Is now open to the public:
Here's an excerpt from Tod Leonard's article in the San Diego Union:
These days, the sanctuary is a little less exclusive. With so many of Pendleton's troops in Iraq, Marine Memorial has taken a financial hit, and the unprecedented decision has been made to open the course to the public Tuesday through Thursday ($27 walking, $37 with a shared cart). Mondays, when the course traditionally has been closed for maintenance, also will be available starting Dec. 1. In the past, civilians could only play as guests of a military member.
“The numbers just aren't there,” said Director of Golf Doug Blanchard. “And the thought was, we want to give something back to the civilians in the area. We want to thank you for supporting our military personnel.”
There's probably a healthy percentage of golfers in San Diego who don't know Pendleton has a championship golf course (6,865 yards from the blue tees), or that it was once considered one of the prize “gets” in county golf if you could finagle your way on. Lee Trevino played there when he was in the Marines, as did a former female lieutenant, LPGA and Marine Corps Sports Hall of Famer Patty Berg.
Designed in 1948 by the prolific William P. Bell – architect of La Jolla and San Diego country clubs and Torrey Pines – Marine Memorial has been a haven to those in the military through the major wars in Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf and now Iraq. Between Oceanside and Bonsall, not far from Pendleton's back gate, it meanders through a scrub-brush canyon dubbed Windmill Valley because of its prevailing strong breeze.
With no water hazards, that wind is the course's major defense, along with its sticky kikuyu fairways and fringe. Oaks, sycamores and eucalyptus are plentiful, and golfers from courses such as Cottonwood, San Luis Rey and Fallbrook might see some similarities.
“You're not going to hit any houses out here,” Blanchard said with a grin, although he does joke with the golfers about not straying too far off the course to look for golf balls.
It is a unique golf setting, with the concussion of cannons in the distance and the occasional buzz of a low-flying helicopter. Those howitzer (who needs a wimpy shotgun?) starts for tournaments are attention-getters, too.
Here's the full article:
www.signonsandiego.com/sports/golf/20061114-9999-lz1s14marine.html