Carlton Oaks GC
A view of a hole at Carlton Oaks Golf Club.
GolfPass Icon
Rating Index Rating
Tooltip Information Icon
3.0
1945 Reviews (1945)
5 Stars
250
4 Stars
688
3 Stars
474
2 Stars
288
1 Stars
245
Conditions
2.6
Value
3.4
Layout
4.0
Friendliness
4.4
Pace
3.5
Amenities
3.5
59.6%
Recommend this course
1245 out of 1945 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.1
93 Reviews (93)
5 Stars
11
4 Stars
25
3 Stars
33
2 Stars
12
1 Stars
12
Conditions
2.8
Value
3.7
Layout
4.1
Pace
3.6
Amenities
3.6
StaffFriendliness
4.5
63.4%
Recommend this course
59 out of 93 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.0
140 Reviews (140)
5 Stars
15
4 Stars
37
3 Stars
48
2 Stars
18
1 Stars
22
Conditions
2.7
Value
3.5
Layout
4.0
Pace
3.5
Amenities
3.5
StaffFriendliness
4.4
61.4%
Recommend this course
86 out of 140 reviews
Read Reviews
frame.svg
AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
circle-star.svg
Course Highlights
Carlton Oaks features a challenging Pete Dye layout that consistently earns praise for its interesting design and playable greens. Exceptionally friendly staff and affordable pricing make this a rewarding value for San Diego golfers.

About

Holes 18
Type Resort/Public
Par 72
Length 7304 yards
Slope 142
Rating 75.1

Carlton Oaks Country Club is the only public Dye Design golf course in San Diego. The course is covered with hundreds of mature trees interspersed with sparkling blue lakes and meandering creeks. The layout offers a diverse mix of holes that all possess a unique character. They all offer different challenges in the form of either water hazards of strategically placed sand traps along the fairways. Tricky pot bunkers and interesting elevation changes were also incorporated into the design as well as Dye's signature railroad ties. There are five very different sets of tees that offer a challenging round from the back tees but also enough playability to appeal to a range of skill levels. In addition to the enjoyable layout, Carlton Oaks is one San Diego's most centrally located courses, sitting just minutes from downtown and many of the city's major attractions.

Book a Tee Time at
Carlton Oaks Golf Club
Powered by GolfNow.com

Course Details

Year Built 1958
Golf Season Year round
Architect William W. Mast (1958) Perry Dye (1989)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - $15.00 - $25.00
Clubs 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, Amex Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes

Food & Beverage

Bar, Grill

Lodging

Lodging Available

Available Facilities

Banquet Facilities

Available Activities

Swimming, Billiards
The Best Way To Book Is With GolfPass+ Annual
golf ball.svg
$120 in monthly tee time promo codes
waivedfees
12 rounds of waived fees
redeemtrophy
GolfPass Member Pricing
teetime protection.svg
Tee Time Protection

Reviews

3.0
1945 Reviews (1945)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 37
Patio Dining 20
Watching the Game 20
Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 54
Water Hazards 53
Undulating Greens 41
This course/club is great for:
Advanced Golfers 44
Locals 35
Walkers 24
This Course's Location is:
Convenient to the City 38
In the 'Burbs 35
Worth the Drive 26

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Reviewer Photos

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 54
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

It's a Decent Price Because the Course Itself is in Terrible Shape

I've played this course almost a dozen times. The staff is awesome and the cart service is always excellent.

The pace of play the last couple times was almost six hours but this time around was 4 1/2- not bad for a challenging track.

The driving range could definitely use some work but is adequate.

The 3-star rating falls solely on the course's condition. Aside from a number of the back tee boxes being completely overgrown and unplayable (which is not reflective in their scorecards or on the GHIN), the fairways and their surrounding areas don't appear to have been maintained in a very long time. The bunkers are never consistent and the greens always seem to have several types of grass: making for inconsistent rolls and speeds for the green. There were also multiple times where my drive found the absolute middle of the fairway, but was somehow on top of weeds or other material that has no place to be in a fairway.

The club has been declaring a renovation is coming for some time now but it could possibly only be lip service. It's a shame they don't take better care of it because it is one of the best layouts in California- especially the back nine!

We all hope to see a better kept course in the near future and take on the looks of even a fraction of how nice the course used to be, but it leaves people like myself skeptical at best at this point.

Conditions Poor
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 93
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Great layout

This course is a championship layout but it has not been kept up. The good part is that efforts are being made to improve conditions. I felt it was worth playing despite the somewhat rough conditions.

Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 11
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

lousy conditions.

Carlton Oaks used to be a great course, but not any more. the greens are infested with clover, the fairways are rough with big patches of bare dirt, the tee boxs are not too good either. if you happen to get off the fairway, the "rough" is like driving on the moon. also, the bunkers are unplayable. The city of SD ownes the course, but hasn't maintained it and however has the contract to run has not spent any money. Turn it into "affordable housing"

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 21
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
First Time Playing

Unsatisfactory

I never leave bad reviews but this course is run down. There are many areas where there is no grass on the fairway. The greens are ok. Play somewhere else, there is a glitch, I can’t click on the stars. The staff is awesome, the pace of play is average.

Conditions Poor
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
First Time Playing

Super Friendly Staff

Super awesome staff! Kind of a dog track. No offense, but terrible conditions. I live in Colorado and we’re in a bad drought, but all of our courses are in way better shape. Again, super awesome staff, but not sure I’d play here again.

Conditions Fair
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 87
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Use to be..

such a well conditioned, challenging layout, now it is just challenging. Fairways and greens are spotty with one green scorched.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Golf course maintenance

The layout is great the course maintenance is not.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 13
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

THE COURSE NEEDS ATTENTION !

I PLAY HERE 3 OR 4 TIMES A MONTH ! CONDITION WISE THIS IS THE WORST IVE SEEN IN A LONG LONG TIME ! I, WITH THE CURRENT CONDITION THAT THE COURSE IS IN WOULD NOT RECOMMEND PLAYING !

Conditions Fair
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 7
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Hot weather
Walked
Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 101
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
1.0
First Time Playing
Played On
Reviews 2
1.0
First Time Playing

Terrible conditions better courses for cheaper or same price

Not a single good lie on the course no matter where you hit it, greens are fine if you can find your ball in the fairway to hit it there. So many white spots balls get lost in the fairway and you play off of dirt or sand most of the time. Very disappointing.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Pace Average
Played On
Reviews 1
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Bad condition and slow pace

8am Sunday tee time, round took OVER 5 hours due to overbooking. Many dirt fairways. Greens were nice. At $85, it should either be faster or nicer. Won’t be going back for a while; maybe the reno will fix it.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Prequalifier course

There is no excuse for needing a kidney belt anywhere you drive on that course.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 13
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Poor
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Nearby Courses
San Diego, California
Public
3.5785522501
991
Lakeside, California
Public
2.6666666667
3
San Diego, California
Military
1.9652585867
300
San Diego, California
Military
3.9527272727
275
San Diego, California
Public
4.6628404394
502
San Diego, California
Military
3.7833333333
120
San Diego, California
Resort
1.0
2
El Cajon, California
Public
3.5677494879
1265
Jamul, California
Semi-Private
4.3627414531
1052
Golf Packages

The OMNI La Costa Resort & Spa Stay & Play Package

CLICK BELOW
CARLSBAD, CA | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at The OMNI La Costa Resort & Spa and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Aviara Golf Course, OMNI La Costa – South Course, and OMNI La Costa – North Course.

The Lodge At Torrey Pines Stay & Play Package

CLICK BELOW
LA JOLLA, CA | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at The Lodge at Torrey Pines and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Torrey Pines – South Course and Torrey Pines – North Course.

The Palm Mountain Resort & Spa Stay & Play Package

CLICK BELOW
PALM SPRINGS, CA | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at Palm Mountain Resort & Spa and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Indian Canyons – South Course, Indian Canyons – North Course, The Classic Club, Tahquitz Creek – Resort Course, and Tahquitz Creek – Legend Course.

The Hilton Garden Inn Palm Springs/Rancho Mirage Stay & Play Package

CLICK BELOW
PALM SPRINGS, CA | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at the Hilton Garden Inn Palm Springs/Rancho Mirage and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Indian Canyons – South Course, The Classic Club, Tahquitz Creek – Resort Course, and Tahquitz Creek – Legend Course.

Luxor Resort & Casino Stay & Play Package

FROM $137 (USD)
LAS VEGAS, NV | Enjoy up to 3 nights’ accommodations at the Luxor Resort & Casino and up to 3 rounds of golf at your choice of Legacy Golf Course, Las Vegas National Golf Course, and Desert Pines Golf Course.
Now Reading
  • Home

  • Memberships

  • Library

  • Account