Carlton Oaks GC
A view of a hole at Carlton Oaks Golf Club.
GolfPass Icon
Rating Index Rating
Tooltip Information Icon
3.2
1919 Reviews (1919)
5 Stars
249
4 Stars
683
3 Stars
465
2 Stars
284
1 Stars
238
Conditions
2.7
Value
3.4
Layout
4.0
Friendliness
4.3
Pace
3.5
Amenities
3.5
63.7%
Recommend this course
1234 out of 1919 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.2
82 Reviews (82)
5 Stars
10
4 Stars
25
3 Stars
29
2 Stars
11
1 Stars
7
Conditions
2.9
Value
3.7
Layout
4.1
Pace
3.4
Amenities
3.7
StaffFriendliness
4.4
67.1%
Recommend this course
55 out of 82 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.2
144 Reviews (144)
5 Stars
18
4 Stars
48
3 Stars
43
2 Stars
17
1 Stars
18
Conditions
2.8
Value
3.6
Layout
4.0
Pace
3.5
Amenities
3.6
StaffFriendliness
4.4
68.8%
Recommend this course
99 out of 144 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

3.2
1919 Reviews (1919)

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 11
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Not Good

Sorry. I played this course 10 years ago and stopped due to poor conditions and now… it is worse. I paid $52 as my online/prepaid rate and I want my $$$ back. Slow play was in part due to a he fact that you could not find your golfball thru the gopher holes , brown fairways and many dirt runoffs. I could mot openly invite friends to play beyond the kind courteous staff.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Getting Better

I’ve played here quite a few times. It’s been ravaged by floods in the past and they are slowly recovering. It’s a great layout and can be very difficult from the wrong tees. Fairways are firm and fast and the greens are in good shape. I hope they keep improving and bring it back to its past glory.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Beginner
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 97
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Cold weather
Used cart
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 65
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor

Horrible

Yes, the course is in bad shape. It straight up looks like a desert with some green patches mixed in. Now there is a new twist to the sad state of this course. Some of the idiots that play this course are out of control. The insanely drunk group in front of us drove their cart into the river and I do mean all the way in. It was still there when we passed by. I'm all for a few beers on the course, but this was ridiculous. I honestly don't know how much lower this course can sink.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Fair
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 13
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 13
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great Value!

For a full course and the decent conditions, you can't ask for a better price! This course seems to be a secret gem (a secret for now) as you can usually get a decent tee time and the conditions are never bad. If you get off the fairway too far you may disagree with the conditions, but that's what you get for missing the fairway, lol. They are remodeling the off-course amenities so I'm excited to see it progress, but it will likely cause it to become busier, good for them!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Hoping to see improvements

I know they are going to reconfigure course and build homes soon. Can’t wait til that happens as course is pretty poor shape right now.

Greens are okay.

Took way to long to play.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 15
Handicap 15-19
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart

Much improved conditions. Teeoff hot deal worth it

Compliments to the greenskeeper staff and owners on the much improved conditions since the last time I played here maybe a few months ago. The tee boxes, fairways and approach areas around the green complexes have new grass and there seem to be less gopher holes than I remember from last time. Bunkers are still pretty much hard-pan dirt though. Greens were slow but decent condition with minimal ball marks. Lots of coot bird poop on #12 green but I think they cleaned up the debris from the two lakes as it didn't smell as bad as before and it was very scenic, with lots of other birds/cranes grazing around. Always very windy in the late afternoon, I should've clubbed up more often (and hit putts harder)! Was a fun day out at Carlton. Cart girl came around a few times. It was a packed day so pace was pretty slow. Hot dog at the turn from bar was hot and quick. The bar is great for sports and their regular menu is decent if you decide to stick around afterward.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Improving

The course had fallen into disrepair lately but has made significant progress over the past 6 months. New grass around the greens and tee boxes. It still has a ways to go but the improvements are welcome and make the place look better.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

OMG

A total mess the fairways was a combination of weeds, dirt and craters

they explained they’re doing a multi million dollar renovation but honestly, we should’ve paid half what we did

i’m sure it was once Beautiful, but it has not been maintained in a very long time. extremely rundown and half of the vegetation was dead.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 73
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played

This course has some great features very challenging course you'll see when you get there

This is a very challenging course to play Lately the tea boxes have new grass look very nice and the greens are in very good shape and the fairways are starting to get nice thick patches of grass in there this is a very good course to play don't pass it up get out there and play it great course

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Great Tough Course

If you’re an avid golfer and want a challenge check it out. Course condition isn’t the best as they will be fixing the irrigation to help.

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Carlton oaks

Nice course great layout wonderful staff keep it in your course inventory

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Nearby Courses
San Diego, California
Public
3.5859896543
975
Lakeside, California
Public
2.6666666667
3
San Diego, California
Military
1.9652585867
300
San Diego, California
Military
3.9527272727
275
San Diego, California
Public
4.6419241089
495
San Diego, California
Military
3.7833333333
120
San Diego, California
Resort
1.0
2
El Cajon, California
Public
3.7014011217
1238
Jamul, California
Semi-Private
4.3638946127
1041
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