San Diego CA Golf Weekend
GolfChannel.com, 12/11
Worldgolf.com, 5/11
Golf Digest, 9/10
T&L Golf, 3/07
Torrey Pines
Take on San Diego's toughest golf courses
Katie Denbo
Dec 14, 2011
Torrey Pines South Course, La Jolla
It's not enough that most people's first thought of San Diego golf falls on Torrey Pines. Ask golfers what they think is the most difficult layout in the area, and they'll likely say Torrey Pines South -- and for good reason.
"I played Torrey Pines South just days before it was closed for the 2008 U.S. Open," said Rich Davis, a San Diego snowbird from British Columbia. "The course was at 90 percent tournament conditions. It may be the most brutally difficult round I have every played."
It's not a coincidence that the Farmers Insurance Open and San Diego City Amateur Championship are currently played at Torrey South, as well as past premiere USGA and Southern California regional championships. The sheer length isn't tough enough: Its Black tees measure in at a whopping 7,628 yards and a rating of 78.2/144, while its blue tees come in at 7,051 yards and 75.3/137. (Ladies are looking at a massive 82.8/148 and par 77 from those Blues.) The course also grows kikuyu rough, which is thick, sticky and -- depending on what time of year the course is being played -- very long. It's long enough that a ball landing only a foot or two off the fairway could very well be lost forever.
In the end it's not all tough, though. Signature views of the Pacific Ocean, and the fact that players are literally walking in the footsteps of some of the game's most notable professional players, hopefully lighten the golf load just a little.
Carlton Oaks Golf Club, Santee
The only public Dye family layout in San Diego, Carlton Oaks Golf Club incorporates many of the elements that go into a difficult design.
Built in 1958 and renovated several times since, now more than 400 mature trees line the fairways of the 7,225-yard (75.8/148) golf course -- women measure in at 6,140 and 76.3/144 -- while Dye's signature railroad ties enclose several lakes that golfers are forced to negotiate.
Fairways look flat but are deceivingly undulating, while fast greens will tack on strokes to a score unless well-read.
Maderas Golf Club, Poway
Maderas Golf Club in Poway survived the devastating Witch Fire of 2007, in which flames burned bridges and brush on the course but jumped fairways and greens. Months later, the course was back in action, its beautifully difficult Johnny Miller layout welcoming players back with length and undulations to challenge their skills and nerves.
Maderas, the top-rated San Diego golf course for seven consecutive years according to the Zagat Survey, measures 7,063 yards from its Black tees with an 75.4/144 rating (from the 6,398-yard White tees, women are looking at an impressive 77.0/147 rating). Much of the challenge comes from maneuvering through rock outcroppings, ravines, elevation changes, creeks, three lakes and 40 acres of native wildflowers.
Smarts are rewarded at Maderas; laying up in front of creeks and hazards -- such as on the 583-yard third hole -- will avoid ego-bruising in the long run. Equally beneficial is the ability to carry the ball, as is required on the 600-yard 18th hole kicked off by a 200-yard forced carry over a ravine.
Barona Creek Golf Club, Lakeside
At 7,384 yards from its back tees, Barona Creek Golf Club is one of the longer layouts in San Diego, and among its top rankings and accolades, it hosted the 2007 Nationwide Tour Championship.
With a rating/slope of 75.8/144, the course appears wide open, but between quickly rolling fairways, multiple creeks, water hazards and more than 100 bunkers scattered throughout, golfers playing those back tees are forced to play smart to avoid what wouldn't be coming into play from shorter tees.
Aviara Golf Club, Carlsbad
Aviara Golf Club, located at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort and Spa, is the only Arnold Palmer-designed layout in San Diego. At 7,007 yards (and 75.0/144), the property overlooks the Batiquitos Lagoon and takes golfers on a journey that includes avoiding water hazards on eight different holes, eucalyptus trees, wildflowers and an abundance of colorful vegetation.
The course plays tight on the front nine, rolling along with the natural terrain. Par 3s are especially tricky, involving either carries over trouble or elevation changes.
For those whose egos are bruised afterward, a trip to the TaylorMade Performance Lab at Aviara may be necessary. One of only 12 TaylorMade sites in the nation to get your clubs dialed in, TMPL's MAT-T (Motion Analysis Technology by TaylorMade) system provides golfers with a 3D club-fitting experience that was previously only available to PGA Tour pros.
