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
1778 Reviews 1778 Reviews
5 Stars
232
4 Stars
637
3 Stars
422
2 Stars
267
1 Stars
220
Conditions
2.5
Value
3.2
Layout
3.9
Friendliness
4.2
Pace
3.4
Amenities
3.4
57.2%
Recommend this course
1138 out of 1778 reviews
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Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.1
100 Reviews 100 Reviews
5 Stars
16
4 Stars
27
3 Stars
27
2 Stars
11
1 Stars
19
Conditions
2.6
Value
3.3
Layout
4.1
Pace
3.5
Amenities
3.5
StaffFriendliness
4.3
59.0%
Recommend this course
59 out of 100 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
2.9
213 Reviews 213 Reviews
5 Stars
25
4 Stars
54
3 Stars
54
2 Stars
40
1 Stars
40
Conditions
2.3
Value
3.1
Layout
3.9
Pace
3.4
Amenities
3.4
StaffFriendliness
4.3
53.5%
Recommend this course
114 out of 213 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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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
1778 Reviews (1778)

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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Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 3
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Not worth the amount being charged. Greens are nice and some parts of the fairway. Mostly dirt all around.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Poor Condition

Course had an excellent challenging layout from the championship tees. The tee boxes were very uneven and were very shaggy, very hard to find a good place to tee up your ball. The bunkers were also in terrible condition with little to no sand in most of them. The course could be a gem if it was maintained properly.

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Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 16
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Awesome!

As usual it was great! Many improvements on the course too!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 112
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 500 Contributor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Carlton Oaks

Nicest people in pro shop. A difficult course in afternoon with wind. Getting better all the time.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 72
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

The course has a country feel with lakes and views of the mountains and a great layout. To report new or 7 changes in

I like this course it's got a great layout got lakes and bunkers very challenging. I recommend this course the staff is very nice the cart girl is very attentive and very nice. The restaurant and bars very nice the employees are fantastic give it a try.

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Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 9
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
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 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

From the rough

This San Diego Pete Dye course is one to visit. The rough is tough and tall, play from the fairway..!
The staff is great and very helpful. Target golf is recommended. Use golf now apps for discounts.
The Driving Range is in need of work.. The fairways and greens are only fair for a Dye course.

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Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
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 72
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 76
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
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