CaliforniaFrom the Monterey Peninsula to San Diego, discover golf in the Golden State
|
|
|
|
Page 4 of 5
| California Must-Plays | | Pasatiempo
Santa Cruz
 This course on the north side of Monterey Bay opened in 1929 and still ranks as one of the best daily-fee tracks in the nation. The par-four 16th was course architect Alister Mackenzie's favorite hole in golf. Mackenzie spent the last years of his life living in a home on Pasatiempo and tinkering with the design.
Par 70, 6439 yards (72.5/136)
(Alister Mackenzie)
(831) 459-9155
www.pasatiempo.com | Bayonet/Black Horse
Seaside
 Both of these are excellent choices and should be on your play list when in the Monterey Bay area. They will both challenge even the top professional from the back tees, and have done so in various tournaments over the years. The Bayonet Course is long and difficult. The Black Horse Course is shorter and somewhat more forgiving. Both have great ocean views.
Bayonet—Par 72, 7117 yards (75.6/136) (Gen. Robert McClure)
Black Horse—Par 72, 7009 yards (75.2/134) (Gen. Edwin Carns)
(831) 899-7271
www.bayonetblackhorse.com
|
| Oak Creek
Irvine
 Oak Creek is a picturesque course where good shots are rewarded and bad shots are penalized. Landing zones are generally wide open and driver-friendly. If you miss fairways, though, bring plenty of golf balls, because they get lost easily in the deep rough. The course is particularly women-friendly, with the silver tees measuring under 5000 yards.
Par 71, 6729 yards (72.7/132)
(Tom Fazio)
(949) 653-7300
www.oakcreekgolfclub.com | Arroyo Trabuco
Mission Viejo
 Set amidst Trabuco Creek and Ladera Open Space Reserve, Arroyo Trabuco provides a “high-end golfing experience at a competitive price.” The 240-acre site occupies an old gravel pit (whose operations were shut down in December 2000), and several holes play around the old facility. The layout encounters quite a bit of rolling topography, making for some fun and memorable holes.
Par 72, 6974 yards (73.7/134)
(Tom Lehman & Casey O’Callaghan)
(949) 364-1881
www.arroyotrabuco.com
|
| Rancho Bernardo Inn
Escondido
 An 18-hole course first built in 1962, this design is set in a small, scenic valley and surrounded by homes. A meandering creek, two lakes, natural vegetation areas and fast greens add to the pleasant experience. A local’s favorite.
Par 72, 6631 yards (72.3/133)
(William Bell)
(858) 675-8470
www.ranchobernardoinn.com
| The Auld Course
Chula Vista
 Resting in the foothills of Mt. Miguel, this traditional course includes 18 distinctive holes. It features panoramic ocean and mountain views, acres of natural wetlands, and no homes or roads. The hillsides influence most tee shots, so placement off the tee is important. It is a big course with no trees, which is significant because it tends to get windy in the afternoons.
Par 72, 6855 yards (73.4/132)
(Cary Bickler & John Cook)
(619) 482-4666
www.theauldcourse.com
|
|
Travel 
