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North San Diego County, California, USA
Golf: San Diego County has approximately 93 courses making it one of the premier golf destinations in North America. Since the weather is good all year round, it is not just a place for snow birds during the winter.
 San Diego County offers something for everyone. You can play the finest courses in the world or tee up at the local municipal courses. There are numerous executive and par threes scattered around the county as well.
Not golfing? Why not just stroll along the miles of sandy beaches.
In order to give you a comprehensive look at golf in the northern part of the county we reviewed a selection of different types of courses. We played: Maderas, Oceanside Municipal, and two resort courses (one at Temecula Creek in the wine country and Warner Springs Resort built around a hot spring and spa). We also played an executive layout at the Welk Resort where we stayed, and two semi public clubs.
We found plenty of courses with reasonable green fees especially if you book online with any of the last minute booking agents. Book three days or less in advance and save up to half of your green fees. At Eagle Crest the two fellows playing behind us told us they paid $20 each and that included cart. This has to be one of the best bargains in North America.
Besides finding good rates on line do not forget twilight times. In August you can play until 8pm with twilight rates starting around 1am. Twilight plus online booking equals big discounts.
 Check www.bb2travel.com for reduced green fees when traveling to the USA.
Even though the temperatures on our last two days reached 98 degrees we never felt that it was too hot as the humidity was not very high. All the courses we played included the cart with the green fees.
It was very easy to get around as most of the courses are east of Interstate 5 or close to Interstate 15. I also took my portable GPS and this proved to be a big help in locating the courses. If you do not have one, then I recommend you pick one before your next trip.
All the courses were surrounded by hills and mountains which made them all very scenic.
One of the things that I have never been able to understand was the knee jerk reaction by Canadian courses to removing the water containers because someone in the USA spiked one somewhere. There are plenty of ways to secure water containers but not many Canadian courses tried.
At the golf clubs we played there was plenty of water. Sure, it is hotter there then most places in Canada but they made the containers impossible to tamper with. We found the beverage carts offered as much ice as we needed to keep our drinks cold. One course, Warner Springs, had an ice machine and cold water dispenser ½ way, so you could replenish your containers. Maderas had four water containers just on their practice facility. Good job providing water for golfers San Diego County.
We were also impressed with the consistent quality of the greens at all the clubs we played. Every one had excellent greens with no bare or brown spots. Maybe it is easier to keep them in shape as the greens do not have to survive severe winters. However, the fairways were not consistent with many having brown areas with sparse grass. Maybe they just use more water on the greens then the fairways.
One other item that I find important when you golf is the price of beer. We all know that beer is cheaper in the USA then Canada for a variety of reasons. At Eagle Crest the beer was only two dollars. It was cheaper then a soft drink. The other courses had similar prices with the most we ever paid from the beverage cart being around $3.50.
Click below is access to golf course reviews:
Eagle Crest Golf Club
Maderas Golf Club
San Luis Rey Downs
Getting There: We made a mistake selecting the lowest air fare for our trip. We decided to go via Vancouver and LAX (Los Angeles International Airport). Changing planes in Vancouver from a domestic flight to one going to the USA was very time consuming. Give yourself plenty of time. You have to walk from one end of the airport to the other. Going through US customs was simple but then we hit grid lock. A very large line waiting for security, even though we cleared security in Edmonton. The area was too small to handle the crowd. After clearing security we had another long walk to the gate. Everyone complains about LAX but it was much easier then Vancouver. We got off the plane, walked a short distance, got our bags and went outside to board the shuttle to the car lot. Very simple. Coming back it was just as easy. The shuttle dropped us in front of the AC door. We checked in, put our bags on the belt and went through security in no time. Right after security was our gate. Very easy check in.
Even though LAX was good it was still a mistake as we got on I-5 right at rush hour. Bumper to bumper as we made our way to the lovely town of San Clemente. Coming back to LAX was a two hour drive on I-15 which took us over and under and around all the over passes you could possibly imagine. We gave thanks once again for our GPS.
If I was to do it again I would try John Wayne Airport or San Diego. I might ever think about going via LAX and connecting to a flight to Carlsbad. Using John Wayne or San Diego airports would have saved us about 1 hour of heavy traffic.
