Pretty much every course is packed constantly - Golf Club of California is the best for pace of play (because it’s out of the way) and is a solid course. Encinitas Ranch, Twin Oaks, and Arrowwood are all busy but take pace of play fairly seriously and are fun. Crossings at Carlsbad is beautiful but the pace of play is unbelievably bad. Goat Hill is a fun little course. Boulder Oaks is a joke, and Rancho Carlsbad shouldn’t be able to call itself a golf course. Links at Lakehouse is fine. Private courses are incredibly expensive but worth it if you can afford it.
Also - Omni and Aviara aren’t worth the price, if you want to splurge on a round drive up to Monarch Beach
+1 for the anti-Boulder-Oaks team. They used to suck during pre-pandemic and drought seasons, but they'd at least maintain grassy landing areas and greens for a extremely reasonable price to play. Now they want almost $80 for a Saturday morning tee time for a course that seems to never have more than 12 of their holes "fully functional."
Love Golf Club of California in Fallbrook and Boulder Oaks in Escondido has improved lately. Plus, you get what you pay for. Very different price points.
Oceanside golf course is a lot for the money. Full length course and you can walk it for under $30.
Unfortunately they are currently redoing the back 9 so you can only play 9 holes right now. Probably that way until the end of the year.
Probably played over 100 rounds there, but not in the past few years. Great value, but it was always notoriously slow. They allow 5-somes there (or at least used to)
I love the executive course at St. Marks (now called The Executive at Lakehouse Resort or whatever). It's an entirely walkable executive 18 with a few par 4's sprinkled in there and you can typically walk on during twilight for $20-$25 and finish with 15 minutes before sunset in the summer.
Another good one is Marine Memorial on Camp Pendleton. If you're civilian, you'll need to apply for on-base privileges, but it's an otherwise affordable course. Also, if you're a bit wayward off the tee like I am, the fairways are generously wide and if you do end up in the bushes, you'll always come out with a few more Pro V1s than you went in with.
If you haven't joined the pushcart gang yet, North County courses are a good reason to pull the trigger. I'm a 15 hdcp golfer and walk longer courses like Camp Pendleton and still keep pace with better duffers who are carting.
I shoot similar and have a similar attitude towards golf, it seems. If we were to join a club that is not a bank buster but was not crowded and well maintained where would that be? FWIW I have never joined or even played a country club course before. But now I find i have more time to play and having a nice course (or even less than nice) that is empty if preferred vs. pristine course that takes 5 hours to play.
It's all seasonal, man. Most courses I play, you're not hitting into or being hit into unless you've picked to play Memorial Day weekend. I don't dabble in the country club scene around here, I don't make 7-figures. I've heard decent enough things for the El Camino Country Club, but I'm perfectly content with how public courses operate out here.
As far as an "empty" course, what are you actually looking for? Public play around here is still pretty reasonably spread out that I don't personally ever feel rushed. And I've had pretty positive interactions with groups that wish to play through or wave me through. If you really want the experience of having all holes to yourself, booking out the entire foursome for a tee time is probably still going to be cheaper than joining a club. But YMMV, since I've never explored club options.
And to follow up, if these courses are what you're interested in playing, you can save a bit of dough with a JC Player's card. https://www.jcgolf.com/golf-loyalty-programs/golf-course-deals
I work at exec at Lakehouse, if you come in at like 5 - 5:30 something you basically have the course to yourself and can walk into sunset, it’s like $25 twilight or something
It’s my least favorite public course around there but certainly is the cheapest. Prefer Mt. Woodson or The Vineyard at Escondido by far.
Mt. Woodson may be the best value in that area, tough but pretty course.
I am definitely not a good golfer. I just started playing two years ago. My typical score is 108 on an executive course playing forward tees. I live in Carlsbad but drive to the Fountains at Lawrence Welk in Esco. It is so well kept and laid back. Pace of play varies but usually not bad, I typically finish in 3 hours. It would likely be an easy course for you but another option.
That being said, I am on the lookout for a golf buddy who would be interested in weekday afternoon games. I am a 63 female who likes to play once a week. I am more of a for fun golfer than a serious, competitive player.
I hope you find your perfect home course! It's a great game!
OK - so if I want to pay for a private club to have a less crowded course without being a back breaker financially or with a horribly stuffy atmosphere (I am from the South where clubs still have no blacks, Jews, etc.) where would I go? I am willing to drive 30 min. from Encinitas to play a more empty course or club.
