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Our Editor’s Picks: The Best in San Diego Golf
Thursday, October 01, 2009
San Diego County boasts more than 90 golf courses, which makes it either the sixth most golf-crazy or the sixth most golf course developer-crazy county in America. If a golfer can’t find a course that suits their game, then they’re not trying.
For the purposes of this column, we (OK, I) thought it might be fun to share some of my picks in a variety of categories related to the county’s cornucopia of courses. I confess that I haven’t played all 90-plus in my 30 years of residence, although not for lack of trying.
I’ve focused on the approximately 65 of those facilities that allow public play. Not that I haven’t occasionally been allowed onto some of the many fine private courses in the county – in my other role as the senior editor of Golf Inc. magazine, some of the county’s private venues have opened their gates to me. Although, come to think of it, I’m not sure it’s ever happened twice at the same club – probably a coincidence or an oversight on their part. I can only conclude that the course superintendent overruled the beverage cart operator.
In any case, here are my picks for some of the best, worst, hardest, prettiest courses, individual holes and course amenities in the county, and some of the best places to buy equipment with which to torment yourself on them. Feel free to agree or disagree – I’m sure Keith Carter, our managing editor, would be happy to hear from you.
Prettiest course overall
Four Seasons Aviara in Carlsbad – resort gorgeous. Torrey Pines and Coronado Golf Club get major points for scenic views – that does NOT count a hazardous peak over the cliffs of Torrey down onto Black’s Beach, but it does count the sunbathers on passing yachts on Glorietta Bay at Coronado.
Hardest course
Tough call, but has to be Torrey Pines South, with Maderas Country Club in Poway a close second, for totally different reasons. Torrey because it’s rugged long, the rough is brutal, the sand is everywhere and the greens are unreadable for anyone not named Tiger. Maderas because there is no rough, only jail for wayward shots, and designer Johnny Miller obviously had an aversion to straight golf holes. If you’re a “player,” you’ll love both tracks though, because they’re great golf courses.
Easiest course
Another tough choice, because it depends on your game. Mine is long and (usually) right, so Encinitas Ranch gets my vote, since most of the trouble is on the left and the course can be overpowered if you can deal with the big greens. Like most, Eastlake in Chula Vista is not overly challenging if you keep it in the fairway; same with Bonita, either course at Cottonwood (although the new Lakes design on the former Monte Vista course has added some interesting challenges). The Marines’ Miramar course is not overly difficult if the wind cooperates, and the South Course at the Navy’s Admiral Baker facility is short-ish and manageable.
Toughest driving hole
Again, depends on your game. In my case, a “controlled draw” is only a rumor, so my vote goes to the 11th hole at Castle Creek in Escondido, where the uphill 453-yard par 5 sounds easy enough … until you realize the opening between the tree lines on both sides of the fairway off the tee is about 12 yards wide. Close seconds are the second hole at Castle Creek, any one of several at Meadow Lake in Escondido, and the second hole at Twin Oaks in San Marcos, which looks simple enough until you find out that almost anything that doesn’t clear or land in the gaping sand trap on the left side of the fairway rolls straight right into the woods. Shockingly enough, as I think about this category, many others come to mind – the signature 4th hole at Sycuan Resort’s (formerly Singing Hills’) Willow Glen, for instance, where Sycuan golf sales manager Lawrence Heraty says he can almost hear the presence of the former Indian inhabitants who used to grind corn there. Personally, I hear my inner caddie saying “OK, hacker boy, do we have a club we can hit from the elevated tee that will land our ball somewhere between the hillside and the huge pond in front of the green?” Or there is the 14th at Carmel Mountain Ranch where anything less than a perfect tee shot will leave you either OB right or left or with a blind downhill shot to a diabolical green on the other side of a creek. Number 10 at The Crossings of Carlsbad is no picnic either.