I have been critical of AC in the past but I must say they have improved. Their entertainment system is excellent with lots of movies to watch. From Vancouver to LAX we flew with United. There is no comparison between the two airlines. Air Canada wins hands down.
We found the prices of car rentals ranged from around $190 to $400 a week. Taxes were extra. We used Advantage and had a great car and their service was good. Make sure you check some of the smaller car rental agencies.
Accomodations: There are plenty of the standard motels and hotels from which to choose. Since the motels and hotels are the same all over North America we decided to stay in a few resorts for review purposes.
 There are many resorts and the price ranges from good value to very, very expensive. Why not choose a resort and experience living on the course with all the amenities they offer? It will make your trip more pleasant and relaxing.
 We stayed at the fantastic San Diego Welk Resort which is just 45 minutes from San Diego and 30 minutes to Carlsbad and the beach. This resort was started by Lawrence Welk, the famous big band leader. The resort is located on 660 acres of land just off the I-15 and surrounded by rolling foothills. Our condo was a modern, large, one bedroom with all the space we needed. The resort has seven pools, four recreation centers, fitness rooms, tennis, two golf courses, a dinner theater, very good restaurant and bar along with a Pizza Hut, mini mart, and souvenir store. The grounds were immaculate and the staff were friendly. We got all this for the week, for just $599 for the condo. If you want to find out how to get a bargain like this, visit www.surfsandandsea.com.
 On our second last day we toured the Warner Springs Resort. This resort is located about 1 hour east of the Welk Resort. As we drove through the mountains to reach Warner Springs we climbed to 3100 feet and passed three large casinos. The road took us to a high, brown grass plain that made us wonder why we decided to go to Warner Springs. Then we went around a corner and found an area of green trees, golf course, and a spa. This resort can accommodate about 600 guests in their 234 California style casitas. The resort has a lot of history as demonstrated by the historic cabin that belonged to Kit Carson and was built in 1870. This resort is famous for its hot springs, spa, tennis and equine center. This is a place where you might want to spend a few days relaxing in the hot spring waters after a round of golf. Prices range from $109 a night for golf and hotel per person. The resort is only 20 minutes from the old mining town of Julian, a place you must visit if you or wife like to shop.
 The final resort visited was the Temecula Creek Inn right in Temecula. You pass the resort and course as you travel north on the I-15. This resort has three, three story building located on the golf course. The resort offers standard hotel rooms with all the amenities you would expect from a quality resort. The resort has three different nine hole lay outs and we played two of them and found each nine very different. Their restaurant offers fine dining with a decent selection of California wine.
While at Temecula Creek why not explore the old town of Temecula and visit the 22 wineries located in the valley. There is a large casino just up the road. In fact, you can see it from the golf course.
Dining: In Northern San Diego County you can find almost any type of dining you could wish for. Restaurants are everywhere and all types of cuisine is available.
Remember that American restaurants serve huge portions so you might like to share a few dishes. Happy hours and Early Bird specials are everywhere.
We searched for dinning experiences that were close to, or on the beach. After all, why come all the way to California and not see the beach and the sunsets.
 Since we were so close to Mexico we went to the Norte Restaurant in Carlsbad. We arrived early so we could benefit from the early bird specials. Our Mexican meal was very good with more then we needed. The service was excellent even though this large restaurant was very crowded with weekend holiday makers. We did not look at a the wine list as we decided to drink local beer with our tacos, enchiladas and burritos.
 On another night we choose to dine on the beach at Del Mar. There were a number of attractive restaurants right on the sand facing west. We choose the Poseidon which turned out to be a great choice. We had a table right on the beach and glorious view of the setting sun. The meals were reasonably priced and the menu offered a good variety. The wine list was good with mostly California wine. Since we were on the beach we choose fish for our main meal. Once again we choose wisely.
Poseidon has valet parking for only $3 which is a lot cheaper then parking on the street or adjacent parking lot. The only criticism I have, is that I gave the valet attendant a five dollar bill and he never asked if I wanted change or gave me change. Sure I probably would have given him the $2 tip but I like to make that decision.
