This is the rare resort course that seems better the second time you play it. Here’s my list of the top public golf courses in Southern California. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG) This is a course that boasts incredible views on the entire track. Its reputation may be a little overblown, but not by much. “Best course in California.”. Don’t get drawn into the hype over PGA West TPC Stadium. Simply stated, this course is spectacular. Its geography is diverse stretching along the 840 mile Pacific coastline from the massive redwoods in the northwest to the Mexican border. Not a bad list. Simply stated, this course is spectacular. Torrey Pines Golf Course – South Course (La Jolla, CA). Welcome! Lambrecht) Palm Springs. The magic is the way in which the Shore course blends into the topography. www.torreypinesgolfcourse.com Long considered one of the greatest municipal courses in America, Torrey Pines is easily the most prominent Southern California golf course available to the public. The 18-hole course was designed by Cary Bickler, and has a par of 72. Required fields are marked *. I think you need to read the article title again because you just made your user name a reality! Sam…I realize this is ‘your’ top ten, and beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but are you serious my brotha??? This Griffith Park golf course is one of the top public golf courses in California and one named for past Presidents. www.pgawest.com, Pelican Hill – Ocean South Course (Newport Coast, CA). This is something really great to read out this amazing article. Par 3 and Executive Golf Courses in California. Those in the know, know this is Pete Dye’s best work in the Palm Springs valley, some of his best work anywhere. You get the fun from the chance to cut a corner on a mountain that’s protruding into the fairway, a hole where you must cross a plunging hill in the middle of the fairway and several inventive par 3s. The members of our course-ratings panel continually evaluate courses and rate them based on our 10 criteria. Let our 2019-20 ranking of America's 100 Greatest Public Courses lead the way. That course not only doesn’t belong on anyone’s top ten, it doesn’t belong on anyone’s top 500… There is a reason the PGA quit hosting Q-School there, and it ain’t because is isn’t beautiful in the desert in December! The 18-hole "Riverview" course at the Riverview Golf & Country Club facility in Redding, CA features 6,481 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72. Torrey Pines (South Course) Its reputation may be a little overblown, but not by much. Articles. At 6,478 yards, Indian Wells’ Classic Course could be considered almost puny by modern standards, which just shows how unimaginative modern golf design standards are. Click here to review a golf course, whether it’s your first or your 100th. Golf Course Maps, Par 3, Executive, Pitch and Putt. I suppose this list is a bit subjective, but they would be three of my top challenging courses. It's golf ‘au naturale’ and perhaps the finest architectural swan song. We rank the top venues in California (2019-'20) Some courses are ranked in Best in State but did not receive enough ballots to be considered for national lists. Articles. It’s all forced desert carries and tucked away greens from there. Too bad Ralph didn't play golf, because the same can be said of golf in the Golden State: It is plentiful, wonderful, and remarkably varied, ranging from $12 goat farms with world-class views of the Pacific to the most elite public course in the world, Pebble Beach. Enjoy No Booking Fees on all Southern California golf courses. It seems ridiculous to place a course developed by an obscure former major league third baseman (Doug DeCinces) in the top 10, a course in Irvine of all places. It’s quick, it’s fun, and are a great way to fit in practice for my short game. Some you may agree with and some – maybe not. And so on. Courses must offer public or resort-guest access in peak season and have received at least one review in 2019 to be eligible for this year's list. In fact, SoCal offers a veritable cornucopia of public and accessible golf along its coastal areas. To be exact, the oldest club in the state was established at Mare Island Golf Club in 1892 and architect Robin Nelson has recently remodelled this historic course. Some wail that La Costa is an overrated TV creation, but there’s no denying the power of the 13 through 18 closing stretch at La Costa North (now known as the Champions Course). By Golf Advisor Staff. Here’s my list of the top public golf courses in Southern California. For value, there’s not a better course in SoCal. Top Orange County Golf Courses: See reviews and photos of golf courses in Orange County, California on Tripadvisor. To find the best Southern California golf courses near you, use the course finder and filter by course name, green fees, and distance from a particular zip code. Top Los Angeles Golf Courses: See reviews and photos of golf courses in Los Angeles, California on