Received an an e-mail from the course reminding me that Birthday rounds can be played a day before or after the big day. So, a free weekend birthday round for me on Sat., Feb 3rd, as golf wasn't going... Continue »

Received an an e-mail from the course reminding me that Birthday rounds can be played a day before or after the big day. So, a free weekend birthday round for me on Sat., Feb 3rd, as golf wasn't going to trump the SuperBowl! Being a Crossings Club member, they waive the $25 cart fee - membership has it's benefts.

Agree with Gary00 (happy birthday, too!) overall on the conditions being very good right now. Tees, fairways and greens were nice, with nothing to complain about really . The fairways still a bit dormant, along with the rough being very dormant and a bit splotchy and cut shorter than in the summer months. Greens looked like they needed to be cut, but rolled medium/medium fast with certain pin placements.

Played much better on the front, and found the bogey-train on the back 9. I do think the back plays a few strokes tougher, as fairways tighten up a bit.

Great customer service all around, with the cart lady making several appearances. Only issue on the day was a sluggish POP, as teeing off at 12:36pm, we finished just after sunset at 5:35pm. Still, a great way to spend an afternoon... for free! Thank you, Crossings!

2/1 birthday round $25 cart fee off about 30 min ahead of 815 tee time after quick warm up and a friendly starter that was quick to let us know we could start early.
This has to be one of the most un... Continue »

2/1 birthday round $25 cart fee off about 30 min ahead of 815 tee time after quick warm up and a friendly starter that was quick to let us know we could start early.
This has to be one of the most unique layouts with great distances between holes, great variety and elevation changes in an almost wilderness setting.
Fairways are like carpet closely mowed but the grass is thick with a very sturdy root structure--super good lies. Rough was also cut short so the was limited penalty. Tees level with good cover--par 3s had many well filled divots which shows the attention from the maintenance staff. Bunkers well groomed with consistently good quality sand.
Greens are poa so looked less smooth than they played. Rolled out at medium/medium fast speeds. Difficult to read as topography trumps(not a political statement) apparent slope. Large greens with the potential for really tough pin placements.
A very enjoyable day added to by the friendly and helpful staff. A quality golf experience.

Played Thursday, Jan 4th, teeing off on-time at noon. Renewed my Crossings Club membership for 2018 online last weekend, and they had my membership packet ready, and gave me the included year's supply... Continue »

Played Thursday, Jan 4th, teeing off on-time at noon. Renewed my Crossings Club membership for 2018 online last weekend, and they had my membership packet ready, and gave me the included year's supply (one dozen) ;-) of Callaway Chromesofts. Used one of my free twilight coupons instead of paying the member-rate $40 greens fee, so already 1/3 of the way to recoup the membership fee! Friendly and efficient greeting both in the pro shop and by the starter(s).

Lovely day on the course, low 70's at teeoff. POP was 4.5hrs, with no waiting, so we were just a tad pokey. However, was a fun group with 3 other singles, lots of chatting/BS-ing, a few extra tee shots by a few guys, perhaps contributing to our finish about 3/4-hole behind the group in front. Group behind was also about 3/4-hole behind us.

White tee boxes were green, cut short, and mostly level.

The fairways and rough were generally dormant, light green/brown. Fairway grass was short and tough if taking a divot. Rough was cut very short everywhere, including banks near the greens. Ball would roll off easily, taking the downslope to a level area. Rough along the fairways was inconsistent, with tufts of varying grasses providing some difficult lies.

The greens were definitely not as smooth and fast as mid-December. Very green and receptive, however, and held shots well. Speed was medium overall, and a bit bumpy.

They've renovated 26 bunkers on 16 holes. I was in one of them greenside on #13. Sand was medium-weight, very, very soft and seemingly 4-6 inches of sand before you get to a base. Took two swings to get the ball out, and had to roll myself out of the bunker due to such soft footing and steep inclines! :) Lots of raking to reset the conditions.

Saw the cart girl on the front and back side. Two guys ordered hot dogs at the 1/2-way shack, and noticed generous helpings of onions on both, and only one went for the mustard, not totally depleting the supply for others.

Played Thursday, teeing off about 15 minutes late, at 12:25pm. Grabbed a $36 Crossings Club rate, and happy about it for my last round of the year here. Joined by a twosome and another single. Was tol... Continue »

Played Thursday, teeing off about 15 minutes late, at 12:25pm. Grabbed a $36 Crossings Club rate, and happy about it for my last round of the year here. Joined by a twosome and another single. Was told by the other two Crossings Club members that they paid $34 'senior' rate! They hit from the blues, and the tee boxes looked good there, I teed off from the whites and they were a bit worn, but mostly level. Finished after sunset at 5:05pm, for 4hr40min round, waiting a bit on most holes.

