I have never played a more polarizing golf course than Goat Hill. My friend and I love the course, while my bride just hates it ! I suspect that is fairly common for this place. (just look at the r... Continue »

I have never played a more polarizing golf course than Goat Hill. My friend and I love the course, while my bride just hates it ! I suspect that is fairly common for this place. (just look at the reviews by Sixpez and JohnnyGK.

First off at 6:56 am. Nobody there. In fact they had not even put the flagsticks in yet. (Got to #1 - no pin, so called and they came out and handled it) The greens are far and away the best part of the course, condition wise. In fact expect for the greens the course is not I very good shape. Many of the fairways have decent areas, but lots of bare areas as well.

Sand was good, tee boxes rather chewed up. Not level and many bare spots.

This place is just difficult. You can hit some great shots to the green and not be able to two putt. If you miss one of these tiny greens, good luck getting up & down. Playing from the "tips" this course offers some really challenging shots, particularly for those of us who do not hit 200 yard five or six irons.

The only complaint I had was when I played here last summer, it was $22 for a senior to ride, now it's $30.

Played on Friday, 12/7. Initially was going to play in the 9 hole skins at 3pm, but got in early and had some sunset plans, so went out early. Walked in around 1 and went right out as a single walking... Continue »

Played on Friday, 12/7. Initially was going to play in the 9 hole skins at 3pm, but got in early and had some sunset plans, so went out early. Walked in around 1 and went right out as a single walking for $18. Finished in 3 hours after hitting some back 9 only players at the turn.

Course took a pounding from the 2 days of rains, with lots of dirt/mud flowing on the course. Lots of work was being done to uncover the cart paths and clean up the low lying areas. Tee boxes were mostly level, with the expected divot damage on the par 3s. Fairways were tightly cut and rough was just a bit longer than the fairway. I was not in any bunkers but they looked very wet, and some had standing water. The greens were in terrific shape. Smooth and medium to slow speed.

It's a nice, locals muni. I spoke with a local player who explained how much the course has improved since Linksoul's involvement. I enjoyed a beer around the fire pit after the round and I can see how it would be a nice hangout after a quick afternoon round.

Played on 6/24 and teed off at 3, finished at 6:45. Greens were very good. Fairways overall were good, but not quite as good as I've recently experienced. Sand was consistent. Pace of play was good.
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Played on 6/24 and teed off at 3, finished at 6:45. Greens were very good. Fairways overall were good, but not quite as good as I've recently experienced. Sand was consistent. Pace of play was good.

Despite the yardage, this is not a beginner's course. It is tough for a beginner. Lots of forced carries and do or die shots. Some of the toughest par 3's in the county (or state for that matter!) Can be found here. 5-7 are 3 of the hardest you will ever see. Still, it's great fun and the place as always has a very cool vibe.

Catching up on a review from Thursday last week at Goat Hill Park Golf Course. Super time with AndrewZ28 and mpiskarski01 for my GK Cup 11 match. This course fit the bill perfect for me that day. Need... Continue »

Catching up on a review from Thursday last week at Goat Hill Park Golf Course. Super time with AndrewZ28 and mpiskarski01 for my GK Cup 11 match. This course fit the bill perfect for me that day. Needed a quick round with some friends on a challenging track. The demand this golf course places on your iron game and distance control is extreme. If you miss the greens or fairways the recovery shots are diabolical as the ball typically runs far off behind some trees or in something nasty. You have to play well or be punished, which is awesome in my mind because rarely do you have to bring so much game to short course. If someone worked in Carlsbad or Oceanside and lived in Orange County, it’s the perfect stop for 18 or practice to miss the traffic home and enjoy some golf.

The conditions are good overall. Sure the rough is mostly not rough but different types of grass on hard ground, but the fairways have good coverage as well as the turf surrounding the greens. The greens rolled well, mostly firm and moderate speed. Andrew was telling me they were very fast and firm before aeration last month, man, I can only imagine how tough the course was then because those greens are small and undulating. Bunkers in good shape with decent quality sand. Only hit a couple. Tee boxes, as expected on a short hilly golf course like this, thin, lots of divot damage but playable. We finished in under 3 hours.

Goat Hill Park is a unique experience in ways besides the track, it’s integrated perfectly to serve the laid back beach community of Oceanside. Cool vibes all the way around. Fun atmosphere with lots of places to just hang out. Very friendly easy going staff. Nice little practice facility. Love this place.

Played in my GK Cup match with John and Matt yesterday, 5/17. We teed off as a threesome riding around 4:40ish and finished in 2 1/2 hours. That's pretty typical at the Goat if you're riding. Obviousl... Continue »

Played in my GK Cup match with John and Matt yesterday, 5/17. We teed off as a threesome riding around 4:40ish and finished in 2 1/2 hours. That's pretty typical at the Goat if you're riding. Obviously it's a workout if walking but still, POP is usually great here. Love being able to burn through a round in that amount of time.

I hadn't played out here in a month or so since they punched the greens. They are about 99% back, the only noticeable leftover being that they are a bit softer than normal as there's probably a little more coverage as they heal. Before the punching they were the firmest and fastest (and super pure) that I had ever seen out there and it made the course even that more difficult (the green shapes and complexes are tricky enough out here). I'm looking to seeing them firm up a little more but right now they are rolling really true and holding well, just a tad on the slower side.

I think the rest of the playing conditions (tees and fairways) are pretty solid right now. Not a lot of water this winter has the course playing firm and a little dried out in spots which leaves you vulnerable to bounces and rolling and sometimes that just feels a bit unfair. But when you do hit it where you're supposed to, the lies are good and there's really solid playability.

