Best golf courses near Oceanside, CA

This upscale residential course wanders a lovely site in the dry, stony foothills in north San Diego County. The design is a contrast of sculpted architecture with smooth-edged, cape-and-bay style bunkering, reflection ponds and flowing fairway lines set against the property’s rugged ridges and canyons, with long views toward the Pacific off the highest points. The first nine circles through the development’s more compact residences while the second nine flares out into open country under the purview of large luxury estates. The club’s namesake bridges connect several holes that leap over valleys and the Escondido Creek ravine.

Aviara, part of an upscale Hyatt resort, has held the LPGA's JTBC Classic (formerly the Kia Classic) for the past nine years. The only Arnold Palmer design in the area, this resort course meanders through rolling hillsides and is landscaped with native Southern California wildflowers.

Just north of San Diego, this Carlsbad championship course has hosted 37 PGA Tour events since it opened in the 1950s, but four new holes were added during its 2011 renovation by Steve Pete, Damian Pascuzzo and Jeff Brauer. This layout meanders through the surrounding valley—providing an enjoyable setting with some history.

Originally built as a nine-hole par-36 track in 1952, Goat Hill was reimagined in the early 1990s as an 18-hole short course and was loved by locals. In the early 2000s, Goat Hill struggled under mismanagement and was revived in 2014 by local residents John Ashworth, David Emerick and Geoff Cunningham. Since then, it’s quickly becoming known as a go-to spot in Southern California for fun, challenging golf, recreation and socializing. It’s a par-65, 4,454-yard layout that features 9 par 4s, eight par 3s and one par 5. Most of these holes roll up and down hills and offer beautiful water views.