Balboa Park Golf Course
Balboa Park Golf Course
4
Full view
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
The area
Address
Neighborhood: Balboa Park
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
1,565 within 3 miles
Attractions
447 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
37 reviews
Excellent
13
Very good
14
Average
8
Poor
2
Terrible
0
jim727
San Diego119 contributions
Sep 2023 • Family
There is a flat short 9 hole nice course for beginners. The rest of this review is about the 18 hole course. In 2022 they did a complete remodel of the irrigation system. The fairways and greens are in fantastic shape. Course is very well maintained. You get views of Coronado Bay Bridge, downtown San Diego as the course is built on a relatively high plateau just three miles from downtown San Diego. Parking near the ancient but historic clubhouse has about 45 spaces that fill up by 9AM; about 50 yards away is another parking lot with plenty (250?) spaces. This is a very hilly but walkable course if you are in good physical shape; rent a cart if not. It has some narrow fairways with canyons nearby; not a course for beginners.
Written October 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
G C
San Diego70 contributions
Dec 2016 • Friends
City owned 18 and 9 hole executive course. Good test for all levels of golfers. Greens are firm, fast, and fair. Good food at Clubhouse and on turn on full course.
Written February 14, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hbell2015
Clearwater, FL30 contributions
Nov 2016 • Solo
Balboa Park is centrally located in the heart of San Diego. The Balboa Park Golf Course is located within the 1400 acres of Balboa Park, as are the San Diego Zoo, Botanical Gardens, Spanish Village Art Center, San Diego Old Globe Theatre Complex, and the Morley Sport Complex, which includes the golf course.
The Balboa Park GC is a traditional links style golf course, with tall and rolling grass. The primary vegetation is chaparral, and coastal sage. There are also several clusters of trees to add to the course beauty and wickedness as well as a wide assortment of wildlife including mule deer, bobcats, and Red Diamond Rattlesnakes. The bird species are too many to mention, however I did see a very impressive large hawk. This is where things start to get interesting.
The Devil's Liar : the course is quite hilly, with visually intimidating tight fairways and postage stamp greens which are undulating and fast. I checked the course slope rating and yardage, which showed the Blue tees (the tips) at 72.1/127 and 6347 yards. This devilish little course will deceive you, because the yardage and slope rating does not accurately reflect the difficulty of the course. If ignored, the course demons will take your golf game straight to the Devil. Trust me, there will be a few times when you will shout "Jesus", and look for some form of devine intervention. Standing on the first tee box and looking down at a steep sloping fairway, which drops about 75 feet, you wonder should I hit driver. The hole yardage is 344 yards from the Blue tees. The fairway is wide, but if you spray the ball left or right you will find yourself on a side sloping hill in deep rolling grass or foliage. If you play by the rules of golf for a lost ball, then it's back to the tee box and a uphill climb. I used a 2 hybrid off the Blue tee and found the fairway. My next shot was uphill to a quasi peninsula green, with deep rough front and back, and a steep dropoff on the left side of green. My second shot was short, but I chipped it close and one putted for par. By the time I reached the second tee box I was ready mentally to challenge the course, but my game was not. I had to make some adjustments to stay in the game.
The guilding light through the valley of evil: First, leave the driver in the bag, if you can't hit it staight. This course was designed for not so long hitters, who are virtuous iron players, with the putting touch of an angel. Second, good course management is a must. Aggressive play is a medieval curse that will lead your game down a path of disastrous consequences. Play smart and be prepared to lay up short of the green. Finally, swallow your pride, move up to the White tees, and by all means "Do Not Walk This Course".
You will have a better understanding of what I am talking about when you reach some of the signature holes. My favorite hole is hole #6, a 210 yard (Blue tees), par 3 with a peninsula green. The day I played this hole the pin was in the back and the hole measured 225 yards. I purposely layed up, chipped it close and one putted for par. The course is really challenging from the Blue tees and more relaxing from the White tees. If you are a low handicap player, then this course is devine. Higher handicap golfers playing the White tees will find enjoyment and heaven right here on earth. Which path will you take? Good or Evil?
The course layout is impressive as is the difficulty of play. Pace of play was good most of the time, with only a couple of spots where it slowed down.
I like this course and recommend it to all golfers except beginners.
Course Review
H.Bell (Golf Enthusiast/ Writer)
The Balboa Park GC is a traditional links style golf course, with tall and rolling grass. The primary vegetation is chaparral, and coastal sage. There are also several clusters of trees to add to the course beauty and wickedness as well as a wide assortment of wildlife including mule deer, bobcats, and Red Diamond Rattlesnakes. The bird species are too many to mention, however I did see a very impressive large hawk. This is where things start to get interesting.
The Devil's Liar : the course is quite hilly, with visually intimidating tight fairways and postage stamp greens which are undulating and fast. I checked the course slope rating and yardage, which showed the Blue tees (the tips) at 72.1/127 and 6347 yards. This devilish little course will deceive you, because the yardage and slope rating does not accurately reflect the difficulty of the course. If ignored, the course demons will take your golf game straight to the Devil. Trust me, there will be a few times when you will shout "Jesus", and look for some form of devine intervention. Standing on the first tee box and looking down at a steep sloping fairway, which drops about 75 feet, you wonder should I hit driver. The hole yardage is 344 yards from the Blue tees. The fairway is wide, but if you spray the ball left or right you will find yourself on a side sloping hill in deep rolling grass or foliage. If you play by the rules of golf for a lost ball, then it's back to the tee box and a uphill climb. I used a 2 hybrid off the Blue tee and found the fairway. My next shot was uphill to a quasi peninsula green, with deep rough front and back, and a steep dropoff on the left side of green. My second shot was short, but I chipped it close and one putted for par. By the time I reached the second tee box I was ready mentally to challenge the course, but my game was not. I had to make some adjustments to stay in the game.
