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Matt Elliot

  • Karma: +0/-0
Rancho Bernardo Inn, San Diego CA
« on: January 22, 2015, 09:59:58 PM »
Heading here next week.  I have never been to the area.  Can anyone advise on what to expect. Thanks a bunch!

Benjamin Litman

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Rancho Bernardo Inn, San Diego CA
« Reply #1 on: January 22, 2015, 11:00:12 PM »
Matt, crazy you should mention RBI. My brother had his wedding there last January, and I played a round one of the days. I was playing with my girlfriend and my brother's now-brother-in-law and his wife, so I didn't do much in the way of picture-taking or architecture-observing. What I recall is a course that has some interesting elevation changes and natural valley sites for fairways and devilish greens and green complexes. I recall strong finishing holes (16-18 is the best stretch, at least in my memory), but not much else. The course used to hold a PGATour event back in the day, so it has good "bones" as they say. You'll have fun, but it won't blow your mind by any means. The lunch on the veranda, on the other hand, is amazing.
"One will perform in large part according to the circumstances."
-Director of Recruitment at Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village in Rwanda on why it selects orphaned children without regard to past academic performance. Refreshing situationism in a country where strict dispositionism might be expected.

Robert Mercer Deruntz

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Rancho Bernardo Inn, San Diego CA
« Reply #2 on: January 22, 2015, 11:21:02 PM »
There is very little architectural merit, but the resort is the epitome of great service. Greens were pretty soggy last week when we played there, which is not good considering the level of drought that we are experiencing.  Madras is not great, but much better and only 2 miles up the road.  Play Baro if you can.

John Crowley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Rancho Bernardo Inn, San Diego CA
« Reply #3 on: January 23, 2015, 12:38:41 AM »
Yes, play Barona! Also Coronado.

David Stamm

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Rancho Bernardo Inn, San Diego CA
« Reply #4 on: January 23, 2015, 09:44:54 AM »
I'll second the Maderas recommendation. It's right down the street from RBI.

RBI is decent. Nothing really offensive per se, but nothing to write home about. Another option would be Mt. Woodson, which is up the mountain, aboout 15-20 mins away. They have had condition issues in 2014, so I can't vouch for it being in top condition.
"The object of golf architecture is to give an intelligent purpose to the striking of a golf ball."- Max Behr

Frank Sekulic

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Rancho Bernardo Inn, San Diego CA
« Reply #5 on: January 23, 2015, 11:55:54 AM »
I live about 25 minutes away from RBI and I will say the service at the resort is top notch, the golf however leaves a lot to be desired.

As others have pointed out Maderas is a nice alternative and it is only about 10 minutes east of RBI or you can opt for Barone which is approx a half hour or so from Ranch Bernardo.

Martin Toal

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Rancho Bernardo Inn, San Diego CA
« Reply #6 on: January 23, 2015, 12:43:50 PM »
Another vote for the Barona > Maderas > Rancho Bernardo hierarchy. But if you are in town for a friendly chilled game of golf, you will be fine with any of them.

Pete Lavallee

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Rancho Bernardo Inn, San Diego CA New
« Reply #7 on: January 23, 2015, 02:01:05 PM »
RBI is a solid example of the architecture of William Francis Bell. The routing is quite good and the golf course is very walkable with close green to tee transitions. Like most Bell Jr. courses there is noting world shattering but you're guaranteed a solid day's golf. The conditions of the greens have been pretty bad the last couple of years, even at their best they are severely over watered. Hopefully they are past that now.  Bonus points will be awarded if you can guess which renowned architect redesigned the 18th green to its current triple tiered configuration with the beautiful cascading steam down the right side!
« Last Edit: January 23, 2015, 04:00:00 PM by Pete Lavallee »
"...one inoculated with the virus must swing a golf-club or perish."  Robert Hunter

David Stamm

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Rancho Bernardo Inn, San Diego CA
« Reply #8 on: January 23, 2015, 03:12:31 PM »
RBI is a solid example of the architecture of William Francis Bell. The routing is quite good and the golf course is very walkable with close green to tee transitions. Like most Bell Jr. courses there is noting world shattering but you're guaranteed a solid day's golf. The conditions of the greens have been pretty bad the last couple of years, even at their best they are severely over watered. Hopefully they are past that now.  Bonus points will be awarded if you can guess which renowned architect who redesigned the 18th green to its current triple tiered configuration with the beautiful cascading steam down the right side!


Do I get a guess? ;D
"The object of golf architecture is to give an intelligent purpose to the striking of a golf ball."- Max Behr

Tim Leahy

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Rancho Bernardo Inn, San Diego CA
« Reply #9 on: January 23, 2015, 03:57:39 PM »
If there is a waterfall involved it has to be Ted Robinson. 8)
I love golf, the fightin irish, and beautiful women depending on the season and availability.