Played 2/20 in the morning with Scott & Dave. The creek is high, so on the holes along the creek bed if the trap or rough is lower than the creek it was under water. This affects the right rough on ... Continue »

Played 2/20 in the morning with Scott & Dave. The creek is high, so on the holes along the creek bed if the trap or rough is lower than the creek it was under water. This affects the right rough on 4, the greenside bunker on 8 and the left fairway bunker off the tee on 18 the most. There is some water in areas that you really have to hit a bad shot to find. The waste bunkers are double bogey bunkers unless you're sensible and give yourself a lie. I played here two weeks ago and what a difference. The bridge on 18 clogged with debris after that big rain and water ran south across the 18th fairway and washed out part of the retaining railroad ties on 11 as well as the trap. Several of the traps were severely damaged. They've replaced the ties and wall on 11, though it still needs a little sod, brought in new sand and repaired the bunkers. The tees need leveling, but they always did. The fairways are beautiful as are the green complexes. The greens are medium fast, beautiful, and still receptive to shots, though I have a feeling that will change with a little dry weather. These green areas and the fairways are as good as it's been here in 20 years. The Canadian Open qualifier will be played here either March or early April and they seem to be making a big effort to make a good impression, so this place will only get better for the next month or so. If something comes up on Golfnow and you need some punishment for your sins, skip the 4 Our Fathers and head over here.

Carlton Oaks 7:30 tee time. 4 hr round. Tee boxes were uneven with good grass coverage, but several had old gopher tunnels that created slightly different levels, just a slight hindrance. Fairways ... Continue »

Carlton Oaks 7:30 tee time. 4 hr round. Tee boxes were uneven with good grass coverage, but several had old gopher tunnels that created slightly different levels, just a slight hindrance. Fairways were splendid with thick coverage. Rough was thin and in some places non existent. Fairway traps had hard packed sand/dirt with just a few rocks, getting fewer every time I play here. The waste areas are still a detriment to your overall experience, but that looks like a lot of work and I'm not sure they have the $ to take it on. The greenside bunkers were full of wet sand as all the collars and green areas have been seeded with rye and leveled, some a little more leveled than others, so they are putting some water on those areas. In the morning especially they are really wet, but in about two weeks they should be beautiful and really make the place pop. The greens are medium speed with a smooth consistent surface that will hold shots. As flat as it is - great to walk - this one is for those who enjoy a challenge, though playing the right tees can put a lot more enjoy in your challenge.

Decided to give Carlton Oaks another try after reading some positive reviews. Played this morning in about 4.5 hours. Used the golf moose deal found on GK and it's a pretty good deal. Just make sur... Continue »

Decided to give Carlton Oaks another try after reading some positive reviews. Played this morning in about 4.5 hours. Used the golf moose deal found on GK and it's a pretty good deal. Just make sure you call the course to make the tee time and don't use the internet. Front desk tried telling me something about a discount on a discount, don't really understand but they honored the deal. Most tee boxes we level and easy to hit from except for #8, it was hard to find a level spot. Fairways were in good shape, mostly playable, some brown but mainly green. Bunkers were good all around most had good sand to hit from. Greens were in good to very good shape. Don't expect them to be as nice as the practice green. Most rolled well and were at medium to fast speed. For the deal $40 with range balls it is a good time. I don't think I would spend much more to play here. It had probably been about 10 years since I last played here and I enjoyed it most of the holes are fun and challenging.

Played here in a San Diego Senior event for this first time. We seniors played from the white T's. What a challenging course, you better have your "A" game. Also, very scenic with all the trees and r... Continue »

Played here in a San Diego Senior event for this first time. We seniors played from the white T's. What a challenging course, you better have your "A" game. Also, very scenic with all the trees and rolling fairways!

Greens: smooth, holding with medium to fast speed, very punishing if you miss the green.

Fairways: Good condition, very few bare spot.

Tees: a little beat up and not level because of old animal tunnels.

Traps: raked with plenty of sand.

Rough: some bare spots. The grass was anywhere from 1 to 5" high.

Driving range had grass T's.

Staff did an excellent job getting over 76 seniors out with minimum delays/problems. (that's a major task!)

Overall, a very pleasant experience even tho I didn't score well. Looking forward to a return game soon!

