Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa

It is one of the most beautiful courses i've ever played, and the professional friendly staff is wonderful. The dining facilities and club house are also top notch.
However, the greens (though very well maintained) are not realistic and virtually unplayable…The putting experience on the greens is reminiscent of the frustration (and fun) found with negotiating amusement park miniature golf artificial greens.

A tough, tight course with some of the trickiest greens around. They not only were rolling fast, but the undulations are remarkable. Very easy to have a chip roll 30 feet past even if it's barely moving at the hole. Local knowledge on some of the doglegs invaluable. GPS in the cart helps, but the first round here is a doozy.

First, credit where credit is due: Torrey Pines is a historic golf Mecca, and the scenery is just about unmatched anywhere in the world.

But right now, the South course simply is not worth the $200+ greens fee commanded of out-of-towners.

The course was overseeded several weeks ago, and since then, maintenance appears to have been nonexistent. This is not an exaggeration: the fairways have not been mowed in weeks, and the bunkers have not been raked in perhaps that long. The greens are also still quite bumpy from having been punched, but I can almost live with that; after all, it has to be done. But on a course of this caliber, there is no excuse for not having raked a single bunker on the course. That's absurd.

I generally enjoyed the "vibe" of Torrey Pines (it felt like a municipal course, and usually in a good way...i.e., not intimidating, accessible), and I'm glad that I can check this one off my list. But I would not go back unless I were sure that maintenance had improved.

I'm rating it four stars because the scenery is unparalleled, and that's true no matter how shaggy the fairways get. But if this were another golf course, the course conditions would drag the rating down to three stars or fewer.

If you're a local, go have a blast. It's $40. Big whoop. But if you're an out-of-towner, wait until after the Farmers tournament next year so that you're assured the course has its game fact back on. Right now, it just doesn't.

I visited Aviara for the LPGA Kia Classic earlier this year and enjoyed watching the event at this beautiful course. Finally got around to playing it and it was well worth it. Despite being in a drought in Southern California and going through the aerification process the conditions were great. A few dead spots in the rough but nothing significantly affecting play. The greens were immaculate. Fast, smooth and perfectly maintained. The staff was extremely helpful and friendly including the starter and Marshall. The carts with GPS were the best GPS system I've seen on a golf cart to date. It is expensive being a resort course and I don't have the kind of money to be a regular here and play 3 days a week but it's well worth it to come here a few times a year as a treat.

Farms is in fabulous shape, no water problems, and the members are unpretentious. A solid young group of members helps assure the place is vibrant and will be around a long time. The course is challenging and will make you a better player.

What a place. Magical views and setting along the Pacific.

Don't worry that the pace of play is terrible - where else would you rather be? Too bad that the front 9 is the better as it hugs the cliffs, but the back 9 keeps the sea views.

The rough is much nastier than its short length looks. For someone coming from bent grass on the east coast, it takes some getting used to on the Poa and Kikuyu grasses. Hit it in the fairway!

Would highly recommend Aviara.. Yes more cost than most but one of the best values considering customer service, weather and most importantly quality of course.. Every hole has great character and would highly recommend... A couple of greens had some sand challenges but all in all quality value. Same group of guys will be back next Labor Day. Fair but challenging.....

I played Aviara last summer and was so looking forward to it again when I purchased the Holiday DealCaddy even though the deal didnt cover the total fees, limited to $200. But being this course was a premium course in pristine condition, I felt it was worth the extra $170. Sadly disappointed this time. Between our draught and what we were told by the Marshall, the course had been played alot, I felt we overpaid for just a nice course having trouble keeping the course up to it's usual high standards.

Signed up for first time of the day, but the staff sent a few guys early and I played with one other person, which made the round go very quickly, which in turn allowed me to enjoy the rest of the day at this beautiful resort. The course was in great shape, had beautiful trees and plants and water features, and the staff was next level amazing. Maybe a little on the pricey side, but I was treating myself for completing one portion of my CPA exam...at least you got a free lollipop on the back nine. You can't miss this place if you are in San Diego.

Great course, great staff, all around good stuff .

I've played here a few times now; consistently a fun course to play. The first seven holes are rather similar to the South course, hugging the cliffs and showcasing great coastal views. The remaining 11 holes are relatively straight-forward straight forward by comparison as they work away from the water.

Sometimes the course can slow up a bit during twilight, particularly around the front nine par 3's. That said, if you're looking for a less expensive option to the South course (and have already played it), consider the North course.

Course conditions and layout are amazing. Course is very playable and just flat beautiful. Played in the afternoon and pace of play was a non issue. Will play every time I vacation back to San Diego.

Great staff. Play the course as a challenge like the LPGA or just play from the friendly tees. Either way it's a great vlaue

Last weeks round at Torrey was the highlight of my trip. The greens fees are reasonable compared to other top courses. The staff was extremely polite and helpful. The facilities were beautiful and the course conditions were pristine. I cannot wait to play this course again.

In the area for a wedding, brought my clubs and they got me on, played by myself and the pace was great, only saw the group in front of me at the turn. its long. the greens are in the best shape i have ever seen. rumor was Scotty Cameron was out the day before putting around.

Staff were courteous and effcient. Practice facilities were excellent, but wee hit off the mats - likely due to the drought conditions and water restrictions course was remarkable....layout was challenging and the flora was incredible. Greens were a little slow, but with all he undulation you wouldn't want them any faster. Make sure you put it near the pin - some greens are enormous.

The clubhouse is spectacular and the setting is extraordinary. There were holes on the front nine that reminded me of Colorado courses, except for the ocean breeze and humidity. However, the course is transitioning from lush throughout to an environment that will tolerate the ongoing drought, so there were places on the course where the weeds have taken over. The greens were terrific, however.

I know that it's a municipal golf course, but with such an exquisite location, it's hard to pass up, even for the out-of-town prices. The back 9 is very tough, especially when the ball doesn't carry because of the damp air. All the golf course you want.

This is the second time that I've played Aviara, but the first time was so long ago that I'd forgotten how beautiful the course is. The landscaping, beds, and water treatments are off the charts. And, the golf is pretty good too. The greens (early May) were perfect, and very, very fast. The course is not tricked up, but is straight forward and challenging, depending on the tee boxes.

A friend of mine recommended I play this course while in San Diego on Business. I played with a colleague from work and we both found the course to be very challenging, enjoyable, scenic and in excellent condition. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The only weakness was the driving range which is small and therefore showed a lot of wear.