Golf Club Atlas

GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture Discussion Group => Topic started by: Bill_McBride on June 05, 2008, 12:10:48 PM

Title: San Diego Area Private Golf
Post by: Bill_McBride on June 05, 2008, 12:10:48 PM
I have a friend here in Pensacola who is selling his business and is interested in escaping the heat and humidity of the Gulf Coast (go figure  ;D ) and retire to the San Diego area.

He is an avid 8 handicapper and his wife plays frequently as well. 

Are there affordable private club options in the San Diego area?  I guess by "affordable" in that part of the country I wouid be thinking sub-$50K membership.  Thanks for any suggestions that I can pass along before he and his wife head out there this weekend.
Title: Re: San Diego Area Private Golf
Post by: David_Tepper on June 05, 2008, 12:13:03 PM
Bill -

Have him check out Pauma Valley!

DT
Title: Re: San Diego Area Private Golf
Post by: Tim Leahy on June 05, 2008, 01:02:42 PM
There are quite a few good courses, not great, that fit your friend's request in the San Diego area. In the north SD area I would recommend Bernardo Heights CC, Stoneridge CC, Morgan Run CC, and Vista CC.
Title: Re: San Diego Area Private Golf
Post by: Jon Spaulding on June 05, 2008, 01:14:38 PM
I would second the Pauma recommendation. The only real downside is that it is out in the boondocks; enjoyment would be a function of how much time your friend wants to spend in the car.

Do you have any idea which towns this guy is looking in? It's a large area 8)
Title: Re: San Diego Area Private Golf
Post by: rjsimper on June 05, 2008, 01:45:16 PM
Is he looking for a live/play club?  Does he want to be in the midst of real San Diahhhgo or just in that general vicinity.  Pauma Valley is a great choice for a live/play lifestyle club but as Jon Spaulding said, it's in East Bumblefudge.
Title: Re: San Diego Area Private Golf
Post by: Jon Spaulding on June 05, 2008, 01:50:45 PM
Is he looking for a live/play club?  Does he want to be in the midst of real San Diahhhgo or just in that general vicinity.  Pauma Valley is a great choice for a live/play lifestyle club but as Jon Spaulding said, it's in East Bumblefudge.


I think you go to the East Bumblefudge exit and drive another 20 minutes or so 8). Carl Spackler allegedly has a home there, so you'd have that going for you, which is nice.
Title: Re: San Diego Area Private Golf
Post by: Lou_Duran on June 05, 2008, 01:57:34 PM
If he wants to look as far north as Huntington Beach and Costa Mesa, I hear that Mesa Verde CC is about the best deal in SoCal for an equity club, with current initiation between $35m-$50m, and $700 monthly dues.  It is a Bell Jr. (I think) course, 6,800 yards or so, good topography.  Previously held a professional tournament, possibly an LPGA event.  I haven't played it, but have heard that it's a very good course.
Title: Re: San Diego Area Private Golf
Post by: Pete Lavallee on June 05, 2008, 04:03:42 PM
Bill,

The CC's fees that I know of, that are actually in San Diego are:

Rancho Santa Fe CC (must live in the Covenent to join) 50K, 250/mo.
San Diego CC 50K, 300/mo.
La Jolla CC 75K, 300/mo.

There are also (all $$$):

Fairbanks Ranch
Del Mar CC
The Farms
La Costa (members alternate each day with resort guests on North ansd South)

We play on Sundays at Sining Hills, which is a 25 minute drive due east from Balboa Park. They have 2 courses which the Members alternate on. 10K for Family 300/mo.
Title: Re: San Diego Area Private Golf
Post by: Mike Benham on June 05, 2008, 04:36:28 PM
The further east you go, the warmer it gets so East Bumblefudge might be more like Penscacola in the summer time, although it is a dry heat, which is nice ...

Coming from Penscacola, how does he feel about traffic? 

How about Orange County?  Mission Viejo is reasonable and gets nice cool ocean breezes ...
Title: Re: San Diego Area Private Golf
Post by: Mike Golden on June 05, 2008, 04:50:22 PM
I have a friend here in Pensacola who is selling his business and is interested in escaping the heat and humidity of the Gulf Coast (go figure  ;D ) and retire to the San Diego area.

He is an avid 8 handicapper and his wife plays frequently as well. 

Are there affordable private club options in the San Diego area?  I guess by "affordable" in that part of the country I wouid be thinking sub-$50K membership.  Thanks for any suggestions that I can pass along before he and his wife head out there this weekend.

If that's Joe you are describing that will remove about 50% of the Pensacola economy in one fell swoop ;D
Title: Re: San Diego Area Private Golf
Post by: Jon Spaulding on June 05, 2008, 04:59:30 PM
The further east you go, the warmer it gets so East Bumblefudge might be more like Penscacola in the summer time, although it is a dry heat, which is nice ...

Coming from Penscacola, how does he feel about traffic? 

How about Orange County?  Mission Viejo is reasonable and gets nice cool ocean breezes ...