The other dining out experience that was not at a golf club or a fast food restaurant was the restaurant at the Welk Resort. Once again we found the prices to be very reasonable with most mains around $15. The restaurant is attractive and we had a nice table on the patio with views of the mountains. This night we were beef eaters. We choose ribs and my friend had a steak. The ribs were fine, average quality, but Dan said his steak was excellent. Our server was friendly and offered good advice on what to order and drink. We had a great Cabernet Sauvigon that paired very well with the beef.
I also want to mention that we stopped at one of those small truck stop restaurant bar combinations that look so interesting and intriguing as you pass them on the highways. Since it was hot, 98 farenheit, and we had not had lunch, I pulled in to get an ice cream cone. Dan had the biggest cone you could imagine and I had the best, thickest, chocolate milk shake you could ever want. It was great. I just wish I could remembered the name of this friendly little stop on the way down the mountain from Warner Springs to Temecula.
You can not go wrong when you dine out in Southern California.
Activities: What can I say that you do not already know about San Diego. We were an hour from Sea World, the world famous San Diego Zoo, the African Wildlife Park, Disneyland and Legoland. If you have children, then this is the place to visit. Check out the Birch Aquarium for an education on the sea and the sea life of the California coast.
Of course golfers are sport fans. Baseball. Three teams within a an hour. Football. Why not take in a Charger's game? Fishing, hiking, biking, tennis, and boating can be found just a brief drive from wherever you are staying. Sorry, I forgot Del Mar. This is one of the famous racing tracks in the world and it is right down the road from your resort.
What about all the shopping? There is a Factory Outlet Mall north of Temecula. Malls everywhere, and of course a trip into San Diego would also turn up plenty of bargains. You may even what to cross over the boarder and go to Mexico.
 Take a day and tour the wine region around Temecula.
Drive along the coast and stop at all the quaint towns. This will take more then a couple of days. Shop La Jolla, Del Mar, Carlsbad, and Oceanside. You will not be disappointed.
We had eight days for this trip and it was not enough. Two weeks would be the minimum amount of time you would need in order to explore and experience all that there is this wonderful part of the world.
No we never felt an earthquake. In fact the locals told us that a lot of little ones are a good thing as it releases the pressure and helps delay the big one.
Eagle Crest Golf Club
Escondido, California
 | Alberta Bound | |
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| Greens: |  9/10 | Excellent, with good green side bunkers. The fringe was in good shape and gave way to well trimmed rough. |
| Fairways: | 8/10 | All fairways were in good shape and the fairway bunkers were trimmed, and filled with good sand. The landing areas were generous but be careful as they give way to thick, dense bush. There are rattle snake warning so best to keep out. All the sprinkler heads were marked. |
| Tees: | 7/10 | There are four tees, with washers, garbage, official markers but no signs or maps of the hole. A number of tees were in bad shape. |
| Course Design: | 9/10 | This is an excellent designed course. Each hole was different. There were plenty of elevation changes with elevated tees and greens. The collection of par threes was well done. We also found ourselves remarking after a finishing a number of holes something like, that was a good hole. Number six is probably their signature hole as it has a large waterfall coming down the rock and forming a lake in front of the green. Fourteen is a par five, dogleg right around a lake and eighteen is an excellent finishing hole requiring a well placed tee shot and an accurate second shot. There is danger on the right and a lake close to the green which is well protected with bunkers. |
| Value for $$$: | 9/10 | This is an outstanding course which offered low green fees. We paid $35with a cart, but the fellows behind us only paid $20. Check last minute tee times on the web. |
| Difficulty: | 8/10 | Eagle Crest has a slope of 126 but I think it plays a little easier then the slope indicates. There are plenty of fairway bunkers and most greens are well protected. I was also very pleasantly surprised at the amount of water that came into play on the course. |
| Scenery: | 9/10 | The course is nestled in the Pasquel Valley and located in a very nice subdivision. The mountains to the south have large boulders while the mountains on the other side are green with orange groves. |
