Retreat golf course, anybody been there before?
- Thread starter jenhaoyen
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I have played this course a few times when I lived in San Diego (It's about an hour north of North San Diego on HWY 15). I loved it A) because I like tough golf courses and battling that challenge and B) because I like to play on nicely manicured golf courses that are beautiful. (not that I do that often)
Due to the extreme nature of the course - if you like some high risk reward shots - then you'll love it - if you don't like a "tricked" up course - then you'll call it unfair and you will not go back. There are a number of greens where you either hit the green or you are left with no shot or a very difficult shot.
The clubhouse is very nice.
I'd give it five out of five stars but due to the degree of difficulty and severe elevation changes - it helps to play the course a few times, bring enough balls, and you better like a challenge or you will hate it. The higher your handicap - the more I would say this is not the course for you.
Your third photo down is a shot from the tee of hole #3 a pretty severe dogleg left hole - you are just looking at the landing area for the tee shot- say 200-220 out- or you can take a Driver and hit it 280 over the part of the "mountain" on the left- risky. Then your 4th photo is taken from another fairway looking back down on that same hole #3- you can just see a sliver of the green at the bottom of the hill.
Due to the elevation changes and quantity of disaster lurking around greens and fairways it's a tough course. In addition, the greens have a lot of tiers and slope to them - your photo #2 shows one of the flattest greens on the course.
Your last photo- shows the #1 green - clearly on the left- notice the traps in the front- and how the greens are narrow from front to back - with unplayable lies around the back and steep slopes in front. In this last photo- directly ahead is the 10th green - par 5 - it's a 200 yard tee shot to a landing area where this photo is taken - then an iron shot to the landing area below or 230 to reach the green - risky. Again, with major elevation changes - just tough to figure out distance unless you've played the course a few times. Some might not like it with a few holes like the 10th that require a mandatory lay-up - but again I loved it - probably one of my favorite courses I've played - closest thing in real life to that imaginary golf course that some artist created with crazy cliff shots etc. And again - the tiers on some greens and speed of the greens can get you in impossible locations.
If $45 for green fees and cart - then that is a fantastic price. This was initially a private golf course but due to the tough times has allowed the public on.
Due to the extreme nature of the course - if you like some high risk reward shots - then you'll love it - if you don't like a "tricked" up course - then you'll call it unfair and you will not go back. There are a number of greens where you either hit the green or you are left with no shot or a very difficult shot.
The clubhouse is very nice.
I'd give it five out of five stars but due to the degree of difficulty and severe elevation changes - it helps to play the course a few times, bring enough balls, and you better like a challenge or you will hate it. The higher your handicap - the more I would say this is not the course for you.
Your third photo down is a shot from the tee of hole #3 a pretty severe dogleg left hole - you are just looking at the landing area for the tee shot- say 200-220 out- or you can take a Driver and hit it 280 over the part of the "mountain" on the left- risky. Then your 4th photo is taken from another fairway looking back down on that same hole #3- you can just see a sliver of the green at the bottom of the hill.
Due to the elevation changes and quantity of disaster lurking around greens and fairways it's a tough course. In addition, the greens have a lot of tiers and slope to them - your photo #2 shows one of the flattest greens on the course.
Your last photo- shows the #1 green - clearly on the left- notice the traps in the front- and how the greens are narrow from front to back - with unplayable lies around the back and steep slopes in front. In this last photo- directly ahead is the 10th green - par 5 - it's a 200 yard tee shot to a landing area where this photo is taken - then an iron shot to the landing area below or 230 to reach the green - risky. Again, with major elevation changes - just tough to figure out distance unless you've played the course a few times. Some might not like it with a few holes like the 10th that require a mandatory lay-up - but again I loved it - probably one of my favorite courses I've played - closest thing in real life to that imaginary golf course that some artist created with crazy cliff shots etc. And again - the tiers on some greens and speed of the greens can get you in impossible locations.
If $45 for green fees and cart - then that is a fantastic price. This was initially a private golf course but due to the tough times has allowed the public on.
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Played today. Great course. The layout is not that difficult (used a lot of wood and long iron off the tee). The hardest part was the elevated greens where you only see the flag and bunkers guarding the front. Sometimes, its a 3 club difference!!!
The 3rd and 4th picture is 400 yard par 4. I hooked my 5 wood and thought I lost my ball OB left. I ride down and my ball has rolled all the way to the front of the green side bunker.
You have got to hit your ball high on this course.
The 3rd and 4th picture is 400 yard par 4. I hooked my 5 wood and thought I lost my ball OB left. I ride down and my ball has rolled all the way to the front of the green side bunker.
You have got to hit your ball high on this course.
jenhaoyen
New
You cannot play this course if your wild period. Every hole has a drop area!!!!
Target golf. Tee shots are downhill and approach shots are uphill (you only see the top of the flag).Fairways are like carpet with very uneven lie. The greens are 2 tier, average speed with mountain breaks. Very hard to read.
We should have a SoCal outing here one of these days.
jenhaoyen
New
You cannot play this course if your wild period. Every hole has a drop area!!!!
Fairways are like carpet with very uneven lie. The greens are 2 tier, average speed with mountain breaks. Very hard to read.
We should have a SoCal outing here one of these days.
we definitely should.
Nice write up Mike.
jenhaoyen
New
dos logos..is fairly easy. open fairway!!
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