Goofiest hole
Again, lots of contenders. Here’s a vote for number 13 at Oceanside Municipal. How weird could a 115-yard par-3 be? Plenty, when the tee box is about 100 yards above the green, most of which can’t be seen from the tee marker. It may be the only hole on a full-size course in the county where you have a better chance of getting the ball close by throwing it than hitting it. Carmel Mountain Ranch, the poster child for bad marriages between golf and golf course community developers, has a handful of them, including number 3, as does Eagle’s Crest in Escondido, another course that a developer’s greed for golf course frontage lots ruined. And Mt. Woodson in Ramona has its share too, but it’s so pretty, you can forgive it, as long as you don’t pull your driver out of the bag, in which case it probably won’t forgive you.
Best clubhouse/19th hole
If you combine view, ambience and munchies, The Crossings at Carlsbad wins in a runaway. It’s a posh private club view of the Pacific at what is actually a municipal course, albeit a pricey one, and the California Coastal Commission wasn’t able to block its construction, unlike the first 20 or 30 of the golf course designs. Other courses offer good and filling post-round vittles – Cottonwood is a strong entry for their burgers and fries alone, not to mention their breakfasts for those who are not on a liquid pre-round diet.
Best practice facility
Stadium Golf, just off I-15 South a mile or so north of Qualcomm Stadium, offers a double-decked driving range, a full staff of instructors, a pro shop and an excellent short game practice area. If the kids would rather hit baseballs or softballs than golf balls, there are batting cages too. Other good options include the Del Mar Golf Center between the Fairgrounds and I-5 and the Hodges Golf Learning Center in Escondido just off I-15.
Best golf retailer
The Golf Mart has five locations in the county, in Encinitas, San Marcos, at the Del Mar Golf Center, in Mission Valley and the former Polar Golf location on Pacific Highway by the airport. All are well stocked, carry a full range of equipment from all the top manufacturers, apparel and accessories. All the locations I have visited provide attentive and helpful service, including a generous return policy, and several offer equipment repair as well. Other multiple-location stores include Pro Golf Discount and Golfsmith. For a fully stocked on-course pro shop, Torrey Pines is hard to beat, and nobody else in San Diego carries U.S. Open logo-ed gear with the course name on it.
Best courses for beginners
Oaks North
12602 Oaks North Dr.
858-487-3021
This well-conditioned executive course in Rancho Bernardo has three nines, each consisting of six par-3 holes and three par-4 holes.
Pine Glen
3007 Dehesa Road, El Cajon
619-442-3425
The third course at Sycuan Resort is well-maintained and offers a wide variety of 18 scenic and challenging par-3 holes.
Lomas Santa Fe Executive
1505 Lomas Santa Fe Dr., Solana Beach
858-755-1547
Another nice executive layout, with a mix of par-3 and par-4 holes that will allow the beginner to use all the clubs in the bag.
Mission Bay Golf Course
2702 N. Mission Bay Dr.
858-490-3370
Located in Pacific Beach, city-owned Mission Bay deserves a special mention because it is lighted for night play. It doesn’t have the same manicured look as the other three, but offers a more casual ambience.
Most underrated courses
Woods Valley
14616 Woods Valley Road, Valley Center
760-751-3007
Relatively new and tucked away in North County, Woods Valley requires some control off the tee and has some gorgeous holes on the back nine in particular.
Fallbrook Golf Course
2757 Gird Road, Fallbrook
760-728-8334
Not the place for you if you demand flawless course conditions, concrete cart paths or if you’re freaked out by hitting your first tee shot directly over a busy highway. Still, this quaint course offers some truly challenging holes, particularly off the tee, is reasonably priced and generally has tee times available on the weekend with not too much advance notice.
Ivanhoe Course at Cottonwood
3121 Willow Glen Dr., El Cajon
619-442-9891
Not as manicured and without the same amenities as neighbors Steel Canyon and Sycuan, Ivanhoe offers variety and some very challenging holes, particularly in the rainy season when the creeks meandering through the course are full.