Other bruiser golf courses in the San Diego area
The Grand Golf Club's Tom Fazio layout in Del Mar measures in at 7,138 yards with a rating/slope of 74.8/139. The private clubs are equally challenging: From the back tees, Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club -- home of the 2010 California State Amateur Championship -- comes in at 7,053 yards and a rating/slope of 74.9/142, while the Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe looks at 6,965 yards and 74.0/142.
Play the golf courses of San Diego on three budgets
By Brandon Tucker, Senior Writer, Worldgolf.com
SAN DIEGO -- The best part about golf in San Diego, weather aside, is that there is a course for every wallet size. Visitors can come and play the best that southern California has to offer, or simply find a warm-weather escape from their snowed-in home during the winter.
There are 90-plus golf courses in San Diego County, making for tremendous variety both stylistically and for affordability.
So which San Diego golf scene is right for you? Here are some golf courses for three separate budgets.
The sunshine is on the house. San Diego golf for high-rollers San Diego's elite golf courses range from more than $100 to about $230.
Golfers seeking the most prestigious area play start with the South Course at Torrey Pines, home of the 2008 U.S. Open. It features the most spectacular setting of any municipal golf course in America, towering on the cliffs of La Jolla above the ocean. The next-door North Course at Torrey Pines is no slouch, either, as it hosts early rounds of the Farmers Insurance Open on the PGA Tour. The North Course can be played for about $100 cheaper than the South Course.
The easiest way to play at Torrey Pines is by staying at the Lodge at Torrey Pines or the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines. Both are new properties, located right off the golf course, and offer golf packages with guaranteed tee times.
The best "member-for-a-day" experience in the area can be found at Troon Golf-managed Maderas Golf Club. Low-handicap players can enjoy a golf course that plays more than 7,100 yards from the tips, and all levels of golfers can enjoy tour-worthy conditions, facilities and service on rolling, open terrain north of San Diego.
If you want to play a private area course, stay at Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa. This luxurious haven near Del Mar hosts many of the world's most rich and famous, and staying here comes with access to area private courses such as Del Mar Country Club and The Farms Golf Club. Tee times to Torrey Pines can also be booked through the club's concierge.
Other high-end resort options include 36-hole La Costa Resort & Spa, Park Hyatt Aviara Resort's Aviara Golf Club, Grand Del Mar Resort and Barona Resort & Casino, each of which feature some of the area's top golf experiences. San Diego golf on a moderate budget You can still enjoy some fine golf around San Diego, from overachieving municipal courses to resort properties, for between $50-$100.
Golfers who want a tournament test on the cheap will want to start at Carlton Oaks Lodge & Country Club in Santee. Originally opened in 1958, it was entirely revamped by P.B. Dye and is now a frequent host to Canadian Tour and PGA Tour qualifying events, boasting a layout that plays more than 7,200 yards.
Nearby Carlsbad recently added to the prolific munis within San Diego County with The Crossings at Carlsbad, which tumbles up and down severe mountain terrain and features wide fairways, ocean views and plenty of trouble everywhere. The facilities are complete with a fantastic clubhouse brunch set high above the golf course and a large practice range.
You can enjoy area resort golf without staying at a break-the-bank property. Start at Sycuan Resort, which is one of the area's most all-encompassing golf facilities. Set in the valley floor of El Cajon, there are two scenic and traditional 18-hole courses, an 18-hole executive course and full practice facilities.
For a little taste of history, the Rancho Bernardo Inn boasts a relaxing and beautiful walk back in time. This William F. Bell design winds through mature and shady trees, gently rolling hills and small ponds.
For some more mid-level options, try Steele Canyon, Salt Creek Golf Club and Tecolote Canyon. San Diego on a bargain budget Bargain golf in San Diego means less $50, and there are plenty of options.
One of America's greatest values is right in the heart of the action on Coronado Island -- municipal Coronado Golf Course. Spectacularly set along the busy San Diego Bay, golfers can play here, resident or not, for as low as $30. The catch? It's a wildly popular play that requires entering a St. Andrews-like lottery system two days before your tee time, or booking earlier in advance and paying a fee.
