San Diego

Rees Jones rebuilt the South Course for the 2008 US Open and it hosted again in 2021. This is genuine championship golf — long, demanding, coastal fescue rough, and views of the Pacific that make you forget you just made double. The public tee system means it's accessible if you plan ahead: book 60 days in advance on the dot or you won't get on. One of the ten best public courses in the country at a price that belongs there.

The more accessible sibling — shorter, less punishing, and priced lower. Still on the same coastal bluffs. If the group has mixed handicaps, play North first to calibrate everyone to the terrain, then hit the South at peak capacity. Some locals actually prefer North for the pace and the views without the US Open theater.

Arnold Palmer's design at the Park Hyatt Aviara runs through Carlsbad's coastal hills with lagoon views and conditioning that earns the resort fee. Pricier than Torrey but with a hospitality level to match — quick service, a proper clubhouse, and the kind of experience where everything is handled. The right round for the day when the group wants less golf-as-sport and more golf-as-event.

Hidden on the Barona Reservation 25 miles east of San Diego, and consistently one of the best-conditioned courses in the state. Todd Eckenrode's routing through native California oak landscape outperforms courses charging three times the price. The greens are excellent year-round because the tribe takes conditioning seriously. The secret that San Diego locals would rather you not know.

The newly redesigned Riverwalk in Mission Valley — Tod Ogletree's makeover brought a flat flood-plain course into the modern era with widened fairways, improved routing, and greens that now run true. Walkable, affordable, and central. Good warm-up round or filler day when the group needs 18 holes without the Torrey price tag.

The Craftsman-style lodge adjacent to the first tee at Torrey Pines South — the best golf-specific base in San Diego, full stop. You walk out the front door onto the first tee of a US Open course with the Pacific in the background. The restaurant is good. The bar is small and dark and right for a post-round recap. Book six months out for any weekend stay.

The full resort experience in Carlsbad — Arnold Palmer golf out the back door, a spa, pools, and a service level that works for groups who want everything handled. The rooms are large, the pool area is genuinely good for an evening wind-down, and Carlsbad is a better golf base than downtown San Diego. Torrey Pines is 25 minutes south.

The 1888 Victorian beach resort on Coronado Island — still the most iconic San Diego address. Better as a base for a mixed group than a pure golf trip (it's 30–40 minutes from Torrey), but the beachfront location and the history earn every dollar. If someone in the group has never been to the Del, this is the trip to fix that.

A more affordable resort option in North County — on-site golf, wine country adjacent, and 30 minutes from Torrey. Good for groups who want resort amenities at a lower rate. The course is not in the same tier as Torrey but the location between the city and wine country works for a longer mixed itinerary.

San Diego's best steakhouse by a wide margin — a 1960s American supper club aesthetic, excellent beef, strong cocktails, and a wine list that takes California seriously. The room is designed for a group that wants to linger. Reservations go fast on weekends. This is the anchor dinner on the trip.

The Little Italy seafood institution — raw bar, excellent fish preparations, and a room that gets loud and convivial by 8pm. Order the yellowtail crudo and whatever fin fish is in that week. Good for the night when the group wants somewhere that doesn't feel like a hotel dining room.

Richard Blais's flagship in Little Italy — the meal for the group member who wants something genuinely interesting rather than another steakhouse. Modernist California cooking with technical precision, a long bar, and a room that's actually beautiful. The tasting menu is worth it. The à la carte is also excellent.

The Ocean Beach counter-service burger institution — license plates on the walls, a line out the door every day, and a double bacon cheeseburger that earns the wait. Take the group here for lunch on the Torrey day. It's 15 minutes from the course and the kind of place that makes San Diego feel like San Diego.