Tripadvisor. Strawberry Farms once caused Golf Digest’s Ron Whitten to go virtually adjective less in a you-have-to-see-it-to-believe-it review. As a resident of Southern California we have the luxury of prime public golf at our fingertips. April 12, 2012 - by Ken Van Vechten. This a fun, often vexing run of golf, starting with a par 4 that makes you feel like you’re playing in a bread bowl. George C. Thomas evidently found inspiration in Woodrow Wilson, 28th President of the U.S., when he designed the course in 1927. There’s still something special about playing Torrey Pines South, even if those waits on the tee can test your ocean-soothed nerves. However, this list is missing Trump National, The Champions Course (Corona) and the Journey at Pechanga. Seeing the coast 18 holes at a time. Sometimes called the Pebble Beach of Southern California, Pelican Hill holds its spot, while its devotees wonder if the resort will take away from a marvel. Better yet, most of its natural and fun to play. Sitting above the Pacific Ocean, the views are exceptional! This Brian Curley/Lee Schmidt/Gil Morgan design built into a rock quarry in the much-maligned L.A. suburb of Riverside is visually stunning with the rock framing holes. Shandin Hills Golf Course is located in San Bernardino, just south of the mountains. PublicGolfCourses.net where you can find information on all California public golf courses.PublicGolfCourses.net has created an easy to use directory of all public golf courses, which includes all public golf courses in California. www.maderasgolf.com. This is old-style Palm Springs golf with some spectacular twists. Put down the crack pipe, and remove that waste of landscape they call the “Stadium Course” off the list. The Top Southern California Short Golf Courses Not going to lie, some of my most favorite rounds of golf are after work squeezing in 9 or 18 holes at the local executive course. Due to some mother nature trauma and a reconstruction project, the 18th hole is considered the most expensive hole in golf ($65 million price tag for renovations). www.pelicanhill.com, Trump National Golf Course (Los Angeles, CA). The South Course is prime for USGA tournaments but don’t be fooled, the North Course is just as nice. The two golf lists that always spark controversy are Best Golfers and Best Courses. Golf Professional Jerry Crowell told TravelGolf.com, “It’s the best inland par 3 I’ve ever seen.”. Best of 2017: Top 25 golf courses in California. Set on the reservation of the Barona tribe about 35 minutes outside of San Diego, Barona Creek stretches out over rolling terrain with not a single home around. Yet, there isn’t enough scenery to go with the design wonder to earn it a spot in the top three. How to Golf Competitively with Social Distancing Restrictions, How to Run a Golf Tournament with Social Distancing, Golf's Dos and Don'ts While Covid Still Lurks, 7 Reasons We Need Golf Clubs More Than Ever, 8 Reasons You Need a Handicap Index After Quarantine, Indian Wells Country Club (Classic Course), Beginners Guide to Golf Gambling: How to Not Get Suckered, Be Your Best: 15 Tips to Reach Your Full Potential. Therefore, I’d say Ol’ Sammy got it right here, wouldn’t you?! If you have then you’ll be well aware of how CHALLENGING it is. The best public, semi-private and resort courses based on your ratings and reviews. We are fortunate to have perfect golfing weather year-round and we proudly take advantage! Hard to believe but our beloved region is truly a desert from coast to Inland Empire and Maderas embodies that setting. Mr. Trump is always making a name for himself somehow and this course is no exception. The #1 Southern California Golf Community. These are the top 100 public-access golf courses in Golfweek’s Best 2019 list of Best Courses You Can Play. Coastal views, craveable sunsets, and short but tricky holes. After getting opinions from head professionals, travel industry insiders, architects, personal play and most important, regular golfers, this is the list that they compiled. www.torreypinesgolfcourse.com, PGA West – TPC Stadium Course (La Quinta, CA). So, how do you find the top golf courses in Southern California? Again, this course boasts true Southern California coastal views, waterfall features, and flashy bunkers. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Probably the best-known course in the Coachella Valley is Pete Dye’s monstrous Stadium Course at PGA West. Monterey Peninsula (Shore) 12 th. That may be a stretch, but Oak Quarry’s place in the top 10 is anything but. This is the San Diego public golf course everyone wants to play—a famous PGA Tour stop for the Farmers Insurance Open, it hosted the 2008 U.S. Open, and it's one of Tiger Woods' favorite courses. Here is the annual top 25 determined by golfers like you. Out of the endless public courses our region is known for we have a handful that can easily be considered best of breed that truly showcase our region. In a Southern California area where every available plot of land appears to have a house jammed