Aerial view of a coastal San Diego golf course at sunset with cliffs and ocean in the background

Golf Hub

Every Golf Course in San Diego County

55+ courses from Torrey Pines to Coronado — public, resort, military, and private — with designers, greens fees, and how to actually book a tee time.

Quick answer

What are the best golf courses in San Diego? Torrey Pines South is San Diego's marquee public course and hosted the 2008 and 2021 U.S. Opens, followed by Torrey Pines North, Aviara, Maderas and Coronado Municipal for value. San Diego County has about 90 courses and is playable year-round.

Torrey Pines is city-owned, so anyone can book a tee time — residents pay a much lower rate.
Torrey Pines South hosted the U.S. Open in 2008 and 2021 and the Farmers Insurance Open annually.
Coronado Municipal is the best cheap round in the county with bay and bridge views.
Maderas and Aviara are the top-rated resort-style daily-fee courses.
Non-resident Torrey Pines tee times release 90 days out and go fast for weekend mornings.

Source: Sandi Spots — Last updated August 29, 2026

55+

Golf courses countywide

U.S. Open hosts (Torrey South)

$45

Cheapest 18-hole muni

300+

Sunny days per year

Top 6 must-play courses

If you only had a long weekend in San Diego, these are the rounds we'd put on the calendar.

Torrey Pines — South

Cliff-top Pacific views and a proper U.S. Open résumé. The bucket-list public round in California.

How to book: Reservations open 8 days in advance at 6 AM via the city's tee-time site. Non-residents pay roughly 2x the resident rate.

Coronado Municipal

$45 muni golf with a backdrop of the SD skyline and Coronado Bridge. Best value-per-view in the county.

How to book: Tee times open 14 days out. Resident card holders go first — most peak times sell out instantly.

The Grand Golf Club

Tom Fazio, Fairmont Grand Del Mar, and conditions you'd expect for $300+. Resort-guest priority.

How to book: Stay-and-play at the Fairmont gets first crack at tee sheets.

Aviara Golf Club

Arnold Palmer design at Park Hyatt Aviara; LPGA Chevron Championship host.

How to book: Resort guests get the earliest access; otherwise book 30+ days ahead online.

Maderas Golf Club

Best-conditioned daily-fee course in inland SD — canyons, waterfalls, dramatic elevation.

How to book: Book online 30 days out; weekday afternoons are the smartest tee times.

Mission Bay Golf Course

The only course in the county that's lit for night play. Par-58 executive, perfect for after-work rounds.

How to book: Walk-up friendly; evening tee times rarely sell out.

The complete list, by access type

Every 9-, 18-, 27-, and 36-hole course in San Diego County, grouped by who can play.

Municipal(7)

Balboa Park

Balboa Park Golf Course

27 holes $ ($45 city / $60 non-res)

Designer: William P. Bell

Historic 1915 muni; 18 championship + 9-hole executive course in the heart of the city.

Bonita

Chula Vista Municipal Golf Course

18 holes $ ($40–$55)

Classic Bonita Valley muni; affordable and walkable.

Coronado

Coronado Golf Course

18 holes $ ($45 weekday)

One of the best-value muni rounds in the country — bay views of downtown SD skyline. Tee times are notoriously hard to get.

Pacific Beach

Mission Bay Golf Course

18 holes $ ($30–$45)

Executive par-58 lit for night play — the only night-golf option in San Diego.

Escondido

Reidy Creek Golf Course

18 holes $ ($35–$50)

Par-54 executive course; great for walkers and beginners.

La Jolla

Torrey Pines — North Course

18 holes $$$ ($150+ non-resident)

Designer: William F. Bell / Tom Weiskopf (redesign)

More forgiving sister course to the South. Same ocean bluff, easier to book.

La Jolla

Torrey Pines — South Course

18 holes $$$$ ($300+ non-resident)

Designer: William F. Bell / Rees Jones (redesign)

Host of the 2008 & 2021 U.S. Open and the annual Farmers Insurance Open. Cliff-top Pacific views; one of the toughest public courses in America.

Public(19)

Chula Vista

Auld Course (Eastlake)

18 holes $$ ($65–$95)

Designer: Cary Bickler

Scottish-links-style layout in South Bay.

Bonita

Bonita Golf Club

18 holes $ ($45–$65)

Long-running Bonita locals' course.

Santee

Carlton Oaks Golf Club

18 holes $$ ($65–$95)

Designer: Pete Dye

Pete Dye's only course in San Diego County — railroad ties, big bunkers, water on 14 holes.

Carmel Mountain Ranch

Carmel Mountain Ranch Country Club

18 holes $$

Currently being repurposed; check status before booking.

Escondido

Castle Creek Country Club

18 holes $$ ($55–$80)

Designer: Jack Daray Jr.

Hilly North County layout with strong elevation changes and oak trees.

El Cajon

Cottonwood Golf Club — Lakes & Ivanhoe

36 holes $ ($45–$70)

Two affordable 18-hole layouts in East County.

