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Rating Index Rating
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3.8
426 Reviews (426)
5 Stars
97
4 Stars
186
3 Stars
91
2 Stars
30
1 Stars
22
Conditions
3.6
Value
3.9
Layout
3.8
Friendliness
4.2
Pace
3.8
Amenities
3.6
82.6%
Recommend this course
349 out of 426 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.3
24 Reviews (24)
5 Stars
3
4 Stars
11
3 Stars
4
2 Stars
3
1 Stars
3
Conditions
3.2
Value
3.3
Layout
3.6
Pace
3.3
Amenities
3.3
StaffFriendliness
4.0
70.8%
Recommend this course
17 out of 24 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.8
52 Reviews (52)
5 Stars
17
4 Stars
20
3 Stars
8
2 Stars
4
1 Stars
3
Conditions
3.7
Value
3.8
Layout
3.8
Pace
3.7
Amenities
3.5
StaffFriendliness
4.2
82.7%
Recommend this course
43 out of 52 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
Balboa Golf Course delivers outstanding value as a municipal course, with well-groomed fairways and consistently maintained greens that reward returning players. Friendly pro shop staff and a smooth pace of play make each round an enjoyable experience.

About

Holes 18
Type Public/Municipal
Par 72
Length 6628 yards
Slope 116
Rating 70.5
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Balboa Golf Course
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Course Details

Year Built 1954
Fairways Bermuda Grass
Greens Bermuda Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Steve Timm (2008) William P. Bell (1954)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - $11 - $18
Pull-carts Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes
Dress code Proper attire is required.

Food & Beverage

Food & Beverage

Available Facilities

Banquet Facilities
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Reviews

3.8
426 Reviews (426)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 10
Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 6
This course/club is great for:
Locals 13
Walkers 13
Seniors 9
This Course's Location is:
Convenient to the City 14

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

A little help would have been nice

It was my first time playing your course. It was a beautiful day, everything was great. But then my cart light went in and the group I was playing with helped my send a message for a replacement. The group left at the ninth whole and I was just me: my cart replacement didn’t show up. I play two more holes and still no new cart. I send a message from the cart again and again no one send a replacement cart. I was out in the 13th fairway, it was getting dark and I was a women alone. I didn’t finish playing out of fear and my cart dying. The lack of concern or compensation was very disappointing. Not sure I will return.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Walked

Lower your expectations and you will be happy

The course is obviously old but for $22 (walking rate/twilight) I'm not complaining! The fairways are very wide, there's not a lot of bumps/hills. There's grass, just not the greenest, and i'm sure it can get pretty rough during the summertime (it is the valley). The greens in my opinion are the best thing about this course.. they are surprisingly very well maintained. I wouldn't plan my weekend round here, but its a great place to practice during the week! I will definitely be back!

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 35
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Good times.

Had a great time. A Course had a great layout peso play was good and the greens were in great condition the 19th hole was the best. Victor is an awesome guy. Great food.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 103
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 271
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
1.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 271
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 15
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Good day

Greens were a good pace fairways in good shape, the a little long but not hard to get out...

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 5
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Balboa GC

Overall a fun course to play. I like the layout a lot.

Fairways are in pretty bad shape and the fairway bunkers are not maintained.

The greens are overall well maintained. A bit bumpy but they are the best part of the course.

Carts are in poor shape. No coolers available that I know of. Sand bottles were empty.

I didn’t see any ball cleaners on the course.

Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 127
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 127
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
First Time Playing

Had to share a cart with a stranger, conditions not great

When I checked in at the pro shop I was told our group was all singles and due to the number of people that booked with carts, I would have to share a cart with one of them or they would run out of carts. Nothing in the course policies says you might have to share a cart with another single. The starter said I could pay an extra $16 to ride alone. I elected to share a cart with another gentleman who was nice enough but a little weird, so it made for a pretty awkward round. This is really bad policy, and the course shouldn't be offering more cart included bookings than they can handle.

As far as the course itself, pace was a little slow at times but average. The fairways were in decent condition, a little better than the last time I played Encino with not too many dirt patches. Greens were slow but in decent shape. Bunkers are terrible. Very hard, basically dirt patches with rocks in them. Layout isn't particularly interesting, flat with wide fairways just going back and forth.

I'd say save your money, there are many more interesting and cheaper courses. And if you do go definitely don't book as a single.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Fair
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 4
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Walked
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Balboa

Fairways and bunkers are not maintained very well. Greens are in pretty good condition.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 43
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Teed off at 4:10 and managed to finish in the dark for approx a four hour round which is always nice. Paired up with some real nice guys. Tee boxes in good shape. I had some real nice fairway lies mostly. The greens a bit inconsistent on speed but overall ok. Looks like not one person had used a rake there in weeks, the greenside bunkers were a wreck. Overall, glad we have accessible and affordable muni golf in our area.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
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