Golf. On an island. How much better can it get? Gorgeous views of San Diego Bay, at a price anyone can afford, makes this course a gem in my book. While the toughest element of the game you'll need to negotiate may be the breeze off of the water, you'll be delighted with Coronado's generous fairways and fairly flat greens. The first tee provides a "gallery-like" atmosphere as this course gets much play, but fortunately the first fairway is wide enough to entertain any player's "jitter" affected drive. You can't beat this outing for the price on a well maintained tract of island real-estate, so even if you can't afford a yacht, you can spend the day dreaming what it might be like to be parked in the marina aside the first few holes of the back nine, while enjoying a round of your "other" guilty pleasure. Another "must play" in the San Diego area.

Beautifully carved into the hillsides of Balboa Park, Balboa Municipal Golf Course is a well-travelled tract. Sam Snead holds the course record of 60 (1943), and the course still extends its invitation for you to shoot your personal low score. The view off of the first tee will immediately cause you to rethink your round strategy before you even hit your first shot. That view will be revisited many more times before your round is over, most notably on the beautiful par 3 17th hole, where you'll be able to boast a shorter iron into an inviting green seated deep below in the valley 198 yards away (from the back tees). You won't be breaking any course records for the fastest round, but its understandable when you consider the allure this course holds with its challenging shot making demands. Well worth the experience. Kudos Balboa!...I'll be back...often.

Once again, a great test of golf for a song. I found the local regulars to be very proud of their course, and rightfully so. The course was in fine shape when I played, and the elevated tees offer mouth-watering chances to "stripe" your best drives down the undulating fairways below. The elevated greens are testy, but can be "romanced" if you're course-savvy. All-in-all, Mission Trails is a "neighborhood" jewel, and a fair play for all levels of ability.

VSF was my first experience with Arizona golf. I was VERY impressed. Beautiful fairways and unbelievable desert life as well as meticulously manicured greens led to a love affair with Arizona courses. Fortunately I have a buddy who lives in the Phoenix area, so I can start exploring more of the courses. Very good food at the bar.

Just because CV is a muni, doesn't mean that it's easy. The course boasts decent length, and forces you to think your way around the course on the shorter holes. A "feel good" round during the week, or to warm you up for your upcoming weekend round, Chula Vista is ready to take on all comers with a decent test of golf. Be sure to check out the house salsa at the 19th hole...great stuff.

For the price, Apache Creek Golf Club in Apache Junction, Arizona is a "must play" golf course. The course is kept in great shape amid the shadow of Superstition Mountain which looms over what seems to be every shot. Beautiful scenery, fairways which are tight but playable, and greens that putt truer than most of the more expensive courses I've played. Combine that with good food and great southwest hospitality, and you've got a great golf experience. I'll be back there very soon to play some of the other beautiful courses in the area, which are all within 5 miles of each other, and I'll review them as well. Have a good round.