Let us explore some of the best golf courses in San Diego!
San Diego is a beautiful coastal city located in the southern part of California. Known for its mild year-round climate and stunning beaches, San Diego attracts millions of tourists each year.
The city is home to a diverse population of over 1.4 million people, making it the second-largest city in California and the eighth-largest city in the United States. This, being America’s finest city offers loads of recreational activities to choose from.
One of the most famous of these activities is the sport of Golf. However, when visiting or staying in San Diego, it may feel overwhelming to choose from hundreds of places where you can play golf.
To help you out with the selection, we are going to talk about some of the best golf courses in San Diego.
15 Best San Diego Golf Courses
1. Torrey Pines Golf Course:
This is one of the best golf courses in San Diego, which is positioned in La Jolla, San Diego, California. The course provides two 18-hole courses. First is the North Course and the second is the South Course.
However, The Torrey Pines south course is more popular with the general public compared to the North one. Both these courses are set on the Pacific Ocean, which offers a cinematic view.
Apart from it, the course also offers visitors a driving area, practice areas, and a golf shop. One can also take golf lessons here.
Torrey Pines is authentically a must-visit spot If you’re into the sport of golf.
2. The Grand Golf Club at Fairmont Grand Del Mar:
The credit for designing the field is given to Tom Fazia. The Grand Golf Club, located at Fairmont Grand Del Mar, offers a luxurious resort experience to its followership. The course provides breathtaking natural beauty with beautiful hills, lakes, and denes, leading to a graphic golf experience.
This field has been appreciated heavily and has been named one of the Top 100 Courses in San Diego. Not just the landscape but the course offers certain amenities like a spa, fitness centers, and dining places as well.
If you are looking for a place that you can visit with a family consisting of both, golfers and non-golfers, then this course should be on your list.
3. Aviara Golf Club:
The Aviara Gold Club, an 18-hole crown golf arena is another of the best golf courses in San Diego, USA. The course was grounded on Arnold Palmer’s design which was opened in 1991. The course is the epitome of paradise with rolling hills, lakes, and views of the Pacific Ocean.
This place offers an intriguing and grueling golf experience. Like the Grand Golf Club, the Aviara Club is listed among the Top 100 Resort Courses in the U.S. by Golfweek. The course allows the general public to be a part of it and enjoy colorful amenities like a club, an eatery, golf assignments, and conventions for golfers.
Here, we have also attached a video link to a tour of Aviara Golf Club.
HOME OF THE KIA CLASSIC/AVIARA GOLF CLUB!
4. Maderas Golf Club:
A golfer drifts off into the unforgettable experience the Maderas Golf Club offers. If your mind is continuously running wild while searching for an ideal golf arena, then don’t worry because we are now going to talk about the Maderas Golf Course.
Apart from being actually one of the best golf courses in San Diego, this course designed by Johnny Miller and Robert Muir Graves features stunning sights of the countryside and presents to the golfers, an extremely challenging ground.
This is a top-rated golf course located in Poway, a city in northern San Diego County, California. The course features 18 holes that wind through rolling hills, oak and sycamore trees, natural creeks, 5 waterfalls, and around 40 acres of land dedicated to the wildflowers.
Other amenities offered by the arena are a driving range, a short game area, a clubhouse with a restaurant and bar as well as a pro shop. The Maderas Golf Club has also been awarded the title of ””#1 Golf Course in San Diego County” by Golf Advisor in 2020.
5. La Costa Resort and Spa:
Next on the list of the best golf courses in San Diego is La Costa Resort and Spa.
La Costa Resort, placed in Carlsbad, California, offers two 18-hole championship golf courses. The credit for the architecture goes to Dick Wilson and Joe Lee. The courses are surrounded by a stunning landscape with rolling hills and provide a challenging golf experience.
The resort golf has hosted several professional tournaments, some of them being the PGA Tour’s Tournament of Champions and the LPGA Tour’s Kia Classic.
Apart from the golfing experience, the resort also offers you several amenities for spending a comfortable experience, like spa, restaurants, fitness facilities, and many more.
6. The Crossings at Carlsbad:
The Crossings at Carlsbad is an 18-hole championship golf course is located on the bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
The course was structured by Greg Nash and was opened to the general public in the year 2007. The system is set in a natural area with exceptional views of the Pacific Ocean, providing a challenging and scenic golf experience.
It has been named one of the “Top 10 Courses You Can Play in California” by Golfweek. Also, the Crossings offers a range of amenities like a clubhouse and restaurant, golf lessons and clinics, as well as a driving range too.
It is another one of the best golf courses in San Diego, where you can experience a fun and exciting twist on the traditional course then The Crossings is a must-visit.
7. Steele Canyon Golf Club:
Another one belonging to the list of the best golf courses in San Diego is Steele Canyon Golf Club. This arena was designed by Gary Player and is popular among the public for its challenging layout and scenic beauty. It offers a 27 holes golf ground and is situated in Jamul, San Diego.