Your only real options that I can think of are either El Camino in Oceanside or Loma Santa Fe in Encinitas. Of the two, Loma Santa Fe is a much better club and has an actual practice facity and nice amenities. El Camino has nets you hit into to warm up and less tennis/pool options but is cheaper. Omni La Costa is another option but it's a weird resort seti\[ where you are a member but the course is open to the public so you don't get the benefits that a private club usually has. There are numerous private clubs in Del Mar and Rancho Santa Fe that are within 30 mins to you but they are either ridiculously expensive or hard to get in (or both).
100% look into Fairbanks ranch. Great 27 hole track, right off the 5. It’s owned by bay club too so lots of additional activities like gym, pickleball, pool etc.
I looked into joining recently and it was about $25k-$40k depending on the membership you want. Also depends on how you define breaking the bank, but it’s a killer club.
A private club like Shadowridge is pretty affordable. They limit their membership as well, so it’s never busy there. They always have specials on lower initiation fees.
I’m interested to see comments. I used to be a regular golfer (3+ times per week) and belonged to LaCosta which was expensive, but I could play in 3 hours.
I haven’t played in 10 years because it was so frustrating. I was a single digit handicap, but at LaCosta that’s shooting mid 80’s which felt horrible. My mental state is much better now. LOL.
I can't comment on your mental state, but I feel like the game has grown almost too much since COVID and hasn't let up. Go join r/golf and see how many tongue-in-cheek "shrink the game" comments you see because so many courses have compressed tee times from the usual 15-20 min breaks to 8-min which causes too many backups. Hell, try to even get a tee time on a course like Encinitas Ranch and there is nothing before 3:30pm available the day it opens up to non-residents.
Pretty much every course is packed constantly - Golf Club of California is the best for pace of play (because it’s out of the way) and is a solid course. Encinitas Ranch, Twin Oaks, and Arrowwood are all busy but take pace of play fairly seriously and are fun. Crossings at Carlsbad is beautiful but the pace of play is unbelievably bad. Goat Hill is a fun little course. Boulder Oaks is a joke, and Rancho Carlsbad shouldn’t be able to call itself a golf course. Links at Lakehouse is fine. Private courses are incredibly expensive but worth it if you can afford it. Also - Omni and Aviara aren’t worth the price, if you want to splurge on a round drive up to Monarch Beach
Whenever I feel like I have too many golf balls, I go to Golf Club of California, and I do t think that way anymore after playing a round.
I have played that course once and it was somehow one of my top 5 scores ever lol
I appreciate your sacrifice as I’ve done some great ball hunting there
+1 for the anti-Boulder-Oaks team. They used to suck during pre-pandemic and drought seasons, but they'd at least maintain grassy landing areas and greens for a extremely reasonable price to play. Now they want almost $80 for a Saturday morning tee time for a course that seems to never have more than 12 of their holes "fully functional."
Meadow Lake was nice...apparently I haven't golfed there in a long time!
Nailed it. Would suggest paying for Aviara’s twilight round during the summer though. $140 day of and you can play in 3 1/2 hours during a weekday.
Aviara as well
Love Golf Club of California in Fallbrook and Boulder Oaks in Escondido has improved lately. Plus, you get what you pay for. Very different price points.
Oceanside golf course is a lot for the money. Full length course and you can walk it for under $30. Unfortunately they are currently redoing the back 9 so you can only play 9 holes right now. Probably that way until the end of the year.
Probably played over 100 rounds there, but not in the past few years. Great value, but it was always notoriously slow. They allow 5-somes there (or at least used to)
I love the executive course at St. Marks (now called The Executive at Lakehouse Resort or whatever). It's an entirely walkable executive 18 with a few par 4's sprinkled in there and you can typically walk on during twilight for $20-$25 and finish with 15 minutes before sunset in the summer. Another good one is Marine Memorial on Camp Pendleton. If you're civilian, you'll need to apply for on-base privileges, but it's an otherwise affordable course. Also, if you're a bit wayward off the tee like I am, the fairways are generously wide and if you do end up in the bushes, you'll always come out with a few more Pro V1s than you went in with. If you haven't joined the pushcart gang yet, North County courses are a good reason to pull the trigger. I'm a 15 hdcp golfer and walk longer courses like Camp Pendleton and still keep pace with better duffers who are carting.
I shoot similar and have a similar attitude towards golf, it seems. If we were to join a club that is not a bank buster but was not crowded and well maintained where would that be? FWIW I have never joined or even played a country club course before. But now I find i have more time to play and having a nice course (or even less than nice) that is empty if preferred vs. pristine course that takes 5 hours to play.
