San Diego Golf: Where are the good courses?

[Matt_Cohn]

Down in SD a while back for four rounds of golf.  First three rounds at privates, last round played at a public course suggested by a friend.  Trust me, he says.

So we drive east for about 1/2 hour, up and up and up.

A few details about this place-

-6,000 yards from the tips (the scorecard actually recommended the tips only be played by 0-11 handicappers!)

-Cart mandatory (between #2 and #3 seemed like a fifteeen minute drive across a winding and twisting bridge that looked like something out of an Indiana Jones movie)

-Blind shots all over the place

-Blind bunkers everywhere

-Blind lakes where there weren't blind bunkers

-Trees encroaching everywhere (I swear, on the par 3 ninth, the opening to hit it through was about ten yards wide)

On paper, the course seemed to have all the ingredients for a disappointing round.  But, quite the contrary.  The experience was incredible.  I have never played a more demanding 6,000 yard golf course, ever.

Can anyone tell me where this is?

Scott

Yes 

[David Stamm]

Down in SD a while back for four rounds of golf.  First three rounds at privates, last round played at a public course suggested by a friend.  Trust me, he says.

So we drive east for about 1/2 hour, up and up and up.

A few details about this place-

-6,000 yards from the tips (the scorecard actually recommended the tips only be played by 0-11 handicappers!)

-Cart mandatory (between #2 and #3 seemed like a fifteeen minute drive across a winding and twisting bridge that looked like something out of an Indiana Jones movie)

-Blind shots all over the place

-Blind bunkers everywhere

-Blind lakes where there weren't blind bunkers

-Trees encroaching everywhere (I swear, on the par 3 ninth, the opening to hit it through was about ten yards wide)

On paper, the course seemed to have all the ingredients for a disappointing round.  But, quite the contrary.  The experience was incredible.  I have never played a more demanding 6,000 yard golf course, ever.

Can anyone tell me where this is?

Scott

Mt Woodson.

[Scott Stambaugh]

Down in SD a while back for four rounds of golf.  First three rounds at privates, last round played at a public course suggested by a friend.  Trust me, he says.

So we drive east for about 1/2 hour, up and up and up.

A few details about this place-

-6,000 yards from the tips (the scorecard actually recommended the tips only be played by 0-11 handicappers!)

-Cart mandatory (between #2 and #3 seemed like a fifteeen minute drive across a winding and twisting bridge that looked like something out of an Indiana Jones movie)

-Blind shots all over the place

-Blind bunkers everywhere

-Blind lakes where there weren't blind bunkers

-Trees encroaching everywhere (I swear, on the par 3 ninth, the opening to hit it through was about ten yards wide)

On paper, the course seemed to have all the ingredients for a disappointing round.  But, quite the contrary.  The experience was incredible.  I have never played a more demanding 6,000 yard golf course, ever.

Can anyone tell me where this is?

Scott

Mt Woodson.

Bingo.  Not usually my cup of tea, but it really left an impression.  It's like a cross between a full-size miniature golf course and that calendar of impossible golf holes that I haven't seen in ages.

 

[Tom Naccarato]

I never called any of the courses "great" in my post. I agree completely that SD has very few if any "great" courses, which is one of the reasons I no longer live there. I was more responding to Pete's "why are there no good golf courses in SD?" Maybe I got off topic.
When I worked in SD right up the street from TP we had quite a few commuters from Temecula, so by Calif. standards I call it a suburb.

Tim, Last Wednesday, I had to go down to San Diego for the day for a convention. It took me exactly, from my house in La Habra, 1 hour 28 minutes to the San Diego Convention Center, right next to Petco. I went no faster then 75 MPH in the obvious places  I've taken that long, if not more to drive home from LA. so yes, in context you might be correct, but I wouldn't want to be making that trip everyday...

As for Golf down in San Diego, well, I haven't been down to Barona in a long, long time. In fact the last course I was on was Torrey Pines for the Open (oddly I didn't see my colleague Jay Flemma there.)  and I guess my point is that I hardly go down there for Golf, but I do want to go to play TJ soon. As soon as Stamm gets his shit together.....

[Patrick Kiser]

Kalen,

Notice how David conveniently left out any mention of his plans for KP?

Coincidence?  ... I think not :-)

Speaking of San Diego and So cal in general....

I was wondering if we have any sneak peaks or info leaks on where the next KP will be held.  I'm a busy guy and gotta get that schedule lined up months in advance.     Ok maybe not, but I am curious.

Also any word on the Kings Putter itself?  After Tom H assembled a masterful lineup we Northerners still pulled off the unlikely upset after being huge underdogs in almost every match.  So I think he ought to get the putter on his mantle for at least a few months.   

[Tim Leahy]

As for Golf down in San Diego, well, I haven't been down to Barona in a long, long time. In fact the last course I was on was Torrey Pines for the Open (oddly I didn't see my colleague Jay Flemma there.)  and I guess my point is that I hardly go down there for Golf, but I do want to go to play TJ soon. As soon as Stamm gets his shit together.....

How about the next Kings Putter at Barona and TJCC? Classic and Modern GCA. It would definitely have a great after-party either in TJ or at the Barona Casino.

[Greg Hohman]

With its cluster of (large) homes at the base of its summits, Steele Canyon (Gary Player, 1991) could be mistaken for a small ski resort in the off-season. I did not heed the trustworthy advice of my golf bud Mike, who normally walks, to join him in a cart this time (which was last week). Well, I needed the exercise…It was my toughest walk ever--tougher than Mt. Woodson, though I was 10 years younger when I walked Mt. Woodson…

We played the Canyon and Ranch 9s for $80 twilight, starting at 1 and finishing before dark. A third 9 is called Vineyard. The total elevation changes of Canyon (especially Canyon!) and Ranch must put them near the top of any list of 18 holes in this category, if an elevation-change category exists, which must, following an iron logic, also place SC near rock bottom in the hearts of walkers.

The golf? I had a blast. There was never a dull moment, unless a brain fried by exertion hallucinated pleasure. If I could post pics, I might try to test that, i.e. collect my thoughts by recreating the round with their assistance. Firm, brown Bermuda fws. Immaculate Bent greens, if w/o a whole lot to think about. Spectacular setting in Jamul without housing.

Could installing ziplines be "a thing"? Has it been done elsewhere? Seems like a marketing win and a win for walkers. In the meantime, the verticals are black diamonds for walkers. But I liked SC enough to resign myself to a future of climbing in and out of its wheeled chairlifts.

[Jeff Schley]

Well, I needed the exercise…It was my toughest walk ever--tougher than Mt. Woodson, though I was 10 years younger when I walked Mt. Woodson…

Walking Mt. Woodson isn't for any faint of heart. Very tough driving course as well with a few blind tee balls in the mountains in high wind UGH.