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

Reviews

3.1
1843 Reviews (1843)

Reviewer Photos

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 16
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Carlton Oaks Review 26May2025

Carlton Oaks remains a consistently enjoyable course. The staff, from groundskeepers to management, is professional and courteous. While the lack of GPS in the carts is a minor inconvenience given the prevalence of GPS watches and rangefinders, and the morning watering of the greens was a slight distraction, the biggest drawback was the poor condition of the sand traps, many of which were nearly devoid of sand. Despite this, playing from the Green Tees resulted in a great round and a positive overall experience.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Previously Played

Once Great Course

This was once the best course in the county. Since a developer has bought the place it’s been run into the ground. This pipe dream of development has been going on for a decade. It’s destroyed a great track with a rich history. Sad.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Walked

Needs Improvement

5.5 hour round... tee'd off at 10am 5/26. Played the front 9 in 2.5 hours and the back 9 actually slowed down. Brutal day out there, the layout is great but if staff doesn't get a hold of pace of play and how chewed up it is if you miss the fairway they are in trouble.

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

The greens and T boxes in excellent condition.

Fairways poor condition. Great value for money and to practice,

Conditions Fair
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 73
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played

This course is really nice it's easy access to get to off the freeway it's got a driving range of putting green chipping area very tranquil scenery

I really enjoy playing this course the people here are great the employees are all very helpful always in a good mood and the course layout is just fantastic. Very challenging course to play got some Lakes views of the mountains the only thing that's not greater the sand traps. Definitely worth playing the food there is really good they got a real nice bar in the outside patio is used with fantastic views.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Dirt course

Hitting off dirt most of the time. Some parts of the course look nice tho.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Solid round, midweek play

Found a good deal on golf now and enjoyed my afternoon. The tee boxes were shaggy and hard to grip with my shoes but the greens were nice and fast. Will play here again.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 86
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
1.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

The worst

The worst! do not play unless you want to quit playing golf!

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 9
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 143
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 250 Contributor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Bumpy ride

Ranger finder bounced off magnetic hold several times. Fairways and cart paths are miserable bumpy rides.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Cold weather
Used cart

Golf at Carlton Oaks

Great day on the course with my son. Friendly staff and cart girl had a great personality. Front 9 pace was really good but, the back 9 was really bogged down. My son was hoping to order from the restaurant at the turn but it didn't open until 11:00 so that was a bummer. We will book again soon.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
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