San Diego, California

The U.S. Open muni — host of the 2008 and 2021 Opens, perched on the cliffs above the Pacific in La Jolla. A long, brawny William F. Bell design and a genuine bucket-list public round.

Tom Fazio's lush, secluded layout at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar — consistently rated the top course in San Diego County. Resort-guest and limited public access.

An Arnold Palmer design at the Park Hyatt Aviara in Carlsbad, draped in flowers and water features. Immaculate resort-style golf and a longtime LPGA tour host.

The friendlier of the two clifftops, reimagined by Tom Weiskopf in 2016. Wider corridors, even better ocean views, and the more forgiving — and more scenic — of the pair.

A dramatic Johnny Miller and Robert Muir Graves layout carved into the hills of Poway, with big elevation changes, canyon carries, and waterfalls. One of the area's best non-resort tracks.

A modern municipal on the Carlsbad hillsides with canyon carries, coastal breezes, and one of the better clubhouse restaurants in muni golf.

Gary Player's 27-hole design in the hills east of the city — three nine-hole loops, rugged terrain, and the Canyon nine's signature drop-shot holes.

A coastal muni on a mesa above Encinitas with ocean views and wide ribbons of fairway between the flower fields. Great-value North County golf.

A mature, tree-lined resort course at the classic Rancho Bernardo Inn — relaxed, walkable, and a comfortable home base north of the city.

The headline championship course at Sycuan's Singing Hills Resort in El Cajon — a mature, tree-lined parkland layout with water in play and mountain backdrops.

Sycuan's second championship course, shorter and tighter than Willow Glen, winding through oak groves and rolling terrain. A fun, strategic resort companion round.

An unbeatable-value muni on Coronado Island with San Diego Bay and skyline views, the Coronado Bridge framing several holes. Tough to book, easy to love.

San Diego's historic muni, opened in 1915 in the heart of Balboa Park with canyon views and downtown skyline backdrops. Mature, walkable, and one of the best-value city rounds in California.

A dramatic, tight mountain course in Ramona threading between granite boulders, oaks, and a signature wooden footbridge. Short on length but huge on scenery.