Carlton Oaks GC
A view of a hole at Carlton Oaks Golf Club.
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Rating Index Rating
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3.1
1884 Reviews (1884)
5 Stars
243
4 Stars
672
3 Stars
455
2 Stars
280
1 Stars
234
Conditions
2.7
Value
3.4
Layout
4.0
Friendliness
4.3
Pace
3.5
Amenities
3.5
62.8%
Recommend this course
1210 out of 1884 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.1
54 Reviews (54)
5 Stars
5
4 Stars
15
3 Stars
21
2 Stars
8
1 Stars
5
Conditions
2.8
Value
3.5
Layout
4.1
Pace
3.4
Amenities
3.7
StaffFriendliness
4.5
64.8%
Recommend this course
35 out of 54 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.2
137 Reviews (137)
5 Stars
18
4 Stars
46
3 Stars
37
2 Stars
19
1 Stars
17
Conditions
2.7
Value
3.5
Layout
4.1
Pace
3.5
Amenities
3.6
StaffFriendliness
4.4
66.4%
Recommend this course
91 out of 137 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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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.

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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 - $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
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Reviews

3.1
1884 Reviews (1884)

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

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Bumpy and lots of dirt patches

Guys in the pro shop were very nice and professional. The course is pretty demanding with a lot of target shots needed. I played from the whites but you this course can be played further back and if plays Professional lengths of 7410 to 7228!

Haven't played there in years and I have to say riding a cart was very bumpy as there is a lot of uneven ground and dry patches. A serious evaluation of this and some work in this area would make this course much better. Greens were very true and fun.

FILL UP DRINKING WATER! It was 77 degrees and the water coolers were empty!

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Default User Avatar
Commented on 07/08/2024

Thank you for your insightful review and compliments on our staff and greens. We apologize for the issues with the cart path and empty water coolers; rest assured, we're addressing these concerns to enhance your next experience. Thank you for choosing Carlton Oaks Golf Club, and we hope to see you for another round soon.

Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
3.0
First Time Playing

CCC Review

Greens were in good shape. It was enjoyable to putt but everything else was suspicious. My cart felt like it was going to fall apart, there’s wood in the bunkers, and difficult to navigate at times. Fairly wide open but a good challenge with tight alleyways off the tee. If fairways and roughs were in better conditions this would be a fun course to regularly play

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Poor
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 06/25/2024

Hi, Wynterested! Thank you so much for leaving us with your feedback. We value our customer experience, so your review is important to us. We will make note and we hope to see you back at Carlton Oaks Lodge & Country Club!

Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Summertime golf

The fairways are much better this time of year. The greens as well. Can’t beat the price. Pace of play is good as long as you play early or late.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 06/20/2024

Thank you for the positive feedback on our fairways, greens, and pricing. We're glad you enjoyed the pace of play, and we look forward to welcoming you back at Carlton Oaks Golf Club soon!

Played On
Reviews 8
3.0
Previously Played

Still bad

Haven’t played here in a while since the weekday rate went up to $65, but saw it was $48 and gave it a try. Same old poor conditions, greens and fringe are ok but fairways are poor. Loved the 2” rocks in the bunkers on 18. Marshall gave us crap for not joining the group ahead but made the turn in 2 hours.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Fair
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 07/23/2024

Hi, yemff! Thank you so much for leaving us with your feedback. We value our customer experience, so your review is important to us. We will make note and we hope to see you back at Carlton Oaks Lodge & Country Club

Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Decent course for decent price.

I had a pleasant time playing this course, however, it was fairly ragged and a bit under-managed (tee times, pace of play, etc.) wise. I did enjoy the gentlemen I joined and played with, and thoroughly enjoyed the challenges this course offers on multiple holes. It's a fun course for a perfect afternoon spent golfing.

Highly suggest if you want a cheaper but quality-level course to play and if you go during the weekdays, this is a good choice.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Fair
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Default User Avatar
Commented on 06/18/2024

Thank you for your honest feedback and for highlighting the positive aspects of your experience. We apologize for any inconvenience regarding course management and will strive to improve. Thank you for visiting Carlton Oaks Golf Club.

Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather

A MUST NOT PLAY

Course was good once upon a time. Pete Dye design would have Pete rolling in his grave. Save your money and play somewhere else.

This course was the most poorly conditioned course I believe I have ever played. The only redeeming aspect was you could see the original routing of the course and appreciate that, but other than not bad greens, every other aspect was horrendous. Apparently a 2017 flood ravaged the course and it's never recovered. Hard pan, bare dirt, a million gopher holes, terrible bunkers, and on and on. I don't expect to see a puff of dust when my drives land.

This is the kind of course CPG posts photos of. IYKYK

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Fair
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 161
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 250 Contributor
Previously Played

Good times

This course challenges you and makes you play a complete round. Good tee shots followed by good fairway shots are rewarded.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 06/18/2024

Hello, uENJW2504EN. Thank you for visiting us at Carlton Oaks Lodge & Country Club. We appreciate your 4-star rating and review. We hope you join us for another round soon.

Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 20-24
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 19
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 20
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Pete Died

Designed by Perry Dye ( relative of Pete) the “ bones “ of this course are awesome. However the condition of the course is beyond deplorable .

From tee to green nothing is maintained .

The course looks like what must be an after apocalypse war zone .

Golf now gave me a “ hot deal” at 72 bux .

I think a fair price would be more in the neighborhood of 22 bux when you consider that singing hills isn’t too far away and is 10,000% better in condition for the same or better hot deal prices .

It’s sad to see a Dye course in such disrepair

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 4
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Great time

Played the back 9 Sunday morning, course was nice and weather was good.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 06/18/2024

Thank you so much for the great review. We are glad you had an incredible time, and we hope to see you again soon! Thanks for choosing Carlton Oaks Lodge & Country Club.

Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Good layout. Poor fairways

Classic carlton. Decent greens. Patchy fairways. Layout superb.

Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Default User Avatar
Commented on 06/05/2024

We appreciate you taking the time to review the course and rate us, ChipPuttman. We are going to pass on your feedback to the team. Thanks for visiting Carlton Oaks Lodge & Country Club, and we hope to see you again in the future.

Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Beginner
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great price. Nice course

I love Carlton Oaks. The staff is always friendly. The course is fun. My only complaint is that the sand trap are more like gravel traps. Other than that, love this hidden gem.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 06/05/2024

Hello, pato619. Thanks so much for your review. We're so glad you enjoyed your round at Carlton Oaks Lodge & Country Club. That's what we like to hear! We hope to see you again soon!

Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
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