Southern California Advice

[Rich Thomas]

Hey all...brand new on the site after quite a while lurking and researching. I am headed to Southern California in a week and a half for a trip with my dad. I'm calling it the So. Cal Muni Madness Trip. We are driving down from Las Vegas and playing Oak Quarry in Riverside (have to scratch the top 100 public itch) on a Monday. Then on Tuesday, we are playing Goat Hill Park, San Clemente Muni on Wednesday, and either Coronado Muni or Balboa Park Muni. I have a soft spot for munis and I like William Bell as an architect, but I also want to give my dad the experience of playing right near the water in San Diego Bay. Any suggestions/input is greatly appreciated. Thank you!!!

[Carl Nichols]

Rich, I was in San Diego in March and posted a similar question on this older thread:  https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,60732.  I ended up not having time to play, so don't have any information to share from my trip.   

[Tim_Weiman]

Hey all...brand new on the site after quite a while lurking and researching. I am headed to Southern California in a week and a half for a trip with my dad. I'm calling it the So. Cal Muni Madness Trip. We are driving down from Las Vegas and playing Oak Quarry in Riverside (have to scratch the top 100 public itch) on a Monday. Then on Tuesday, we are playing Goat Hill Park, San Clemente Muni on Wednesday, and either Coronado Muni or Balboa Park Muni. I have a soft spot for munis and I like William Bell as an architect, but I also want to give my dad the experience of playing right near the water in San Diego Bay. Any suggestions/input is greatly appreciated. Thank you!!!

Get ahold of the Emperor Tommy Naccarato. He’ll be impressed you are a William Bell fan. A round with Tommy will be unlike any other.

[Rich Thomas]

Carl...thanks for the link. I haven't apparently made it that far back in the forum yet.


Tim...I'm out in Vegas and love playing Las Vegas Golf Club (William Bell). One of my favorite places to play for a nice relaxing walk.


As of right now, it is just myself and my dad for the round at San Clemente and either Balboa or Coronado if anyone in the area wants to join up. I have yet to make tee times since they can only be made a week in advance. San Clemente will be 7/21 and the other will be 7/22.

[Robert Mercer Deruntz]

On the way home, you need to venture to Santa Anita.  There is a wealth of great architecture, and it is a very fun course.

[Jordan Beasley]

Rich - I would highly recommend the 9-hole course at The Ranch at Laguna Beach. It's set in a pristine canyon right across the street from the ocean, and is high on quirk and fun. The total yardage on the scorecard causes many to incorrectly dismiss it.

[Rich Thomas]

Robert...I think Santa Anita might have to wait for a different trip. I'm thinking one where I can go check out Rustic Canyon afterward, and then possibly over to Soule Park and Ojai Valley.


Jordan...That might be a good idea for a late afternoon round after playing San Clemente.


I really appreciate the insight I'm getting here. Thanks All!

[Pete Lavallee]

You can make an advanced tee time at Coronado on their website; there’s an $18 surcharge for that. Better act quick as there are not many times left. Advanced bookings tee off after 10:00. Regular tee times are given out at 6:00 from the starters shack, two days in advance. People start lining up at 4:00 for the choice early times. If you are in line by 5:00 you can probably get something before 9:00. Hope this helps.


Balboa times are done one week in advance off the Cities website at 7:00 pm.

[Mark Kiely]

Not sure what advice you're looking for but this itinerary sounds good to me. I'd probably lean toward Coronado over Balboa Park for the water's edge holes as you mentioned, but they're pretty comparable in my book as far as architectural interest. I was just at San Clemente last weekend. Don't let the first few tee boxes scare you... they were in ugly shape last weekend but got better after a few holes, and the rest of the course is in pretty good shape, with excellent greens right now. The toughest part of this trip will be landing all those tee times. You've picked some of the busiest courses in SoCal.

[Tim Leahy]

Don't miss Rustic Canyon but I would also recommend Angeles National a Nicklaus course in Sunland-Tujunga Canyon about 30 miles south of Rustic all freeway driving. Also Olivas Links near the Ventura Harbor gets nice ocean breezes when it heats up inland and is down the road from Ojai. It was originally designed by William F Bell but marvelously redone by Forrest Richardson and you can get a great fresh seafood dinner next door at one of the restaurants that overlook the harbor.    Enjoy.

[Rich Thomas]

Not sure what advice you're looking for but this itinerary sounds good to me. I'd probably lean toward Coronado over Balboa Park for the water's edge holes as you mentioned, but they're pretty comparable in my book as far as architectural interest. I was just at San Clemente last weekend. Don't let the first few tee boxes scare you... they were in ugly shape last weekend but got better after a few holes, and the rest of the course is in pretty good shape, with excellent greens right now. The toughest part of this trip will be landing all those tee times. You've picked some of the busiest courses in SoCal.

I know I picked some popular courses...I let my dad pick between Balboa and Coronada and he picked Balboa. Gonna get up early so that I can be logged on and get the tee time right as they open up.

[Rich Thomas]

Don't miss Rustic Canyon but I would also recommend Angeles National a Nicklaus course in Sunland-Tujunga Canyon about 30 miles south of Rustic all freeway driving. Also Olivas Links near the Ventura Harbor gets nice ocean breezes when it heats up inland and is down the road from Ojai. It was originally designed by William F Bell but marvelously redone by Forrest Richardson and you can get a great fresh seafood dinner next door at one of the restaurants that overlook the harbor.    Enjoy.

I think the courses north are going to have to wait for another trip. Trying to keep this one all kind of localized so we don't have to do a lot of driving and can stay in one hotel. I do agree that Rustic Canyon, Ojai, and Soule Park would be more architecturally interesting, but that is the beauty. You never run out of interesting courses to play.