Carlton Oaks GC
A view of a hole at Carlton Oaks Golf Club.
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3.1
1849 Reviews (1849)
5 Stars
239
4 Stars
662
3 Stars
439
2 Stars
276
1 Stars
233
Conditions
2.6
Value
3.3
Layout
4.0
Friendliness
4.3
Pace
3.4
Amenities
3.4
60.7%
Recommend this course
1184 out of 1849 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
2.9
50 Reviews (50)
5 Stars
5
4 Stars
14
3 Stars
13
2 Stars
8
1 Stars
10
Conditions
2.5
Value
3.2
Layout
3.9
Pace
3.3
Amenities
3.5
StaffFriendliness
4.4
58.0%
Recommend this course
29 out of 50 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.1
134 Reviews (134)
5 Stars
19
4 Stars
44
3 Stars
31
2 Stars
17
1 Stars
23
Conditions
2.6
Value
3.4
Layout
4.0
Pace
3.5
Amenities
3.5
StaffFriendliness
4.4
64.2%
Recommend this course
86 out of 134 reviews
Read Reviews

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.

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Carlton Oaks Golf Club
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Course Details

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

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
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 Activities

Swimming, Billiards
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Reviews

3.1
1849 Reviews (1849)

Reviewer Photos

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 16
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Slow slow slow

After 15 holes we had been on the course for 5 hrs already. We stopped playing and grabbed a beer and wings which was the best part of our day. The Marshall drove by twice but he didn’t even say Hello to us. They really need to speed up terrible golfers. This course is not worth the money.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Fair
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
First Time Playing

Course needs work

Once you got to the green, the greens are great, but getting to the green the course is not in good shape.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Course Condition

Gopher holes everywhere on the fairways!!!!

Disappointed that the high green fees did not reflect the bad condition of the course.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Golf is Expensive with Carlton Oaks you get what you pay for

I’ve played almost every single course in San Diego Carlton Oaks has a nice layout. But the course is in rough shape. It’s not worth more than $40 to play with a cart. But with that being said, you won’t find a full 18 with a cart for $40. If you are new to golf this is a good bang for your buck.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Great course for the cost during the weekdays. Too expensive on weekends for course conditions. Plays pretty long so is a challenge but fun water features and some tight hole designs.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 20
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Previously Played

Wasted talent

Carlton oaks was designed by a Pete Dye family member .

The layout is awesome

HOWEVER it’s zero taken care of

Do not pay more than 40 bux to play here

Do not expect much and you’ll be fine

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Previously Played
Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Fair
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Previously Played

Gopher Heaven

I keep hoping conditions get better, but they got a bit worse from the last time I played in May 2025. The bunkers have minimal sand, the rough is a mine field due to gophers and the fairways camouflaged with thin grass and many many bare spots. The greens were ok and playable. I wouldn't play there again for a while, probably once I hear from word of mouth that the course has improved. I understand that money is probably tight and I'm sure there are some kind of water restrictions. A superintendents job with a good budget is made a lot easier. I'm sure the super here has his hands tied and is doing the best he can with the budget he was provided.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
1.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
1.0
First Time Playing

Horrible conditions

The entire course is basically a wreck. If you’re off the fairway, it felt like you were just going over a million speed bumps (I actually almost lost my phone because of this), of the few fairways I hit, I almost lost my ball in the middle of it, even the cart paths are just bumpy too. Are ball cleaners not a thing in CA? Didn’t see one the entire round.

The ONLY good thing about course conditions was the green and the fact they had water jugs (which is rare that I’ve seen these days). The cart girl was very friendly too, which is an added bonus but doesn’t change my rating.

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Played On
Reviews 7
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Best course in San Diego

For the price and openness with tee times during the week. Look no further than Carlton Oaks. Also the food at the clubhouse is killer!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
First Time Playing

The worst 70 dollars I’ve ever spent

This review has two stars simply due to the on course staff and the greens, everything else needs improvement. Catching fliers out of tee boxes so balls are flying twenty yards further. The fairways have more mole holes than even Chula Vista golf course (if you know you know). The on course staff are friendly and the greens roll true, but do not spend your money here on the weekends unless it’s to eat at the bar. Probably the worst 70 dollars I’ve spent on a Sunday round,

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Default User Avatar
Commented on 12/03/2025

Good to know, I was there two years ago and hoped they had improved the conditions. It's a great property, and a nice layout, but there were so many gopher holes Bill Murray would have lost his mind.

Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Course could use some attention

Course was in decent shape fairways had some bare spots, tee boxes could use some attention. It was almost like hitting out of the rough especially on the Par 3 holes. The tee boxes had grass longer than the actual rough and were very rough due to people not repairing divots, etc. I especially liked getting hit by sprinklers just after teeing of on the 14th hole. Greens were in good shape the ball rolled very well allowing me to make some fairly long putts. I know the cost of everything here in California makes it difficult to water and purchase what is needed to keep golf courses in great condition and affordable to the average person.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 86
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
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