The total package here, highlighted by Fazio's delightful shaping of rugged terrain and generous playing corridors, along with lots of beautification on the perimeter, sets the standard for San Diego resort golf. Hasn't happened yet, but I'll keep trying. 22. Golfers who venture inland to canyon country will be rewarded with beautiful, challenging layouts. The Grove is an absolute joy to play. For many golfers, the fact it was the stage for the incredible Tiger-Rocco duel of 2008 is reason enough to make the trip to San Diego (I have a relative who had to book a round on the South while in town despite hardly ever playing golf before. The technical challenge comes from large, intrusive pine and oak trees that pinch fairways tightlyand make straight driving a must. The Coronado Golf Course overlooks the San Diego Bay and features over 6,000 yards of space. You will not be able to play the composite course used for the Anderson Consulting Match Play World Golf Championship; nevertheless, the next best thing is the difficult South Course, copiously tree- and water-lined, where accuracy is a must. You may have heard of the likes of the Torrey Pines and Rancho Bernardo Inn golf courses, but beyond these bigger names, there is an abundance of golf venues to choose from. The Coronado Golf Course is one of the most popular golf courses in San Diego making its first opening in 1957. Fazio used his signature bunkering to frame holes and protect greens. For prestige and beauty, it's hard to beat Torrey Pines, site of the epic 2008 U.S. Open (which Tiger Woods won on a broken leg) and the future site of the championship . For some cutting-edge fun, rent one of the course's new GolfBoards for your round. Built into the canyons of Balboa Park, the course is challenging and fun. The next door North Course, recently renovated by Tom Weiskopf, is more playable than the demanding South, but nevertheless splits duty each year as a host the towns yearly PGA Tour event, the Farmers Insurance Open. How to book a Torrey Pines tee time, Honorable mentions: San Diego's short course scene. 17 c) 4. Coming it as the best golf course in San Diego is the Maderas golf course. . Ravines, barrancas, and small glimpses of the Pacific through the dense vegetation lull you into a complacent reverie if you're not careful. As you may recall from our previous study, Ohio has the best golfers, but since its absence from the Top 20 for difficulty suggests its courses could be of below average difficulty. #1 HARDEST COURSE EVER MADE! The rates are real reasonable for San Diego residents, it's much easier to get a tee time . An idyllic Caribbean retreat, the perfect weekender bag, a divine Basque tavern Yankee sage Ralph Waldo Emerson once said that California's superiority came from its abundance of glorious daysit had more of them, in fact, than anyplace else. Ever found yourself wanting to play golf in San Diego? Don't worry, we can get you one. Fairways are framed magnificently by large eucalyptus trees, and the greens can be extremely fast on a summer day. Aliso Viejo Golf ClubTeam Nicklaus (Jack and son Jackie) has done some engaging and, in places, brilliant design work here, producing a trio of creative and not overly long nines that make for one of the best golf experiences in the entire Orange County area. Learn all about disc golf in San Diego. GOLF DIGEST MAY EARN A PORTION OF SALES FROM PRODUCTS THAT ARE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR SITE AS PART OF OUR AFFILIATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH RETAILERS. Resort guests at The Inn at Spanish Bay or The Lodge at Pebble Beach get a slight break. It begins narrow but really widens at the fairway. The Legends is a spacious, open layout that provides just the right level of difficulty for a range of abilities. The Aviara course features unusually large greens. Not to mention a killer ice plant, magnificent sand dunes, and the photogenic lighthouse. Red Mountain Ranch Country Club, Mesa, 1986 (with Perry Dye) Karsten Golf Course at ASU, Tempe, 1989 (with Perry Dye) California. Golfers can choose from a wide variety of portable launch monitor price points and user experiences. The course offers a good challenge, with one of the toughest holes being the par-3 seventeenth hole. Wait until fall, and shoot away. 17. Combine that with a par of 73, and a ridiculous Course Rating of 80, and you've got one of the most consistently challenging courses in the . 23. Its one of the most beautiful on the course and versatile in its club selection. It weaves you through a wind-swept forest one minute and flings you out by crashing surf the next. Its no secret that San Diego has arguably the best weather for golf in the continental United States. 8. There are also only a few straight holes, but this doesnt seem to bother most players. Oct. 30, 2019 6:35 AM PT. Located in the hills of Poway northeast of San Diego, Maderas Golf Club features a steely, tumbling layout and exceptional conditioning that can hold its own with any course in town. The modest greens fees make it even more memorable: $31-$36. 