Oceanfront golf for $44? It’s possible at this SoCal gem

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

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

My family had gathered in San Diego for birthday celebration, and we were all looking forward to testing out a new area’s muni scene. The top course course on the docket: Coronado — a local treasure that opened in 1957.

Coronado Golf Course

For anyone who hasn’t been, visiting the island of Coronado is an experience in itself. To get there, you cross San Diego Bay via the Coronado Bridge, a gorgeous 2.1 mile journey. You can enjoy panoramic views of the water, downtown San Diego and the nearby U.S. naval base.

The island is beautiful and quaint, and the course is wonderfully unpretentious. It offers a stern test, too. Though it’s only 6,590 yards from the tips on the scorecard, the rating tells you all you need to know: 78.5/138 (!).

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

I was totally charmed Coronado’s easy walkability and the frequent plane and helicopter sightings from the nearby naval base. My entire family had a blast. There are few things sweeter than a late-afternoon tee time at a course by the water. And the best part, of course, is the price. Green fees range from $44-$83, with a $25 booking fee tacked on for visitors hoping to make a tee time up to 14 days in advance. That’s a smokin’ deal in my book. I can’t wait to go back.

Looking for an affordable golf course near you? Visit our new Course Finder tool and search by price!

Related articles

BREAKING: Actresses REFUSE to Act for Tyler Perry After His Diddy Freak-offs LEAK

In Hollywood, the journey to landing roles is notoriously challenging, especially for Black women. This reality was starkly illuminated in a recent conversation surrounding Tyler Perry, a…

Lil Wayne has just exposed something shocking about Diddy, and it’s way bigger than we thought.

Lil Wayne has just exposed something shocking about Diddy, and it’s way bigger than we thought. Lil Waynє’s rєcєnt rєvєlations about Diddy havє causєd wavєs across thє…

A major champ’s 4 keys for the ideal setup in greenside bunkers

After playing in a Member-Guest tournament this past weekend, it’s clear my golf game’s not nearly where it should be — especially when it comes to seeing…

2024 Shriners Children’s Open odds: Swedish pro on hot streak is our long shot

This week’s PGA Tour tournament is the 2024 Shriners Children’s Open, a long-running event held in Las Vegas, and we’re picking a winless Swedish pro whose game is…

Rules Guy: My ball is lodged against a bunker rake. What now?

The Rules of Golf are tricky! Thankfully, we’ve got the guru. Our Rules Guy knows the book front to back. Got a question? He’s got all the…

Fred Couples explains his key for generating effortless power

Welcome to Play Smart, a regular GOLF.com game-improvement column that will help you become a smarter, better golfer. There are few players in the game with a smoother swing than Fred Couples. It…