No, no, no..... OC all full at the moment, and the courses stink. Mission Viejo is a soul-less purgatory between yuppie heaven and hell.
Title: Re: San Diego Area Private Golf
Post by: Mike Benham on June 05, 2008, 06:00:58 PM
Jon -

I expected you to say that but from what I have seen, retirees that want to golf don't retire in San Diego. 

Mike
Title: Re: San Diego Area Private Golf
Post by: Bill_McBride on June 05, 2008, 06:37:29 PM
Singing Hills looks like it might work.  I passed it along to my buddy, along with Pauma Valley.  He'll be out there this weekend looking things over.
Title: Re: San Diego Area Private Golf
Post by: David Kelly on June 05, 2008, 07:10:24 PM
To me the best of the courses mentioned by far is San Diego CC which is a Billy Bell design from the mid-20s. Very walkable and fun as well as a tough test at over 7000 yds.

http://www.sandiegocountryclub.org/
Title: Re: San Diego Area Private Golf
Post by: rjsimper on June 05, 2008, 09:21:13 PM
Only problem with SDCC is that it's in North Tijuana...aka Chula Vista...of course this is no less remote than Pauma is.  Haven't played it but I've heard decent reviews.
Title: Re: San Diego Area Private Golf
Post by: David Stamm on June 05, 2008, 09:39:04 PM
Pauma Valley is the best value by far. SDCC has gotten a bit expensive, (Over $50K I think), and if he lives in North County, it's a long jaunt. Full membership at PV is about $20K with $695 monthly. CC of Rancho Bernardo may be an option. LJCC, RSFGC are very expensive.
Title: Re: San Diego Area Private Golf
Post by: Matt_Cohn on June 06, 2008, 01:22:01 AM
Bill,

The CC's fees that I know of, that are actually in San Diego are:

Rancho Santa Fe CC (must live in the Covenent to join) 50K, 250/mo.
San Diego CC 50K, 300/mo.
La Jolla CC 75K, 300/mo.

Pete, my understanding is that LJCC was at $135k five or more years ago. I'm not sure about the others.
Title: Re: San Diego Area Private Golf
Post by: Jon Spaulding on June 06, 2008, 09:01:28 AM
Jon -

I expected you to say that but from what I have seen, retirees that want to golf don't retire in San Diego. 

Mike

I wouldn't retire to San Diego, save a cozy little cabana in the covenant....sure, the membership might be less than $100K, and you might see Phil or Lovemark....or 600 other members, but "tear down" candidates in the covenant were $2-3M the last time I asked.

I've not played LJCC so cannot comment. But I "could" probably figure out an acceptable arrangement to retire there. ;)

Did you expect me to ask people to stay out of OC, that the courses stink, or both?
Title: Re: San Diego Area Private Golf
Post by: fred ruttenberg on June 09, 2008, 02:11:18 PM
Santa Luz is a golf club community.  Excellent Reese Jones Course in a high end community.
Title: Re: San Diego Area Private Golf
Post by: David Druzisky on June 09, 2008, 03:10:21 PM
Okay...this could be a fun challenge.

What is more important, the beach, or golf?

Make sure he understands that as soon as you go east of I-5 the temperatures start going up..and up.  And then there is the fire potential.

I think it would be difficult to determine where to balance golf with house there, even if I had all the money in the world.

It may be best to just find the house (or location of house and tear the old one down for a new one) and then do the country club for a day thing throughout the area.  There just are not many privates there I would be really interested in playing all the time.  With gas prices and the traffic going up and down the coast I would want to be near the club.   But if it is just a social thing, then it may be a lot easier.

I personally love the Cardiff by the Sea area.

But, if I did have all the money in the world, I would probably end up in Santa Barbara.
Title: Re: San Diego Area Private Golf
Post by: Jon Spaulding on June 09, 2008, 05:04:15 PM
Santa Luz is a golf club community.  Excellent Reese Jones Course in a high end community.

I trust that that this is some form of dry humor.......
Title: Re: San Diego Area Private Golf
Post by: Steve_ Shaffer on June 09, 2008, 05:09:11 PM
I don't how affordable this residential one is but it sure looks nice:

www.thecrosbyclub.com
Title: Re: San Diego Area Private Golf
Post by: Jon Spaulding on June 09, 2008, 05:23:17 PM
I don't how affordable this residential one is but it sure looks nice:

www.thecrosbyclub.com

Dave Stamm to the white courtesy phone....

I was dragged out there kicking and screaming 2 years ago; housing was $400-$500 per square foot. Not too bad considering the neighboring Covenant prices, but about 10 degrees warmer and quite a haul to get milk at the grocery store. The course looked hideous but I did not play it. The guy being paged above has.
Title: Re: San Diego Area Private Golf
Post by: David Stamm on June 09, 2008, 05:31:44 PM
I don't how affordable this residential one is but it sure looks nice:

www.thecrosbyclub.com

Dave Stamm to the white courtesy phone....

I was dragged out there kicking and screaming 2 years ago; housing was $400-$500 per square foot. Not too bad considering the neighboring Covenant prices, but about 10 degrees warmer and quite a haul to get milk at the grocery store. The course looked hideous but I did not play it. The guy being paged above has.