The fairways and rough were generally light green/brown. Fairways were very firm and provided excellent roll and good lies. The extra roll helped out this short-hitter. Rough was inconsistent, with tufts of grass providing some difficult lies.

The greens were fantastic, very green, receptive and held shots well. Ball rolled nicely and managed two birdies on the day, which nearly made up for my double-bogeys.

Wasn't in any bunkers. Did notice that they were re-lining one of the bunkers by #16 green.
Saw the cart girl just on the front side, but did stop at the half-way shack and the guys were happy with their sandwiches and hot dogs and the amount of mustard that was available.

Had a 10 AM Tee time. It was great to get out from the threat/smell of the Lilac Fire.

Excellent practice areas; driving range, chipping area and large practice putting green.

Recommend you pla... Continue »

Had a 10 AM Tee time. It was great to get out from the threat/smell of the Lilac Fire.

Excellent practice areas; driving range, chipping area and large practice putting green.

Recommend you play from the tees that your game can handle as this is a very challenging layout.

Greens: smooth, medium to fast speed and firm. Very challenging contours.

Fairways: some very thin areas from cart traffic otherwise playable.

Rough: 1 -3" high, not very penal.

Traps: raked and very playable.

Good GPS system in the carts.

Marshall visited us twice on each nine.

POP: just over 4 1/2 hours.

I am beginning to like this course the more I play it. Recommend.

Played here, first time, on Sunday November 5th, 1100am, at a So Cal Senior rate of $79. Perfect weather conditions ( sunny 70, slight breeze ) except for the constant thunder from private jets takin... Continue »

Played here, first time, on Sunday November 5th, 1100am, at a So Cal Senior rate of $79. Perfect weather conditions ( sunny 70, slight breeze ) except for the constant thunder from private jets taking off from Palomar Airport. I'm guessing the jet traffic was higher than normal, with The Breeders Cup Championships in town (Del Mar). Racing wrapped up Saturday, so just a hunch a lot of the billionaire owners were heading home around noon on Sunday. Entertaining, for a little while, to see jets come roaring off the runway right above the 6th tee box, but after 30-40 jets, very few minutes, it made for a very distracting front 9. Nothing to do with the golf course, but I'm certain it was the noisiest couple of hours on any golf course I've ever played. On to conditions: Overall, excellent, from fairway to green, but a few tees (as mentioned in previous review) had all colors on the same spot, which made for a few chewed up tees, and the same distance in some cases, regardless of the tees you decided to play. Fairways were very good, well covered on most holes, firm and lush. Greens were the challenge on this course, with some crazy tiers and undulations. My group (3 of 4 were first timers here) found speed and tilt very difficult to judge, but condition was excellent. Fast, mostly smooth and good roll, but still held nicely. The layout is interesting to say the least. Front 9 a little more traditional, but overall, just a crazy mix of designs. Semi blind tee shots on 2, 3 and 5, sharp dogleg on 7, elevation changes on most, very short par 4 8th, and par 3 9th. Back 9 , while spectacular at times with extreme elevation changes, mixes in a couple of nice traditional flat straight, well bunkered holes (12-13). But routing to get to 12 was crazy. Over a bridge, behind the 12 green then drive the length of the fairway to the tee box, and play back down to the green. If you don't mind a wild ride and mix of holes, you'll love this place. Service was very good, but I had to scramble to make tee time and then made a quick exit after round, so did not see what the rest of the facility (range, bar / restaurant, Pro Shop was like. A very nice clubhouse, for sure. No cart service on the course on this day (disappointing) so only chance for aiming fluid was at the turn. Use the touch screen GPS on board for shot placement, and hope to have a Crossings veteran in the cart if playing first time, to help with sight lines. Give it a try, a wide variety of challenges from 1-18.

Played Thursday, 10/26, using my last Crossings Club free round ticket and teeing off from the whites (others played the blues) a few minutes early at 1:15pm as a 4some on a lovely, sunny day. Nice oc... Continue »

Played Thursday, 10/26, using my last Crossings Club free round ticket and teeing off from the whites (others played the blues) a few minutes early at 1:15pm as a 4some on a lovely, sunny day. Nice ocean breeze kept everything moderate in terms of temp, but wasn't too much in terms of hurting shots made into the wind, and seemed very helpful when it was at our backs.

Never waited, except on #15 teebox, as the marshal typically holds you up until the group in front has made their 2nd/3rd shots to the green. With only ourselves to blame really (quite a few lost balls by several in the group - 1st time there), POP was 4:40mins. But, a very friendly and fun time, and no one pushing us from behind and still had the group in front within sight the entire round, about 3/4 hole behind them.

Course conditions are mostly the same as 2 weeks ago. Tee boxes were nicely recovered from the scalping. They did have the black/blue/white markers together on 6 holes (1,3,5,13,14,17) and were letting the grass fill in on the most typical teeing areas.