4. Coronado Golf course was rated on of the best courses in the nation by Golf Digest, so make time to . 1 77 Asilomar Boulevard, Pacific Grove; 831-648-3175. The little negative feedback received stems from course construction, where temporary holes were created to make up the numbers. Its the only Arnold Palmer design in the area, but this course is as much botanical garden as it is golf. 4. Torrey Pines North, host of the Farmers Insurance Open, is also a must play with arguably better ocean views than the South course. The Lodge's famous Tap Room is the best course restaurant in America. It also hosts the yearly Farmers Insurance Open, formerly known as the San Diego Open. Ranked 5th in the U.S. by Golf Digest, theres a lot to like about Coronado. Carmel Valley Ranch Golf ClubAfter years of tinkering with this controversial, once uncompromising Pete Dye course, first opened in 1981, the current owners have almost got it right. Located just minutes from downtown San Diego, Coronado Golf Course is a great pick if you are looking for a public golf course. Golf Digest course panelists comment on America's 20 toughest golf courses. Farmingdale, Old American Golf Club. Marine Memorial features a regulation 18 holes and a 9-hole par-3 course. 22651 Pelican Hill Road South, Newport Coast; 949-760-0707; www.pelicanhill.com. words by ivy elrod, illustration by Gigi Rose Gray. Whats more, this golf course is near downtown San Diego. This very busy, very picturesque municipal course offers a completely different waterfront golf experience than its coastal cousin, Torrey Pines. 7447 Batiquitos Drive, Carlsbad; 760-603-6900; www.golfsd.com/aviara.html. It's relatively off-the-beaten-path location also keeps its green fees a little lower compared to the top resorts and Torrey Pines in the market. Explore the surrounding area to find 29 courses, 36 leagues, and 7 stores. The cascading-waterfall finish adds to the wow factor. If you're looking for a uniquely challenging experience should head to The Farm's Golf Club. Northwood Golf ClubWhile you are loitering on the Sonoma coast you have to check this outa true artifact of golf history. Green fees: $250-275. Routed brilliantly over some spectacular terrain (woodland, vineyard, grassland), with excellent views and superfine greens, the course features almost every kind of shot value imaginablea true test of one's range of skills. Designed by Gary Player, its plain to see from the above photo that the Steel Canyon golf course is highly photogenic. PGA West: Guest greens fees $50-$205. From the 1st hole, it offers up beautiful views of the city. At sundown Thursday, the Town Park Villas Golf Course will shut down. Those criteria make these facilities the toughest to tackle. The Grand also features an enormous clubhouse with top amenities and a plush practice area with bunkers, chipping green and a double-ended range. Highway 1; 707-785-2468; www.searanchvillage.com. 1 Family Golf Destination in the Country by Golf Digest. CARLSBAD, Calif. - It's been dubbed the Silicon Valley of golf and compared to Detroit for the auto industry or to Akron, Ohio, the rubber capital of the world. San Diego golf courses count: 69 Showing: # of #. Admiral Baker features 36 holes and is open to civilians. The front nine unfolds with a true links flavor, offering narrow fairways and few flat lies, while the home march leads you very nearly into the marsh itself. Greens fees: $80-$100. Its courses are famous the world over for their lush greenery, dramatic oceanside vistas, majestic elevation changes and nearly perfect . 4. Selecting the top courses in the world is not easy, and some good grounds don't make the cut. The TPC Stadium Course has several memorable holes, with the famous 17th island green, arguably outdone by the largely unrecognized 16th . Arrowood; Aviara; Coronado; Cross Creek; Enagic Golf Club at Eastlake; Encinitas Ranch; La Costa; Maderas; Mt Woodson; Pala Mesa; Rancho Bernardo Inn; Riverwalk; Steele Canyon; Singing Hills; Temecula Creek Golf Club; The Crossings at Carlsbad; Twin Oaks; Vineyard; San Diego Golf Trail . 1 955 Fairway Boulevard, Incline Village, Nevada; 888-236-8725;www.golfincline.com. And Also close is the Tom Fazio-designed Grand Golf Club, which is next to thethe 400-acre Fairmont Grand Del Mar resort. By contrast, Dye's La Quinta Mountain Course, in 1992 the site of the California State Open, and the slightly gentler adjacent Dunes Course are frequently rated by pros and superintendents as two of the fairest tests in the state. Dr. Alister Mackenzie, a military expert in the art of camouflage and the famed architect of Augusta National and Cypress Point Club, wrought something truly wonderful at Pasatiempo: a smallish (just 6,400 yards) golf course that plays like anything but, meandering up and down gentle hills, with fairways cinched by huge trees and nearly perfect greens. 19. But aside from a similar bluffside setting and its championship tee yardage, the North is very dissimilar from its notorious next door neighbor. 