One unsung value golf course that doesn't get a lot of press is Carmel Mountain Ranch Country Club. This residential community course boasts an up-and-down, roller-coaster ride designed by Ronald Fream. But the real draw is the greens, which are some of the best in the area, even as good as what you might find in San Diego's top-shelf courses.
Across the highway is the affordable DoubleTree Golf Resort. Run by Arnold Palmer Management, this course is loved by seniors and locals. It boasts fine conditions and a traditional, parkland design with a mix of short par 4s sprinkled with enough long holes to keep things interesting.
Another newer addition to San Diego is Arrowood Golf Course, located north of San Diego. Part of a growing residential development, the course is surprisingly natural, playing beside rolling farmland in many spots.
Also available to bargain hunters in search of a top layout is the semi-private Golf Club of California. Opened in 2002, green fees can be less than $50, yet the challenging design plays up to 6,900 yards.
Zane Lamprey's Drinking Made Easy Guide To San Diego, 2011
San Diego is the eight largest city in the United States and the second largest in California. This beach community, known for its ideal climate, miles of coastline and rich heritage, calls itself “America’s Finest City”. Known as “the birthplace of California”, it was home to the Kumeyaay Indians for 10,000 years before Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, who named the area San Miguel, claimed it for the Spanish Empire in 1542. In 1602, Sebastián Vizcaíno was sent to map the California coast, and as he didn’t recognize the area formerly claimed as San Miguel, he renamed it after St. Didacus, a Spaniard Catholic saint that was more commonly known as San Diego. The historical aspects of San Diego can be found in Old Town, where California’s first Mission is located. In the 1860s, the settlement moved to New Town, which is now Downtown San Diego, to be closer to the ocean, which was more convenient for shipping. Today, San Diego has the second largest population in California. With more than 1.3 million residents, it is one of the richest cities in the world and is consistently voted as one of the best and safest places to live. Its neighborhood communities each offer their own distinct nightlife scene and there is no shortage of places to eat and drink. If you can pull yourself away from the beautiful beaches of San Diego, you’ll find that it’s one easy place for drinking.
BEACH BEVERAGES
San Diego is largely defined by its beach culture and there is certainly no shortage of nightlife along the coast. One of the most popular beach cities in San Diego is Pacific Beach. Largely populated by young people, surfers and college students, “PB”, as it’s known as by locals, is home to one of San Diego’s main centers of nightlife, with dozens of bars, pubs, eateries, and coffee houses.
Just on the water at the end of Grand Avenue, you’ll find Pacific Beach Shore Club, an airy, second story sports bar, with a great view of the ocean. Just steps from the sand, patrons can enjoy $3.50 schooners of Pacifico, their special concoction: the Red Bull and Vodka Slushy, and a number of other great drinks. Featuring unique “drinking gloves”, sports on the television, views of the sunset along with San Diego’s best fish tacos, PB Shore Club will provide you with the ultimate beach dining and drinking experience. Weekly events include Monday night beer pong and Wednesday night Goldfish races.
Pacific Beach Shore Club | 4343 Ocean Blvd, San Diego, CA 92109 | (858) 272-7873
Located next door to the Shore Club is Pacific Beach Alehouse, a two-story bistro and brewery that features some of the city’s best microbrew. Handcrafted beers like the Crystal Pier Pale Ale, Amber Wave and Shipwrecked Stout give patrons a beach-y beer tasting experience. A diverse food menu includes items that use their eight signature beers in things like salad dressings, sauces, batters and dessert.
Only a few blocks away, just steps from the sand, is the always-happening Lahaina Beach House. This bar, resembling a beach house, has a large patio facing the ocean. Since drinking on the beaches in San Diego was outlawed in 2008, it’s the closest you can get to legally drinking near the ocean in the area.
One of the best places in PB to enjoy a hearty breakfast after a big Saturday night on the town is Gringo’s Cantina. Offering an all you can eat brunch buffet and free flowing Champagne every Sunday from 10am to 3pm, you can cure that hangover with the age-old “hair of the dog” remedy.
