Carlton Oaks GC
A view of a hole at Carlton Oaks Golf Club.
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Rating Index Rating
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3.2
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
141 Reviews (141)
5 Stars
17
4 Stars
46
3 Stars
43
2 Stars
17
1 Stars
18
Conditions
2.8
Value
3.6
Layout
4.1
Pace
3.5
Amenities
3.6
StaffFriendliness
4.4
68.1%
Recommend this course
96 out of 141 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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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 - $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

3.2
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

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Recommended
Handicap
Age
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Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Tough course, tough shape.

Price is fair but you get what you pay for. Subpar fairways, bare spots, very hard, or way to wet.

Putting greens are a hodge podge of different grass and sparsely covered. Bunkers/sand traps hard, rocks, no maintenance. Some of the holes are beyond challenging. Played here a couple times but think I am done.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Fair
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/13/2023

Hi davidfurey, thanks for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry your experience didn’t match your expectations. It was an uncommon instance and we’ll do better in the future.

Please feel free to reach out to us with any further comments, concerns, or suggestions you wish to share. We would love to make things right if you give us another chance.

Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/27/2023

Hello and thank you for your 5-star rating! We're delighted you enjoyed your round. Please book another round with us soon, and thanks for choosing Carlton Oaks Lodge & Country Club!

Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Overseeding season

Course is obviously going through some seasonal work. Tee boxes are, for the most part, either overgrown, or bare dirt. Greens are receptive, but incredibly slow and bumpy.

In a month or so, it will hopefully be in better shape.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/06/2023

We appreciate you taking the time to review the course and rate us, Nitro8118. 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 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/06/2023

Hello, 540222. We appreciate the review. You rated us 3-stars which means there is room to improve on your recent experience at Carlton Oaks Lodge & Country Club. Let us know, in the comments, how and where you would like to see changes from the course. Thanks for the feedback!

Played On
Reviews 140
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/06/2023

Hi, u000001325690. We appreciate you taking the time to review the course and rate us. Thank you for the 4 stars! We aim for a 5-star experience, so we always welcome feedback for improvement. Thank you for playing Carlton Oaks Lodge & Country Club.

Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Previously Played

Pete Dye Disaster

Sad to see this Pete Dye design go to waste over the years.

$80 weekend rate used to be justified when the greens were kept but they’ve really let this place go and it breaks my heart… used to be a gem. But now the $80 green fees are just stupid for playing on a course with uncut/undulating tee boxes.. bunkers with packed mud and not sand.. and greens that roll at about a 7 on the stimp meter.

Really sad because the layout of this course is great. Lots of character and a really tough track with all the wind and clever pin positions they can do…

I love a hard track.. and this layout is difficult. But when you’re in a clover patch in the middle of the fairway that just makes he “difficulty of the course” unfair.

Sadly, I know I’ll be back.. but probably not for another 6-12 months to give this place a chance to receive the TLC it desperately needs.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/27/2023

Hello, u804352011. Thank you for taking the time to review and leave your feedback on your recent round with us. It is always our utmost goal to provide our golfers with a fun and enjoyable time and we apologize if we missed the mark. Please feel free to reach out to our staff in the pro shop with any additional concerns. Thanks for choosing Carlton Oaks Lodge & Country Club.

Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Previously Played

Course Wouldn’t let me play my scheduled tee time

Booked a 6:03 tee time online. Showed up at 6:03am and the front desk told me they didn’t have time to get me out there all day. Asked me if I was ok to play at 3:00pm?

Pretty disappointing, I play here all the time. Obviously 3:00pm won’t work, as I got here at 6:00am to play. Course is never busy so surprised they’re so ok with just sending people away.

If I was able to book a tee time online, I should be able to play at that time.

Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/06/2023

Hi ColeKorsh, thanks for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry your experience didn’t match your expectations. It was an uncommon instance and we’ll do better in the future.

Please feel free to reach out to us with any further comments, concerns, or suggestions you wish to share. We would love to make things right if you give us another chance.

Played On
Reviews 140
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/06/2023

Hi, u000001325690. We appreciate you taking the time to review the course and rate us. Thank you for the 4 stars! We aim for a 5-star experience, so we always welcome feedback for improvement. Thank you for playing Carlton Oaks Lodge & Country Club.

Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Course in rough shape, but decent value

Course is in rough shape. Greens are fine, but tee boxes were bumpy, uneven and uncut. Fairways and rough had significant bare patches all over. The golf range is pretty sad. But for the money ($49 including cart on as Monday), can’t complain too much. Any day on the golf course with friends is better than no golfing. Overall a challenging course in terms of layout.

Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/06/2023

We appreciate you taking the time to review the course and rate us, s99lee. 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 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/06/2023

Hello, Jeyoung11. We appreciate the review. You rated us 3-stars which means there is room to improve on your recent experience at Carlton Oaks Lodge & Country Club. Let us know, in the comments, how and where you would like to see changes from the course. Thanks for the feedback!

Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/06/2023

Hello and thank you for your 5-star rating! We're delighted you enjoyed your round. Please book another round with us soon, and thanks for choosing Carlton Oaks Lodge & Country Club!

Played On
Reviews 4
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/06/2023

Hello and thank you for your 5-star rating! We're delighted you enjoyed your round. Please book another round with us soon, and thanks for choosing Carlton Oaks Lodge & Country Club!

Played On
Reviews 65
1.0
Top 1000 Contributor

NOT Maintained

This course is in terrible shape. The fairways are pockmarked with bare dirt everywhere. You need to be impaired to pay full price to play here...it is a serious ripoff!

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Fair
Pace Fair
Amenities Fair
Default User Avatar
Commented on 09/15/2023

Hello, golfbuddy5657. Thank you for reviewing the course. We would like to apologize for your recent experience.

We're sorry to hear you were less than satisfied during your round. We pride ourselves on our providing great service and the high-quality standards we maintain.

We would like to make things right. Please reach out to our management team at the pro shop.

We hope to hear from you soon.

Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Sucks for the money

Worst $80 for any course I’ve ever played.

Conditions were horrible. Tee boxes uncut, fairways full of weeds, two of the greens even had six inch high clumps of dirt on them for no obvious reason

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Fair
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Default User Avatar
Commented on 09/15/2023

Hello, u000007862827. Thank you for taking the time to review and leave your feedback on your recent round with us. It is always our utmost goal to provide our golfers with a fun and enjoyable time and we apologize if we missed the mark. Please feel free to reach out to our staff in the pro shop with any additional concerns. Thanks for choosing Carlton Oaks Lodge & Country Club.

Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Tee box/ bunkers

Tee box’s were really bumpy with a combo of dirt and grass. The bunkers were compact and hard, with about a 1/4 loose dirt.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 09/15/2023

We appreciate you taking the time to review the course and rate us, 1maxxrexx. 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 16
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Default User Avatar
Commented on 09/15/2023

Hi, jimmymo1955. We appreciate you taking the time to review the course and rate us. Thank you for the 4 stars! We aim for a 5-star experience, so we always welcome feedback for improvement. Thank you for playing Carlton Oaks Lodge & Country Club.

Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Default User Avatar
Commented on 09/08/2023

Hi, u000002678561. We appreciate you taking the time to review the course and rate us. We see you rated the course 1 star and are interested in learning what we can do to improve for your next visit. We take single-star feedback very seriously at our course. You are welcome to comment further or reach out to our team in the golf shop. We always appreciate the feedback. Thanks for choosing Carlton Oaks Lodge & Country Club.

Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Conditions suck

Worst conditions for the money I’ve ever experienced at a golf course.

This includes tee to to green. Worst $80 I’ve ever spent to play.

$56 for rental clubs that were well beyond their prime without even getting a sleeve of balls to go with

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Default User Avatar
Commented on 09/05/2023

Totally agree! I felt like I got ripped off for $80.

Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Previously Played

Course is in poor condition….Not worth $80!

I felt like I got taken today for $80. This is a $40 course all day. Tee boxes are in rough shape, some are covered in 1” thick clover beds. Some fairways better than others, but lots of patchy areas. Transition areas are horrible. Lots of overgrown weeds and landscape. Lots of dead trees and bushes and piles of dead brush everywhere. Lots of huge gopher mounds all over the fairways. Always the same thing with this course, it has so much character and potential but never any maintenance done. Sand traps are all terrible, most are just dirt or mud. Plenty of other good course around San Diego that don't overcharge you.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Default User Avatar
Commented on 09/08/2023

Hello, u000002678561. Thank you for reviewing the course. We would like to apologize for your recent experience.

We're sorry to hear you were less than satisfied during your round. We pride ourselves on our providing great service and the high-quality standards we maintain.

We would like to make things right. Please reach out to our management team at the pro shop.

We hope to hear from you soon.

Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Walked

Someday we'll have sand

This course has a lot of history, I enjoy walking the course early in the morning. I have noticed that the greens are being taken better care of. I can only hope someday they'll put sand in the bunkers

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Default User Avatar
Commented on 09/08/2023

Hello, CarltonOaks1. 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.

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