The Farmers Insurance Open (Wednesday, January 25 – Saturday, January 28, 2023) at the Torrey Pines Golf Course is just around the corner, and golf fans everywhere are gearing up for this exciting annual event. Just north on I-5, Carlsbad is home to some of the best golf courses in the country. Our mild weather and stunning ocean views make it the perfect place to hit the links year-round. So why wait? Whether you’re looking to test your skills on the green or simply soak up the atmosphere, Carlsbad is a dream destination for golfers. Journey north from Torrey Pines and you’ll be sure to find a course that suits your skill level and preferences so that you can hit the course like a pro.

The first golf course to check out is the Park Hyatt Aviara Golf Club. Located just minutes from the Pacific Ocean and a short drive north from Torrey Pines, this gorgeous course is a true masterpiece. Designed by Arnold Palmer, the course features rolling fairways, challenging bunkers and breathtaking ocean views. It’s also home to the Aviara Golf Academy, where you can work on your game with the help of PGA professionals. Park Hyatt Aviara has been named the #1 golf resort in Southern California by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler, and has also been recognized as one of the country’s best resort golf courses by Golf Digest and Golf Magazine.

Another top golfing pick in Carlsbad is at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa Golf Course. This championship course has been a favorite of golfers for decades, and it’s easy to see why. With two 18-hole courses, the Champions Course and the Legends Course, there’s something for every level of golfer. The Champions Course is known for its challenging layout and picturesque setting, while the Legends Course is a bit more forgiving and perfect for those looking to work on their game. These courses will also soon be known as home of the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships happening 2024-2026.

If you’re hoping for something with a fun challenge and ocean views, be sure to stop by The Crossings at Carlsbad. The course was designed by Greg Nash, a nationally recognized course designer/architect and features multiple terrains for golfers of all kinds. Nestled among more than 400 acres of coastal terrain, it was named for the bridges that were built into the layout to meet topographic conditions. With its one-of-a-kind setting, you’re sure to have an enjoyable time on the links. 

And last but not least, the Rancho Carlsbad Golf Club is another great option. This par-3 course is located just minutes from Carlsbad Village, and it’s perfect for those looking for a laid-back round of golf. Unlike the other course, Rancho Carlsbad Golf Club also offers footgolf, making it fun for the whole family. With its unique layout and sublime surroundings, you can complete a memorable round in just under three hours or work on your golf swing at the driving range on the north side of the course. 

Golfing is more than just a sport – it’s a way of life. It’s a chance to escape the stresses of everyday life, to spend time outdoors and to challenge yourself on the green. And with so many amazing golf courses to choose from in California, Carlsbad is the perfect place to experience all that golf has to offer. If you’re in town for the Farmers Insurance Open, pack your clubs and head up to Carlsbad to try any one of our award winning courses.

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The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch

The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch is one of the city’s most sought after tourist locations. The sheer amount of giant Tecolote ranunculus flower blooms is astounding. Over the years, the Flower Fields have evolved into one of the most unique gatherings of beauty and color in the world. 85 years of floral cultivation has resulted in 50 acres of the multicolored ranunculus bulb crop and five additional acres of other specialty flowers. The flowers are only in bloom for six to eight weeks each year. This year, the Grand Opening was on March 1st.

Here are some of the 2020 events at the Flower Fields that you won’t want to miss:

Girl Scout Days
On March 16, 23, and April 27 Girl Scouts can earn a badge while composting and planting.

Sunset Wine Tasting and Music
March 29, April 5, 12, & 19, will be serving up wine and bites with live music. These sunset events are a unique culinary experience against the backdrop of the blooms.

Flower Flow Yoga
On March 30 and April 13, mornings will be devoted to physical and mental health. Each of these one-hour yoga sessions will be a perfect way to start the day. 

Basket Weaving Workshops
Come learn coiling techniques from award-winning fiber artist, Nadine Spier. On April 6, 27 & 28 she will be teaching participants how to create baskets and other sculptural forms.

