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Salt Creek Golf Club in Chula Vista is considered the most links-like layout in San Diego.
Salt Creek Golf Club in Chula Vista is considered the most links-like layout in San Diego.
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The U.S. Open at Chambers Bay has put links golf in the spotlight this year. One course hoping to capitalize on the publicity bump is Salt Creek Golf Club in Chula Vista, the most links-like course in San Diego.

Located 15 minutes south of downtown, Salt Creek is celebrating its 15th anniversary in the midst of changes to its ownership, clubhouse and course setup. Salt Creek staff hopes the changes and the lure of links golf attract more people to the experience, but general manager Armando Najera and director of golf Marco Ochoa know the concept will never be for everyone.

“We have a lot of people who really love it, and then there are some people who it’s just not their thing,” Najera said. “But the people who love it like that it’s a different golf course every day. You can hit the same spot in the fairway two straights days and end up in two different spots because of the wind.”

Getting people to that second round can be tricky on a course with multiple blind tee shots and layout quirks to master.

“You get a feel for the golf course after about three to five rounds,” Ochoa said. “But the problem is that a lot of people don’t give it that second chance because it’s not what they’re used to.”

With that, Salt Creek has tried to use exposure from the U.S. and British opens as teachable moments for players, especially the younger ones.

“We had our biggest summer attendance ever this summer at our (five-day) golf camps,” Ochoa said. “We’re doing our part to grow the game.”

Good shots don’t always have good outcomes on links courses because of fairway firmness and sloping hills, but bad ones also can get good breaks.

“When you fight links golf, you only get in more trouble,” Najera said. “You’ve got to adapt to the style of the golf course.”

The terrain also allows for creative play, especially in the short game.

“It’s bump and run, or we’ll have people putt from 50 yards out,” Ochoa said. “You can do that here.”

It takes a similar mix of creativity and club selection off the tee at the course that measures 6,829 yards from the tips but usually plays shorter because of the terrain.

“You’ve got to play from the fairway here and sometimes that means taking iron or hybrid or 3-wood off the tee,” Najera said. “It’s not a course where you want to take driver every hole.”

To enhance the links look and feel at Salt Creek, Pacific Hospitality Group has given the clubhouse a faux finish resembling clubhouses in Scotland. The new owners also added a deck overlooking the 18th hole that can accommodate 80 people.

Keeping locals coming back and attracting new players from places such as Arizona and Canada is crucial to Salt Creek’s success, but Ochoa said the added exposure and appreciation for links golf in 2015 can only help.

“We’re a much different golf experience than anything you find in San Diego,” he said. “It’s what sets us apart.”

BY THE NUMBERS

2 – Meals you can get out of the BLT, the par-5 of BLTs

14 – Hole closest to Mexico, which can be seen from the green

1,903 – Yardage difference between the forward tees (4,926) and tips (6,829)

2000 – Year course opened

2012 – Year course came under new ownership

90 – Driving time, in minutes, between Salt Creek and its sister course, Warner Springs