It has received several features for its design, and it has been named one of the “Top 100 Courses You Can Play” by Golf Magazine. The course offers golf lessons and clinics for golfers of all skill levels, as well as a driving range and putting green for practice.
8. Coronado Golf Course:
This course is situated on the splendid island of Coronado Island. This course allows and welcomes all golfers irrespective of their ages to be a part of the popular sport of golf.
With remarkable views of the San Diego downtown skyline and panoramic view of the bay, this is another of the best golf courses in San Diego and is set next to downtown San Diego.
This 18-hole municipal golf course was first planned and designed by none other than Jack Daray Sr. and later worked upon by several esteemed architects, including John Cook and Cary Bickler. The course was made public in 1957.
From a clubhouse and restaurant to even golf lessons and clinics for golfers, this club provides all the luxury amenities for providing the golfers with a comfortable and sporty experience.
9. Rancho Bernardo Inn Golf Course:
Next on the list of the best golf courses in San Diego is Rancho Bernardo Inn Golf Course.
Located in the hills of Rancho Bernardo, this is another of the best golf courses in San Diego. The Rancho Bernardo Inn Golf course offers a peaceful setting and a challenging arena of an 18-hole course for golf sport.
The course was first premeditated by William F. Bell and later on renovated by architects like Ted Robinson Sr. and Gary Roger Baird.
The course is often in news for its challenging and picturesque environment and has received various accolades for its architecture. It has also been featured in “Top 75 Resort Courses in the U.S.” by Golf Digest.
Apart from the various resources like the restaurant and clubhouse, the Rancho Bernardo Inn Golf course allows the visitors and the golfers to experience the private club life of the Rancho Santa Fe area of the place. No doubt the experience this place offers adds it to the curated lists of the best golf courses in San Diego.
10. Encinitas Ranch Golf Course:
The Encinitas Ranch Golf course is located in Encinitas, San Diego, and for the experiences it offers, is undoubtedly one of the best golf courses in San Diego!
This 18-hole golf course was designed by the prominent architect Cary Bickler and is known for its scenic and easy-on-the-eye view! The course is placed in a natural landscape with the striking sight of the Pacific Ocean.
It is included in the list of “Top 20 Best Courses in California” by Golf Digest.
Apart from providing the facilities like a dining area, restaurant, clubhouse, and golf lessons, the course also offers a distinctive “Surf and Turf” package. This package includes not only a round of the sport of golf but also allows the visitors and the golfers to take surf lessons from a professional instructor and guide.
Apart from the presented list of the popular 10 best golf courses in San Diego, we also have 2 additionally famous golf courses that are also considered the best golf courses in San Diego.
If you are searching for a fun journey then this is for sure one of the best golf courses in San Diego.
1. Admiral Baker Golf Course:
The 36-hole golf area, the Admiral Baker Golf Course was innovated and designed by none other than William F. Bell.
This golf club is no doubt, another of the brilliant and best golf courses in San Diego! The area is divided into two courses, the first, being the 18-hole North course and the other being the 18-hole South course.
The Northern section of the Admiral Baker Golf course allows the attendees to experience a challenging game with different tests, whereas the South course is prominent for its serene and astonishing mountain views.
The division, maintenance as well as the existence of this course is surreal and hence make it for sure one of the best golf courses in San Diego.
This Golf Course has been listed in the “Top 50 Military Golf Courses” by none other than Golf Digest and is a common and popular spot amongst the public. One thing special about this golf course is that it also is famous among military personnel as well as their family members.
2. Barona creek golf course:
Barona Creek Golf Course is another of the genuinely best golf courses in San Diego, which is located in Lakeside, San Diego. The course was designed by renowned golf course architect Todd Eckenrode, who credits his success to the meticulous planning of this masterpiece.
The course is placed in a subtle area with rolling hills, deep canyons, and native vegetation, and this environment allows the golfers to not just experience a challenging golf sport but at the same time relax and enjoy the serenity of the place.
The club has also been listed as one of the Top 10 Courses You Can Play in California by none other than Golfweek magazine. It is one of the best golf courses in San Diego and is rather a popular public course offering several facilities like a clubhouse, practice facilities, and a pro shop.
Bottom-line:
As we come to the end of the article, 10 best golf courses in San Diego, it is highly suggested to visit the places mentioned at least once if you are a golfer or if you are interested in the sport.
Just tighten up your spirit and start your vacation by exploring the beauty of San Diego and the gem golf courses the place has to offer.
You can also take a look at the attached videos to know more about the golf courses and start curating your list!
Top 5 Golf Courses in San Diego
If you enjoyed reading the article, then you can also check out: Top 10 Northwest Indiana Golf Courses.
