Beer ‘N Golf

Tecolote is a par 58 course that winds through Tecolote Canyon. Tecolote is known for swallowing balls along the river and spitting balls out on the canyon wall. It’s  not a difficult executive course, but it is narrow and takes advantage of the natural elevation changes in the canyon. The greens are fast but fairly easy to read. Make sure you have everything you need, cause this is an out and back course. Overall the course is one of the better executives in the area but it plays slower than desired. Tecolote is a Bass Pale Ale. It’s always enjoyable, but it’s never the first choice.

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Mission Bay has a special place in my heart. I was where I learned the game. And the reason I had to spend 3 grand on lessons to fix everything I learned there. ….. For me, the only reason to play at Mission Bay is to sharpen my skills for the next showdown with that ten year old neighbor who thinks he owns me on the mini golf course. Talk about some big stakes. we throw it down with nickel skins no carryovers. back to the course. Bring a helmet, cause this is a dangerous course. Especially numbers 2,3,5,11,12, and 13-18. Sometimes it feels like the fairways( all 30 yards worth) overlap. Oh and when I brought up the putt putt…. it’s because 30 yard holes don’t count as “executive”. For all you Corona drinkers out there I have good news. No they don’t have your beer, but…. you can wear your flip flops and wife beaters. Hell you can even walk here when you wake up sunday morning in the alley behind PB Bar & Grill. Talk about convenience…..Now don’t get me wrong… I’m not saying I don’t like the course, but…….On to the rating. Mission Bay ranks in at as a Corona Light. You know you could do better, but you were already in PB, so why not?

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I have a love/hate relationship with Riverwalk. This course is like that hooker you’ve been seeing for twenty years… and you don’t know why you keep going back until you get there, and remember that she’s the only hooker in town, and she doesn’t mind your post ejaculatory crying. Get the point yet??? Ok good. Any more and my wife might figure out that I’m not talking about her.On to the important part. The Course. Riverwalk prides itself on it’s course maintenance and it shows. There are times when I wonder if the groundskeepers outnumber the customers. The course looks good and plays better. While the water hazards are challenging, I always seem to play better than expected. I have a special place in my heart for this course as I scored my first and only eagle here(Friars #8). Riverwalk features three 9-hole courses that are paired together to form 3 different courses in one. This keeps a fairly fast pace of play(3.5-4 hours) at a rather busy course. I’ve found the course a little pricey without coupons or special deals. Riverwalk’s location is the cause my greatest compliment and complaint. Central to the heart of the city makes Riverwalk the most accessible course in the city. Yet centrality has its price, as Riverwalk feels cramped with fairways side to side, back to back, and sometimes it even feels as they are stacked on top of each other. So keep an eye out for errant shots. The dress code is actually enforced, so remember your knickers, and think about bringing a helmet. Overall, a round at Riverwalk is like a round of Guinness. With the first sip you remember why you love it. And it’s not until you wake up with a massive headache the next morning that you realize why you hate it all the same. 
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In October 2007, fires swept through San Diego county leveling thousands of homes, and scorching hundreds of thousands of acres of land. The most devastating result of these fires by far, was the two stroke penalty I incurred during my round at Eagle Crest because of fire damaged land that I could not hit out of. Ok maybe those thousands of homes cost more than my Noodle, but dammit I lost $2.00 today. Honestly though, it took me at least 5 holes before I remembered the devastation that happened only months ago. Living here, in San Diego, I forget that the fires ever happened. When I play a course like Eagle Crest, I am reminded of how lucky we are. Now. . . before I start tearing up, let me tell you about the course.Up front, I will tell you that there is only one major flaw at this course. Grass Selection! The tee boxes are decent, and the greens are acceptable, But the fairways. . . . . felt like a dallas backyard in August. I understand the climate at Eagle Crest is not conducive to growth (I can’t imagine playing here in the summer), but this course would be so much more enjoyable if the fairways were in better shape. Aside from the fairways, this was one of the most enjoyable rounds I’ve played all year. The course challenges both accuracy and range with narrow fairways and well placed hazards. The wildlife has started to rebound from the fires, so the scenery was beautiful and refreshing. Eagle Crest does an amazing job of incorporating the natural scenery into and around the course. The greens are tough to read, but definitely manageable. A few holes are difficult to read how it will play, and could benefit from a course layout book or GPS. Overall, Eagle Crest is a challenging course that reminds you why you play the game. On a scale from 1 to 10(1 the worst and 10 the best) I give Eagle Crest a… Stone Imperial Russian Stout. Not my everyday round, but when I want a kick in the ass and a good time, this is my choice.
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While some of you might disagree, I think Salt Creek is the ’sweetest’ course in San Diego. Did you pick up on that awesome joke I just made? I know, it’s corny, but I couldn’t resist. If it’s been a while since you’ve played here, all you need to know is that it’s not the same ‘auld’ course it used to be. Ok, no more jokes. Gotta stay on point. After playing here 15-20 times, I am continually challenged by each and every round at Salt Creek. While it is challenging, the course is also rather enjoyable. The fairways are the shortest in town, and run forever. There are plenty of hazards in play, but are not as intimidating as they look. The greens run fast and true, and are typically in great shape. The course plays a little longer than I’d like at around 4:30-5:00 hours. For the money, Salt Creek can’t be beat. If I lived any closer, I’d be poor, single and unemployed. Well, 2 out of 3 ain’t bad.This is my Stone Pale Ale. Salt Creek is my favorite local round that never disappoints. Always my first choice, and I’ll sneak a round in even when I know can’t.
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At $35.00 including lunch (with coupon), I figured it would be worth the 35 minute drive.  I was able to walk on and get out within minutes. On to the course. Being that the course is situated in the heart of Eastlake, there was not a single hole without houses on at least one side. Most tee shots can be put in the fairway as errant shots are funneled away from houses. Water seems to be emphasized, yet the lakes were easy enough to play around. In fact, my ball found more water in the sand traps than in the lakes. The sand was hard, wet, and thick just like my….. Oh, wait, family site. Moving on… The greens were rougher than they looked, but were fairly true. Try to stay below the hole on the greens as most slope back to front and are tiered. The GPS was helpful, and the lunch was as good as a hot dog and a bag of fritos can be. This is the Riverwalk of the ‘Burbs.Overall, since this is Beerngolf.com, Coors Lite seems to be a good comparison for me. Definitely not my first or second choice, but a safe choice if in the mood for an easy round that goes down smooth.
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