically an island surrounded by rocks. Didn't like it! You also need to keep things in play else you'll lose the ball in unfindable rough/hazards.
Wednesday: Torrey South. First hole was gorgeous, then absolutely fogged in from 2-6. You couldn't see the green on 3!!! Shot a 45 on the front. :-/ Somehow played 11-12 1-under, amazing feat. Hit 18 in 2, but 3 putted. Was so depressed, convinced my dad to replay again. Only had to pay the greens fee ($165 as they just aerated). Greens rolled rather well for being aerated 7-10 days prior... but got tapped a few times inside 10 feet. Some of the pins were impossible. Namely 1, 4, 7 and 16.

1 was in the back right, 4 was in the back left (don't go long or left!), 7 was in the way back right (don't go long or right!) and 16 was in the back left, impossible to get it close.

Was +3 thru 10 on the second time through, then finished with a 46 on the back. :-/ I finally got to see what ice plant was. HAH. The rough wasn't as bad on the south, perhaps to help pace of play. Couldn't believe how many walkers there were.

Thursday: Played La Costa South. Lots of money staying there. Gorgeous European feel. I equated the course to a hot bitchy girl. Great to look at, but not worth putting up with. Why? The greens were bad even though they were aerated weeks ago. Reminded me of berber carpet. The bunkers were like concrete. Can you say hitting off the cart path?

Friday: Maderas. Did golf now, $135. Normally $210? Great service, but a _very_ difficult course, at least for me. I'd definitely play some of the holes differently, especially knowing how much roll even the rough could give you...

So summarizing? Kakuya rough is brutal. Bunkers were lackluster at Torrey, but the sites are gorgeous... the mystique is amazing on the south especially. I liked how you could use your driver on every par4 on the south. North is worth a play. No to La Costa, yes to Maderas but be ready to struggle!