Escondido

Eagle Crest Golf Club

18 holes $$ ($50–$80)

Designer: David Rainville

Tight target-style course winding through chaparral hills.

Chula Vista

Eastlake Country Club

18 holes $$ ($55–$90)

Designer: Ted Robinson

Lake-laden South Bay layout; friendly to all skill levels.

Encinitas

Encinitas Ranch Golf Course

18 holes $$ ($75–$110)

Designer: Cary Bickler

Open links-style course on a coastal mesa with ocean views from several holes.

Poway

Maderas Golf Club

18 holes $$$$ ($200+)

Designer: Johnny Miller / Robert Muir Graves

Dramatic canyon course in north inland SD with elevation changes and waterfalls.

Escondido

Meadow Lake Golf Course

18 holes $ ($40–$65)

Designer: Lawrence Hughes

Affordable inland round; classic 1960s design.

San Carlos

Mission Trails Golf Course

18 holes $$ ($55–$80)

Designer: Ted Robinson

Hilly course bordering Mission Trails Regional Park.

Ramona

Mt. Woodson Golf Club

18 holes $$ ($65–$95)

Designer: Landmark Land Co.

Boulder-strewn target course with five lakes; one of San Diego's most scenic.

Rancho Bernardo

Oaks North Executive Course

27 holes $ ($30–$45)

Three par-29 nines — perfect for short rounds and beginners.

Mission Valley

Riverwalk Golf Club

27 holes $$ ($75–$110)

Designer: Ted Robinson Sr. & Jr.

Three nine-hole layouts on the San Diego River; the closest 'real' course to downtown.

Liberty Station / Point Loma

Sail Ho Golf Club

9 holes $ ($25–$40)

Designer: William F. Bell

Walkable nine-hole muni at Liberty Station with bay views.

Chula Vista

Salt Creek Golf Club

18 holes $$ ($60–$95)

Designer: Cary Bickler

Modern South Bay course; well-conditioned year-round.

Escondido

The Vineyard at Escondido

18 holes $$ ($55–$85)

Designer: David Rainville

Open, wind-exposed layout in the Escondido valley.

San Marcos

Twin Oaks Golf Course

18 holes $$ ($55–$85)

Designer: Ted Robinson

Walkable parkland course popular with North County locals.

Resort(14)

Carlsbad

Aviara Golf Club

18 holes $$$$ ($250+)

Designer: Arnold Palmer

Park Hyatt Aviara resort course; host of the LPGA's annual Chevron Championship.

Carlsbad

La Costa Resort — Champions Course

18 holes $$$$ ($295+)

Designer: Dick Wilson / Gil Hanse (2023 redesign)

Former PGA Tour Tournament of Champions and Accenture Match Play host; Hanse-renovated Champions reopened in 2023.

Carlsbad

La Costa Resort — Legends Course

18 holes $$$ ($175+)

Designer: Dick Wilson

Sister to Champions; more forgiving and faster to play.

Rancho Santa Fe

Morgan Run Resort & Club

27 holes $$$ ($120–$180)

Designer: Jeff Brauer

Three nine-hole layouts (North/South/East); mostly resort and member play.

Carlsbad

Omni La Costa — see above

36 holes $$$$

Now NCAA Division I men's and women's golf championship venue.

Fallbrook

Pala Mesa Resort

18 holes $$ ($75–$110)

Designer: Dick Rossen

Tree-lined valley course in far-north county; strong stay-and-play packages.

Carlsbad

Park Hyatt Aviara — Aviara

18 holes $$$$

Designer: Arnold Palmer

(See Aviara Golf Club above — same course, resort access.)

Rancho Bernardo

Rancho Bernardo Inn Golf Course

18 holes $$$ ($110–$150)

Designer: William F. Bell

Mature trees, classic 1960s parkland design — host of past Champions Tour events.

Ramona

San Vicente Golf Resort

18 holes $$ ($55–$85)

Designer: Ted Robinson

Quiet inland resort course in the Ramona valley.

El Cajon

Singing Hills Golf Resort

36 holes $$

Now part of the Sycuan Resort family — see Sycuan.

El Cajon

Sycuan Resort — Oak Glen, Willow Glen, Pine Glen

54 holes $$ ($55–$95)

Designer: Ted Robinson / David Rainville

54 holes (two championship 18s + a par-3 18) at the Sycuan tribal resort.

Carmel Valley

The Grand Golf Club

18 holes $$$$ ($300+)

Designer: Tom Fazio

Inside the Fairmont Grand Del Mar; resort guests preferred. Considered one of SoCal's best resort courses.

Carmel Valley

The Grand Golf Club (Fairmont Grand Del Mar)

18 holes $$$$

Designer: Tom Fazio

Resort-guest priority; routinely ranked top-25 resort course in the U.S.

Escondido

Welk Resort — Fountains & Oaks

36 holes $ ($35–$60)

Designer: David Rainville

Two par-62 executive courses; ideal for short games and families.