Just to the south of PB is another great local beach community with an active nightlife scene: Mission Beach. Mission Beach’s relaxed, beach-style bars are similar to PB, but tend to draw a little bit of an older crowd. Some of the more popular places include The Beachcomber, The Coaster Saloon and The Wave House, a beachside bar-and-grill featuring an 8-foot tall barreling artificial wave called the Bruticus Maximus.
Further up the coast, in San Diego’s North County is Solana Beach where you’ll find a popular beer and pizza joint, Pizza Port. Opened in 1987 by siblings Gina and Vince Marsaglia, it was just a pizza place until 1992 when theybegan offering handcrafted beer, brewed right on site. Their first, and still most popular brew, the Shark Bite Red, is a 5.5% robust red ale made with Centennial and Cascade hops. The success of the original Solana Beach Pizza Port location has led to the opening of three other brewpubs in Ocean Beach, Carlsbad and San Clemente. Each of their four locations combine signature foods, handcrafted beers and the unique atmosphere of the beach town that surrounds it.
Pizza Port Solana Beach | 135 North Highway 101, Solana Beach, CA 92075 | (858) 481-7332
DOWNTOWN DRINKS
Downtown San Diego is divided into a number of individual neighborhoods like Columbia, Horton Plaza, Cortez Hill, Little Italy, Marina, Gaslamp Quarter and East Village. Each section of town hasits own bars, pubs and restaurants making this one of San Diego’s biggest nightlife resources. One of the area’s most popular entertainment destinations is the Gaslamp Quarter, a 16.5 block historic district, which features over 100 restaurants, 40 nightclubs and bars.
In the heart of the Gaslamp District, on 4th Avenue and Market Street is La Puerta, a Mexican bar and restaurant that has an extensive tequila list, unique cocktails and a daily happy hour. Featuring only tequilas that are 100% blue agave, they house over 110 tequilas from small scale companies around the world and offer their patrons a true “Mexperience”.
Angel of Harlem
Muddled Serrano Peppers
Hibiscus Infused Tequila
Strawberry Puree
Agave Nectar
Lemon Lime Soda
The Brown Sugar
Rim martini glass with Tajin
Muddle Cinnamon Soaked Ginger and Reposado Tequila
Add Orange Juice and Agave Syrup with ice
Shake, strain and serve in martini glass
La Puerta | 560 4th Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101 | (619) 696-3466
A few blocks outside of the Gaslamp Quarter is a tiny hidden speakeasy called Noble Experiment. Named after the term that President Herbert Hoover coined to describe Prohibition, it’s accessed through a wall of kegs in a nondescript hallway in a gastropub called Neighborhood. A joint venture between Neighborhood owner Arsalun Tafazoli and El Dorado Cocktail Lounge co-owner Nate Stanton, Noble Experiment is an unpretentious bar with an eclectic mix of patrons. Their bartenders are well versed in serving up amazing classic cocktails using fresh ingredients and hand cut ice cubes, and they take pride in helping guests select the perfect cocktail. Space is limited so you’ll need to call ahead to make a reservation.
The Monte Carlo
Benedictine
Angostura Bitters
Rye Whiskey
Orange Zest
Lemon Zest
Ramos Gin Fizz
Gin
Lemon Juice
Lime Juice
Simple Syrup
Orange Flower Water
Heavy Whipping Cream
Club Soda
Egg White
Noble Experiment | 777 G Street, San Diego, CA 92101 | (619) 888-4713
Since you won’t find a huge beer selection at Noble Experiment (and frankly the cocktails are the best reason to go there anyway), if you’re more in the mood for a beer, be sure to check out the bar that houses its secret space, Neighborhood. With 27 beers on tap, many which are unique brews, they highlight a vast selection of locally brewed beer and specialize in pairing them with simple, straightforward food. They also offer a great collection of bottled beer, wine by the glass or bottle, and an array of bourbon, scotch and whiskey.
One of San Diego’s oldest drinking establishments is The Waterfront Bar & Grill, located in the Little Italy neighborhood of Downtown. Established in 1933, shortly after the repeal of Prohibition, it’s rumored that Wyatt Earp who would do business in San Diego, was an early customer.
LOCAL BOOZE AND BREWS
Next to Portland, Oregon, San Diego is one of the most prolific producing areas of beer on the west coast. With 32 working brew houses, San Diego County is home to the most eclectic variety of beers across in the country.
