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2.6
31 Reviews (31)
5 Stars
4
4 Stars
18
3 Stars
6
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
2
Conditions
3.8
Value
3.4
Layout
4.1
Friendliness
1.8
Pace
2.9
Amenities
3.0
39.5%
Recommend this course
26 out of 31 reviews
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Value
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Layout
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Friendliness
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Pace
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Amenities
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Average Rating
Avg Rating
2.0
1 Reviews (1)
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0
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0
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0
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1
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Conditions
4.0
Value
3.0
Layout
4.0
Pace
2.0
Amenities
3.0
StaffFriendliness
1.0
0%
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1 reviews
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About

Holes 18
Type Public/Municipal
Par 72
Length 6339 yards
Slope 125
Rating 71.2

Course Details

Year Built 1921
Fairways Kikuyu Grass
Greens Kikuyu Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect William P. Bell (1921)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - $10 - $15
Clubs Yes
Pull-carts Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Golf School Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes

Food & Beverage

Halfway House

Available Facilities

Clubhouse

Reviews

2.6
31 Reviews (31)
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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
2.0
First Time Playing

Unfortunate staff experience.

Ended up here after deliberating between a couple courses in San Diego. There's a couple things that I want people to know about this place before coming here: I would strongly suggest bringing your own clubs if you can help it, and don't use the driving range. They charge 50$ per set for 18 hole rental, and each golfer has to have their own set per PGA rules. We ended up spending 125$ per person including 30 balls at the range; honestly not horrible but not cheap. The problem was while we were at the range, one of the drivers from the sets we rented, the head broke. After my warmup, my first hit with their driver (clean hit) and the driver head fell off into my hand after the swing. One of the gentleman was very kind and told me to go golf and not worry about it, that we could work it out when I got back. So we did. The course was very nice, and moderately challenging. We had a great time. After the round we came back to the pro shop to get my credit card back and return the clubs. Instead of "working it out" they gave me card and said nothing. Come to find out, they charged my card 150$ already and didn't say anything about it. The course was nice, but I'm definitely walking away frustrated rather than satisfied.

The staff here with the exception of that one gentleman seem to hate their jobs and make no effort to be kind to anyone seemingly. I really wish I could say differently but I will likely not be back.

Pace of play was also a bit disappointing. They send groups out every 2 minutes so they're was hardly ever continuous play. Greens were also very sandy. Good luck 2 putting.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Poor
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 15-19
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

Fun Track

This is a really fun layout, especially for the money. The greens were aerated and very sandy, which was a bummer. Still a really fun round. Got it in just over three hours. No frills, not the most pristine, but definitely worth playing.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Previously Played

The Men behind the front desk need to retire

Fun local course that usually has last minute tee times during the week. I’ve played here 4 times this year and have had a terrible experience with the guys in the shop every time. Not sure if they just hate their jobs or what but I’ve never been to a pro shop with people half as unpleasant and rude as these guys. The ladies at the restaurant and bar are always great though!

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Poor
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 25+
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Walked

Pretty much the ideal 9 hole course

It seems like there's some cross talk on this review page for the 9 and 18 hole course... this review is for the 9 hole.

This is pretty much the perfect length for a 9 hole course. Most holes play 180-220 with a couple 300 yarders thrown in. You tee off with drivers or hybrids and then end up by the green for short game work... it plays like a full length course with all the long-iron approach shots cut out. As far as executive courses go, it's the rare one that lets you have your cake and eat it too - short enough to play fast and remain walkable, but long enough for you to break out your driver nearly half the time.

The course is consistently well maintained... the tee boxes are always beat, but fairways and greens are great.

Layout is a little blah... hole 3 and 4 are interesting, but 6/7/8 are like playing the same hole 3 times in a row. Track is flat with very few traps and no water hazards, which is good for hacks but may be boring for pros.

The price is cheap and the course plays through at a good speed... 2 to 2 1/2 hour weekend rounds are the norm.

You get in and out quickly, no cart needed, plays cheap, great shape, ideal size for an executive. Highly recommended.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Disappointed

I was vacation visiting my brother and his wife and we decided on Balboa after playing several courses in SD area. We just wanted to play nine holes and enjoy the weather. That lasted to the as long as it took us to get to the counter. "Michael" who I can only assume is a relative of someone that runs the park system greeted us like the Germans in Poland. He could not have been more argumentative or disinterested in going his job. He got nasty with my brother as Michael struggled with the concept of advanced mathematics required to calculate greens fees. We finally made it out of there regretting our choice of courses of which there are many in the area. Then we had the treat of having to get the guy to bring carts around after waiting 10 minutes with a no show. The guy was on his phone like a teenage girl waiting for a text from her new BFF. Pace of play was like waiting for Elvis to get out of the bathroom. No rangers on the course , with 1 to 1.5 holes open between groups ahead of us. To bad, I like the old course but won't play it again. I am 62 and have golf at many places around the US and this round will always stand our as a total disappointment.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 6
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Hot weather
Walked
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 6
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Hot weather
Walked
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
Incentivized Review
4.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great Value Course

