Carlton Oaks Lodge & Country Club in Santee, California, USA | GolfPass
Carlton Oaks GC
A view of a hole at Carlton Oaks Golf Club.
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3.0
1763 Reviews 1763 Reviews
5 Stars
228
4 Stars
631
3 Stars
421
2 Stars
264
1 Stars
219
Conditions
2.5
Value
3.2
Layout
3.9
Friendliness
4.2
Pace
3.4
Amenities
3.4
56.5%
Recommend this course
1127 out of 1763 reviews
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Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.0
96 Reviews 96 Reviews
5 Stars
13
4 Stars
24
3 Stars
27
2 Stars
13
1 Stars
19
Conditions
2.5
Value
3.2
Layout
4.0
Pace
3.3
Amenities
3.4
StaffFriendliness
4.3
55.2%
Recommend this course
53 out of 96 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.0
217 Reviews 217 Reviews
5 Stars
28
4 Stars
55
3 Stars
56
2 Stars
37
1 Stars
41
Conditions
2.4
Value
3.1
Layout
3.9
Pace
3.4
Amenities
3.4
StaffFriendliness
4.3
53.9%
Recommend this course
117 out of 217 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Resort/Public
Par 72
Length 7304 yards
Slope 142
Rating 75.1

Carlton Oaks Country Club is the only public Dye Design golf course in San Diego. The course is covered with hundreds of mature trees interspersed with sparkling blue lakes and meandering creeks. The layout offers a diverse mix of holes that all possess a unique character. They all offer different challenges in the form of either water hazards of strategically placed sand traps along the fairways. Tricky pot bunkers and interesting elevation changes were also incorporated into the design as well as Dye's signature railroad ties. There are five very different sets of tees that offer a challenging round from the back tees but also enough playability to appeal to a range of skill levels. In addition to the enjoyable layout, Carlton Oaks is one San Diego's most centrally located courses, sitting just minutes from downtown and many of the city's major attractions.

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Carlton Oaks Golf Club
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Course Details

Year Built 1958
Golf Season Year round
Architect William W. Mast (1958) Perry Dye (1989)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes

Food & Beverage

Bar, Grill

Lodging

Lodging Available

Available Activities

Swimming, Billiards
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Reviews

3.0
1763 Reviews (1763)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 37
Patio Dining 20
Watching the Game 20
Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 54
Water Hazards 53
Undulating Greens 41
This course/club is great for:
Advanced Golfers 44
Locals 35
Walkers 24
This Course's Location is:
Convenient to the City 38
In the 'Burbs 35
Worth the Drive 26

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Reviewer Photos

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 16
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Carlton Oaks Review 26May2025

Carlton Oaks remains a consistently enjoyable course. The staff, from groundskeepers to management, is professional and courteous. While the lack of GPS in the carts is a minor inconvenience given the prevalence of GPS watches and rangefinders, and the morning watering of the greens was a slight distraction, the biggest drawback was the poor condition of the sand traps, many of which were nearly devoid of sand. Despite this, playing from the Green Tees resulted in a great round and a positive overall experience.

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Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Walked

Needs Improvement

5.5 hour round... tee'd off at 10am 5/26. Played the front 9 in 2.5 hours and the back 9 actually slowed down. Brutal day out there, the layout is great but if staff doesn't get a hold of pace of play and how chewed up it is if you miss the fairway they are in trouble.

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Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

The greens and T boxes in excellent condition.
Fairways poor condition. Great value for money and to practice,

Conditions Fair
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 71
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played

This course is really nice it's easy access to get to off the freeway it's got a driving range of putting green chipping area very tranquil scenery

I really enjoy playing this course the people here are great the employees are all very helpful always in a good mood and the course layout is just fantastic. Very challenging course to play got some Lakes views of the mountains the only thing that's not greater the sand traps. Definitely worth playing the food there is really good they got a real nice bar in the outside patio is used with fantastic views.

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Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Dirt course

Hitting off dirt most of the time. Some parts of the course look nice tho.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 72
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Solid round, midweek play

Found a good deal on golf now and enjoyed my afternoon. The tee boxes were shaggy and hard to grip with my shoes but the greens were nice and fast. Will play here again.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 5
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 132
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 250 Contributor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Bumpy ride

Ranger finder bounced off magnetic hold several times. Fairways and cart paths are miserable bumpy rides.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Cold weather
Used cart

Golf at Carlton Oaks

Great day on the course with my son. Friendly staff and cart girl had a great personality. Front 9 pace was really good but, the back 9 was really bogged down. My son was hoping to order from the restaurant at the turn but it didn't open until 11:00 so that was a bummer. We will book again soon.

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Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Horrible pace

Thought I would give it another chance after 3 years. We quit on hole 14 after 4 hours of slow play. Design is bumps and mounds and not much fun

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Fair
Pace Poor
Played On
Reviews 25
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

....Was a Nice Day........

...joined up with a fine 3-some, it was pretty green out there, kinda rough in places. best to be in the fairway on most holes. greens were good tho a bit bumpy at times. It played good but a couple of holes got me good...did it in 4.5hr on a weekday........

Show All
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 60
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Carlton Oaks Santee golf

Bunkers need attention, and greens starting to dry out,
Some iffy spots in fairways but overall decent deal.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 132
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 250 Contributor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Need a kidney belt to play with cart.

Bumpiest course on the west coast. My laser finder bounced off the rail several times. Even the concrete paths were uneven, broken and bouncy.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
1.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

The worst

The worst! do not play unless you want to quit playing golf!

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
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