FEATURE STORY

San Diego golf: Courses that women will enjoy, from La Costa to The Vineyard Golf Club

By S. Adam Cardais,
Staff Writer

When judging golf courses, women usually look for two things. They want a track with few forced carries that is short enough that you won't have to take an injection of steroids to play through the entire 18.

Every year, Golf for Women magazine evaluates courses throughout the country on these and other criteria to come up with its list of the 50 best golf courses in America for women. Though not a single San Diego golf course made the list last year, the city, one of the most beloved in California if not the whole country, has a few tracks that women won't find too daunting.

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Both of the courses at La Costa Resort & Spa, for instance, fit that description. Here's a bit more information about those and a couple other women-friendly San Diego golf courses.

La Costa Resort, North and South courses: Few forced carries and conservative length make these two courses a good bet for women. Designed by Joe Lee and Dick Wilson, the North Course measures just under 6,000 yards from the red tees. It also has one of the best closing six holes in California.

You play La Costa North for the 13th through 18th stretch," Chris Baldwin wrote in a review for GolfCalifornia.com."It's been that way for 40 years and remains that way now, through multi-million dollar facelifts and corporate changeovers on the resort itself. There are few things in life that are truly timeless, but this stretch of golf comes awfully close."

The South Course, also by Lee and Wilson, is a bit shorter at 5,612 yards from the reds. Another thing La Costa has going for it is its resort setting and nice restaurant.

Sycaun Golf Resort & Casino, Pine Glen course: Measuring 2,508 yards from the back tees, this 18-hole par 3 is a great place for a relaxing play. All of the holes range from 100 yards to just over 200 yards, making them accessible to a range of skill levels.

The course utilizes the surrounding terrain, incorporating mountains, natural rock outcroppings and aged oaks and sycamores to add chauracter to the individual holes. The greens are well manicured and undulating.

Though the course is short, it is no push over. It has many natural obstacles and strategic bunkering. There are also several water hazards.

The Vineyard Golf Club: This course is popular with women for its natural setting. Its lush, rolling fairways runs through a wildlife area, vineyards and five beautiful lakes, creating a very different feel from many other area courses. Designed by golf course architect David Rainville, it is also a relatively short track, measuring 4,843 yards from the red tees.

If you go

San Diego Tee Times
For more information: 866-351-1688

March 1, 2007

Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management. The information in this story was accurate at the time of publication. All contact information, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the golf course or resort before making reservations and/or travel plans.