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Woods Valley is a bit isolated in northern San Diego County, but the course's layout makes it worth the trip.
Woods Valley is a bit isolated in northern San Diego County, but the course’s layout makes it worth the trip.
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With its location in north San Diego County’s Valley Center, Woods Valley Golf Club has been an under-the-radar favorite with locals since opening about a decade ago.

Course operator JC Golf is hoping to turn up the volume of players discovering, and talking about, the layout with its inclusion in the JC Players Card program, which Woods Valley started in November.

“As soon as we announced it, it was really amazing to see how many new golfers showed up,” said Erik Johnson, JC Golf’s director of operations. “It’s a great golf course that’s been around for over 10 years and we’re excited to use the JC brand to broaden the exposure in the San Diego golf market.”

A boost in play would complete a year that has seen an improvement in course conditions despite the drought. Johnson credits superintendent John Martinez, who formerly oversaw Journey at Pechanga, for coaxing the course to its peak.

“It’s in great condition,” Johnson said. “It’s up to the standard we expect for all of our courses.”

As the name suggests, Woods Valley is tree-lined, but the front nine is more open and receptive to scoring. The course then ups the ante with a challenging ride heading home.

“It’s one of the best back-nine layouts in all of San Diego,” Johnson said. “It goes in and out of the woods, so there’s a lot of visual effect.”

The closing stretch begins with the par-4 10th and its elevated tee overlooking water on the left and woodsy out of bounds to the right. The most picturesque hole is No. 15, a strategic and short par 4 from an elevated tee that offers a gorgeous view of the valley and mountainous surroundings. It’s possible to get on or near the green by cutting the dogleg with a driver, but the more sensible play is a hybrid or long iron aimed at the right turn to set up a wedge approach.

The mix of attractive par 3s and a few drivable par 4s and reachable par 5s brings shot options and scoring opportunities into play, with Johnson saying: “You could play this course several times a month and not get bored.”

Which is what makes JC Golf’s mission all the more paramount.

“Golf courses can be challenged in a lot of ways, but with Woods Valley it’s simply getting the word out, because it’s a great product,” Johnson said. “With our marketing and the JC brand, we’re expecting the course to see sizable growth in rounds (in 2016).”

Woods Valley has an all-grass driving range and SCPGA San Diego Chapter 2015 Player of the Year Grant Strobel as its head professional; the course is also a pure playing experience, with no resort or additional amenities attached.

A word of advice for first-timers is to play the blue tees (6,291 yards) before stepping back to the black tees (6,670 yards) on a return visit. Because of the back nine, you’ll want to see the holes once before taking on any additional distance.

“It’s a really unique place to play,” Johnson said. “If we get people here once, they’re definitely going to come back.”

BY THE NUMBERS

2003 – Year Woods Valley opened as a nine-hole course

2004 – Year it expanded to 18 holes

2015 – Year it was added to the JC Golf Players Card program

15 – Number of minutes it takes to reach the course from I-15 exit

6,670 – Number of yards from the back tees

$59, $79 – Public weekday and weekend green fees

Visit woodsvalleygolfclub.com