Carmel Mountain Ranch
Carmel Mountain Ranch is a challenging semi private country club that has done a good job keeping higher standard than most courses. The property was designed to be a private country club and is evident when you drive up to the clubhouse. The clubhouse is designed somewhat like a southern plantation, with the rich white folks inside sipping on a sweet tea while the……Nevermind… Moving on….. One thing lacking between the clubhouse and the first tee, is a driving range. Luckily the I15 is close enough to get in a few practice shots and keep from having back pressure. A well placed shot into the #3 lane can keep the freeway stacked and the course empty for hours. The course is designed to test your shot making ability with well placed hazards, narrow sloping fairways, and difficult par 3’s. In fact I need to mention #15, a 220 yard par 3 with a fast green and 2 bunkers placed below the hole right around 200 yards. You will need your drive of the day to put it on off the tee. Why a drive you say?? Oh did I forget to mention the 3o yard climb in elevation that makes this hole play closer to 275. Oh yeah…. to make you feel better, #16 is the #18 hdcp hole that makes you feel like your 12 year old son on an exciting friday night at Family Fun Center, as you try to navigate the three tiered L-shaped green. You should get the point by now. What I have to congratulate CMR for is the integrity of play. Most country club type courses that are this challenging, do everything they can to open the course to every Tom, Dick, and Harry, by offering course books and GPS to make it easier than designed. CMR, while equipped for GPS, still requires to get yardage the good old fashioned way, keeping a higher caliber of clientele. I know that eventually CMR will fold to the pressure of new technology, but there is something to be said for keeping the integrity of the original design of the course. Carmel Mountain Ranch rates as a Stone Ruination IPA, because you’re never quite ready for that first hit. Carmel Mountain Ranch Country Club14050 Carmel Ridge RdSan Diego, CA 92128(858) 487-9224