Oceanfront golf for $44? It is possible here

Growing up in the Inland Empire of Southern California, the beaches of Orange County were only an hour’s drive away, and I spent my entire youth making day trips to Newport Beach as often as I could on the weekends and look forward to our annual week-long family stay in the summer.

My dad and I always liked to do it once or twice during these vacations, but affordable golf it’s hard to find in Orange County. And an affordable time with an ocean view? Rarer yet! That’s why my first visit to Coronado Golf Course—a muni nearly 100 miles south of Newport—was so moving.

My family had gathered in San Diego for a birthday celebration and we were all looking forward to testing out a new area take the stage. Main course on the docks: Coronado – a local treasure that opened in 1957.

For anyone who hasn’t been, visiting Coronado Island is an experience in itself. To get there, cross San Diego Bay via the Coronado Bridge, a scenic 2.1-mile journey. You can enjoy panoramic views of the water, downtown San Diego and the nearby US Naval Base.

The island is beautiful and quaint, and the course is extremely simple. It also provides a tough test. Although it’s only 6,590 yards from the tips on the scoreboard, the rating tells you all you need to know: 78.5/138 (!).

Water views abound at Coronado, especially on holes 3, 4 and 5, and the memorable closing stretch of 16, 17 (a beastly 437-yard par-4) and 18, which all play directly next to the bay.

I was completely mesmerized by the easy walk of Coronado and the frequent sightings of planes and helicopters from the nearby naval base. My whole family had a blast. There are few things sweeter than a late afternoon tea on a waterside course. And the best part, of course, is the price. Green fees range from $44 to $83, with a $25 booking fee for visitors hoping to make a tee time up to 14 days in advance. That’s a smoky deal in my book. I can’t wait to come back.

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Editor of Golf.com

As a four-year member of Columbia’s inaugural women’s varsity player class, Jessica can blow away anyone in the masthead. She can also drive them in the office, where she is primarily responsible for producing print and online features, and overseeing major special projects, such as GOLF’s inaugural Style Issue, which debuted in February 2018. Her series The original interview, “A Round With,” debuted in November 2015 and appeared in both magazine and video form on GOLF.com.