| Staff: | 8/10 | Everyone we meet were very friendly and happy doing their jobs. There was a nice sign that said thank you for visiting them and playing their course just as we came off the 18th hole. |
| Clubhouse: | 6/10 | Basic clubhouse with a limited menu. The pro shop has a very limited selection of merchandise. There is a very large deck,where you could easily seat a large tournament. This deck has picnic tables and over looks the 18th green. |
| Other Intangibles: | 8/10 | They have a driving range, putting green, electric carts and well paved cart paths. |
81/100
We were very happy with our choice of Eagle Crest. It was our first course we played and set us up very nicely for the rest of the week. This course would be one I would consider joining if I lived in the area. It was also the course where we found the $2 beer. |
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Maderas Golf Club
Poway, California
| Alberta Bound | |
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| Greens: | 9/10 | Greens were almost perfect. The fringes were well defined and gave way to a well trimmed 2nd cut. There were plenty of well kept bunkers that protected the greens. All the bunkers around the greens had good sand as well as being trimmed. Most greens are average in size but a few of them have some good slopes. Here are some quotes from their course guide: stay below hole, challenging green, large, undulating, difficult, front to back with 3 sections, use the slope, fast downhill, multi contoured, make sure you get to the correct tier. |
| Fairways: | 9/10 | Fairways were excellent. Sprinkler heads were marked as well as the traditional fairway marked distances. The paved cart paths were marked. There are plenty of fairway bunkers and all were in good shape. There are a number of ravines, lakes, and environmental sensitive areas if you stray from the course. |
| Tees: | 9/10 | They have 6 different tees. They are labeled Black, Maderas, Blue, White, Lady Maderas and Red. All tees were flat with excellent grass and soft. They had very attractive markers for the tee area and official distances plates were on each tee. The landscaping was attractive as they used natural plants and grasses, but they still looked groomed. |
| Course Design: | 10/10 | This course was designed by Johnny Miller and Muir Graves and they did an outstanding job. They used the valley with the creeks and lakes to built an attractive and challenging course. There are plenty of elevation changes and lots of danger awaits. We found each hole to be different and attractive. I believe I used all my clubs at least once. The par threes require a different club for each one. The distances from the blues were: 164, 190, 240 and 165. The last hole has an elevation drop of 30 metres. Number eight is a great hole for a risk reward situation. It is a par five, dog leg right around a lake. Do you cut the corner or play it safe Number 14 is their signature hole. It is a par 5 to an elevated green. There is a ravine in front of the green making it almost impossible to go for the hole in two. The back nine has a different look then the front, as it is a little more rugged look. We also found ourselves saying things like that was a great hole, or I liked that one. At the conclusion of the round we knew we played a well designed course and a great time doing it. |
| Value for $$$: | 8/10 | This is always a hard category to judge. The green fees run from $170 to $210 depending on the day you play. I am sure that when you compare this course to other courses of the same caliber these green fees represents a good value. The experience you have at Maderas can not be compared to the experience you have on a course that has fees under $50. Maderas has been the number one course in the San Diego area four times running. You have to compare this to say La Coasta, or the Four Seasons and both of these have higher green fees. |
| Difficulty: | 10/10 | As you can tell from the design it is a difficult course. I believe the more difficult the course the more fun you will have as well appreciating the setting much more. What looks better then lakes, well maintained bunkers that are placed in all the correct places, ravines and creeks that run beside or across the fairways. The slopes say it all. They range from 147 to 135 and the distance goes from the back at 7113 and the whites are 6352 yards. The elevation changes have you hitting to elevated greens and looking down on fairways and greens from the tees. You have to drive over at least two ravines where the one on the 18th requires a carry of around 200 yards. |
| Scenery: | 9/10 | The course is located in valley with hills on all sides. We found ourselves looking at the large hills on a number of occasions. There is also some very large and expensive homes that sit back from the fairways on the front nine. The lakes, creeks, ravines, bunkers, and elevation changes add to the beauty of the course.