One of the most significant craft breweries in the US is Stone Brewing Company, which is headquartered just northeast of San Diego in Escondido. Founded in 1996 by Greg Koch and Steve Wagner, it’s become one of the fastest growing breweries in the United States and is one of the highest rated breweries in the world. The self-proclaimed “birthplace of hop-forward beers”, Stone Brewing also produces some of the best of the West Coast and San Diego IPA’s. Their flagship ales Stone Pale Ale and Stone IPA are highly revered in the beer community and with consumers as well. Arrogant Bastard, one of their most well known brews, has spawned spinoff brews like the Oaked Arrogant Bastard, Lukcy Basartd and Double Bastard Ale. In the past few years, Stone has created several Collaboration Ales with other breweries, like the recently released Highway 78 Scotch Ale with Green Flash and Pizza Port Carlsbad and they also produce an annual “Vertical Epic” brew, which correlates with a month, day and year. The most recent Vertical Epic was called 10/10/10 and this years release will be 11/11/11.
A destination in itself, the Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens is an amazing place to enjoy lunch or dinner while sampling some of their finest brews. Along with daily brewery tours, weekly “Beer U” classes are offered at their facility, as well as beer and food pairings hosted by “Dr.” Bill Sysak and executive Chef Alex Carballo. Annual events like Oakinox and Sour Fest take place in their restaurant and gardens.
Stone Brewing Company | 1999 Citracado Parkway, Escondido, CA 92029 | (760) 471-4999
Ballast Point Brewing Company, which started as homebrew store in 1992 by home brewersJack White and Yuseff Cherney, is today one of San Diego’s most prominent craft breweries. Founded as a brewery in 1996, it gets its name from the point where Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo first set foot on the Point Loma. All of their beers are named after local fish: Yellowtail Pale Ale, Calico Amber Ale , Big Eye I.P.A., Black Marlin Porter and Wahoo Wheat Beer. The Yellowtail, which is also known as a “session beer”, is their biggest seller and flagship ale. Their brewery offers daily tours and tastings.
Ballast Point is also now home to the first craft distillery in San Diego, and their facilities are located just next door to the brewery. Makers of Old Grove Gin, a London dry-style spirit and Three Sheets Rum, a turbinado sugar-based rum that is uniquely aged for 18 months in new American oak charred barrels, they also make a Bloody Mary Mix. Their exclusive Devil’s Share Whiskey will not be done aging, and ready for consumption for a few more years.
Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits | 10051 Old Grove Rd., San Diego, CA 92131 | (858) 695-2739
Another important local breweries is AleSmith, San Diego’s most award-winning brewery and the makers of brews that are inspired by the classic ales of Belgium and Britain. Founded in 1995, their popular brews include the Horny Devil, Wee Heavy and Speedway Stout.
Green Flash Brewing Company, also local, is the producer of finely crafted modern ales. Founded by husband and wife team Mike and Lisa Hinkley, Green Flash’s brewmaster Chuck Silva, has created a number of award-winning beers, like the year-round West Coast IPA and Imperial IPA and seasonal favorites like Le Freak and Trippel Belgian Style Ale. Its name comes from the phenomena that supposedly occurs at the seashore at sunset.
Port Brewing Company lives by the slogan “Inspired beer for saints and sinners alike.” Founded in 2006, Port produces American ales and the Lost Abbey family of Belgian-inspired beers. Crafted under the direction of co-founder and World Champion brewer Tomme Arthur, they have won more than 100 medals in regional, national and international competitions. They’re also ranked (by Rate Beer) as the number three brewery in the world and six of their beers are among the 100 best beers in the world. They are currently distributed to eight states.
Founded in 1989, Karl Strauss Brewing is one of the oldest breweries in San Diego. Often referred to as the beer that started the micro-brew movement in San Diego, it was the first brewpub to open in the area in more than 50 years. Today they have 6 core beers (like Woody Gold, Red Trolley Ale and Endless Summer Light) and a number of seasonal and specialty beers. Their main brewery is located in Pacific Beach but they have five other brewery restaurants in San Diego, Orange County and Los Angeles.
Coronado Brewing Company, located just a few minutes from downtown San Diego, across the Coronado Bridge, offers four year round brews, like the Orange Ave Wit, Mermaids Red Ale and Coronado Golden and a number of other specialty brews throughout the year.
