Overview
Just minutes from downtown San Diego, this Johnny Miller and Robert Muir Graves design snakes through rolling foothills with an abundance of elevation changes. Maderas not only features a challenging, target-oriented layout, but it also stars over forty acres of native wildflowers.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
100 Greatest Public: Ranked for four years from 2013-'16.
Highest ranking: No. 89, 2013-'14.
Best in State: Ranked in the top 45, 2013-'16.
2023-'24 ranking: 56th.
Previous ranking: Unranked.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“Perhaps a hard to justify cost when compared to some of San Diego's more famous public tracks, Maderas is well presented but anultimately forgettable resort type course. Lots of pinch points calling for layups off the tee and mostly desert scrub on the edges, it uses convoluted green complexes to present challenge that is missing from the layout."
Read More2025
Review
“This Johnny Miller designed course in association with Robert Muir Graves is a unique layout with significant elevation changes. The course presents a number of challenges particularly because of numerous blind shots on both the tee boxes and fairways. Judging distances because of the many uphill and downhill shots creates additional challenges for the golfer. Further understanding the contour of the course is important to know how your ball may roll on the fairway and onto the green or possibly off of it. Many of the greens have multiple tiers which puts a premium on placement of approach shots on the green. Because of the varying contours around the greens, understanding the subtle breaks on the greens is challenging. Overall, the course winds around through the rolling hills of Southern California and provides both a fun and challenging experience because of its unique layout."
Read More2024
Review
“Maderas Golf Club is an upscale public par 72, 7,063 yard course located 45 minutes north of San Diego in Poway, California. The Robert Graves design, assisted by Johnny Miller, is routed through difficult, hilly terrain with several forced carries over barranca and water. The course offers a good blend of short, medium, and long holes and significant elevation changes on the majority making club selection very important. Maderas is a drawers paradise with 8 of the non-par 3 holes favoring a right to left ball flight and only 6 favoring a fade. Undulating and sloped fairways put a premium on clean contact and increase the difficulty of most approach shots. Maderas GC is a challenging course from the back tees for your typical scratch golfer. Fairly tight fairways, copious forced carries and water in play on many holes, difficult, deep bunkers, uneven lies even in the fairway and plenty of do-not-hit-it-here locations provide a very good test of golf. Add quick and sloped greens to the equation and Maderas plays to its high slope of 142 and rating of 75.2. The course was in very good condition with tight and firm fairways, consistently fast, firm, and true greens, and well-maintained bunkers. The hilly terrain provides some beautiful views of the desert, particularly the elevated tees on the back nine par 3s. The course winds through tranquil, wooded terrain with meandering creeks and ponds. Maderas GC seems to be a course that one will enjoy more as additional rounds are played as some course knowledge will certainly help avoid the dangerous areas and enhance the experience. Overall, Maderas is a very enjoyable and well-conditioned test of golf in a picturesque setting."
Read More2024
Review
“In the era of width off the tee and hugely sloped greens this course unabashedly requires you to Golf your ball then rewards you with greens you can make some putts on. I found that a little refreshing. A lot of quality holes to enjoy."
Read More2023
Review
“The course and facilities are beautifully maintained and offers a great variety of holes in a great setting. Pace of play was excellent as was the service throughout. It's a don't miss if you're in the San Diego area."
Read More2023
Review
“interesting ride through the barranca and hills, with good conditions."
Read More2023
Review
“No flat spots on these greens. Firm fast greens. Not unfair just difficult if not in the right spot."
Read More2022
Review
“An up and down course that has great variety but is difficult if windy. From the back tees it is a real championship course. I liked the course but it is not a course for high handicap players."
Read More2021
Review
“Beautifully landscaped with great vistas. Lots of fun with some big bomber holes. Great condition from tee to green. Some blind and difficult to judge shots but overall a great experience."
Read More2021
Review
“Very nice facilities but most of the staff seem to be going through the motions rather that showing genuine interest in their work and the golfers experience."
Read More2018
Readers
Collection of reviews from our readers
There are no readers reviews yet. Be the first to write a review.