Panoramic mountain and valley views provide a magnificent backdrop for Carmel Mountain Ranch Country Club’s unique golf experience.

Yardage: 6,672

Rating: 72.9

Slope: 132

Encinitas Ranch is one of the few golf courses that is located on a magnificent sweep of bluffs that keep the ocean in sight from all over the golf course.

Yardage: 6,587

Rating: 127

Slope: 71.2

There are the well-known golfing Meccas on your bucket list that you would be happy to play just once, and then there are those with a unique charm that keep you coming back from your first lesson all the way through to your golden years.

Yardage: 3,417–3,608

Rating: 55.6–56.8

At the Rancho Bernardo Golf Course, you’ll find yourself having to think your way through some holes as water features and bunkers come into play.

Yardage: 6,587

Rating: 71.4

Slope: 129

Reidy Creek is regarded as one of the country’s finest and challenging par 3 courses. Reidy Creek was carefully designed by course architect Cal Olson to maximize its natural valley setting to offer 18 distinctive holes.

Yardage: 2,582

Rating: 52.4–54.6

Slope: 100

The natural setting and challenging play at the Temecula Creek Inn Golf Resort is hard to top. Nowhere else in Southern California can you find a championship golf course with three distinctive nines played in a natural setting surrounded by trees and rolling wine country.

Yardage: 6,605–6,784

Rating: 71.6–72.3

Slope: 127–130

At Twin Oaks Golf Course in San Marcos, California, Ted Robinson, course architect, has created a golf course that finds this balance. Fairways at Twin Oaks can be narrow and test golfers’ accuracy off the tee.

Yardage: 6,535

Rating: 71.9

Slope: 130

Featuring an emphasis on strategy and shot-making, the course follows the natural contours of the countryside. One of the best layouts in San Diego County, the course is located just 15 minutes from the I-15.

Yardage 6,670

Rating 72.9

Slope 130

Set against the backdrop of the San Jacinto Mountains, Cathedral Canyon features tree-lined fairways, 16 lakes, large undulating greens and strategically placed bunkers. 

Yardage 6,505

Rating 71.2

Slope 127

Welk Resorts offers two distinctive executive golf experiences, the Oaks Course and The Fountains Course. Both courses are scenic masterpieces and are designated by GOLF DIGEST as “Best Places To Play.”

Yardage 2,582

Rating 58.5

Slope 100