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Balboa Park has been around for 100 years. Plans are in the works to keep it relevant for many years to come.
Balboa Park has been around for 100 years. Plans are in the works to keep it relevant for many years to come.
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It’s hard to believe that a course with views of San Diego’s skyline could qualify as a hiding gem, but that’s the case at Balboa Park, a local favorite that opened in 1915 yet barely registers regionally or with tourists.

If outsiders have heard of it, it’s likely in reference to Phil Mickelson playing his formative rounds there or still joining his kids for an occasional loop. Another possibility is hearing about Sam Snead’s course record of 60 shot in 1943, a mark that still carries a magical aura because of the legend attached.

Beyond that, Balboa exists as a humble home for golfers seeking a round downtown. The course is narrow, a bit quirky in places, but remains a great walk in the park.

“It’s a cherished treasure in San Diego,” said Paul Cushing, assistant deputy director for the City of San Diego’s golf courses. “It has an incredible local following.”

With an 18-hole and 9-hole course on property, Balboa is a venue for all ages, and at a good value.

“For $14 you can get out and play nine holes,” Cushing said of the rate for residents on the shorter option. “You can’t find that hardly anywhere anymore.”

The 18-holer gets 60,000 rounds a year, the nine-hole option 50,000. That’s an impressive amount of play for a game supposedly on the decline. Cushing said rounds are actually on the rise at Balboa, partly because of recent improvements that include a new irrigation system, cart paths and minor layout tweaks. On the drawing board, but with no official start date, are renovations to some of the facility’s structures with a goal of luring more visitors.

“We’re looking to attract more non-golfers through an upgraded restaurant and more attractive clubhouse experience,” Cushing said. “People in the community really like coming out to Balboa to eat and we’re looking to improve their experience.”

Maximizing the clubhouse view of downtown is part of that plan, including adding patio space. Expanding pro shop space will similarly expand options for golfers, many of whom cherish the executive course as much as the 18.

“It’s a great, fun golf course with a good variety of par 3s and 4s,” Cushing said. “You can hit every club in the bag, and it’s a very easy walk with trees and rolling hills. People just love it.”

The 18-hole option begins and ends beautifully, with an elevated tee box on No. 1 providing the first glimpse of downtown. But it’s the closing three holes that really stand out when it comes to perimeter beauty: No. 16, a 555-yard par-5, is a fairly tight tee shot with OB stakes present but downtown views that are perhaps the best of the day; No. 17, a 198-yard par-3 with an elevated box and the last of a quartet of stellar short holes; and No. 18, a short par-4 nicknamed Cardiac Hill because of a steep rise to the green that leaves walkers panting. Avoid the trees on the left and a walk-off birdie in the shadow of the clubhouse is definitely possible.

And as you walk or drive away, it’s hard to imagine that a round at San Diego’s oldest golf course could ever get old.

BY THE NUMBERS

1915: Year Balboa Park opened, making it the oldest course in San Diego

1943: Year Sam Snead shot the course record (60)

28: Snead’s score on the front nine of his record round

27: Holes at the facility, which includes a par-32 nine-hole option

110,000: Annual rounds played at the two courses

$14, $10: Rates to walk the nine-hole course for residents and seniors