Greens held shots well, were still smooth, and medium/medium-fast speed. As I've seen happen here before, several spots in the greens had a wavy/untightened carpet look. It is odd, but did not seem to affect putts.

Bermuda fairways were lovely as usual, rough was cut a bit shorter, show not as penal and the one greenside bunker I was in (#14) was firm and thin sand, but not hard/crispy.

Saw the cart girl three times, and my playing partner was thrilled with his chicken caesar wrap, ordered via the touch screen on the cart on the 8th hole. Overall, a great day on a great course, and somehow managed to set a new 9-hole best score here, shooting 1-over 37 on the front, coupled with a more normal 43 on the back.

Apologies for the delay posting. Still nursing a very sore back after our afternoon Guru outing on Tuesday, 10/10. POP of 4:35. Great practice facilities with lighted driving range (mats only), 2 c... Continue »

Apologies for the delay posting. Still nursing a very sore back after our afternoon Guru outing on Tuesday, 10/10. POP of 4:35. Great practice facilities with lighted driving range (mats only), 2 chipping greens, 1 practice bunker and a 10k sq ft putting green. 2nd Playing Group of partners, Sixpez (Keith), Weber2323 (Michael) and Johnny GK provided great social interaction and frequent birdies. Weber2323 teed off from the Black tees while the rest of us played from the White tees. John and Mike are long ball bombers while Keith, with his unorthodox swing, always manages to be putting for par or better. Johnny was within 35 yds of the greens after his tee shots on holes #2 and #10. Long ball hitters should play from the Black or Blue tees. Bright sunshine, low humidity and a steady 8mph ocean wind kept the shots challenging. Putting green speed was faster than on course due to the constant wind exposure and being the highest point on the course. Also noticed signs of syringing the greens after mid-day. Ball marks were more noticeable on the back 9 than the front because of elevation and some back pin placements. Some patches of poa Annua were evident on the bentgrass greens but didn't interfere with the putting. The course was in the process of rye overseeding on the tee boxes. Many of the tees were verticutted, shaved and seeded without topdressing. Until the overseeding process is completed, some holes may have color tee markers playing from the same location to reduce wear/tear and traffic (blue/black tees or white/blue tees). Bermuda fairways were tight, low height and with lots of roll. Many unfilled divots were present. I was unfortunate enough to have landed in an overfill divot, with a half inch of sand above the surface. Like hitting a long distance shot from a sand trap. Sand bottles are located on the carts with refill stations on each 9. The rough was fair in most spots. Did encounter some wet, high roughs on Hole #6, to the left of the path, near the GC Maintenance facility. Greenside bunkers were in great shape but moist from the syringing of the greens. I was only in 1 fairway bunker and that was on #18. The sand was very compacted. Rakes were plentiful throughout the course. A fun and challenging day, even if our cart (19) had a mechanical problem with not starting properly. Very annoying to have to act several times per holes. This was surprising as the carts are less than a year old. One of the many roving marshals finally switch out the cart on #13, after hours of frustrations. GPS gave yardage to the flagstick but some pin placements did not match up to the flag color. The staff and customer service is one of the best in the industry. Kemper Sports sets the customer service experience bar high at all of their courses. This course is definitely a "Must Play" and "Bucket List Designation" in the north San Diego County area. If you want to expand your local knowledge/history of this course, please read my previous review from April, 2017.

Joined fellow GK Gurus Tuesday at The Crossings at Carlsbad. We caught a beautiful day albeit more windy than when I’ve played the course in the past.

It’s a challenging layout that features some ... Continue »

Joined fellow GK Gurus Tuesday at The Crossings at Carlsbad. We caught a beautiful day albeit more windy than when I’ve played the course in the past.

It’s a challenging layout that features some wild greens. With exception to hole #13, which is Par 5 blind tee shot I never can figure out, I love this layout. I normally play it from the blue tees, Tuesday was the first time playing it from the white tees, and enjoyed that experience as well. Accuracy off the tee yet rewarding for long drives, challenging approach shots to well bunkered greens, distance control heavily required for approach shots so to be on the proper tiers of the putting surfaces and smart golf course management to avoid hazards. The layout has some scenic views, especially on the back nine.

I thought the course was in great condition Tuesday. Granted they were in the process of overseeding the tee boxes but what I liked is they kept them open. So they were cut tight, brown, but level and firm. Was not an issue at all. Fairways, bermunda, lush, groomed, great lies and roll out. Greens, 5 weeks recovered from aeration, rolling very well, moderate speed, some a little softer than others. Rough in good shape, cut low. Bunkers in good shape, quality sand, well kept.

I had to leave soon after the round but normally I like to stick around to enjoy their food. Tuesday that had an $8 burger combo deal. Dang. The course has a gorgeous clubhouse with ocean views and excellent service. I will be back to play another GK Guru round hopefully next month. Thanks everyone that made it.