There's constantly been some improvements going on and even since the last time I went out there there's new paths and concrete work around the clubhouse that looks really nice and the range was in really good shape (all grass).

The Goat is my home track and I love the vibe out there. It's probably the quirkiest course I've ever played but I've also never played a course that is as demanding of iron play with a set of Par 3's that have serious teeth and greens that are tiny and undulating. It's definitely a course you could get frustrated with the first time around (tons of local knowledge needed to play the bounces), but a great place to call home if you want to hit all the shots.

Oh, and based on the other thread about Veteran rates I looked and the Goat does have a special rate for Veterans. Looks to be about 30% off the normal rates. Which is cool since Oside is still a military town.

D.O.P.- 5/17
Time- 430pm
Weather- 65° Overcast 10-15 mph Wind

Joined Johnny and AndrewZ28 during their Gk Cup Match. Big thanks to Andrew who hooked us up with the round thanks to his Linksoul ca... Continue »

D.O.P.- 5/17
Time- 430pm
Weather- 65° Overcast 10-15 mph Wind

Joined Johnny and AndrewZ28 during their Gk Cup Match. Big thanks to Andrew who hooked us up with the round thanks to his Linksoul career.

Course was in good shape for such a dry winter and I was not disappointed.

Tee's- Tee boxes were mostly level and had some divot damage which is expected on a short course with lots of play. I never had an issue finding a area to tee it up. I did come across 3-4 boxes that were almost too firm to place a tee in the ground.

Fairways- Fairways had good coverage and where a mix of green and brown. I had good lies all day so no complaints.

Rough- There is very little rough on this course du to the turf reduction done a few years ago during the make over. What rough I did find was a nasty mix of grasses which left you a unpredictable lie.

Greens- The greens are 95 percent recovered from punching and rolled true all day. Most greens were soft which cause some spin issues throughout the day but no complaints from me. We played late in the day so there was a few divots to deal with but not as bad as most short courses.

Sand- I did not find any sand yesterday and Andrew was the only one to play from it. It looked soft but cant give a accurate review.


In all this is a fun executive that definitely requires accurate iron shots all day.

Played Goat for the 1st time on 3/20. I'll echo Weber in stating this course is much tougher than you'd expect given the length. Small greens, and very difficult chipping when you miss those small gre... Continue »

Played Goat for the 1st time on 3/20. I'll echo Weber in stating this course is much tougher than you'd expect given the length. Small greens, and very difficult chipping when you miss those small greens.

Example, I hit a nice 7 iron right into the middle of a par 3 green. Landed soft about 15 feet right of the pin, back up a bit, and then picked up speed to go 20 feet into the front fringe. I tried a putter from there, ball immediately popped a foot in the air, caught a big break on the green and headed left fast..... back off the green and 20 yards down the hill. A good flop shot and lag putt saved a 5. Next hole, a good drive left a 9 iron uphill. Took it right at the pin. Landed on a slope 10 feet in front of the pin, where it proceed to backspin rocket off the green and 30 yards down the hill. One skulled chip, and my two good iron shots were both doubles. This place will do that to you.

That being said, it is a fun place to play. Play it up, you'll get bad lies off the fairway. Save your clubs and have some fun. Greens are great. Fast and treacherous.

Back to the Goat on a very cold morning. Although we had a 6:30am tee time, nobody there, so we waited until 6:45 to hit it. I normally walk everywhere I can, but took a cart today because I was pla... Continue »

Back to the Goat on a very cold morning. Although we had a 6:30am tee time, nobody there, so we waited until 6:45 to hit it. I normally walk everywhere I can, but took a cart today because I was playing with a friend. While the cart was nice, it does not allow you to "get loose"

The greens were the best I have ever seen them. We had zero cut greens and they were still pretty quick and difficult. Had they been cut, they would be brutally hard. ( In all fairness, I do not play here all that often) Fairways were green and for the most part, had plenty of grass. I was in one bunker and there was so much sand it was difficult to rake it when finished from my footprints. Tees/rough were just so/so.

This is simply the most difficult 4400 yard course I have ever played- period. If you play from the "tips" on every hole, there are some really tough shots, and give the severity of the greens, makes scoring here a real challenge.

While I would not want to play here every day, each time I do play here I thoroughly enjoy myself. Fun Golf !

I played a quick 9 this past Friday afternoon at the Goat in about an hour and fifteen minutes walking. Absolutely great pace.

I've played the Goat quite a lot and I can honestly say I have never s... Continue »

I played a quick 9 this past Friday afternoon at the Goat in about an hour and fifteen minutes walking. Absolutely great pace.

I've played the Goat quite a lot and I can honestly say I have never seen it in such good shape. The greens were the smoothest, firmest and fastest they've ever been but still held shots great and were not so firm that they became unfair (the greens are really small with lots of undulation). Really a ton of fun to putt on.

There has been a lot of work to get the fairways going and definitely some great coverage and great lies. You'll obviously get the occasional shots of the DG (unless you hit a lot of great shots), but I had nothing but solid lies in the fairways all day.

There will be some construction happening soon to repair and add some cart paths and clean up some trees, but the course is the best I've seen it and I would definitely recommend playing soon.

I'm not 100% sure but I do believe that the best day to play is Friday because the grounds crew puts in a lot of extra time and work mowing and prepping for the weekend. Friday afternoons are definitely a good time.