Perfect weather, challenging courses, and incredible settings make San Diego County a golfer’s dream destination. Plus, some of the courses have serious street cred as the host of world-class competitions. Here are four don’t-miss courses in San Diego County, listed north to south, where you cab enhance your golf game while also soaking up San Diego sunshine and plush amenities.
Aviara Golf Club, Carlsbad
It’s not surprising that many of the world’s leading golf companies—Titleist, TaylorMade, Callaway—have offices or headquarters in the San Diego area, primarily in the town of Carlsbad. The prime place to play in this coastal North County town is the Aviara Golf Club part of the Park Hyatt Aviara resort. The par 72 course was designed by the legendary Arnold Palmer to harmonize with the surrounding Batiquitos Lagoon: the course covers 7,007 yards with rolling hillsides, water features, and native wildflowers. After your game, sit down at the Ember & Rye steakhouse, helmed by Richard Blais and located just beyond the 18th green.
Fairmont Grand Del Mar Course, Carmel Valley
Just east of the beaches in Del Mar, this par-72 course is located at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar. The Tom Fazio–designed course, set against Los Peñasquitos Canyon, ends at a waterfall and features both a practice facility and a forecaddie program. Hotel guests can play for as little as $40 including use of clubs. A short walk away, you can have dinner at chef William Bradley’s three-Michelin-star Addison.
Maderas Golf Club, Poway
Golf Digest has declared this 40-acre course in Poway, about 10 miles inland, as one of the top 100 public courses in the nation. Designed by Johnny Miller and Robert Muir Graves, the course wins praise for its long greens and a challenging landscape of rocky hills, arroyos, and chasms.
Torrey Pines Golf Course, La Jolla
On the bluffs overlooking the Pacific in La Jolla, the setting for this municipal course has been described by Golf Digest as “one of the prettiest golf course sites in America.” The 36-hole course, originally designed by William F. Bell, is flanked by distinctive Torrey pine trees—recognizable by their long feathery needles—and sits next door to one of the county’s most luxurious resorts, the Arts & Crafts–style Lodge at Torrey Pines.
The South Course at Torrey Pines has hosted the U.S. Open twice so far—2008 and 2021—and this is where Tiger Woods won in 2008 in a playoff. San Diego native Phil Mickelson has a long history at Torrey’s two courses: He first played Torrey Pines as a kid, won three PGA tournaments here (including his first), and worked on the renovation of the North Course. These days, the course hosts the annual Farmers Insurance Open (typically January). Celebrate your experience any time of year with the regulars’ favorite Drugstore Burger, offered at the hotel’s The Grill at Torrey Pines.
Plan Your Trip
For more golf getaways, check out these 13 trip-worthy courses around California. Golf is just one way to enjoy outdoor fun in San Diego, too. Check out these tips for scenic hikes, kayaking, and bike trails in San Diego and where to play pickleball on some of the best courts in the Golden State.