Fat Guy Research: For something a little less highbrow, head for The Tilted Kilt (www.tiltedkilt.com, 1640 Camino De Rio N @ Westfield Mission Valley Mall). Think 'Hooter's meets a great Irish pub.' They do a St. Paddy's Day celebration called St. Practice Day on the 17th of every month.
Away Game
Staying Classy In San Diego
By Matt Ginella, Golf Digest
Photos by Joey Terrill
October 2010
I was born and raised in Northern California, but if I could live anywhere other than New York, it would be San Diego. My love affair with America's Finest City started in 1984, when the Padres won the National League pennant. The next season, on opening day at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Padres catcher Terry Kennedy walked over between innings of a game against the Giants and filled my glove with a ball -- a seed that would grow into a loyal fan forever.
After countless visits, I've discovered I love San Diego for much more than its baseball team. Now, among other things, I love the city for its 30 craft breweries, 70 miles of beaches, its average temperature of 70.5 degrees and the 93 golf courses.
I could choose only four of them to play during my most recent trip to San Diego, so I opted for the two must-plays in the area and two upscale resort courses friends have been recommending.
I also toured three breweries, figuring if a beer tastes good after a round of golf, then a brewery tour in San Diego after four rounds of golf would be bliss.
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.
Coronado GC
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.
Yes, Torrey Pines is a tough get, but if you haven't played it in the past few years, the South deserves a spot in your itinerary. Not only is it where Tiger Woods beat Rocco Mediate in the 2008 U.S. Open, it has been hosting a PGA Tour event annually since 1968. The tournament also uses the shorter North Course ($100-$125), which has ocean views almost as spectacular as its counterpart.
I only had time to play the South on this trip. Although I balked at the green fee ($183-$229), by the time I was done I felt it was worth the premium I paid for being from out of town. After all, it's a prestigious course, and on a few holes you'll be looking at an all-ocean backdrop.
Unless you're a scratch golfer or enjoy holding up the group behind you, play the 6,628-yard white tees. The downhill third hole, a 142-yarder with the Pacific in the distance, is a little like the seventh hole at Pebble Beach. Take at least a half a club less than you think you need, because a ball over the green is gone. The par-5 18th, especially from the 498-yard white tees, is reachable in two for longer hitters. The pond in front of the green drowns a lot of failed approach shots. I got to the green in two and enjoyed a three-putt par, one of the countless reasons I maintain my amateur status.
Just like at New York's Bethpage Black, golfers have been known to sleep in their cars to get tee times at Torrey South. There's a walk-up waiting list for times 6:30 to 7:20 a.m., and it's first-come, first-served. Although I saw several singles fill spots in the tee sheet, the best way for a guaranteed tee time is to call 877-581-7171, option 3, up to 90 days in advance and pay the $43-per-player booking fee. Staying at The Lodge at Torrey Pines also guarantees a tee time on the South course, and as I discovered, the back patio of the restaurant, A.R. Valentien, isn't a bad spot for a post-round burger.
Maderas is one course where you won't have a hard time getting a tee time. Once private but now an upscale public facility, the 1999 Johnny Miller/Robert Muir Graves design is cut into the mountains of North San Diego. It's a little too tight for my bomb-and-gouge game, but it's in great shape, has that feel of exclusivity, and is quiet -- a nice contrast to Coronado's and Torrey's true public-golf atmosphere. Nonresidents pay $170-$210.
As I walked through the golf shop, I almost tackled MVP running back LaDainian Tomlinson. The former Maderas member (15-handicap and No. 125 on Golf Digest's ranking of Athlete-Golfers) was signing his last few Chargers jerseys for charity before heading east to join the New York Jets.
"You stay classy, San Diego," was Ron Burgundy's signature sign-off in the movie "Anchorman." To stay classy in San Diego, stay at The Grand Del Mar. Its Tom Fazio course opened as a daily-fee in 1999. The resort and restaurant were built in 2005, and now the course is open to members and resort guests only. (The price, including cart and forecaddie, is $195-$215).