Saw 140ver's review and a $15 "Hot Deal" so gave this cruel mistress another try. This place abuses me, yet, much like Torrey South, I persist in trying. The course IS in very good shape, besides the ... Continue »

Saw 140ver's review and a $15 "Hot Deal" so gave this cruel mistress another try. This place abuses me, yet, much like Torrey South, I persist in trying. The course IS in very good shape, besides the bunker/waste areas which are mostly firm, but playable. I'm getting use to the new norm of rock hard bunkers at most courses so these seemed soft in comparison. Greens were slower than they looked like they'd be, but rolled well . . . even downhill you had to putt quite aggressively.
Not many golfers out there today so we played in just around 3.5 hours at our own pace. Snack cart was seen quite often, water stations every few holes, a tough but fun track. Recommended

Played 8/2 with a 7:00 a.m. tee time. Pro shop staff was excellent, but lonely. One foursome ahead of us and very few on the course. I do hate to write a review that may ruin my solitude, but feel ... Continue »

Played 8/2 with a 7:00 a.m. tee time. Pro shop staff was excellent, but lonely. One foursome ahead of us and very few on the course. I do hate to write a review that may ruin my solitude, but feel obligated. Carlton is in the best shape it's been in in many years. The tee boxes are good. The bent grass greens are firm and showing some bermuda invasion around the edges, but are rolling nicely at medium pace. Fairways are well above average. Greenside and fairway bunkers are much improved, but the waste areas are a mess, avoid at all costs. The collars and aprons are the best I've seen them in 10 years. A lot of the overgrown rough has been mowed down, but not all. I do love this place, so take that into account in reading this review, but steady improvement is being made and it's great to see.

Played 5-3 at 7:00. The course just hosted the Canadian PGA qualifier, so it's in just about as good as it's going to get, which is pretty good. Tee boxes were mostly green and lush, though many wer... Continue »

Played 5-3 at 7:00. The course just hosted the Canadian PGA qualifier, so it's in just about as good as it's going to get, which is pretty good. Tee boxes were mostly green and lush, though many were uneven. The Blacks looked as good as I've seen them in quite a while, though I played the greens. Number 3 tee was a bit bare, but was well sanded and seeded, looks like they're trying. They got a smoker for the gophers, I think to smoke 'em out, not for the restaurant, and I didn't notice as many holes. The fairways were very nice, mostly bermuda with some poa annua, tightly mowed and well covered. Rough was slightly penal, but if you hit a really bad shot, good luck finding it. Traps were decent, though inconsistent. Greens were really nice, fairly hard but held shots that were well-struck. Collars had grass, but poa annua bumps all over the place making it difficult to chip. If you enjoy Carlton, and especially if you want to test yourself from the blacks, now is the time.

played 3/1 at 7:30 as a 4-some. No one behind or in front that we could see. Tee boxes were below average, need leveling and many with bare spots. Fairways were good, with bermuda greening up and f... Continue »

played 3/1 at 7:30 as a 4-some. No one behind or in front that we could see. Tee boxes were below average, need leveling and many with bare spots. Fairways were good, with bermuda greening up and few bare spots. Rough is thin and inconsistent. Waste bunkers are a mess, some with an inch or two of water, some with grass when they should be just dirt, all with footprints and uneven. There are many areas on this course that really shouldn't be in the condition they are in, but all are in areas that your golf ball shouldn't be in either. The bunkers have decent sand in greenside and fairways traps. The greens are bent and in good shape. This course is difficult and easy to hate when you're not scoring well and you hit a bad shot into a mess. The layout is challenging and at the right price for the right player, in its current condition it can be a very good value.

Tough conditions on a tough golf course. Played the blues which are a bit too long for me but I fell for the challenge. Tees: mostly level, but I had a hard time finding a spot where both my feet wer... Continue »

Tough conditions on a tough golf course. Played the blues which are a bit too long for me but I fell for the challenge. Tees: mostly level, but I had a hard time finding a spot where both my feet were on level ground . . . sometimes I couldn't. Fairways: hard and rolling with some bare spots and at least one spot on 11 where a sprinkler was broken and the fairway was sopping wet Rough: very inconsistent, varied from none to ridiculously over grown (that and the combo with the leaves everywhere that made finding some balls impossible, even though they were just off the fairway and we saw exactly where they went) Bunkers: actually not completely horrible except a wide variance in the conditions thereof . . . some hardpan, some soft (fairway and green side), some wet, some dry, some dirt some sand, some maintained some look like they haven't been touched in quite awhile. Greens: greens were slow, balls even stopped on steep slopes, but on approach played hard and fast . . . bad combo, slow hard greens Customer service: quick friendly check in, range balls right there no numbers to type in or tokens to carry, etc. you know, the old fashion way which is fine by me! Saw the snack cart a couple times on the frontside, but she gave us last call before 2 pm? On a Sunday? POP: best part of the day, less than 4 hours! Overall: from the blues with the wind up and the conditions as they were a brutal test of golf, patience and self composure . . . I like the layout, just not the conditioning of the course too many variables, I guess I prefer a bit more consistency . . . some greens had thatched areas in front, no running it up, some had hard pan, had to run it up, etc. etc. etc.