San Diego's 10 Best Public Golf Courses

From its beaches and surf spots to the wonderful Gaslamp District and great craft beer scene, there’s a lot to like about San Diego. For us golfers, there’s no better golf weather than you’ll find from San Diego to Carlsbad, and the courses are really beautiful as well. Let's take a look at the 10 best public golf courses in San Diego, and the surrounding area.

San Diego has one of the best culinary scenes on the West Coast and more than 150 breweries in the area, which combined with ideal weather and a lively nightlife, make it a great destination. Chances are it’s going to be sunny with temperatures somewhere between the mid-50s and mid-70s year-round.

And though the area doesn't have scores of great public golf courses, the best courses, many of them with ocean views, are pretty special. Here’s a look at the top 10 public golf courses in San Diego and the surrounding area.

1. Torrey Pines (North Course)
2. Torrey Pines (South Course)
3. Maderas Golf Club
4. Coronado Golf Course
5. Omni La Costa Resort & Spa (Champions Course)
6. Aviara Golf Club
7. The Grand Golf Club
8. Omni La Costa Resort & Spa (Legends Course)
9. Encinitas Ranch Golf Club
10. Balboa Park Golf Course

You might be expecting the South Course at Torrey Pines to own the top spot on our rankings, but if you ask around, many locals will tell you that even though the North Course hasn’t hosted any majors, it’s the better of Torrey Pines’ two layouts.

The two courses that makeup one of the country’s best municipal facilities were both designed by William Francis Bell, who essentially carried out the vision that his father, the famed Billy Bell (William F. Bell), had for this land on the bluffs above the Pacific Ocean before he died in 1953. The courses opened in 1957 on what was once Camp Callan, a U.S. Army training site during World War II.

Both courses are stunning, of course, but the North has the better views and probably more interesting holes. And, it does have a tournament pedigree as part of the rotation of the PGA Tour’s Farmers Insurance Open since 1968. 

The North Course isn’t as long as the South, but at around 7,300 yards for the professionals, it’s still formidable. It’s been renovated several times over the years, most notably in 2016 by Tom Weiskopf. 

Among the North’s terrific holes, a couple of  par-3s really stand out. Both the seventh and 15th play over 200 yards with the Pacific Ocean in the background. The 399-yard par-4 seventh with the cliffs on the left and the trees on the right is one of the most scenic golf holes in California.

One of the other attractive aspects of the North is that it’s easier to get tee times than the South Course, which because of its U.S. Open history, is viewed as a must-play by out-of-towners. It’s also less pricey, under $200 for non-locals, and of course, a bargain, at well under $100 for San Diego residents.

Again, it’s the South Course at Torrey Pines that has hosted two U.S. Opens. The most famous one, of course, was 2008 when Tiger Woods – on a broken leg – outlasted Rocco Mediate in an 18-hole playoff (technically 19 holes, as the two were still tied after 18 holes on Monday). More recently, Jon Rahm won his first major when he captured the 2021 U.S. Open on the 7,700-yard layout.

The course has been renovated and lengthened numerous times, most notably by Rees Jones in 2001 and 2019 to prepare for U.S. Opens. There are lots of great holes on the South Course, but the 201-yard downhill par-3, with the ocean and sunsets in the background, might be the signature. It’s certainly the prettiest.

Also worth noting is that you can stay at The Lodge at Torrey Pines, a luxury resort property with a spa, great dining, and a block of tee times available only for hotel guests. If you really want to make sure you can get a South Course tee time during your visit, this is the safest route.

It’s not easy to get a tee time at busy Coronado Golf Course, but because of its setting and vibe, it’s well worth the trouble. Not far from Charles Lindbergh International Airport, this is a good one to schedule upon arrival. Best of all, this may be the best value in Southern California with rates around $50 for nonresidents.

Opened in 1957, this local favorite is located right next to the water with the Coronado Bridge and downtown San Diego providing the backdrop. The course is fairly flat, so it’s also easy to walk, but it’s no pushover, even though it’s not too long. This parkland layout will definitely test your game.

There’s a bit of speculation on our part here since the Champions Course – one of two championship layouts that also include the Legends Course – has been undergoing a renovation since 2023 and was set to open back up in spring of 2024. What we know about the Champions, combined with the improvements and modifications it has undergone in preparation as the new home of the NCAA men’s and women’s championships, warrant its lofty ranking. 

First off, the Champions Course (formerly known as the North) already had a good tournament pedigree in the last few decades with the WGC Match Play as well as an LPGA Tour event (the back nines of both courses were used).

Originally designed by Dick Wilson and Joe Lee, it’s been renovated several times over the years. There are lots of excellent holes, but the finishing stretch starting with the par-3 16th over water is most memorable. 

The latest changes, however, make the Champions Course more conducive to match play, which is the format for the finals of the NCAAs. Headed up by Gil Hanse, some of the changes include creating a downhill, drivable par-4 as the new 11th hole, reshaping the green on the 16th similar to Augusta National’s 12th, and moving the green closer to the creek on the par-5 18th, bringing in more risk-reward play.

An amenity of the Park Hyatt Aviara, the course at Aviara Golf Club stakes its claim as the only Arnold Palmer design in the San Diego area. What makes this course unique are the thousands of ornamentals found throughout the golf course.

The dozens of varieties of florals are as impressive as the holes, creating an incredible look and experience. 

Plus the course, which overlooks Batiquitos Canyon, is a real joy to play with exceptional conditioning, a wide variety of holes, and some holes that even include distant Pacific Ocean views.  

Aviara also has a fantastic golf academy that offers both individual lessons and clinics, so it’s a great spot to check out if you're looking to improve your game.