Tucked into the scenic Sorrento Valley, The Grand offers a better combination of lodging, golf and food than, say, Aviara or La Costa, two other popular resorts in the San Diego area. I doubt you'll get a better meal than the one I had at Addison, The Grand's formal dining option. A golf package starts at $680 for a one-night stay, unlimited golf for two and breakfast.
Now, 25 seasons after Terry Kennedy dropped that ball in my mitt, the Padres are contending for a division title. Pardon this fan's optimism, but a trip to San Diego would be especially sweet in October.
San Diego golf for a song: Looking for affordable tee times in all the right places
By Mike Bailey, Senior Staff Writer, TravelGolf.com, 8/10
Ask almost any golfer what the ideal climate is for playing golf, and the answer almost always describes the year-round weather in San Diego.
Averaging just 10 inches of rain a year with daytime high temperatures usually in the 60s and 70s, it's like playing in air conditioning. Add that to the fact that there are close to 100 golf courses in San Diego, and it just makes sense to book a tee time and travel to San Diego for a golf vacation.
But like any prime destination, San Diego can be expensive. Many of the premium courses command green fees in the $200 range, and the resorts can run a couple of hundred dollars or more a night as well. But fear not; San Diego can be had on a budget. While there are plenty of premium golf resorts, there are also some hidden gems that may or may not have the conditioning of the high-dollar tracks, but they often make up for it in location and history -- and they are good values.
Look to San Diego's municipal golf courses
When you think municipal golf in San Diego, the first place that comes to mind, of course, is Torrey Pines. The 36-hole venue, which was renovated by Rees Jones, has hosted the U.S. Open (the South Course) as well as a PGA Tour event. These days, if you're an out-of-towner, though, you can expect to pay top dollar to play it, while local residents can still play the North and South courses for a song, relatively speaking.
Torrey Pines, however, isn't the only municipal game in town. And while the system's other two courses can't compare to Torrey Pines, they do have plenty of charm.
For example, the 18-hole Balboa Park Golf Course is less than $50 for nonresidents. And while it isn't exactly long at just less than 6,300 yards, it is a classic William Bell layout in the heart of the city with great views of the downtown skyline. And it's just minutes from the convention center and Gaslamp District. Constructed in 1921, the course, as you might expect, rewards accuracy and patience.
City-operated Mission Bay Golf Course and Practice Center has only an 18-hole executive course, but its claim to fame will draw many visitors. The Ted Robinson design, which opened in the late 1950s, is where Tiger Woods grew up playing golf. The city also owns five other golf courses such as Mission Trails Golf Course and Presidio Hills Golf Course, which are operated by private companies and are fairly affordable.
Perhaps one of the best values in the San Diego area is another municipal golf course, Coronado Golf Course, which sits right on the San Diego Harbor. Owned and operated by the city of Coronado, you can play it at twilight for as little as $15, with regular green fees topping out at $35 on the weekend.
Stay and play at Barona Resort & Casino
While budget golf certainly has its appeal, finding good value is also an attractive option. One golf destination that might hold appeal for travelers is Barona Resort & Casino, located just outside of San Diego. While rack rates at Barona Creek Golf Club can be as high as $160, it can usually be played for considerably less, especially if you're staying at the hotel or if you're a high roller. At more than 7,000 yards, this very well-maintained golf course has more than 100 bunkers.
Salt Creek Golf Club, which used to be known as the Auld Course, is one of the better public values in the area. The only links-style golf course in San Diego, this Cary Bickler/John Cook design has generous fairways, rolling hills, three lakes, 78 bunkers and acres of lush wetlands as well as distant views of the Pacific Ocean. Also located in Chula Vista, Salt Creek's dynamic pricing means there are some real bargains during the week, although the regular green fees peak at $69 for nonresidents. The price does include rental cart.
More San Diego golf options
Another good option is Encinitas Ranch Golf Course, which also overlooks the Pacific Ocean but doesn't charge an arm and a leg for the view. For $45 to $85, Encinitas Ranch Golf Course features excellent conditions with wider fairways on the front and a little tighter layout on the back. It also has plenty of elevated tees and dramatic elevation changes.
Other quality courses with reasonable rates include Arrowood Golf Course in Oceanside, Twin Oaks Golf Course in San Marcos, and Cottonwood Golf Club in El Cajon.
