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We Know: Six Best Golf Courses in Southern California
The grass is always greener in picture perfect Southern California. Golfing fanatics, take note. Six courses that will
please any golfer include:
1. La Costa Resort and Spa - Carlsbad, California.
La Costa hosts the World Golf Championships and features two championship caliber golf courses
(the longer North Course and the narrower South Course), with views of the Pacific Ocean and nearby mountains.
- Resort golf course.
- Location: Costa Del Mar Road, Carlsbad, CA; 800.854.5000
- Features and amenities: pro shop, driving range, putting green, chipping area, sand trap,
a golf school offering individual and group lessons, restaurant, and requires spikeless shoes.
- La Costa Resort also offers a world-class spa and the Chopra Center, tennis courts, and swimming pool.
- Fees: Fridays to Sundays $175 for resort guests/$195 Fridays to Sundays daily fee;
Mondays to Thursdays are $165 for resort/$185 for daily guests; twilight fees are $90 for resort guests/$115
for daily guests.
2. Torrey Pines Golf Course - La Jolla, California
This par-72, 36-hole complex with views of the Pacific opened in the 1950s. The two championship courses
(South Course has 7,055 yards of green, North Course has 6,874 yards) contain plenty of trees, bunkers, sand, and
rough, lush fairways to challenge players of all levels. Torrey Pines hosts the annual Buick Invitational.
- Public golf course.
- Location: 11480 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA; 800.985.4653
- Features and amenities: pro shop, driving range, putting green, chipping area, sand trap, a golf school
offering individual and group lessons, restaurant, and requires spikeless shoes.
- Lodging is available in nearby towns.
- Fees:
- North Course: $140 per person Mondays through Fridays, and $150 on weekends.
- South Course: $185 per person weekdays and $205 on weekends.
3. Redhawk Golf Course - Temecula, California.
Redhawk ranks as the seventh most difficult public golf course in California. Designed by PGA golfer
Mark O'Meara and Ron Fream, the 34,000 square foot course lies midway between Riverside and San Diego. Mild climates,
gently rolling hills, and reasonable rates makes this course a must for golfers.
- Public golf course.
- Location: 45100 Redhawk Parkway, Temecula, CA; 951.302.3850
- Features and amenities: driving range, clubhouse, practice green, chipping area, practice bunker, individual
and group lessons, restaurant, and requires spikeless shoes.
- Extras include wine tasting in the surrounding country.
- Fees (members pay discounted rates):
- Regular: $60 per person weekdays, $80 per person weekends.
- Twilight: $43 per person weekdays, $53 per person weekends.
- Super Twilight: $33 per person weekdays, $43 per person weekends.
4. La Quinta Golf Club (and Resort) - Palm Springs, California.
Palm Spring's oldest golf resort features five world-famous, first-class courses covering 90 holes:
La Quinta Resort Mountain, Dunes, PGA West TPC Stadium Course, Jack Nicklaus Tournament and Greg Norman Courses.
Each course has its own unique features and quirks. The Bob Hope Classic and PGA Grand Slam are among the tournaments
played annually at La Quinta.
- Resort and semi-private golf course.
- Location: 49-499 Eisenhower Drive, La Quinta, CA; 800.598.3828
- Features and amenities: driving range, clubhouse, practice green, chipping area, practice bunker, individual
and group lessons, and requires spikeless shoes.
- Resort packages include first-class spa treatments and tennis. Art galleries and shops are also
available on the premises.
- Fees (members pay discounted rates):
- Regular: $180 per person weekdays, $199 per person weekends.
- Twilight: $115 per person.
5. Strawberry Farms Golf Course - Irvine, California.
A golf course owned by former Angels third baseman Doug DeCinces may seem strange, but
don't be fooled. Strawberry Farms adopts much of the environmental sensitivity that is characteristic
of Irvine: the immaculate landscaping, rolling hills, canyons, and wetlands. This par-71 course is
one of Orange County's best.
- Public golf course.
- Location: 11 Strawberry Farms Road, Irvine, CA; 949.551.1811
- Features and amenities: pro shop, driving range, chipping area, putting green, sand trap,
restaurant, and requires spikeless shoes.
- Fees: $85 weekdays, $120 weekends. Cost includes a golf cart.
6. Barona Creek Golf Club - Lakeside, California.
Set in the middle of nowhere, at first there's not much to recommend Barona Creek
Golf Club except for the vast openness, overwhelming quiet, and the lack of fanfare. However, it's
the lack of people that makes this par-72 course worthwhile. Barona also has extremely affordable rates.
- Public golf course.
- Location: 1000 Wildcat Canyon Road, Lakeside (on the Barona Reservation); 619.387.7018
- Features and amenities: pro shop, driving range, putting green, chipping green, and restaurant
- Barona Resort and Casino sits next door.
- Fees: $75 for both weekdays and weekends, $45 for the twilight session. Cost includes a golf cart.
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