9200 Inwood Drive, Santee, California 92071, US
(619) 448-4242
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About Carlton Oaks Lodge, Ascend Hotel Collection

Carlton Oaks has a long history of tournament golf. Curtis Strange won the 1974 NCAA Championships on the course before Perry Dye redesigned the layout and stretched it to 7,400 yards in the 1980s. The Carlton Oaks Lodge, Ascend Hotel Collection, offers 51 modernized, Asian-inspired rooms just steps from the clubhouse, its Oaks Bar & Grill and the outdoor pool and jacuzzi. 

Facts

Price Range$$
Property Class★★★
Acres168
Year Opened1958
Number of UnitsLess than 100

Amenities & Services

RestaurantsCasual
Room TypesRoom
Practice FacilityYes
Banquet SpaceYes

Rules

Is the resort pet friendly?No
Is resort stay required for a tee time?No

Golf courses at Carlton Oaks Lodge, Ascend Hotel Collection

Reviews

3.1
1940 Reviews (1940)

Reviewer Photos

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Good for twilight prices

I’ve played this course at its absolute worst and it’s absolute best and right now the conditions are above average. I can see they’re starting to put some money into the course and the fairways are getting nicer! The greens are a little slow and could use a little overseeding. The biggest problem I The last time I played was the pace of play. It was very slow and took us almost 5 hours to finish 16 holes!

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
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Commented on 06/05/2024

Hi, u314162443029! 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 7
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 Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Previously Played
Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 20
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
4.0
Conditions Fair
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
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 Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

I’ve always loved the layout of Carlton Oaks. Over the years the wild card has always been the course conditions and maintenance quality. This round, my only minor comments are that some of the tee boxes are in need of repair, and the greens were very hard and not as receptive to pitch shots as usual. The latter is just a matter of allowing for lots of rollout. Putts roll well, bunkers are in good shape. I really enjoyed my round and I will be back.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Default User Avatar
Commented on 05/17/2024

Thank you for your kind words about Carlton Oaks and for pointing out areas for improvement. We're working on the tee boxes and adjusting the greens to ensure an even better experience on your next visit.

Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Nice course and its at the right price

Got an early tee time for myself because the boys could come out to play. I ended up trailing another single, but he asked me to play through as I caught up to him and ended up with a two-some another hole ahead. The fairways were good and the greens were tricky with the morning dew. The par 5s are fun, too.

One issue was we had to tee off from the side of the tee box on one of the later holes because the groundskeeper had the sprinklers on and didn't turn them off as we came up. He just waved at us...other than that, this is a nice course and its at the right price.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 05/17/2024

Thank you for sharing your experience and highlighting both the positives and the issue with the sprinkler. We apologize for any inconvenience and will address this matter to ensure a better experience next time.

Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 101
Handicap 25+
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 Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Nice day out!

Hadn't played this course in awhile, but glad to have come back. Met some great guys to play with as I was a single. Course looked pretty good and the greens were challenging. Great day anyway!

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 05/30/2024

Hello, sd711m. 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 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Very Very Slow

Seems like they overbook most afternoons. Piled up 3 groups on the same tee box after the first hole. Need better spacing. If you don’t care about waiting then it’s a nice course but very hard to get in a rhythm when it’s almost a 8-10 min wait per stroke.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Default User Avatar
Commented on 05/17/2024

We appreciate you taking the time to review the course and rate us, u314161658935. 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 65
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor

Embarassing

About the only thing good I can say is that the staff is friendly. Otherwise, the course is in terrible shape. It is hard to understand why the owners/management care so little for course maintenance. Save your time and money and play elsewhere. The $80 or so they charge is total ripoff for a course in this horrible condition.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Poor
Default User Avatar
Commented on 05/17/2024

We deeply apologize for the condition of the course during your visit and appreciate your feedback about our staff. We are actively working on improving the course to ensure better experiences in the future.

Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Worst ever

If you like Gopher holes, Crap grass. Bear spots. And dead grass, this is the place for you.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 05/17/2024

We are sorry to hear about your experience and are taking steps to improve the course conditions. Thank you for bringing these issues to our attention.

Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
1.0
Previously Played

Unbelievably BAD

In the 10 years I have been living in this neighborhood, I used to believe in the potential for this course. Its layout should be bringing in groups of golfers, friends and great players alike from far and wide, but instead it has brought out a clientele that has not learned the etiquette of the game, the power drinkers, and where a 5 hour round is the normal (even 5-somes out there!!). There are more gopher holes in this course than imaginable, weeds, standing water and mud lining every hole. I understand that San Diego has to either choose the private route if you are fortunate enough, $250 rounds (just a few left) or $60-$80 courses. This is what San Diego is offering these days. However this course is a disaster. Borderline unplayable. The only grounds keepers seem were working on a patch of rocks between holes picking out random grass blades. Meanwhile no sand in the bunkers (pure rocks), treacherous holes, high weeds and slow furry greens with divots.

The management of this track needs to make a decision: get your act together and work on this course, or get somebody that will. It’s a treasure of east County and you are ruining it. Really. Fix this place. Take care of it, and have some pride in the game we all love and respect. Until this happens I encourage everyone to spend their money at either Singing Hills, Steele Canyon, or even mini golf. This place is gouging the golf enthusiasts for a “less than 1 star” experience.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 64
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Carlton Oaks golf

Greens a bit slow/shaggy. Bunkers so so, but a nice Perry Dye layout and price is right

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Default User Avatar
Commented on 05/17/2024

We appreciate you taking the time to review the course and rate us, u000001110178. 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 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
2.0
Previously Played

Neglected/closing down?

Fairways were poor. Greens were good. Anything on the side of the fairways was absolutely neglected and completely bumpy. Clumpy dirt and weedy grass. In general, it seemed like the course was on their way to closing down and selling out. I have played there 15+ times over 10 years and this was the worst I’ve ever seen in this course

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Default User Avatar
Commented on 05/17/2024

We're truly sorry to hear about your recent experience and the condition of our fairways and surrounds; this is not the standard we aim for. Thank you for your loyalty over the years, and we appreciate you taking the time to share this feedback as we work towards improvements.

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