9200 Inwood Drive, Santee, California 92071, US
(619) 448-4242
Location Map

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

Golfer Photos

Reviews

3.1 out of 5 stars
1972 Reviews (1972)
Reviews 3
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
Recommended
Played

Great Value

Stay in the fairway or it can be troublesome. $75 included the cart, easy to get a tee time, conditions are great on the course, if you hit off course at all, you're looking at tough terrain. Great course for a casual round.

Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
4.0
4.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 3.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
Difficulty 4.0
Review 1
Played

Nice Greens Condition

The greens were in great condition, fairways practically non-existent. Having the good greens made the round worthwhile.

Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
3.0
3.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 3.0
Value 4.0
Layout 3.0
Friendliness 5.0
Amenities 3.0
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
Recommended
Played
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
3.0
3.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 3.0
Value 5.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 3.0
Reviews 17
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
Played

Slow slow slow

After 15 holes we had been on the course for 5 hrs already. We stopped playing and grabbed a beer and wings which was the best part of our day. The Marshall drove by twice but he didn’t even say Hello to us. They really need to speed up terrible golfers. This course is not worth the money.

Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
2.0
2.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 1.0
Value 1.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 2.0
Pace 1.0
Amenities 5.0
Review 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
Recommended
Played
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
3.0
3.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 3.0
Value 3.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 4.0
Pace 1.0
Amenities 3.0
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
Played

Course needs work

Once you got to the green, the greens are great, but getting to the green the course is not in good shape.

First Time Playing
2.0
2.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 1.0
Value 3.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 1.0
Review 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
Played

Course Condition

Gopher holes everywhere on the fairways!!!!

Disappointed that the high green fees did not reflect the bad condition of the course.

Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
2.0
2.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 2.0
Value 2.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 4.0
Pace 4.0
Amenities 4.0
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
Played

Golf is Expensive with Carlton Oaks you get what you pay for

I’ve played almost every single course in San Diego Carlton Oaks has a nice layout. But the course is in rough shape. It’s not worth more than $40 to play with a cart. But with that being said, you won’t find a full 18 with a cart for $40. If you are new to golf this is a good bang for your buck.

Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
3.0
3.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 2.0
Value 3.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 4.0
Amenities 5.0
Review 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played

Great course for the cost during the weekdays. Too expensive on weekends for course conditions. Plays pretty long so is a challenge but fun water features and some tight hole designs.

Previously Played
4.0
4.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 3.0
Value 5.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
Reviews 6
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
Recommended
Played
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
4.0
4.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 4.0
Value 5.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 3.0
Amenities 4.0
Difficulty 3.0
Reviews 6
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
Recommended
Played
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
4.0
4.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 4.0
Value 5.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 2.0
Amenities 4.0
Difficulty 2.0
Review 1
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played
Previously Played
4.0
4.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 3.0
Value 5.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 4.0
Pace 4.0
Amenities 3.0
Reviews 20
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
Played

Wasted talent

Carlton oaks was designed by a Pete Dye family member .

The layout is awesome

HOWEVER it’s zero taken care of

Do not pay more than 40 bux to play here

Do not expect much and you’ll be fine

Previously Played
1.0
1.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 1.0
Value 1.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 4.0
Review 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
Played
Previously Played
1.0
1.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 1.0
Value 1.0
Layout 2.0
Friendliness 2.0
Pace 1.0
Amenities 1.0
Review 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
Played

Gopher Heaven

I keep hoping conditions get better, but they got a bit worse from the last time I played in May 2025. The bunkers have minimal sand, the rough is a mine field due to gophers and the fairways camouflaged with thin grass and many many bare spots. The greens were ok and playable. I wouldn't play there again for a while, probably once I hear from word of mouth that the course has improved. I understand that money is probably tight and I'm sure there are some kind of water restrictions. A superintendents job with a good budget is made a lot easier. I'm sure the super here has his hands tied and is doing the best he can with the budget he was provided.

Previously Played
3.0
3.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 2.0
Value 2.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 4.0
Pace 4.0
Amenities 4.0
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
3.0
3.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 4.0
Value 4.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 2.0
Amenities 4.0
Reviews 9
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
Played
First Time Playing
1.0
1.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 1.0
Value 1.0
Layout 2.0
Friendliness 3.0
Pace 1.0
Amenities 2.0
Review 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
Played

Horrible conditions

The entire course is basically a wreck. If you’re off the fairway, it felt like you were just going over a million speed bumps (I actually almost lost my phone because of this), of the few fairways I hit, I almost lost my ball in the middle of it, even the cart paths are just bumpy too. Are ball cleaners not a thing in CA? Didn’t see one the entire round.

The ONLY good thing about course conditions was the green and the fact they had water jugs (which is rare that I’ve seen these days). The cart girl was very friendly too, which is an added bonus but doesn’t change my rating.

First Time Playing
1.0
1.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 2.0
Value 1.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 2.0
Reviews 13
Recommended
Played
First Time Playing
4.0
4.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 3.0
Value 4.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
Review 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
Recommended
Played

Best course in San Diego

For the price and openness with tee times during the week. Look no further than Carlton Oaks. Also the food at the clubhouse is killer!

Previously Played
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
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