Title says it all. We are from Phoenix and want to drive over to California to have a little 3-4 day golfing trip. We are thinking San Diego. What are the good courses in the area? Any tips would be appreciated, thanks!

Budget is a concern

How much are you looking to spend?

torrey pines

Good question, we want to try to keep it as cheap as possible I suppose, with maybe a splurge day at a really nice course. Exact budget... don't know yet. Just looking for some ideas right now I guess

Coronado Island golf course. Costs under $50 (I think) and has some gorgeous views. I think it was voted on one of the Golf Digest best public courses lists. Imo it's a must play.

Also, Lomas Santa Fe exec. course is a cool little 18 holer with a lot of elevation changes and costs around $25. I think Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed it.

If you're on a budget skip Torrey IMO. I assume out of state rates are in the $200 range still, and it's just not worth it.

These are the three courses that I would recommend if you're coming to San Diego. Barona and Steele Canyon will be under $100 and Maderas will be around $100ish depending on when you play. Be sure and check times on Golfnow.

Barona Creek- previously hosted Nationwide Tour Championship; if you sign up for a players card at the casino you can get rates for as low as $64 (twilight starting at 11 am)

Steele Canyon- Gary Player designed course with some tricky greens and overall a fun layout; play the Canyon/Ranch combo

Maderas- challenging course and the feel of a private club but open to public; a little pricey but usually in really good condition

I am from phoenix and last time we went to San Diego we played Barona Creek and Mount Woodson...

Barona Creek was the better of the two courses, as it has held numerous qualifying and pro events.

Mount Woodson was like a 45 minute drive up in the mountains a little bit and the course was very fun and narrow. Views were awesome and although the course is relatively short it's quite tough.

You best bet for a great trip at a very good price is San Vicente in Ramona.

1. They have a lot of stay and play deals; and they accommodate groups.

2. They don't care what you do there; you can take coolers or P.O.T. on the course and nobody gives a crap.

3. The rooms are right on the 10th tee box. Try to get rooms on the bottom level as the porches open right up to the grass. You can bring a grill and set it up on the grass if you want.

4. They have a nice restaurant that serves good food at reasonable (if not cheap) prices.

5. They have a nice bar that often has live music and it is the hotspot for the whole area.

6. They have tennis courts, pool and jacuzzi.

7. Green fees are very reasonable and the re-round rates are only $20.00 (most of the time, the starter just waives you back out).

8. You can do day trips to all San Diego-area courses if you want, but most of the time I go there with my group, we all just stay put because we are having such a good time.

9. Barona is just a few minutes away (no alcohol allowed on course).

Barona Creek>Steele Canyon>Mount Woodson.

I've been going to San Diego every winter for 12 years with my dad and his friends and we always stay at Sycaun Resort. It's not the 4 Seasons but they have 36 holes and you can walk from your room to the bag room. We always play 36, alternating the 2 18's and then pick a day to go Barona and usually Steele Canyon/Mount Woodson. 7 rounds in 4 days. Sycaun has hospitality rooms which are just bigger rooms with couches and a table where the group hang out and drink/gamble/bitch after the round. There's also a casino with a shuttle that runs continuously.

On a budget, eh? Look no further than my home course in San Diego growing up, Presidio Hills!

http://www.presidiohillsgolf.com/

Conveniently located in the heart of San Diego near Sea World.

Great information guys, thanks! Keep it coming

If you want to splurge I love Aviara, barona is best value, it's great.

+1 for Barona

Great course at any price and it sounds like a bargain at $64.

Best courses in San Diego:

1. Barona creek

Super fun course and IMO the best design of any place in San Diego county. Every hole is unique and challenging. Greens roll fantastically and the course is always in impeccable shape. Another big plus is that it's usually completely empty. Greens fees will prob run you like 60-100 bucks depending on when you play making it the best bargain in town if you want a top notch course without breaking the bank. Only downside is that it is way off the beaten path, prob about 30-40 min from downtown sd.

2. Maderas

Sick course. Very hard but has like 7 different tees so noobs will be fine. It's a troon golf course so it's always in impeccable shape but that def comes at a price because a round will cost you 125 -225 or so. Definitely the most challenging greens in San Diego

3. Torrey Pines South

Greatest course ever if you're a resident because you can play it for 40 bucks. Not so sweet when you come out of state and pay 225. This course is more about the location rather than the design of the holes. You pretty much have to play a fade off every tee. This course will definitely rape your face but it does it with length and ridiculous rough. If you're not a really long hitter you will probably be hitting three wood into a couple par fours. What the course lacks in design it more than makes up for in scenery. The views of the ocean are nothing short of stunning. Just make sure you do your homework before playing...sometimes the course is in less than ideal condition which sucks if you're shelling out the non resident rate.

4. Aviara

Nice Arnold Palmer course up in Carlsbad. It's always empty and in fantastic shape but it'll cost you one or two hundred bucks to play. Well worth the money though IMO

5. Torrey north

All the beautiful scenery of south for almost half the price. Also it won't crush your soul as badly. Very fun course.

6. Steele canyon

This place is a great bargain. 27 holes and the moves rolling greens of any public course I've ever played. You can get on for 50 bucks usually if you book online.

7. The crossings

Nice course up in Carlsbad. Like 80 bucks I think.

8. Sycuan

Three courses you can play out here. One is an executive. They're nice layouts, usually in good but not fantastic shape. Greens fees are really cheap though which is nice if you're on a budget.

9. Riverwalk

This is pretty much the ultimate noob course in San Diego. If you must play it, play early in the morning. If you don't you will have a five hour round guaranteed. Always packed with hackers and tourists. It's always in very good shape but the layout is a little uninspiring. You can drive the ball all over the planet and not get in trouble but the greens can be impossible to get up and down on if you miss in the wrong place.

10. Carlton oaks

This would've been way up on my list a couple years ago but unfortunately the course has lost its greens. It might still be worth playing though for 30 bucks. They design of the course is unbelievable (it's a rare public dye course). The tips are absolutely unreal and a PGA pro would be hard pressed to hoot under par. I think they clock in at 7400 yards or so. IMO its easily the hardest course in San Diego.


Hope that helps