Played Balboa Park Golf course yesterday morning. 7th or 8th time I have played in the past couple of years. The course is in as good a shape as any time I can recall! A couple of greens have what might be a little fungus, but overall very healthy greens and fairways. We teed off at 7:45am and finished at right about 4 hours. This course is walkable, and there was a foursome of ladies just ahead of us that were doing just fine. However, the course is not flat, so you do need to be in decent shape.

This is a municipal course, so don't expect a country club experience. But, for a muni it is a great value at $59 on a weekend. Your view from the 11th tee box of downtown San Diego, Balboa Park, and on a clear day, the Coronado Islands is a Kodak moment for sure!

Played Cottonwood (Ivanhoe) Golf Course yesterday for the first time in probably 15-20 years. It used to have two full 18 hole courses, but the Lakes Course was closed down last year after an ownership change. The Ivanhoe course is in good shape right now. All the rain in San Diego this winter has helped! The greens and fairways are green and play very fair. If you get more than 4-5 feet off of the fairways, there is little to no maintenance. There really is not a driving range per se, but there is a practice/warm up area that suffices to kick the morning rust off. From the middle tees the course plays at about 6400 yards, and a 117 slope rating. Considering that this is a Michael Schlesinger owned course (look him up if you don't know who he is), I was pleasantly surprised at the conditions. The price makes it a good value. I played for free because I "know" somebody, but I believe the weekend rate is around $50. The pace of play was slow, with us finishing in 5 hr 15 min. There really is no staff out on the course to help that situation out. Plus, the cart girl is quite the attraction and I think she slows play down as much as the golfers do! I don't think the golfers mind! Go, have fun, without expectations for a quick round.

Played Sandpiper for the first time on Friday morning, April 19th. Was one of several single walk-ons looking to get out before everybody else. The staff was very accommodating in getting us out in whatever manner we wished. A single opted to follow us. Round was played in 3:10. I paired up with a local and we were the first off. Definitely an advantage to have a local on a course you have never played! The morning was foggy/drizzly with virtually no wind. My playing partner indicated that this is a whole different course when it is sunny and/or windy. Even with morning mist on the greens, they were running pretty quick, but true. I couldn't blame green conditions for my missed putts! Being above the hole (any hole) on this course will leave you with a very delicate putt. The course in general was in great shape! The views are spectacular, even with the morning fog. There are 5 or 6 holes that run right along the bluffs over the ocean, with the signature Par 3 11th hole playing to a green that essentially sits right above the beach. Overall a very satisfying experience and I can't wait to get back and give it another go!