Course Review: Coronado Municipal Golf Course
21 Aug 2014
by Mike Stubbs of AmateurGolf.com
see also: Coronado Golf Course, All Course Reviews
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Located just over the iconic Coronado Bay
Bridge near downtown San Diego, the Municipal
Golf Course at Coronado is a par-72 parkland
track that measures just under 6,600 yards.
Like many courses in coastal Southern
California, it features mostly Kikuyu grass on
the tees and fairways and large, well-
maintained poa annua greens.
The Municipal Golf Course at Coronado is never
in poor shape and it is full of spectacular
views. It is a breeze to walk, and challenging
enough to keep your interest despite the fact
that the views of the blue water bay, the San
Diego skyline, the million dollar yachts, the
spectacular homes and a stunning victorian
hotel tend to force your eyes to wander.
Getting there and getting a tee time:
With a weekend rate of $35 walking ($50 with
cart), you are hard pressed to find a better
deal anywhere on the planet. This fabulous
value is no secret though, which is why it is
tougher to secure a time here than it is at
Torrey Pines South, site of the 2008 U.S.
Open.
There are several ways to put your name on
the tee sheet at Coronado with easiest being
to just show up and plan to spend the day
with a buddy on the waiting list. Their
calendar is easily accessible on the web at
GolfCoronado.c
om and it is wise to give it glance before
you head over to go on the waiting list.
If you have a foursome and you need a time
then you can pay a little extra and reserve an
advance tee time up to 14 days in advance for
spots after 10:00 a.m. for a fee of $30 per tee
time. You can also call two days prior for
times starting before 10:00 a.m. or you can go
in person to participate in the lottery. Half of
the tee times before 10:00 a.m. are given to
lottery players and half are given to people
calling in. Remember --- phone and lottery are
for times two days in advance.
Customer Service:
Several course blogs and travel review sites
dock Coronado for the “gruff” customer
service. My response to that is when you
have a facility that packs in approximately
100,000 rounds a year like Coronado, Torrey
Pines and Rancho Park in LA , that is what
happens. There are a few new faces at
Coronado however that tend to greet
customers with a smile rather than a blank
stare.
Clubhouse, food & 19th hole:
The food is marginal and a bit of a
disappointment for a facility with a nice
clubhouse and such a great view. The reality
is, though, that you don’t go there to eat, you
go there to play. The drink cart service is
consistent and there is a phone on the ninth
tee to facilitate quick food service at the turn.
For about $5 you can buy a golfer’s special
that includes a hot dog, a bag of chips and a
domestic beer.
Course Layout:
Out on the course, there are several standout
holes. The par-4 eighth hole requires a good
drive and a well-placed second shot to a
water-flanked green and the par-3 15th hole
that plays into the prevailing wind is another
good test. Although there are visible
undulations to most of the greens, the tip from
the long time head pro Ron Yarbrough is play
less break than you see.
Signature hole:
For sheer beauty and fun, the picturesque par-
4 16th is hard to beat. It is the postcard hole
that runs along the shores of Glorietta Bay and
tempts you to cut off distance by playing a
draw over the water. From the green, the
view is first rate with the golf course, the
yacht club and the majestic Hotel del
Coronado all in frame.
All this for the low price of $35. Low stress
municipal golf simply does not get any better.