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| Staff: | 9/10 | We found everyone to be excellent. The pro shop, bag boys, wait staff, starter, beverage cart and grounds crew were all very nice to talk to. I also appreciate it when the ground crew stop their work and shut off their mowers when we are close to them. |
| Clubhouse: | 9/10 | This clubhouse is designed in a Tuscan style and looks great. As you drive up the attractive entrance to the course you see this wonderful clubhouse. It is nicely landscaped and has a great patio overlooking the 9th hole and the lake that splits the 8th and 9th. They have a very attractive dinning room, which unfortunately was closed after our round. We had to settle for a sandwich from the half way service area. They have a very good locker room which is included with your green fee. Just ask the pro shop for a lock and towel. This is great when you leave office for a late afternoon game. The pro shop is well stocked. |
| Other Intangibles: | 10/10 | This is going to be a long list as the club offers just about everything you would require from a top notch golf club. It starts with the bag boys taking your bags to the electric cart which has your name and tee time on the front. In the electric cart you will find towels, tees, and excellent score card, a yardage book and a souvenir bag tag and divot tool. The cart has a window, green map located over the clubs, and two coolers. Their practice area is the best I have seen. They have 3 teeing areas, all on grass and a special 3 hole short course practice area. They have practice are for bunkers and chipping. We saw two putting greens and a small one hole one, located at the first hole for that last minute practice before teeing off. There was at least 4 water coolers located just on the practice area. The beverage cart had plenty of ice so you could fill your coolers during the round. All the cart paths were paved and continuous. At the end of your round they have a cold lemon aide stand and wet towels. It was very nice having cold lemon aide while your clubs were cleaned. |
92/100
We had a great day on a great course. The skies were blue and the temperature was around 90 degrees. Even though it was hot there was not much in the way of humidity but we did consume a lot of water as we made our way around the course. Everything from start to finish was outstanding. Make sure you play this course when you visit the North San Diego Country area. |
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San Luis Rey Downs
Bonsall, California
| Alberta Bound | |
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| Greens: | 8/10 | Greens were excellent. The fringe was cut and gave way, most times to a decent second cut. A few greens were very large with #18 being about 50 paces deep. Numerous greens were well protected by bunkers and all the bunkers were in good shape. |
| Fairways: | 5/10 | Many of the fairways lacked enough grass. It appeared that the area floods a lot and thus kills the grass. Sprinkler heads were marked and some of them had the distance to the front, center and back of the greens. This I thought was a good idea. Fairways bunkers were good with sufficient rakes. There was very little rough other then the OB areas. There were a number of mature trees lining the fairways which looked good. |
| Tees: | 5/10 | About ½ the tees were in very poor shape. Some of the tees appeared to be just cut from the fairway. They had ball washers, nice maps of the holes and official yardage markers. |
| Course Design: | 5/10 | Nothing out of the ordinary. Front nine was flat and had a string of four holes that were interesting. These holes started at eight. Eight had a very large waste bunker to the right and a pond in front of this par three. Nine was a short par four, 299 yards, with water on the left and in front of the green. You had to lay up. Ten tee was elevated and the hole had a good look to it as it had a lake to the right and wetlands to the left. You had to hit a good drive or you were in trouble. |
| Value for $$$: | 6/10 | Not the best value in the area. We paid $50 with a cart. They did offer a twilight package with 18 holes, cart, and dinner. This might be worth checking out. |
| Difficulty: | 7/10 | The course has a slope of 125 from the white tees and played to 6364 yards. The length made up for the lack of hazards. If you get off the fairways you will have to navigate around or over a few trees. |
| Scenery: | 6/10 | Some views of the surrounding hills and with a lot of very nice homes.
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| Staff: | 8/10 | Everyone was nice and glad to see us. The grounds crews shut off their mowers when we were near by. |
| Clubhouse: | 7/10 | San Luis Rey Downs had a very nice club house. It is perched above the course so you had some nice views from the dinning room and lounge. There was a pool, tennis courts, and a good pro shop. The ½ way house was at the club house and you passed right by it on the way to the 10th. There was a phone on the 9th tee so you could order in advance. |
| Other Intangibles: | 7/10 | Cart paths were good but not continuous and they had washrooms on each nine. I mentioned the extras under club house. The course seemed to be a meeting area for the locals as the lougne and restaurant appeared to a place where the people in the surrounding community could just drop in for something to eat. There was a good feeling around the club house. |
64/100
We had an enjoyable day and thought about coming back for the twilight time package some other day. We never did as we found there was better courses at better prices in the area. |
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