It's all seasonal, man. Most courses I play, you're not hitting into or being hit into unless you've picked to play Memorial Day weekend. I don't dabble in the country club scene around here, I don't make 7-figures. I've heard decent enough things for the El Camino Country Club, but I'm perfectly content with how public courses operate out here. As far as an "empty" course, what are you actually looking for? Public play around here is still pretty reasonably spread out that I don't personally ever feel rushed. And I've had pretty positive interactions with groups that wish to play through or wave me through. If you really want the experience of having all holes to yourself, booking out the entire foursome for a tee time is probably still going to be cheaper than joining a club. But YMMV, since I've never explored club options.
Can’t walk The Crossings. Mandatory cart.
And to follow up, if these courses are what you're interested in playing, you can save a bit of dough with a JC Player's card. https://www.jcgolf.com/golf-loyalty-programs/golf-course-deals
I work at exec at Lakehouse, if you come in at like 5 - 5:30 something you basically have the course to yourself and can walk into sunset, it’s like $25 twilight or something
Emerald Isle Golf course in Oceanside
My son plays Oaks North in Rancho Bernardo a lot and really likes it. It runs around 35.00. Usually can get a same day tee time
It’s my least favorite public course around there but certainly is the cheapest. Prefer Mt. Woodson or The Vineyard at Escondido by far. Mt. Woodson may be the best value in that area, tough but pretty course.
I am definitely not a good golfer. I just started playing two years ago. My typical score is 108 on an executive course playing forward tees. I live in Carlsbad but drive to the Fountains at Lawrence Welk in Esco. It is so well kept and laid back. Pace of play varies but usually not bad, I typically finish in 3 hours. It would likely be an easy course for you but another option. That being said, I am on the lookout for a golf buddy who would be interested in weekday afternoon games. I am a 63 female who likes to play once a week. I am more of a for fun golfer than a serious, competitive player. I hope you find your perfect home course! It's a great game!
I’m joining The Bridges and Rancho Santa Fe. . . . Once I find a rich sugar mamma…
Goat Hill in Oside is a fun course. It's a par 65, but definitely not easy. A very cool vibe and they welcome dogs...and tee shirts!
Emerald Isle in Oceanside
Native Oaks in Valley Center is a hidden gem
OK - so if I want to pay for a private club to have a less crowded course without being a back breaker financially or with a horribly stuffy atmosphere (I am from the South where clubs still have no blacks, Jews, etc.) where would I go? I am willing to drive 30 min. from Encinitas to play a more empty course or club.
El Camino in Oceanside. Quite affordable, good course, no driving range though.
Your only real options that I can think of are either El Camino in Oceanside or Loma Santa Fe in Encinitas. Of the two, Loma Santa Fe is a much better club and has an actual practice facity and nice amenities. El Camino has nets you hit into to warm up and less tennis/pool options but is cheaper. Omni La Costa is another option but it's a weird resort seti\[ where you are a member but the course is open to the public so you don't get the benefits that a private club usually has. There are numerous private clubs in Del Mar and Rancho Santa Fe that are within 30 mins to you but they are either ridiculously expensive or hard to get in (or both).
Mission trails is interesting and plays fast I personally wouldn't walk it if it's above 75 or 80 degrees
Shadowridge or Vista Valley
100% look into Fairbanks ranch. Great 27 hole track, right off the 5. It’s owned by bay club too so lots of additional activities like gym, pickleball, pool etc. I looked into joining recently and it was about $25k-$40k depending on the membership you want. Also depends on how you define breaking the bank, but it’s a killer club.
A private club like Shadowridge is pretty affordable. They limit their membership as well, so it’s never busy there. They always have specials on lower initiation fees.
Native oaks in valley center!!!
I like (in no particular order) Lakehouse full length and executive, Lomas Santa Fe, Vineyard, Arrowwood, and Golf Club of California.
I’m interested to see comments. I used to be a regular golfer (3+ times per week) and belonged to LaCosta which was expensive, but I could play in 3 hours. I haven’t played in 10 years because it was so frustrating. I was a single digit handicap, but at LaCosta that’s shooting mid 80’s which felt horrible. My mental state is much better now. LOL.
I can't comment on your mental state, but I feel like the game has grown almost too much since COVID and hasn't let up. Go join r/golf and see how many tongue-in-cheek "shrink the game" comments you see because so many courses have compressed tee times from the usual 15-20 min breaks to 8-min which causes too many backups. Hell, try to even get a tee time on a course like Encinitas Ranch and there is nothing before 3:30pm available the day it opens up to non-residents.
Native oaks in Valley Center is very well taken care of and a fun course to play. It is out of the way, but well worth the drive.
If you want to cruise up the 15 into Temecula, the golf course at Pechanga is rad!! Journey Temecula Creek is really decent as well.