Played at Camp Pendleton - Marine Memorial Golf Course

[No Mulligans]

I played last Saturday, Nov. 28th, 2015, on Camp Pendleton at the Marine Memorial Golf Course.

This came about as a result of an after Thanksgiving dinner discussion.  My brother-in-law, who was staying in San Clemente said we should play golf somewhere between San Clemente and where I live (in San Diego).  I pulled up GolfNow on my phone and discovered there was a course at Pendleton.  I booked for a foursome (including two nephews) at $40 per person with cart.

While talking to the pro shop regarding how to get on base I was informed just drive to the main gate and present your drivers license and proof of car insurance.  He also warned me that the course is about a 20 to 25 minute drive from the main gate.  Pendleton is a huge base!

The course is a real bargain.  I discovered at the pro shop that the civilian rate for walking is $30 on weekdays and $35 on weekends.  Even though I paid the $40 to GolfNow that included a cart, I walked as that is what I prefer.  This is an easy walking course with only one hill to climb (up the 10th and then further up to the 11th's tee box).  I was even able to get my country club cart riding brother-in-law to walk and he said he enjoyed it.

I really enjoyed the course and would say it plays about equivalent to Torrey Pines North (without the great ocean views of Torrey though).  I had played Torrey a couple days earlier... 

The greens were in great shape and were running fast (faster than Torrey).  The tee boxes, traps and fairways were all in good shape, there was a bit of "California drought brown" on the fairways here and there though.  I highly recommend this course.

 

The 14th,  from the blues - 211 yard par 4 into the wind, I played from the whites and it scoped at 182, GIR.  Followed by a 3 putt .

[WUTiger]

Glad you liked it. This was my home course - when I wasn't out in the desert at 29 Palms - from 1976-78.

Great story from No. 1 - I pushed a tee shot into the iceplants to right of fairway. I asked the greenskeeper if it was a free drop, and he said, "Ya gotta play it." It just so happens I had an old 1930s era niblick in my bag (early wedge). It had a head about 1/4" thick with a sharp leading edge, and a face as big as the palm of my hand. I hit into the ice plant, send the ball about 100 yards down the fairway with an 18-inch chunk of iceplant trailing behind it.

"Hey, you're ruining my iceplant," the greensguy yelled. "Just doing what you said," I replied.

I remember No. 8 from a best ball tournament. I was about a 12 HDCP, so I got a stroke. From the back tees, I hit a 2 iron about six feet from the pin (years ago I could hit a 2 iron), and sank the putt. It was carded as a "1" for the team because I got a stroke.

No. 18 is possibly the best finishing hole in the U.S. military. The drive has to be well hit - not super long, just placed well - or bad things happen.

OOhrah!

[David in FL]

Ahhhhh, memories!