2. My only regret was that I had to see it in a hurry and was forced to play much faster than I would have preferred. Though technically in San Diego County, Rams Hill Golf Club in Borrego Springs is in no man's land: about two hours from San Diego airport and about 90 minutes from Palm Springs. 5. La Quinta Hotel guest greens fees: $50-$205. The coursea walker's paradise roams just 6,500 yards up and down the lovely eucalyptus-covered hills of the Presidio, but dramatic elevation changes, smallish greens, and narrow fairways make it a much sterner challenge than it appears on the card. Pete Dye's TPC Stadium Golf Course at PGA West is the (in)famous headlinera sadomasochistic "must-play" tour de force packed with pot bunkers, sand hills, and ruthlessly uneven lies. Signature Hole: 3rd hole which is 149 yards. Many claim Maderas Golf Club has the best views of any course in the area. Highest-Owned Golfers. Tiger Woods defeated Rocco Mediate here back in 2008. With excellent views, amazing staff, and a forecaddie for each group, the Grand Golf Club has one of the best golf courses in San Diego, no doubt. 5. Torrey Pines Golf CourseSince you're in the neighborhood, you might as well take in the king of southern California municipal golf: a place that, whatever it lacks in terms of refinements, it compensates for with a pair of terrific, well-conditioned golf courses. Three courses (Canyon, Lake, and Mountain) provide distinctly different challenges. It's pricey ($229 on weekends) and requires some advance planning to procure a tee time (go to sandiego.gov for details), but it's worth it for the magnificent views, top conditions and championship history. This previously private, member-built classic that dates back to 1895 is a must-play for any golf enthusiast or student of classic design and club architecture. words by Sophie Mancini, illustration by ahonen & lamberg. The course has undergone two major renovations, one in 2001 and another in 2019, the latter costing $14 million. Look for the available Hot Deals and save up to 80% off on tee times and receive 100% weather protection guarantee. 1300 Sylvan Road, Monterey; 831-373-2700; www.pebblebeach.com. stands Mission Trails Golf Course, 6,000 yards, par 71 . You can select between a hybridand a 9 iron, just make sure you dont overhit! Coronado is just a 6,500-yard layout tightly squeezed onto the eastern side of the island beside the Coronado Bridge. Greens fees: $55-$60. The course was formerly featured in the Farmers Insurance Open which speaks to its pedigree. Throw in all sorts of off-course activities from beaches to a Padres game, a fabulous dining scene, microbrews galore, and luxurious accommodations and spas, San Diego delivers on all fronts. 180 Lake Parkway, Stateline, Nevada; 775-588-3566; www.edgewood-tahoe.com. Spyglass Hill Golf CourseRobert Trent Jones' West Coast tribute to Augusta National and Pine Valley has never been betteror more difficult. Players describe the course as affordable and challenging. According to Billionaire.com, the two most exclusive golf courses in California are Cypress Point Golf Club and Los Angeles Country Club. At 6,590 yards, the course is long enough for big hitters, and fairly open. Our community loves the value and experience at these popular and affordable military facilities and even book online. The other pluses are a super-friendly shop staff and a sweeping panorama of surrounding hills and vineyards. San Diego is a sublime year-round golf season, but course conditions and overall ratings vary greatly month to month. An intimate look at Yosemite National Parks big wall climbing community, and what it takes to get to the top. The emphasis is clearly on your short-game skills, with approaches over water and handsome bunkering that force you to think hard before you pull the trigger, and menacingly sloped putting surfaces that can make you three-putt in the blink of an eye. THE MATERIAL ON THIS SITE MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED, DISTRIBUTED, TRANSMITTED, CACHED OR OTHERWISE USED, EXCEPT WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION OF DISCOVERY GOLF, INC. 2023 DISCOVERY GOLF, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Weiskopf, known for his short par 4s, built some of the world's best public and resort courses. Get exclusive tee times deals in San Diego! 131 reviews of Balboa Park Golf Course "Balboa Park Golf Course is a true muni gem. Long ranked as one of the premier courses in the United States, The Glass, as locals sometimes call it, can smoothly slit your throat within the first five holes, the loveliest opening stretch in American golf, I sometimes think. Sonoma Mission Inn And Country ClubConsidered one of the best places to play in California, the jewel of Sonoma wine country features gentle elevation changes, traditional greens, and enough open spaces to make it ideal for serious beginners: the perfect activity between treatments at the inn's famed spa two miles away. La Quinta Resort & Club And Pga WestDuring the booming postwar years, Hollywood hotshots like Dinah Shore, Frank Sinatra, and Bob Hope put Palm Springs on the map and made desert golf their winter passion. Hole 18 in particular, is one of the most enjoyable. 