Arts & Crafts
On Mondays and Tuesdays during the months of March and April, this celebration will feature art from local artisans.

Kids’ Day
March 23 will be a day full of fun for kids. Bubbles, a bounce house, face painting and balloons are all on the schedule.

Festival of Color
On March 24, the Fields will be celebrating the Hindi spring festival of Holi.

Check back here throughout the season to keep up on all of the workshops, performances, and food trucks that the Flower Fields will be offering this season. This year’s bloom is going to be one of the best yet!

The 2020 LPGA Kia Classic

The Kia Classic is another one of Carlsbad’s yearly events that put the city on the map. On the heels of International Women’s day, the Kia Classic is a gathering of some of the most talented women in golf. It debuted in 2010 and is marked as one of the most notable events in women’s golf each year. 

This year’s tournament will take place on March 23rd – 29th. The inaugural winner of the Kia Classic was Hee Kyung Seo. At the time, she was the 19th non-LPGA member to ever have won an LPGA tournament. Her win made her automatically eligible for LPGA membership. Last year, Japanese golfer Nasa Hataoka took home the $1.8 million-dollar purse. The 20-year old is a role model for young girls all over the globe. Her 5-under 67 scorecards are an impressive addition to her 16 LPGA Tour starts.

See here for information on the course, where to find tickets and more.

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Charity Series Chips for Heroes Poker and Golf Tournament

The Charity Series of Poker helps charities and nonprofits around the country host top-of-the-line poker events. This month, they are pairing up with the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort Golf Club and Spa for a poker and golf tournament. The proceeds of the event will go towards the Folded Flag Foundation. This foundation provides educational scholarships to gold star spouses and children. They honor our nation’s fallen heroes by supporting the needs of their families and providing a path to success in order to honor the legacies of those who have served our country.

On Sunday, May 19th, the esteemed golf club at the Park Hyatt will be opening its doors for this great event. The morning starts with a golf tournament on what Golf Digest and Golf Magazine have called one of the best resort golf courses in America. The course overlooks the Batiquitos Lagoon nature preserve designed by Arnold Palmer himself. Golfers can buy into the Poker Tournament and Golf Tournament for $600 a person or $2000 a foursome. Registration will start at 9 a.m. and the tournament tees off at 11 a.m.

After golfing, participants can clean up and wind down for the reception at 5 p.m. The reception will feature live music, passed hors d’oeuvres, an open bar, and a silent auction. After that, the fun and competition will tick up a notch with the start of the Poker Tournament. Participants will be able to try their hand at Texas Hold’Em, hoping to cash in on the chance to play versus Daniel Negreanu for a $10K WSOP Main Event Seat. Other prizes include a $500 cash out for the chip leader and most rebuys as well as other bounty, final table, and silent auction prizes.

4th Annual ‘Fore the Kids’ Charity Golf Tournament

Golf lovers can double up on giving back this month at the 4th Annual ‘Fore the Kids’ Charity Golf Tournament. Northwestern Mutual Carlsbad is teaming up with the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa to generate proceeds benefiting Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer.

ALSF was started by Alexandria Scott, a four-year-old diagnosed with neuroblastoma just shy of her first birthday. What originally was a simple lemonade stand hoping to raise a little bit of money to help find a cure has grown into a full-fledged foundation that provides funds to doctors and researchers looking to cure childhood cancer while raising awareness.

On Thursday, May 23rd, the 4th Annual Golf Tournament will benefit ALSF with a full day of golf, raffles, food, and competition. Prizes will be awarded for swings ‘Closest to the Pin’ and ‘The Longest Drive’. Tickets include green fees, breakfast and lunch, range balls, entry into the two swing competitions, and swag bags. Grab your clubs and contribute $225 per person or $800 for a foursome to get in on the fun.

