Marine Memorial Golf Course

[Tom Walsh]

My first stab at posting pictures. My wife and I went to Oceanside CA, San Diego, and Camp Pendleton to see my son Daniel off to his deployment in Afghanistan at the end of March, 2012.

Daniel and I played 9 holes at the Marine Memorial Golf Course. We resolved to play the back 9 when he gets back to the States in October. It's a date!

Father and son both shot 48 on the William Bell Sr. design. Like his father, the son couldn't putt a lick that day. We didn't much care. Played with a Marine Sergeant who had just returned from his deployment. His advice to my son--"Do your job; don't be a hero". Pops liked that.

Anyway the course is located in a canyon on Camp Pendleton. Flat fairways with pushup greens for the most part. Some good contours on the Poa greens which we had some trouble with.

http://www.mccscp.com/golf




We played the whites- 3195 yard par 36
Number 1 508 par 5




Number 2  359 par 4




Number 3 335 par 4




back down the fairway from the green


Number 4 148 par 3


Lance Corporal DF Walsh


Number 5 380 par 4
5 fairway


5 green


Number 6 374 par 4




Number 7 508 par 5








Number 8 195 par 3


no green shot--d'oh

Number 9 388 par 4




towards the back 9


Not the greatest pictures, but we had an awesome time. The course is in a secluded canyon area. A very cool location on the base.  Semper Fi--

[Mark Bourgeois]

Awesome was the word I was thinking, too, Tom. I will think of your son Daniel every time I drive past this:

[Bill_McBride]

Semper Fi indeed!   Thanks for the post Tom.  You are obviously proud of your son and we are too!   There's nothing like a round of golf with your son.   Here's to a safe and peaceful tour for Daniel.   

[Tom Walsh]

Thanks gentlemen for the nice words. TW

[Mike Sweeney]

Thanks gentlemen for the nice words. TW

Tom

Good luck to your son.

Is the course open to civilians? We have a family trip coming up soon to San Diego.

We work with a bunch of Maines now. Have him take a look when he gets out http://www.filmannexcorp.com/gives/

[David_Tepper]

Mike -

I do think the Camp Pendleton golf course is now open for public play.

http://www.mccscp.com/golf

http://barb-aroundthetown.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/camp-pendleton-marine-memorial-golf.html

DT

[Tom Walsh]

Mike- definitely open for 'civilian' or public play. And a bargain, but a hike to get to on the massive Camp Pendleton base.

Re= http://www.filmannexcorp.com/gives/  Thank you for this interesting initiative and service to our veterans. He's just turned 20---so we shall see. Tom

[Robert Mercer Deruntz]

This is a Bell Sr. Design.  The conditioning leaves something to be desired, but it is a flat out hidden gem that needs some serious TLC

[Tom Walsh]

Robert- will correct designer up top of the thread. I agree--a hidden gem. I liked it a lot especially the greens. TW

[Lynn_Shackelford]

After hearing about this course for so many years it is the first pictures I have seen.  Thanks for that.

I have no doubt it is a William P. Bell design.  However I wouldn't be surprised if William F. Bell(son) came in some time and screwed up the bunkers and greens like he did at Brookside in Pasadena.  That is the look I see in the pictures.

Let us see the back nine someday with you and your son home safely.

[Jon Spaulding]

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,27028.0.html

Lynn.....Ron Fream came in and screwed things up many moons ago.

Otherwise, what RMD said.

[David Stamm]

I live about 20 minutes from here. RMD and Spaulds are correct, it is a hidden gem. If taken care of properly, it would be a really nice option to play on a regular basis. The back nine has some really solid holes.


12th tee shot



15th tee shot


16th tee shot

[Tom_Doak]

The Marines need wall to wall concrete cart paths?  Come on!

P.S.  I have no intent to disrespect the Marines.  My dad was among their ranks.

[Jud_T]

I think we could find a few boys there that could hike a hundred holes with a pack and boots!  Best wishes Tom and thank your son for his service.

[Tom Walsh]

Yep lots of thin, concrete paths--unsightly. We pushcarted   

[Robert Mercer Deruntz]

This is a hole that once was brilliant, but some minor flood control work turned the shallow baranca into a civil engineering look.  This is a reachable par 5 with a really well contoured green

[Tim Leahy]

I enjoyed playing this course some years back but was almost hit by a tank crossing the road on the way to the course. Keep your eyes open for military vehicles!