19400 Highway 116, Monte Rio; 707-865-1116; www.northwoodgolf.com. Encinitas Ranch has elevated tees as well as some distant ocean views, plus the course is super playable. Insights: Hawaii has the most difficult courses, followed by Nevada and Florida. Greens feature old-style shoulders that place a premium on approach shots, and the bunkering here can be murderous. Ignore the help and play this gem with your bag on your shoulder. Costa del Mar Road, Carlsbad; 760-438-9111; www.lacosta.com. The greens are fairly fast, the staff are friendly, and if it were not for the slower pace of games, Steel Canyon may have ranked higher. The back nine, meandering through the stately Monterey pines, can soothe and haunt you, especially when the fog rolls in and the deer come out to feed at dusk. Why pickleball is the feel-good game craze we all need right now. Signature Hole: 15th hole which is 253 yards. 25002 Golf Drive, Aliso Viejo; 949-598-9200; www.alisogolf.com. 3200 Lopez Road, Pebble Beach; 831-625-2035. 13. 1 Old Ranch Road, Carmel; 831-626-2510. But that's what makes it fun. There are also a handful of highly reputable military golf courses. This is probably the hardest course in San Diego with amazing vistas. Neighboring municipalities like Carlsbad, Coronado and Oceanside also deliver affordable, fun munis for all. Too bad Ralph didn't play golf, because the same can be said of golf in the Golden State: It is plentiful, wonderful, and remarkably varied, ranging from $12 goat farms with world-class views of the Pacific to the most elite public course in the world, Pebble Beach. If you can't hit straight tee shots, however, you'll just have to enjoy the splendid isolation and the handsome redwoods. Fortunately, this little slice of Southern California heaven also offers an impressive portfolio of courses. Copyright 2023 GolfPass. The two courses the Champions and the Legends Course have undergone renovations in recent years as part of a $50 million dollar overall improvement program at this storied resort. In the meantime, the Legends course is available which is also highly rated on TheGrint with an overall score of 86.4. The field is +201 on the South . Tot Hill Farm Golf Club. 2. This is scenic resort golf at its best, and an undeniably luxury experience from start to finish. The good resort value, homes-free setting and option to add an 18-hole par-3 course afterwards makes this a top-10 area pick. Today we will be rating the best golf courses in San Diego according to real playerswith help from TheGrint. But the natural beauty of this SoCal city doesn't stop at the blue Pacific coast. The par-four 365-yard 16th was Mackenzie's favorite hole in golf, with its blind drive and its challenging approach to a three-tiered green. 11480 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla; 619-570-1234. Goat Hill Park, Oceanside. The Jayhawks have won six in a row in the sport's toughest conference and lead the country . 20. Here is what's new and the best ones to consider to improve your golf. Our course is a pleasure for golfers of any skill level to play. Finishing holes border the lake, and the par-threes are especially challenging and memorable. 55 c) . The pilgrims keep coming in droves, and the answer is an unequivocal "yes." Our course guide has 109 golf courses within 30 miles of Carlsbad. A former local, who discovered her deep love for food and hospitality in this Our editors weigh in on their most satisfying dining experiences. Tops in the San Diego area, this pretty golf course is situated in the heart of golf's Silicon Valley, near the manufacturing complexes of Callaway and Taylor Made, among others. Pete Dye Course Courses in the United States Arizona. By Anngmesa. Sea n' Air Golf Course, meanwhile, is located on Coronado at the North Island Navy Base and open only to DoD personnel who have gate clearance. A tricky downhill par 3. Greens fees: $185- $210. There is a collection of reputable San Diego golf resorts, but the municipal roster is also one of the best in the country. We scoured the web of golf and found holiday savings up to 50% off. The Champions, dating to 1965, is an historic tournament venue that has hosted 37 PGA Tour events. Why wouldnt you? Acme, Mich. The Stadium Course at . Ponants Le Commandant Charcot breaks the ice for an unparalleled polar cruising experience. Signature Hole: 18th hole which is 421 yards. Torrey Pines Golf Course is a 36-hole municipal golf facility on the west coast of the United States, owned by the city of San Diego, California.It sits on the coastal cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean in the community of La Jolla, just south of Torrey Pines State Reserve.Opened in 1957, it was built on the site of Camp Callan, a U.S. Army installation during World War II. Steele Canyon Golf Course, located in San Diego, is only one of three San Diego County golf courses to have been awarded a prestigious Four . New Mexico beat Creighton 4-0, lost 1-12 to No.4 Oklahoma State, fell 0-15 and 0-1 to Nebraska, and lost to WAC affiliate New Mexico