Now that spring has fully sprung in San Diego I’ve been trying to make good on my resolution for more golf in 2011. Easier said than done, but I had a great reason recently when a good friend came to visit from Phoenix.
As is our custom, we took our usual foursome out for a round, and decided to play Carlton Oaks Golf Club in Santee, a residential neighborhood about 20 minutes from Downtown.
Carlton Oaks has real golf history and is regarded as on of San Diego’s best golf courses. They’ve recently hosted the 2008 and 2009 PGA Tour School; the 2007, 2008, and 2009 Canadian Tour School; 2008 Callaway Junior World; and The American Junior Golf Association (AJGA).
The course is very friendly for visitors, and even has their website translated into Japanese and Korean for Asian golfers coming to San Diego.
It is the only public Pete Dye course in town, and boasts water-clearing approach shots, pot bunkers and wide fairways. In addition to the course there is a small hotel, ample practice facilities, pro shop and a great restaurant.
In our foursome there were handicaps from 15 to 30, and the five tee placements helped keep it challenging for all. The Par 4 18th is a great finishing hole. There is an extremely wide fairway, which you’ll need to attack the guarded green, protected on two sides by water. I managed a par, which helped to redeem the rest of my scorecard.
After the round we sat down in the newly renovated Oaks Bar & Grill for some much-needed burgers. We were all pleasantly surprised by the quality, portions and price. I opted for the Hawaiian burger and it was amazing. Huge patty, big thick chunk of grilled pineapple, and oozing with Teriyaki – all the elements of an awesome Hawaiian burger and all for under $10.