onto it, this course meanders through hills, boulders and waterfalls. Want to get involved? Instead of making a trek to get top golf pull a staycation and check out what we have to offer! (adsbygoogle=window.adsbygoogle||[]).push({}); © SOCAL Golfer 2020. If you had to add one more to the list, which public course do you think makes the grade? Architect Dick Wilson makes the rest of the course, overshadowed as it is by the finish, interesting enough to more than merit this 10th spot. This is a course that will challenge, while keeping you marveling at how relaxed and fun old time golf could be. Designer Tom Fazio went with a links style look at this second Pelican Hill design and it’s paid off with gorgeous views and the feeling of playing golf with sea mist in your face. Southern California Golf Courses: If you're looking for the best SoCal golf experience, you've come to the right place. California Public Golf Courses California Public Golf Courses. Pelican Hill Golf Course was named one of the best golf courses in Orange County by The Register readers. www.trumpnationallosangeles.com, Maderas Golf Course (Poway, CA). Every two years, GOLF puts together The Top 100 Courses You Can Play. Best Public Golf Courses in California. With this list of Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play, we present the best public-access courses in each state, as judged by our nationwide network of raters. Something about the hot dry air that makes your ball travel for miles makes you feel like you could take on tour players off the tee but then again, putting is a challenge all of its own. The course rating Is 70.5 And it has a slope rating of 123 on Bermuda grass. There are sure to be courses left out, but I have always felt golf courses are like wine – one man’s treasure is another man’s garbage, not that any of these would ever be considered garbage! 10 Best Courses in S.C to “CHALLENGE” Yourself. Well, you'll find that most of the iconic, championship golf courses are centered in and around such cities as Palm Springs, Carlsbad, Santa Barbara, Ojai, … Few places in the world can boast as many beautiful public golf courses as Southern California. Sometimes called the Pebble Beach of Southern California, Pelican Hill holds its spot, while its devotees wonder if the resort will take away from a marvel. I didn’t know there was this much space anywhere in this part of California. California possesses a bounty of golf courses in a variety of unique environments. Great public golf can be found in every corner of the United States. Book your next round of golf in Southern California. The lengthening to 7,607 yards by Rees Jones a few years ago was really only necessary in the USGA’s eyes, but the coastline views remain dramatic at this La Jolla institution. If you haven’t played there yet …pack your wallet, bring your camera and GO! Your email address will not be published. Golf plays a significant part in the sporting life of Californians and the game has been played here for over a century. All Rights Reserved. They also file a single, overall rating on each course. top public golf courses in southern california, How Chubbs Lost His Hand and Other Animal Hazards, Swingclick Review – Training Your Brain to Improve Swing Tempo, FIRST LOOK: Golf Pride introduces first ever twist-on Concept Helix grips, Why Justin Thomas says Charlie Woods is the man to beat at the PNC Championship, Brooks Koepka has harsh words for himself, praise for Dustin Johnson ending 2020. Torrey Pines Golf Course is San Diego 's version of Pebble Beach (the famous golf course in Big Sur, California). There are more than 600 golf courses in Southern California. Those overall ratings on each course are averaged together to produce a final rating for each course. I like these courses for many reasons. If you haven’t played there yet …pack your wallet, bring your camera and GO! The deep, deep detailed bunkering is some of Wilson’s best work and it was kept alive through renovation. “I didn’t expect this,” golfer Chung Hang said, spreading his arms wide. Designed by Pete Dye to be the toughest golf course in the world, this Palm Springs area legend is actually hacker fun. Everything else is so developed. Southern California is definitely not The Last Resort for golfers. Other than 17, that course has no redeeming value! Your email address will not be published. The Mountain Course has you playing right up against the Santa Rosa rocks. Each year we publish three lists that are the foundation of our course-ratings program: Golfweek’s Best Modern Courses , Golfweek’s Best Classic Courses , Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play, state by state . There is no question that Cypress Point and L.A. Country Club are both great golf course, but your chances of getting to play them are similar to winning the lottery. It’s hard to imagine that golf could be this dramatic in an inland SoCal course. Lucky for you, some of these gems are closer than you think. With the U.S. Open taking place at Pebble Beach this