San Diego golf courses: tee times & green fees 2027
San Diego County gives you three very different ways onto a good course, and the rules matter more than the yardage. Torrey Pines, the city-owned clifftop site of two U.S. Opens in La Jolla, sells most of its times to residents, so a visitor chases a 90-day online release and pays US$50 per player just to hold a slot. Aviara Golf Club, Arnold Palmer’s course at the Park Hyatt in Carlsbad, takes anyone up to 60 days out with a cart in the price. Omni La Costa, under two miles from Aviara, admits only resort guests and members, so the hotel room is your ticket. Carlsbad lies about 20 miles up Interstate 5 from Torrey, which means one hire car covers all three. Below they sit side by side: fees, windows, closures and drives.
- Courses compared3
- Public rates fromUS$156
- Fly intoSan Diego (SAN)
- SeasonYear-round
- Furthest apartAbout 20 miles
Compare San Diego courses
Tap a pin for photos, prices and a booking link.
| Course | Green fee from | What’s included | Getting there | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 1Torrey PinesMunicipal 36 holes | US$258Checked October 2026 · details | Bookpackage via GolfbreaksRead the guide | ||
 2Aviara Golf ClubResort course, open to the public | US$200Checked November 2026 · details | Bookpackage via GolfbreaksRead the guide | ||
 3Omni La Costa Resort & Spa (North Course)Resort-guest and member golf | US$199Checked November 2026 · details | Bookpackage via GolfbreaksRead the guide |
Prices are the lowest published or listed visitor rates we found, with their source and date on each guide. Partner links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. How we work
Which San Diego course should you book?
Torrey Pines
Torrey Pines South, where Tiger Woods won the 2008 U.S. Open in a Monday playoff and the Farmers Insurance Open returns each winter. Set an alarm for the 7pm release, or stay at the Lodge for a reserved time.
Green fees & bookingAviara Golf Club
Aviara, the only San Diego course Arnold Palmer designed. Anyone can book 60 days ahead, the fee covers a cart and range balls, and a 3pm start costs US$200 in November and December.
Green fees & bookingOmni La Costa Resort & Spa (North Course)
Omni La Costa’s North Course, rebuilt by Gil Hanse and reopened in June 2024 to host the NCAA finals. The room comes first, and the par-three 16th plays to a diagonal green across water.
Green fees & bookingAll San Diego golf packages on Golfbreaks
What a round really costs.
- Green fee+
- Booking fee+
- Cart+
- Your bed
The three price lists work differently, so add the extras before you compare. At Torrey Pines a non-resident on the South Course pays US$258 from Monday to Thursday or US$322 from Friday to Sunday, then US$48 for a cart if you ride and the non-refundable US$50 booking fee, which puts a weekday round with a cart at about US$356. The North Course starts at US$163. Aviara’s November and December public rates of US$350, US$275 and US$200, set by start time, already cover a cart and range balls, and Hyatt guests save US$50. La Costa’s North costs resort guests US$389, or US$199 late in the day, on top of the room.
Getting around.
San Diego International (SAN) is the airport for all three. Torrey Pines is the closest, roughly 15 miles and 25 minutes north in light traffic. Carry on up Interstate 5 for about another 20 miles and you reach Carlsbad, where Aviara and La Costa sit less than two miles apart, each around 30 miles or 40 minutes from SAN. A hire car makes most sense, since your clubs ride with you. Without one, the Coaster commuter train runs from downtown to Carlsbad Poinsettia station and a short taxi finishes the trip. Los Angeles (LAX) is about two hours away by road if the fares are better there.
When to play.
All three courses are open in every month, so the calendar is about crowds and closures rather than climate. Winter brings mild days and the busiest tee sheets, and Torrey Pines is shut or restricted around the Farmers Insurance Open in late January or early February. In May and June the marine layer often keeps mornings grey, and La Costa’s North Course is handed to the NCAA championships in the second half of May, an arrangement that runs to 2028. September and October tend to be the warmest, clearest stretch on this coast. Whatever the month, skip Tuesdays if you want the North at La Costa.
Questions golfers ask.
What are the best golf courses in San Diego for visitors?
Torrey Pines South for championship pedigree, Aviara for a resort course anyone can book, and the North Course at La Costa if you are happy to stay at the Omni. Torrey’s North Course, redesigned by Tom Weiskopf in 2016, is often easier to get on than the South and costs less.
Is it hard to get a tee time at Torrey Pines?
For visitors, yes. Residents take most of the sheet, and non-residents compete for times released at 7pm each evening, up to 90 days ahead. A booked time cannot be moved or handed to someone else. The same-day virtual standby list and the Lodge at Torrey Pines’ guest block are the fallbacks.
Can you play La Costa without staying at the resort?
No. Both courses are reserved for Omni La Costa guests and club members. Guests call the golf shop up to 90 days out, and the resort rotates guests between the North and South each day, so ask which one you will get before you pay for the room.
How much does golf cost in San Diego?
Non-resident fees at Torrey Pines run from US$156 for South Course twilight to US$322 at weekends, with cart and booking fee extra. Aviara’s late-2026 public rates are US$200 to US$350 including a cart. La Costa’s North charges resort guests US$199 to US$389.
Which San Diego golf course is closest to the airport?
Torrey Pines, about 15 miles and 25 minutes north of San Diego International. Aviara and La Costa are both around 30 miles up Interstate 5 in Carlsbad, so allow roughly 40 minutes outside rush hour.