South Course that delivers the most jaw-dropping experience on holes 11 through 13. The par-4 11th points straight to the ocean, and the land for another par-3 was so enticing at the 13th that Fazio produced two separate greens (one that plays about 125 yards and the other about 105) that are virtual islands amid enormous dunes. The North is slightly longer (6,553 from the blues), but the South (6,323) is considered tougher because it is tighter, with more trees on its inland holes. AVIARA GOLF CLUB
Less than an hour’s drive south of Newport is Carlsbad’s Aviara Golf Club, which is part of the Park Hyatt Resort (parkhyattaviara.com). As the seagull flies, it is a couple of miles from the beach and sits alongside Batiquitos Lagoon, which teems with birds and wildlife. The only Arnold Palmer design in San Diego, Aviara is most often lauded for its incredible array of flowers on nearly every hole, wonderful and natural use of water features, and impeccable maintenance. No two holes at Aviara look remotely similar, with some fairways carved through groves of eucalyptus trees and others open and inviting, rolling up and down with big elevation changes. The experience can be anything a golfer
wants it to be: fun from 6,054-yard white tees to extremely demanding from the 6,591-yard blues.
The North Course should strongly be considered on any trip to Torrey (sandiego.gov/golf/torreypines). The North also hosts PGA Tour rounds, and its vistas of the ocean below and frequent hang gliders above are every bit as spectacular. Shorter and with less penal bunkering, it’s also more playable for the double-digit handicapper. CORONADO
The perfect ending to a SoCal trip can be had in Coronado, the peninsula attached to downtown San Diego by bridge. The Coronado Golf Course (golfcoronado.com) Water views are plentiful at Pelican Hill; above: the experience is a step back in time, 13th hole at Ocean South. in both ambiance and price TORREY PINES The flat and friendly layout, Torrey Pines, on the cliffs in La peppered with palm and pine trees, is Jolla, is synonymous with San Diego one of the best bargains in America if golf for good reason. It has been you walk the course. It is surrounded exposed to PGA Tour fans since 1968, by water on three sides and at various and its stature was immeasurably turns there are views of the San Diego raised when the South Course was skyline, San Diego Bay, the majestic the scene of a dramatic playoff win spires of the Hotel del Coronado, and by Tiger Woods at the 2008 U.S. the bobbing boats at the Coronado Yacht Club. Open. Naturally, the South is more highly The weather approaches perfection on prized by out-of-towners, and though many days, and don’t let the price fool it doesn’t have a warning sign about you. The conditions are nearly perfect all its difficulty like Bethpage Black, it year around. should. At 7,000 yards from the blues, it is a brute, to be survived more than Tod Leonard covers golf for the San Diego conquered. Union-Tribune.
PHOTOS COURTESY PELICAN HILL
NOVEMBER 2010
CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLFER | 19