Arrowood Golf Course is a Ted Robinson design that's always in excellent shape and can be played for less than $100. Twin Oaks Golf Course is also a Robinson layout that measures just more than 6,500 yards. And Cottonwood Golf Club has two 18-hole courses that are very reasonably priced and considered among the better bargains in the area. Both courses were designed by O.W. Moorman and A.C. Sears. The Lakes Course is a tight 6,248-yard par 71, while the Ivanhoe Course stretches out to more than 6,800 yards. Green fees peak at $60.
August 30, 2010
Sea San Diego
Don’t pass through without teeing it up
From T&L Golf, March 2007
by David Weiss
San Diego long ago shed its reputation as a scruffy province of surfers and military lifers. But in the last decade it has developed into a cosmopolitan city with, among other things, superior golf and vibrant nightlife. Torrey Pines in nearby La Jolla is grooming itself for the 2008 U.S. Open, yet it’s still a reasonably affordable municipal course. Downtown San Diego, once hard-bitten, is sprouting gorgeous lofts and artsy boutiques. It takes only thirty or forty minutes on the light-rail Tijuana Trolley to reach to the blossoming art capital of Baja California. And the Port of San Diego still houses the largest naval fleet in the world, lending a whiff of brine to the air and giving the town its heady amalgam of grit and romance.
Must Sees
A three-and-a-half-hour Hornblower Cruise (888-467-6256, www.hornblower.com) on the bay may sound tame, but it passes some dramatic hardware, such as the USS Midway, an aircraft carrier that served for forty-seven years from World War II to the First Gulf War. If you sail from December through March, you may see one of the estimated twenty-five thousand gray whales that doff their dorsals cruising past San Diego’s coast.
Playing
The Torrey Pines South course (www.torreypines.com)—all 7,607 yards of it—joins Bethpage Black as the only munis tough enough to host a U.S. Open. If you have an in, also play the exclusive Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe, host of the silly-season Battle at the Bridges and situated in a Tuscan-style community that boasts one of the nation’s wealthiest zip codes. There are no Medicis on hand, but a princely guy named Mickelson calls the place home.
Staying
What better place to put your swing thoughts to rest than the Lodge at Torrey Pines (www.lodgetorreypines.com)? Your room may yield a view of the eighteenth green on the South, and you’ll stand a better chance of scoring a treasured tee time. Downtown, the W San Diego (www.starwoodhotels.com) attracts the young and the hip, and it’s a brief walk from the bustling Gaslamp Quarter.
Dining
Beating out the steakhouse chains, Donovan’s (www.donovanssteakhouse.com) in well-heeled La Jolla offers a mahogany-laden men’s-club ambience that goes down well with marbled meat and martinis. You can pull up solo at the bar and have your way with a steer. For fabulous down-home Mexican fare, head to Super Cocina (619-584-6244).
SAN DIEGO
Golf Digest, By John Strege
The Mediterranean climate that seems to bathe the region in perpetual warmth is reason enough to play golf in San Diego County, and perhaps the best reason. Public courses in San Diego don't often turn up in course ranking lists -- even the South Course at Torrey Pines, site of the 2008 U.S. Open, failed to crack Golf Digest's most recent list of America's 100 Greatest -- but they do not go unappreciated, notably by professional tours. The PGA Tour's Buick Invitational is played on the North and the South courses at Torrey Pines. A combination of the two courses at La Costa Resort & Spa have hosted the Mercedes Championships and the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. And Barona Creek Golf Club, a remote gem, will host the 2007 Nationwide Tour Championship. Here's a sampling of the best golf San Diego has to offer.
For more information from our Best Places to Play Guide, including directions, green fees and reader comments click on the course names below.
1. 4 ½ stars: Four Seasons Resort Aviara G.C. / Carlsbad
2. 4 ½ stars: (North), 4 stars (South), La Costa Resort & Spa / Carlsbad
3. 4 ½ stars: The Grand Del Mar (The Grand G.C.*) San Diego
4. 4 ½ stars: (South), 4 stars (North), Torrey Pines G. Cse. / La Jolla
5. 4 ½ stars: Barona Creek G.C. / Lakeside
6. 4 ½ stars: Riverwalk G.C. / San Diego
Where To Booze & Grub: See also: Steel Canyon GC