The course is probably a better effort than The Bridges up the road, but overall it was just "okay". I've seen better work from Curley. The greens are over the top in terms of contouring and look unatural for their surrounds. And it does not lend itself to walking. It's always in good shape, but RSFGC is a better course. Last time I heard memberships were in the $125-$150K range. The club has gone into receivership a couple of times since being built and as of a couple of years ago, they just couldn't get more than 115-120 total memberships out there. 275 I believe was the number they needed to break even. There are better options, although not many, in SD. I'll say it again, Pauma is by far the best deal in town, if the drive doesn't matter.
Title: Re: San Diego Area Private Golf
Post by: Jon Spaulding on June 09, 2008, 09:15:57 PM
Doesn't the Crosby have a sufficient number of waterscapes? I drove in there and thought we were at Raging Waters until we were attacked by one of the realtors.
Title: Re: San Diego Area Private Golf
Post by: Michael Robin on June 09, 2008, 09:53:30 PM
How about the Golf Club of California(correct name?) in Fallbrook? I played it early and thought it was decent and looked like it was going to be a nice club. Do Stamm, Spaulding, et all, know how this one turned out? Is this closer then Pauma?
Title: Re: San Diego Area Private Golf
Post by: Jon Spaulding on June 09, 2008, 10:40:32 PM
It is far closer than Pauma, adjacent to Fallbrook muni off highway 76. I've not invested the time to go see it but have been told that it is a decent test, well conditioned, and has received a number of defectors from Bear Creek, including the last guy to beat TW in match play as an amateur.

DS has been in touch with them so he can speak to the pricing.
Title: Re: San Diego Area Private Golf
Post by: rjsimper on June 09, 2008, 11:10:18 PM
I think Mr. Robin is just partial to golf courses featuring bunkers in the middle of a par 3's green.  Brad Tufts played it and his review on the course was that it was decent but not great...I recall him saying that it was a pretty nice club setting.  I'll defer to Senor Stamm on the pricing there, but it's absolutely a more convenient location than Pauma, however still an hour-ish from SD proper.
Title: Re: San Diego Area Private Golf
Post by: David Stamm on June 09, 2008, 11:59:57 PM
I haven't played it (Golf Club of California), but I trust Brad's take is spot on. I do have a friend who's been a member there for a while and he tells me that it is not a walker friendly course. Memberships last time I checked were in the $20-$25K range with $350-$400 per month. As a side note, when turning off from I-15, it's about 5 minutes to the west. Pauma is 15 minutes to the east off the same exit. So Pauma is only 10 minutes further.
Title: Re: San Diego Area Private Golf
Post by: R_Paulis on June 10, 2008, 12:20:25 AM
Most non-California types don't realize the difference in weather from the west coast to a few miles inland. A couple of weeks ago temps were 72 degrees with a nice ocean breeze up to a mile away from the ocean. Four miles inland and the tempature was 92 degrees.

Needless to say I played Olivas Links that day near the ocean while my buddy played Rustic Canyon with temps approaching 100 degrees.
Title: Re: San Diego Area Private Golf
Post by: Richard Boult on June 10, 2008, 10:33:43 AM
Native Californians are leaving SD, LA, and SF to retire here in SLO County (250k residents. Great climate, no traffic, affordable golf, good courses (La Purisima, Marshallia, Monarch Dunes, Cypress Ridge, SLOCC, Hunter Ranch, Morro Bay).  SLOCC is something like <10k, 350/mo. Most of us would rather just play the publics though. A handful of PGA and Nationwide pros play there annually in the Straight Down Fall Classic.
Title: Re: San Diego Area Private Golf
Post by: Jon Spaulding on June 10, 2008, 02:55:40 PM
I haven't played it (Golf Club of California), but I trust Brad's take is spot on. I do have a friend who's been a member there for a while and he tells me that it is not a walker friendly course. Memberships last time I checked were in the $20-$25K range with $350-$400 per month. As a side note, when turning off from I-15, it's about 5 minutes to the west. Pauma is 15 minutes to the east off the same exit. So Pauma is only 10 minutes further.

That must be the same car/rocket that gets you up to Rustic in 20 additional minutes. :-\ Pauma for us normal folk is another 20-25 minutes from GCoC.
Title: Re: San Diego Area Private Golf
Post by: David Stamm on June 10, 2008, 03:09:43 PM
I haven't played it (Golf Club of California), but I trust Brad's take is spot on. I do have a friend who's been a member there for a while and he tells me that it is not a walker friendly course. Memberships last time I checked were in the $20-$25K range with $350-$400 per month. As a side note, when turning off from I-15, it's about 5 minutes to the west. Pauma is 15 minutes to the east off the same exit. So Pauma is only 10 minutes further.

That must be the same car/rocket that gets you up to Rustic in 20 additional minutes. :-\ Pauma for us normal folk is another 20-25 minutes from GCoC.

5.0 liters going to waste. :'( Do I need to show you how to use that? ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ceX5Wk-zSY