Coronado GC
Coronado, CA (near San Diego)
Golf Digest Senior Editor Matty G's Top 10 Most Affordable Golf Courses In The Country
Golf Digest 2/10, 10/10
Explanation: In almost every trip to report an Away Game, I try to find a round of affordable golf to include in my itinerary. "Affordable" is as relative a term as a list like this is subjective. So for the purpose of this list, here’s how I’m defining affordable: A course that charges less than $125 on weekends during peak season for non-residents. I’m ranking them in reverse order, based on the green fee. The least expensive on my list earns the top spot.
# 1--Coronado Municipal Golf Course in Coronado, Calif. ($35). If Bethpage Black is my favorite course near my favorite city in the country, Coronado is my favorite course near San Diego, my second favorite city. The last time I played there was with my brother and a best friend from high school. Most of my brother’s clubs ended up in the neighboring San Diego Bay (I think he kept his driver and his putter). It was quite a scene at a course known for its high quality and a low fee. Advanced tee times (8-14 days) are $60. All other tee times can be obtained through a daily lottery and phone calls. (Twilight, $15, starts at 1 p.m. in the winter.)
10/10:
I started at Coronado Golf Course, a gem I consider the best value in the United States. Five minutes south of downtown and over the big, blue Coronado Bay Bridge, this fun muny is a favorite spot for locals, business travelers and tourists who appreciate the price ($30 weekdays, $35 weekends) and the views of San Diego Bay. More than 100,000 rounds were played at this waterfront course last year, which hardly seems mathematically possible. That's roughly a foursome every 10 minutes for 12 hours a day, 365 days a year, so expect a five-hour round.
Among Coronado's constant parade of golfers, most take advantage of the flat topography by walking. The layout winds through an affluent neighborhood and spins past the Hotel del Coronado, where the Marilyn Monroe-Jack Lemmon classic "Some Like it Hot" was filmed in the late 1950s. The par-72 course tips out at 6,590 yards, features a few parallel fairways and finishes along the bay.
As you'd expect, tee times can be hard to come by. You can get a time for 10 a.m. or later three to 14 days in advance (call 619-435-3121 ext. 1). Note: There's a $15 fee per player for an advance tee time. You can also show up early and get into the daily lottery at the starter booth.
Where To Booze & Grub: See Steel Canyon GC
See also: San Diego Golf Weekend