Not every course in Southern California was designed as a place of worship to professional golf. Many courses, like Castle Creek Country Club in Escondido, offer public golf that both fun and well-priced for players of all abilities.
At Castle Creek, it’s all about fun when it comes to golf. The greens fees are a steal at $50 or less, the food and beverage is inexpensive, and everyone working there is friendly and accommodating. It’s the kind of place you want to play and then hang around on the patio for a drink or two afterwards.
Opened in 1948 as a Jack Daray design before a later rework by Perry Dye, Castle Creek features a relatively easy front nine that sets the stage for a much more difficult finishing nine. Starters constantly hear players say that they shot their best nine ever when making the turn, only to have their hopes of a career round crushed on the back.
What gets them? It starts with three holes (a par four and two par fives) that are narrow and difficult. They’re excellent golf holes, just difficult ones that require strategy off the tee. After that, water comes into play.
A creek runs across holes 13, 14, 16, and 17, languidly waiting to snatch balls that are off-line. The toughest of those – the 418-yard par four 14th – sports the creek running in front of the tee box and then down the entire left side of the hole before cutting back in front of the green.
It’s all about holding on for dear life on the way into Castle Creeks clubhouse.