Semi-private(3)

Rancho Bernardo

Bernardo Heights Country Club

18 holes $$

Designer: Ted Robinson

Quiet community course; reciprocal play available.

Solana Beach

Lomas Santa Fe Country Club

27 holes $$ ($75–$110)

Designer: Harry Rainville

Two layouts — the Country Club (private) and Executive (public 18-hole par 60).

Jamul

Steele Canyon Golf Club

27 holes $$$ ($90–$140)

18 holes Members only

Designer: Harry Rainville

Private; one of RSF's quieter, more traditional clubs.

Military(2)

Mission Valley

Admiral Baker Golf Course (North & South)

36 holes $ (military rates)

Two 18-hole courses on Navy land; military, DoD, and limited civilian access.

Coronado

Sea 'N Air Golf Course (NASNI)

18 holes Military rates

On Naval Air Station North Island; military and DoD only.

Greens-fee ranges are typical 18-hole peak/non-resident rates and change seasonally. Confirm directly with the course before booking.

Local tips for golfing San Diego

Resident vs. non-resident pricing is real

Torrey Pines and Coronado give San Diego city/Coronado residents discounts of 50% or more. If you live in the area, register for a resident card the week you move in — it pays for itself in one round at Torrey.

Best months: October, March, April

Late fall and early spring give you the firmest fairways, lowest greens fees, and least marine layer. Summer is fine but coastal rounds (Torrey, Coronado, Aviara) often start in fog until 11 AM.

How to actually get on Torrey Pines South

Reservations open exactly 8 days in advance at 6 AM Pacific. Set a phone alarm. Twilight rates after 1 PM are dramatically cheaper. Lottery-style tee times for visitors are available 90+ days out via the city of San Diego website at premium rates.

Cheap, walkable, classic muni round

Balboa Park (1915), Coronado, and Mission Bay are all $30–$60 walking, all hold up, and all are within 15 minutes of downtown.

Best resort stay-and-play deals

Pala Mesa (Fallbrook), La Costa (Carlsbad), Sycuan (El Cajon), and Welk Resort (Escondido) all bundle lodging plus golf at significantly better rates than booking separately.

Twilight rates are San Diego's secret weapon

Almost every public course in the county drops greens fees 30–50% after 1–2 PM. With sunset around 7:30 PM May–September, you can walk 18 holes on a $80 round at $40.

Pair with

Things to Do

Build a full SD weekend around your tee times.

Browse

Resort Stays

Stay-and-play resorts with golf packages built in.

Explore

Events Calendar

Time a trip with the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey.

Open

Frequently asked questions

How many golf courses are in San Diego County?+

San Diego County has roughly 90 golf facilities total, including approximately 50 full 18-hole courses, plus executive courses, par-3 layouts, and military-only courses. The county has more golf course density than almost anywhere in the U.S. outside Florida and Arizona.

What is the most famous golf course in San Diego?+

Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla — specifically the South Course — hosted the 2008 and 2021 U.S. Open and is the annual venue for the Farmers Insurance Open on the PGA Tour. It's a city-owned municipal course, so the public can play it.

Can the public play Torrey Pines?+

Yes. Torrey Pines is a municipal course owned by the City of San Diego. Tee times open exactly 8 days in advance for residents and non-residents on the city's reservation system. Non-resident peak rates run $300+ on the South Course; residents pay roughly half.

What is the cheapest 18-hole golf course in San Diego County?+

Balboa Park Golf Course (about $45 city resident / $60 non-resident), Coronado Municipal (~$45 weekday), Cottonwood, Welk Resort executive courses, and Reidy Creek (~$35–$50) are consistently the most affordable full rounds in the county.

Is night golf available in San Diego?+

Mission Bay Golf Course in Pacific Beach is the only lit course in San Diego County. It's a par-58 executive course open for evening play year-round.

What is the best resort golf in San Diego?+

The top resort courses are The Grand Golf Club (Fairmont Grand Del Mar), Park Hyatt Aviara, Omni La Costa Champions Course (Hanse-redesigned in 2023), Maderas Golf Club, and the Rancho Bernardo Inn — all 18 holes, all consistently top-rated in California resort rankings.

The Sandi Spots Newsletter

New beach finds, hidden taco shops, weekend events, and seasonal guides — once a week from a local. No spam, ever.

One email a week. Unsubscribe anytime.

About this guide

Written and fact-checked by the Sandi Spots Editorial team — San Diego residents publishing under Sleep Coast LLC. Every place we recommend has been visited in person or verified against an official source, and no business can pay for inclusion or a higher ranking.

Local, first-hand. Reported on the ground in San Diego County.

Kept current. Prices, hours, and closures reviewed on a rolling basis.

Independent. Affiliate links never influence rankings.

Editorial policy · About us · Suggest a correction

Sandi Spots is a San Diego events and travel guide. Browse things to do today, tonight, this weekend, concerts this week, or the full San Diego events calendar.