The guilding light through the valley of evil: First, leave the driver in the bag, if you can't hit it staight. This course was designed for not so long hitters, who are virtuous iron players, with the putting touch of an angel. Second, good course management is a must. Aggressive play is a medieval curse that will lead your game down a path of disastrous consequences. Play smart and be prepared to lay up short of the green. Finally, swallow your pride, move up to the White tees, and by all means "Do Not Walk This Course".
You will have a better understanding of what I am talking about when you reach some of the signature holes. My favorite hole is hole #6, a 210 yard (Blue tees), par 3 with a peninsula green. The day I played this hole the pin was in the back and the hole measured 225 yards. I purposely layed up, chipped it close and one putted for par. The course is really challenging from the Blue tees and more relaxing from the White tees. If you are a low handicap player, then this course is devine. Higher handicap golfers playing the White tees will find enjoyment and heaven right here on earth. Which path will you take? Good or Evil?
The course layout is impressive as is the difficulty of play. Pace of play was good most of the time, with only a couple of spots where it slowed down.
I like this course and recommend it to all golfers except beginners.
Course Review
H.Bell (Golf Enthusiast/ Writer)
Written December 2, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hacker31
Virginia157 contributions
Apr 2012 • Solo
Played this course two times on my recent trip to San Diego and must say for the price of $40.00 a round it is by far the best value in the area. The course was in great shape and offers a good challenge. I guess being the sister course to Torrey Pines is the reason the fairways and greens were so nice.
Written May 1, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
h w
Tampa, FL63 contributions
Aug 2017
This another great course to play if ever in San Diego, Ca, the view was so beautiful and the course was one of the most beautiful course I have ever played. next to Torrey Pines, it is second on the golf bucket list to play.
Written August 14, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LodiWineBob
Oceanside, CA484 contributions
Jun 2016
Loved the course. Greens, tees, and fairway in great shape for a downtown muni. Fairly wide open too. We actually walked it and that was a true challenge as almost every hole is up and down. Good traps and bunkers. Nice small putting green and driving range. Prices are jacked up a bit for non-residents, but for a downtown course of this quality, $40 before noon is not bad. There are twilight and other discounts.
As for the clubhouse, they should bulldoze it. What a mess. Looks like the last time it was cleaned could have been back in the 50's. Rest rooms are especially gross and one would be better advised to use a tree or one of the rest rooms on the course. We did eat there and let me just say that by the next morning, I was feeling pretty regular. Kind of like going south of the border. Stick to bottled or canned beverages.
As for the clubhouse, they should bulldoze it. What a mess. Looks like the last time it was cleaned could have been back in the 50's. Rest rooms are especially gross and one would be better advised to use a tree or one of the rest rooms on the course. We did eat there and let me just say that by the next morning, I was feeling pretty regular. Kind of like going south of the border. Stick to bottled or canned beverages.
Written June 1, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sherbertdipper
Balsall Common, UK68 contributions
Oct 2015
Great golf course, we hired clubs (bit battered) and buggies bought hats, grinned, had giggles and enjoyed the golf. Course is in an amazing setting in the middle of downtime, with fantastic views. The greens were a bit furry but the rest of the course was well layed out and a good but not too tough challenge. A shout goes out to the joker with the siren, bullhorn and white car who asked us to leave the course as groundhogs had been seen. We fell for it and went back to the clubhouse only to be sent back out by a laughing snorting golf pro to finish the round... Haha! Apart from that a thoroughly enjoyable round.
Written November 11, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fiddle_man
Eugene, OR146 contributions
Dec 2014 • Solo
I played both courses here over a one week period while visiting and enjoyed them both. The courses are in OK shape considering it is winter and the ongoing drought and careful water mgmt that must take place here in California. The executive course has several long holes where a driver can be used unlike many Par 3 courses - that's great. One afternoon after iffy weather in the morning I pretty much had the par 3 course to myself. I played 3 balls - great practice time. The 18 hole course was extremely packed on a Monday - but this is between Xmas and New Years so no surprise. Took 4.5 hours. Nicely laid out course, well marked for newbies like me. There are a few pretty tight holes - and I lost a few balls - but not too bad. The main attraction here was the price - $24 for 18 holes if you are walking and playing after 11 am.
Written January 3, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GregFurer
Pittsburgh, PA453 contributions
Aug 2014 • Friends
We visited this course while I was in San Diego visiting because it was close to my friends house. I was shocked what a great value this course is. Its got some great views of downtown San Diego along the way. The course its self outside of being well maintained for the inexpensive public course is narrow and fairly challenging. My one complaint is beer prices are astronomical.
Written August 21, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KB1234567
Santa Rosa, NM49 contributions
Sep 2013 • Family
A very well cared for municipal golf course with views of the bay, well worth the low price charged. The breeze coming off the bay is cooling and refreshing, even on a hot day!
Written May 28, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
No questions have been asked about this experience
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing