Balboa Park Municipal Golf Club, Eighteen Hole

$21 (cart not included), played on Wednesday, March 2014 at 8am

Very good value. Condition of the course is much improved since the groundskeeper at Torrey Pines took over management. More challenging than the ranking, in my opinion.

$36 (cart included), played on Friday, April 2013 at 6am

I last commented two years ago and the City of San Diego invested over a million dollars in upgrading the drainage and sprinkler systems. The fairways are now well kept and worthy of note and the greens putt true and are well maintained. I play the whites since I will be 80 this year, but find it challenging for my 16.3 rating. Don't skip it just because you are a long hitter. There are plenty of ways for you to get in trouble if you are not accurate. Jim Brown

$36 (cart not included), played on Friday, March 2013 at 10am

Grounds keepers and maintenance staff have done an excellent job in getting this course back into shape. Proshop staff are courteous and professional. Making a week-day (Friday)reservation was no problem 4-days in advance. My out of town guests enjoyed playing the course. Pace of play was good. There is a lot of tradition assoicated with Balboa GC (just take a look at the pics in the club house)

(cart included), played on Tuesday, September 2012 at 8am

Good public layout. 4th hole was under renovation when I played. Greens were in pretty good shape.

$41 (cart not included), played on Thursday, December 2011 at 10am

Great Muni. A playing partner, playing this course for the first time described it as "delightful"

(cart included), played on Monday, August 2011 at 8am

Upgrading irrigation system makes for some needed lift/place should be completed shortly. Walkable with several hilly challenges. Good test; worthwhile municipal course.

$36 (cart included), played on Thursday, August 2011 at 8am

The course is undergoing an irrigation replacement that will be finished in September of 2011. The conditions are rough, as they have been for several years, but overgrowth is being removed and the entire course will be topdressed and overseeded once the irrigation is complete. It's a gem of a layout, only somewhat modified (tricked up) from the William P. Bell 1933 design. As a muni, it's at the mercy of city golf division maintenance, which hasn't been funded well in recent years. Decent mainenance will make it almost worth the price.

(cart included), played on Wednesday, January 2011 at 6am

Golf in San Diego is very cheap Monday-Thursday with outstanding deals all through the county. Most courses can be played for $40 or less and that includes a cart, and in some cases lunch or breakfast. For that reason the Balboa is over priced. This has cut down play and the course is generaly wide opened to play. In the old days when it was one of the best values in town you had to get there at five in the morning on the weekends if you didn't have a starting time and it was always busy. This course has the potential to be one of the best in California if it were in country club condition and played to a par 70.

$21 (cart not included), played on Friday, July 2011 at 6am

I play the course weekly and find it to challenge my 77 year old game! Walking is no longer possible but it is quite navigable with the cart. The par three holes on the course are the most interesting holes.

$26 (cart not included), played on Sunday, February 2011 at 6am

All attention goes to Torrey Pines while Balboa is the city's step child which has seen continued increased fees with decreased quality. It is a shame because Balboa has been and can be a great course. City leaders saw the amount of rounds being played at Balboa and they thought simplily increase the cost per round would result in an increase in revenue. I would bet that the plan hasn't worked because the only thing I have seen from increased price is a decrease in course quality and a decrease in the number of rounds being played.

$36 (cart not included), played on Saturday, August 2010 at 8am

A tough and challenging course. The greens were better a couple of years ago, but still not too bad. It's best value is realized while walking, and it is quite the work out (a lot of elevation changes)too.

$36 (cart not included), played on Tuesday, May 2010 at 6am

Double the price if you want a riding cart. No adult supervision on the course what so ever.

$31 (cart included), played on Friday, February 2009 at 10am

Play it