The most scenic golf courses in San Diego, California
The golf courses within about 25 miles of San Diego, California that Course Vaults golfers rate highest for scenery, from views and setting to the look of the property. Each course needs scenery ratings from at least 5 different golfers who played it; 10 courses qualify.
Also covers La Jolla, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Poway, Oceanside and 7 more nearby towns.
North
Torrey Pines Golf Course
La Jolla, CA, USAScenery 4.8 out of 5 from 25 golfers
PublicWilliam Francis Bell & Tom Weiskopf
- 3.8Conditions
- 3.7Layout
- 2.9Value
- 4.8Scenery
- 3.3Facilities
It isn’t the south course, but it’s still golf on the ocean. That is as much as I can say about it. As a Minnesotan I played here in the winter so my view was skewed as I was just thankful to be playing golf, but this is a glorified muni.
Written by
@Dawgattheturn
- Views
- By water
- Walkable
South
Torrey Pines Golf Course
La Jolla, CA, USAScenery 4.5 out of 5 from 38 golfers
PublicWilliam Francis Bell & Greg Muirhead
- 3.7Conditions
- 3.3Layout
- 2.9Value
- 4.5Scenery
- 3.2Facilities
First off… US Open track so there’s history here. It’s a very solid track that makes you think about every single shot you take. The fairways are tight and lined with fairway bunkers throughout.
Written by
@KAbbassi
- By water
- Walkable
- Views
Coronado Golf Course
Coronado, CA, USAScenery 4.4 out of 5 from 6 golfers
PublicJack Daray
- 3.5Conditions
- 2.9Layout
- 3.4Value
- 4.4Scenery
- 2.9Facilities
Great value for the view, flat and relatively easy for a decent golfer. It feels like it’s nicer than it is simply because you can see the ocean from nearly every hole.
Written by
@nick-jason
- Walkable
- By water
- Driving range
Maderas Golf Club
Poway, CA, USAScenery 3.8 out of 5 from 10 golfers
PublicRobert Muir Graves & Johnny Miller
- 3.7Conditions
- 4.3Layout
- 3.3Value
- 3.8Scenery
- 3.5Facilities
- Challenging
- Driving range
- Grass range
Champions
Omni La Costa Resort & Spa
Carlsbad, CA, USAScenery 3.8 out of 5 from 5 golfers
PublicDamian Pascuzzo
- 3.8Conditions
- 3.9Layout
- 3.4Value
- 3.8Scenery
- 4.5Facilities
The toughest course I’ve played, but the greens were spectacular. Gil Hanse crushed it on this design, it was similar to some other Hanse courses I’ve played : Fields Ranch East, Rustic Canyon, Colonial CC. If you miss your approach shot you’re staring at double bogey.
Written by
@lock
- Challenging
- Driving range
- Links
Encinitas Ranch Golf Course
Encinitas, CA, USA
Scenery 3.8 out of 5 from 5 golfers
The Crossings at Carlsbad
Carlsbad, CA, USA
Scenery 3.8 out of 5 from 7 golfers
Aviara Golf Club
Carlsbad, CA, USA
Scenery 3.7 out of 5 from 8 golfers
(Eighteen Hole) Balboa Park Municipal Golf Club
San Diego, CA, USA
Scenery 3.2 out of 5 from 6 golfers
Goat Hill Park
Oceanside, CA, USA
Scenery 2.8 out of 5 from 7 golfers
How we rank
This ranking uses each golfer’s scenery rating, on a 0.5–5 scale. Scenery is the scenery score golfers give when they log a round. Every golfer counts once per course: repeat rounds are averaged first, then the course score is the average across golfers. A course needs scenery ratings from at least 5 different golfers. Ties go to the course with more golfers, then the higher Course Vaults score. Only open courses with a published Course Vaults score (at least 5 explicit ratings) are eligible, and a page is published only when at least 5 courses qualify. City pages include courses within about 25 miles of San Diego, so nearby suburbs can appear. Rankings refresh about hourly.
FAQ
North at Torrey Pines Golf Course is #1 on Course Vaults in and around San Diego, California at Scenery 4.8/5 (25 golfers). 10 courses qualify for this list.
This ranking uses each golfer’s scenery rating, on a 0.5–5 scale. Scenery is the scenery score golfers give when they log a round. Every golfer counts once per course: repeat rounds are averaged first, then the course score is the average across golfers. A course needs scenery ratings from at least 5 different golfers. Ties go to the course with more golfers, then the higher Course Vaults score. Only open courses with a published Course Vaults score (at least 5 explicit ratings) are eligible, and a page is published only when at least 5 courses qualify. City pages include courses within about 25 miles of San Diego, so nearby suburbs can appear. Rankings refresh about hourly.
A course appears once at least 5 different golfers have rated its scenery on Course Vaults. Log your round and rate it in the app to help it qualify.
Yes. It includes qualifying courses within about 25 miles of San Diego, not only courses whose address is in the city.
This page was last generated Nov 12, 2026, 4:00 AM EST. Scores and eligibility are recomputed about every hour.
