One of the most desirable golf locations in the country, San Diego has many options for courses you can play if you are in the area. From PGA Tour level courses like Torrey Pines to some local favorites like Admiral Baker, San Diego has a lot to offer. Below is a list of the best public golf courses in San Diego. To be considered for the list, courses need to be at most 45 minutes from city center since that is our barometer on how far someone would drive on a normal day to play a round of golf.
1) Torrey Pines – La Jolla, CA - 17 minutes from city center – As a yearly stop on the PGA Tour, Torrey Pines name speaks for itself. With two courses, this municipal golf mecha is one of the best options if you are a SD resident. The host of the 2021 US Open offers amazing views of the Pacific Ocean with holes along the cliffs. As a SD resident this is one of the most affordable courses to play on the PGA Schedule as you can play the South for for $63 on the weekdays and $78 on the weekends. If you are not a SD city resident the prices will jump to $202 for weekdays and $252 on the weekends. Pretty nice deal for the locals! Torrey Pines is not only one of the best public golf courses in San Diego, it is one of the best public golf courses in the entire United States. Learn more about Torrey Pines.
2) Singing Hills Golf Resort - El Cajon, CA - 25 minutes from city center – Tucked in the hills of Dehesa Valley, Singing Hills Golf Resort has a lot to offer with 2 championship golf courses as well as an 18 hole par-3 course. Each course has their own unique features including tricky layouts with challenging approach shots. You can make a trip out of it and stay at the resort to make sure you enjoy all that these courses has to offer. Very reasonably priced, SD county residents can play for $55 on weekdays and $75 on weekends. Learn more about Singing Hills.
3) Coronado Golf Course – Coronado, CA - 13 minutes from city center – Just a short drive south of downtown SD, you will find Coronado Golf Course which is definitely a local favorite. It opened back in 1957 and has been one of the best public courses in Coronado since. It has been ranked nationally by Golf Digest for its value and it doesn't disappoint, with its downtown and harbor views. Coronado residents can play this gem for $38 and if you are from out of town, $42. I would say the value is definitely there! Learn more about Coronado Golf Course.
4) Admiral Baker Golf Course (North) – San Diego, CA - 17 minutes from city center – Part of the Metro SD golf courses, Admiral Baker offers two 18 hole courses that are a perfect place to refine your game or even get introduced to the fundamentals. They also have a performance center with a 12 hole short course, short game practice are and golf simulator if the weather isn't cooperating. If you are in the military, this course has very reasonable rates and even if you are just local looking to get out, you can play for $35 on weekdays and $42 on weekends. Learn more about Admiral Baker Golf Course.
5) Riverwalk Golf Club – San Diego, CA - 11 minutes from city center – Located in Mission Valley, Riverwalk Golf Club offers tree lined fairways and a golf course that is always in great shape. It is very accessible as it is right off the trolley line and has a double sided lit driving range if you are looking to work on your game. Continuing the trend of great golf at affordable prices, greens fees on the weekdays are $41 and $59 on the weekends. Learn more about Riverwalk Golf Club.
I hope this article helps you learn more about the best public golf courses in San Diego. Although San Diego has some of the best golf weather in the entire country, if the climate is too hot or rainy, check out this article on the best places for indoor golf in San Diego.