State 6-7. So that summarizes the 9 best golf courses in San Diego according to fellow golfers. What they're saying: "The elevation changes off the tee box are dramatic as you fire your tee shot through a chute of trees to generous fairways that seem to funnel the ball into play." - StoicGolfer. It is one of the hardest golf courses in the world to get a tee time. In both cases the views of the ocean and the Sonoma hills are inspiring. Narrowing down ten of the best San Diego golf courses, not to mention sorting them into any order, isn't easy. You won't soon forget it. Alister Mackenzie built this storied nine-holer amid the towering redwoods and massive firs in 1928. Brandon Tucker is the Sr. A bargain for locals (who pay a fraction of what out-of-towners pay), Torrey Pines, located along the bluffs above the Pacific just north of San Diego, is the host of the PGA Tours Farmers Insurance Open, and was the site (South Course) of Tiger Woods 14th major win, the 2008 U.S. Open, in which he beat Rocco Mediate in a playoff. That's the hardest shot in golf, the 40-yard bunker shot, because you can skull it over the green or catch it fat." The 14th hole, left, and 10th hole, right, of the Torrey Pines South Course . Ojai Valley Inn & SpaThere's something about this venerable retreat I simply adoreit's so "old" California, with a marvelously subtle George C. Thomas course built in the 1920s and thoughtfully retouched by Jay Morrish in '88. 18 c) 5. You will walk in the footsteps of many a famous golfer at this municipal track, named after the rare native pine that grows wild along this stretch of coastline. Greg Norman's gorgeous new PGA West layout, 7,156 yards in length and gloriously framed by sand and desert flora, is justly earning rave reviews. Greens fees: $65-$180. Rancho Santa Fe Golf ClubAlthough it's a members-only club, guests of the plush Rancho Santa Fe Inn have access after 1 p.m. Signature Hole: 3rd hole which is 383 yards. In 2011 the course was renovated which included the addition of four new holes. Some say it borders on the unfair, like most stadium courses, which are designed to inflict maximum pain on the pros and entertain mere mortal spectators at golf tournaments. The Grand Golf Club - Luxury Pick. For many years, there were only a few well-recognized courses in the area. An easier sister course, The Black Horse, is also located on the sprawling former army base. The Robert Trent Jones Masterpiece at Treetops The Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort. This is an app that lets players check out courses and store golfing stats. Torrey Pines South, home of the 2008 and 2021 US Open, is on everyone's list. This story was published before Summer 2021, when we launched our new digital experience. Opened in 1991 before the Ryder Cupand dubbed Looney Dunes for the mishaps therethe Ocean Course has the highest combination of Slope Rating (155) and Course Rating (79.6) in America. Player sentiment toward this course is very high. Nonetheless, its a must-try for avid golfers. While he's played some of the most prestigious courses in the world, Tucker's favorite way to play the game is on a great muni in under three hours. What started as a simple passion project to make fun golf videos of amazing courses has taken us to place. Omni La Costa Resort & Spa (Champions Course) Rancho Bernardo Inn Golf Course. Words by Elissa Polls, Photography and video by Stebs Schinnerer. The walking culture is quite strong as long as the property isn't too mountainous. The turf is always hard and seemingly unwatered, but that's half the charm of the place. There are two 18-hole courses at this classic Carlsbad resort, each with a distinct look and set of challenges. 12. You are eased in somewhat as the difficulty picks up on the back nine. Green fee: $59-$125. Thanksgiving may have passed but the effects of celebratory eating around the table, and also possibly social imbibing during all the various football games throughout the weekend, are sticking with us. Managing Editor for GolfPass and was the founding editor of Golf Advisor in 2014, he was the managing editor for Golf Channel Digital's Courses & Travel. In Carlsbad, theres La Costa Resort & Spa, which has played host to numerous LPGA and PGA Tour events over the years. To experience this Arnold Palmer design at its best, when the rough is high and the greens are fast, time your visit just before or after the LPGA Tour's Kia Classic, in March. Though the resort seems to be constantly battling the fatigue factor, skipping this terrific Dick Wilson-Joe Lee jewel would be a big mistake. Considering what you pay in the area to play courses half as challenging, you may blink in astonishment at the $60 weekday rate ($85 on weekends). Like its sister course, the North is a gem, with spectacular views and immaculate conditioning. The Lobos enter the GCU/ASU Classic 6-9 after most recently recording a 1-4 effort last weekend at the Troy Cox Classic. Pebble, like St. Andrews, is for true peers of the game. Enagic Golf Club at EastLake 9th hole. Greens fees are a bargain too: $42-$57. Golf Courses.