week, here is GOLF’s latest list of the 20 best public golf courses in California. Desert golf is always stunning and an important region of Southern California… and is probably the most well known golfing location of our region! Each hole offers multiple tee options, allowing golfers to play at their own skill level. Whether you're planning a golf vacation, or want to play in a golf tournament, or you're down in the area for a SoCal golf show, you can play some of the best Southern California golf courses by booking tee times online here. Thank you! Save 50% off golf courses near Southern California. Firecliff is tough enough that some of the Palm Springs area seniors run from it to play its sister Mountain View Course. California golf courses reviewed in 2019: 558 Reviews of California golf courses … As long as you’re not playing it from those back tees. Actually sport….I did get it and no he didn’t…nice try on the slight though…I’ve played it twice and will never again even though they have made it easier….challenge is one thing, mission impossible is another….Golf is supposed to be fun, even with a challenge….Most all of my buddies are single digits to pluses, and they all agree….And besides….the rest of the courses are rather mundane comparatively, I could think of quite a few others that are as ridiculous a challenge if that was where he was going….have a great day! Lambasted for being too nasty when it first hosted the Bob Hope Classic in 1987, the course has been softened somewhat, and now, with today’s equipment, is a stern but not excessive test for the pros during the … Yet, the par-3 14th is an unforgettable showman with tee boxes on a ledge, ponds below and the smallest green on the course framed by a 400-foot tall white limestone rock wall. Much like its southern sister from another mister (Torrey Pines), Pelican Hill screams SOCAL living. Very few courses in our region truly embody everything SOCAL is (sun, sand, and surf) and this is one of them. Have you played the Stadium Course before? Here's the best of the best in California. The first hole has you facing so many bunkers that you may end up wondering if there’s any green at all on this Michael Hurdzan design. Please sign-in to your account. We provide all golf course information, tee times, weather and directions. 10 Best Golf Courses in Southern California to Challenge Yourself ... Pelican Hill is the Los Angeles area public course you have to play. Like the Spanish missions of its early history, golf courses are strung across the Central Coast of California. All places looks just amazing and attractive. “There’s so much … open space. After comparing notes and researching this, I am going to go with the list compiled by TravelGolf.com because their list only includes courses anyone can get on. The natural landscap of drywashes and canyons are shadowed below the San Jacinto mountain range which provides this course with a true challenge due to its narrow design. Copyright 2015, Southern California Golf Association (SCGA), All Right Reserved. Avoid getting visually intimidated though and this is a fun play with plenty of go-for-it par 5s. We looked at your ratings and reviews in the state of California in 2017 to determine which courses received the best ratings. Located in the wonderland of Newport Beach, Pelican Hill is the Los Angeles area public course you have to play. Designed by Kyle Phillips/(R) Doug Nichols, the Riverview golf course opened in 1949.Randy Jensen manages the course as the General Manager. Any time anyone comes up with a list of “The Best” or “Top 10” or anything similar, there will always be those that debate the list because it doesn’t match their personal list. …of course these are just a handful of what we have to offer but what I believe to be the top of the top, creme de la creme, must plays. Tee times may come with a bit of a hefty price tag but many have resident deals which help cut the cost down a bit or check out twilight rates. Now that’s an accomplishment. Who hasn’t posted a snapshot from the course so all our not-so-lucky buddies elsewhere in the country can drool over our golf home?! You really do get a sense of history playing out on this course where the houses and mountains seem equally close. Torrey Pines Golf Course – South Course (La Jolla, CA). Top 7 golf courses along the California Coast. We will start with my top 10 public courses in Northern California. From memorable holes to locals knowledge this course is tough! The way Dye manages to make the houses on the course disappear is seriously satisfying slight of bulldozer. Yet Strawberry Farms is that unique, that scenic. “It’s incredible,” Apple Valley, Calif., golfer Daniel Rincon said. The TPC Stadium Course has several memorable holes, with the famous 17th island green, arguably outdone by the largely unrecognized 16th hole that precedes it. Known for having some of the longest greens in the region you will not be disappointed with your incredible round. 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