Navigating the vibrant golf scene in America's Finest City starts with one simple question: where can I actually play? Fortunately, San Diego's golf courses are overwhelmingly open and ready for you to book a tee time. This guide will walk you through the can't-miss open courses, from iconic championship layouts to beloved local gems, and give you some expert tips on how to best prepare for your round on these stunning coastal tracks.
When you think of San Diego golf, one name immediately comes to mind: Torrey Pines. This city-owned facility boasts two 18-hole championship courses perched on dramatic cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Both are open to the public and offer an unforgettable, albeit challenging, experience.
Home to the annual Farmers Insurance Open on the PGA Tour and multiple U.S. Opens, Torrey Pines is the crown jewel of San Diego's public golf offerings. Getting a tee time as a non-resident can be a process, but it's well worth the effort.
Beyond the superstar status of Torrey Pines, San Diego is home to a wonderful collection of accessible and affordable public courses. These are the tracks where locals hone their games, and they offer tremendous value and classic California golf experiences.
As San Diego’s oldest public golf course, Balboa Park is rich in history and character. Located just minutes from downtown, it offers incredible views of the city skyline and the Coronado Bridge. It's not a long course by modern standards, but it's a masterclass in strategic design.
Situated on the beautiful island of Coronado with stunning views of the bay and San Diego-Coronado Bridge, this is perhaps the best value in all of Southern California golf. It’s a flat, easy-to-walk layout that makes it appealing to golfers of all ages and abilities.
For those looking for pristine conditions and a premium experience, San Diego has several world-class resort and semi-private courses that accept public play. These often come with a higher price tag but deliver an exceptional day of golf.
With a rich history of hosting PGA Tour and LPGA events, La Costa offers two distinct and polished parkland-style courses. The conditions are almost always immaculate.
Often ranking among the top 100 public courses in the nation, Maderas is a spectacular Johnny Miller/Robert Muir Graves design set in the hilly countryside of Poway. No two holes are alike, and the course routes you through creeks, forests, and dramatic rock outcroppings.
This layout offers panoramic Pacific Ocean views and an engaging, challenging round of golf. Built over a vast, undulating property, The Crossings is named for the several bridges (or "crossings") over environmentally sensitive ravines you'll encounter during your round.
As a coach, I see players come to San Diego and get frustrated because the conditions are different from what they're used to. Golf here has its own unique character. Keep these three things in mind to play your best.
Especially in the mornings and near the coast, the air is thick with moisture. We call it the "marine layer." This heavy air means the ball will not fly as far as it does inland or in drier climates. A 150-yard shot at your home course might be a 160-yard shot here. It's a common mistake to come up short all day. Be prepared to take one extra club on most approach shots.
Most coastal courses in California feature "poa annua" greens. This is a type of grass that tends to get a little bumpy as the day goes on, especially in the afternoon. A perfectly struck putt can take a slight-but-maddening hop offline. The coaching tip for "poa" is to be firm and decisive. Use a confident, accelerating stroke. A weak, tentative putt is much more likely to be knocked off its line by the inconsistencies of the surface.
Many San Diego courses, including Torrey Pines, use Kikuyu grass. Off the fairway, it's wonderful and propellers your ball up. From the rough, it's a different story. The grass is very sticky and strong, it will grab your clubhead and twist it shut, causing ugly pulled shots. Don't try to sweep the ball out of Kikuyu rough. The best technique is a descending blow, more like a "V-shaped" swing. Take a steeper angle of attack to pop the ball up and out. And sometimes, the smartest play is to simply take your medicine and chip it back to the fairway.
With so many great courses open for play, the final step is booking your round. Here’s a simple strategy to find a time that works for you:
From the world-renowned challenge of Torrey Pines to the playable fun of Coronado and Balboa Park, San Diego’s golf courses are open and offer an incredible variety for every golfer. Understanding the unique characteristics of each course and the nuances of coastal golf will help you choose the right venue and post a better score.
When I’m taking on a new course or face a shot I'm unsure about, an expert second opinion is invaluable. Our tool, Caddie AI, delivers that. It provides on-demand course strategy and can even analyze a photo of your lie to give you the smartest play, instantly. It’s designed to remove the uncertainty from your game, giving you the confidence to commit to every shot, especially when playing the beautiful and demanding courses of San Diego.
Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.
A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.
The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.
The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.
Walking onto the first tee with sweaty palms, worried you’ll be a good partner to paly wtih...or even asked back again ...We’ve all been there - trust me! The real trick of feeling confortable... is about how you handle you’re ready to plsy. THIS guide explains the simple rules of the rode to show you hnow t play golf while staying calm relaxed and focused... an having much morse fun while you,',re aat it? You'll also play with confidence a dn make fiendsa while you're at i
Just ask a question or share a photo and Caddie gives personalized guidance for every shot - anytime, anywhere.