Balboa is a tremendous value for a public course, especially if you're a San Diego resident. Greens were in fantastic condition when we played and had very difficult pin positions. Awesome location in the city. Make sure you eat at Tobey's either before or after the round. One of the best views in all of San Diego.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
Incentivized Review
4.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Walked

very good course to walk

Live in San Diego so very reasonable. Flat course so easy to walk. SD resident rates very low.. Easy to walk in less than 2 hours. Never gets too crowded and course is always in good shape. Clubhouse and restaurant very old but thha helps keep the costs down.

Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Challenging course - narrow fairways / great greens

Tough course for rightys. A lot of hole go left. Narrow windows for fairways. Some of the best greens in town.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 12
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

Definitely a course to play if in San Diego. Tough course good layout. Recommended great breakfast at course too

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
First Time Playing

Good layout, good greens, fairways and tee boxes could use some water

Fun layout. Some easy holes and some hard holes playing the blue tees. Some very long par 4s, for example the 450 yard 10th. Long par 3s as well.
Fairways and tee boxes not in good shape. Many bare spots.
Course has great potential.

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
First Time Playing

Avoid at all costs!

We booked this thinking it was 9 holes at the real course, but we quickly realized that that was not the case. We were not aware that this course existed. It probably shouldn't exist. The tee boxes are so hard that you are afraid to take a divot out of them! You can barely tell the difference between the fairways and the rough! The only good thing about this place is the greens because the people that play out there aren't hitting any, so they are easy to keep in shape. The course should probably be paved over to be completely honest. Give the real course a shot, it's a nice layout.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Excellent condition, tough & kinda funky

Haven't played here over 15 years and I was not disappointed. Course was in excellent condition. A few bare spots but almost not worth mentioning in terms of how much turf covers the property. Forgot how tight some of the holes are, No.4 in particular - a funky layout to say the least. Fair number of wide open holes as well. Greens were in superb condition. A fair test for anyones game. Clubhouse definitely outdated but in a historical and reverent way, but I'd prefer they pour their budget on maintaining the course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 24
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Walked

Play it Again!!

A great Municipal Course. An Awesome 99 yr. old course. Great Layout & very good greens.
Worth the $$ to play & would play again & again.
Staff were very friendly from Pro Shop, On Course & in Pub.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Walked

A Hard Course to walk

I really enjoyed playing here. However it was a REALLY hard course to walk. Nearly every hole is Uphill except for 1 and 17. You catch a break on the par 5's but I just didn't enjoy walking it at all. This is a challenging course that will punish you for a poor Tee shot. The clubhouse restaurant is a nice little diner with a little above average food at good prices.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

Good value for this gem!

This being my first time playing Balboa, and knowing it's a muni course, my expectations were low upon arrival at the course. The parking lot is funky, the range is funky, but the practice green is well taken care of, and gave a pretty good indicator of the greens on the course. The Clubhouse staff were business like, but not overly friendly. I gave the off-course ammenities a low score because I went into the "restaurant" prior to teeing off to ask if I could buy a cup of ice. I was told no, that the ice was for the restaurant patrons. So, don't expect the restaurant to cater to the golfers. However, the restaurant patio looked like a nice place to get a burger and enjoy the view of downtown San Diego. The course was in good shape, escpecially for a muni course. The greens were well taken care of for the most part and rolled fairly true. For whatever reason, all in my foursome had issues reading them. But, that was probably more about us not knowing the greens than the greens themselves. We played from the tips (Blues), to get all of our money's worth. That puts the course at a little over 6300 yards. Short, but challenging enough. The layout is very up and down, with fairly narrow fairways througout. If you missed a fairway, there was a 50/50 chance of getting yourself into some trouble. Canyons and roads line the course, with canyons being the primary hazard. Many greens also had a steep drop off behind and to the sides. I missed a couple of greens long, where my ball SHOULD have been maybe 5-10 yards off, only to find that my ball had rolled into oblivion. The next time I play here, I will play to miss my approach shots short if anything. I played just about right to my handicap. Overall, a very enjoyable, if not beautiful day of golf! Take time to enjoy the views on the back 9!

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Beautiful day on the course

I play here often, my home course. Great condition, greens were great, fairways decent. 16th hole is always super tough, and the 4th. Great muni golf course, tougher than Coronado. This is a classic, old gem.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Decent course, great views of skyline and Coronado bridge

This is the course I play the most, best to play early in the morning because-right now-there's a ton of high school tournaments going after 3:00 PM.

The par 3 17th is classic, down hill par 3 with a great view of downtown San Diego.

Not bad, not great but decent track.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Fairly Easy
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