Desert Golf Magazine Welcomes You to San Diego

The weather-blessed city has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to golf, recreation, culture and vacation amenities

By Wayne McCollum

Best known for its near-perfect weather and abundance of outdoor activities, San Diego is consistently rated among the country's top vacation destinations. And it's not just about golf, although the area is home to some of the top resort facilities and golf courses in the nation. Whether you take a day off from the course or want to get out and play in other ways come evening, there are plenty of options.

Downtown, the pleasantly walkable Gaslamp Quarter features a lively dining, music and nightlife scene, and California's diverse and colorful history is brought to life in Old Town's historic sites as well as its shops and restaurants. San Diego boasts a collection of world-class attractions including SeaWorld, the San Diego Zoo and the USS Midway Museum to name a few. Balboa Park, the nation's largest urban cultural park, is home to 15 museums and The Old Globe Theatre. North of the city is Legoland California and to the northeast lies the zoo's amazing Wild Animal Park. The East County area offers casino gaming and gorgeous desert and mountain landscapes. And out in the bay, across an easily accessed majestic bridge, is Coronado Island with spectacular lodging options including the historic Hotel Del Coronado, one of the nation's last remaining Victorian seaside resorts. Both bay and ocean beaches, 15 miles of recreation paths, an island golf course and popular restaurants and shops round out Coronado's appeal.

That barely scratches the surface of what this area offers. The truth is that few "stay-and-play" destinations offer as much on and off the course as does this breezy California city blessed with nearly perpetual sun.

SWEET SPOT FOR GOLF
With more than 90 golf courses in every conceivable setting from mountain to desert to ocean, it's no wonder that Golf Digest named San Diego one of the Top 50 golf destinations in the world. Better yet, the weather is so idyllic that Weatherbill.com awarded San Diego top billing for having more perfect days for golf than anywhere else in the nation.

LOCAL PROS
San Diego has been nurturing championship golfers for decades. In the 1960s, PGA pros Billy Casper, Gene Littler and Phil Rodgers were the 1-2-3 punch from San Diego. Casper, a two-time PGA player of the year and two-time U.S. Open winner was inducted into the World Golf Hall Of Fame in 1978. Littler, a San Diego State University alum, won the U.S. Open in 1961 and was inducted into the Hall Of Fame in 1990. Rodgers, a winner of many tour tournaments and a Top 100 Teacher, still teaches today at The Grand Del Mar. Another U.S. Open winner, Scott Simpson lives here when he is not on the Champions Tour. Phil Mickelson, four-time major winner, lives in Rancho Santa Fe and is often seen playing area courses to keep his game sharp. San Diego is also the birthplace of Mickey Wright, winner of 82 LPGA events.

GOLF EVENTS
City owned Torrey Pines Golf Course has hosted many PGA tournaments. Among the most memorable was the 2008 U.S. Open won by Tiger Woods in historic fashion - 91 holes including the dramatic playoff with Rocco Mediate. The Callaway Junior World Championship, held at various courses throughout San Diego County since 1968, brings rising young stars from around the world to compete before agents, pros and fans. In March of this year the LPGA and its top women golfers competed in the J Golf LPGA Classic at La Costa Resort and Spa in nearby Carlsbad, Calif.

LEGACY OF RENOWNED GOLF-COURSE DESIGN
Several famed golf-course designers have made their mark on San Diego's landscape. Rees Jones brought his skills to the scenic South Course of Torrey Pines Golf Course for the 2008 U.S. Open. Arnold Palmer's masterpiece at Park Hyatt Aviara Resort has been cited by golf publications as one of the best resort courses in America. Gary Roger Baird preserved the surrounding natural environment while designing Barona Creek Golf Club. Gary Player created a course within a working ranch at Steele Canyon, and Pete Dye's name is on the course at Carlton Oaks. Tom Fazio, architect of courses worldwide, has called his work at The Grand Del Mar among his best. Fame and popularity notwithstanding, San Diego golf courses typically have reasonable greens fees. Municipal courses in Coronado, Balboa Park, National City and Oceanside may offer the best prices, but all area courses set fees low enough to keep golfers coming back for more.

GOLF IN THE MORNING, RACETRACK IN THE AFTERNOON
Racing season at Del Mar Racetrack runs from mid-July to early September and the long days give golfers plenty of time to play a round and watch thoroughbred racing on the same day. Many courses are no more than 30 minutes from the track. Just up the road is The Grand Del Mar, where Fazio's masterpiece is open to the public. The luxury AAA Five Diamond resort opened in the fall of 2007 and is already among the world's most lauded hotels. La Costa Resort and Spa offers two 18-hole gems that have played host to many PGA events through the years, and Park Hyatt Aviara Resort has what may be the prettiest 18 holes in all of Southern California. Morgan Run Club & Resort, the closest course to Del Mar Racetrack, offers stay-and-play packages during race season.

MADERAS GOLF CLUB
Founded in 1999 and now one of Southern California's premier destinations, the Maderas Golf Club is nestled amid the rolling hills of Rancho Bernardo/Poway, just minutes from downtown San Diego. The Johnny Miller-Robert Graves layout winds through 100-year-old live oaks, sycamores, creeks, lakes, waterfalls and more than 40 acres of native wildflowers. The Tuscan style clubhouse is home to the award-winning Grille at Maderas where lunch can be a hamburger or a full-on gourmet meal. General Manager Bill O'Brien invites Desert Golf Magazine readers to a "Summer Golf Special" of $99 unlimited golf Monday through Thursday, now through Sept.2. Learn more at maderasgolf.com or phone the club at 858.451.8100

THE GRAND DEL MAR
Expect nothing but the best on and off the course. Located along the coast in North San Diego County, The Grand Del Mar luxury resort features 249 elegantly appointed guest rooms and suites as well as San Diego's only Fazio-designed golf course. There are also two lighted tennis courts; a 21,000-square-foot spa; four swimming pools and dining options including Addison, the resort's award-winning fine-dining restaurant. For those who want to improve their game or get precisely the right clubs, onsite Grand Golf Performance Academy offers club fitting and analysis as well as top-rated instruction. Director of Golf Shawn Cox and his staff will see that all your needs are met for "The Grand Experience." Learn more at thegranddelmar.com or call 858.314.2000.

Wayne McCollum is a contributing writer to Desert Golf Magazine

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