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The tournament started in 2010 and features all of golf’s favorite female stars. Last year, Eun-Hee Ji won with an ace on the closing stretch to secure her fourth win on the tour. Ji’s win is notable, as she has recently battled back from a notable absence in the winner’s circle. Her career appeared on the global stage in 2007, and she quickly won the Women’s US Open in 2009. Since then, she seemed to have disappeared off the radar until she re-emerged as the LPGA champion in Taiwan two years ago. In the off season, she worked with her caddy to change her back swing. The hard work paid off and she secured a win at the 2018 Classic with a hole-in-one to top it off.

This year, the tournament will be drawing in golf greats like Ji and her close rivals, Lydia Ko, Lexi Thompson, Paula Creamer, and Michelle Wi. Last year, Christie Kerr and Lizette Salas gave champion Eun-Hee Ji a run for her money. Each finished a mere two strokes behind Ji, carding a final round at 3-under par. The trio played alongside each other during the tournament, and the competition was close up until the end very end. Spectators can be sure that this year’s roster of players will deliver the same level of competition and excitement as last year. If Li’s re-emergence as a winner shows anything, it shows that you can never be sure who will come out on top. Similar to Ji, Lydia Ko has had a roller coaster of ups and downs during her career. She started playing golf at age five. By the young age of 20, she had achieved more than her male counterpart Tiger Woods had at the same point in his career. Nonetheless, her game has taken a slump in recent years and she has fallen in and out of the top 10 rankings. As a crowd favorite, it will be interesting to see if Ko will turn on the prodigy of her youth and make a comeback at this year’s Kia Classic.

The tournament is on March 25th-31st and is being held at Carlsbad own’s Aviara Golf Club at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort. The Kia Classic will feature 144 of the best women in golf. The purse is a healthy 1.8 million dollars and the course is spread across 6,558 acres of lush greens and native flora. It is a par 72, and the front nine holes range from a mixture of fairways, uphill grass mounds, picturesque coastal valleys, and straightaways. The back nine holes increase in difficulty and feature beautiful expanses of water and eucalyptus trees.

Tickets are available for three different tiers of spectating. Grounds access can be purchased for $20/day or $40 for the weekend. Guests can enjoy Clubhouse access in addition to grounds access for $40/day or $80 for the weekend. Champions Club tickets include access to the 18th green skybox, a complimentary full bar and lunch, as well as snacks and access to the grounds and Clubhouse.

If you would like to get up a behind-the-scenes look at the tournament, volunteer registration is now open. Get your tickets now and experience the fun and excitement of this year’s 10th annual LPGA Kia Classic tournament.

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The Crossings at Carlsbad

When looking for a relaxing and challenging golfing expedition in San Diego County, The Crossings at Carlsbad is a must play course that has a complete menu of golf, dining, and training options to enjoy. Within a stone’s throw from the ocean, The Crossings is certainly more than just a golf course. The property hosts multiple weddings and high-profile events each year. The views of the Pacific, native flora, and canyon trespasses combine to make the course a memorable encounter for golf novices and professionals alike. Touted by GOLF Magazine as one of the “Top 10 New Courses You Can Play”, The Crossings embraces the coastal vibes surrounding its greens and provides guests with supreme views as well as award winning dining options. The Canyons Restaurant is onsite, providing a full-service dining experience and bar at the clubhouse. Breathtaking views of the course and Pacific Ocean make the Canyons Restaurant a perfect end to a long day of golfing.

The Park Hyatt Aviara Golf Club

The Park Hyatt Aviara Golf Club is one of Carlsbad’s premier resort golf courses overlooking the Batiquitos Lagoon and nature preserve. The surrounding landscape gives the course a unique opportunity for bunker and water challenges for golfers. Designed by Arnold Palmer, the Golf Club holds notoriety for its design. Not only is the course linked to a well-known designer, is also home to the LPGA Kia Classic every year. The tournament hosts talents like Eun-Hee Ji and Mirim Lee, giving Carlsbad visitors the chance to watch some of golf’s greats compete. The Park Hyatt Aviara Golf Club is also home to Kip Puterbaugh’s Golf Academy and the TaylorMade Performance Lab, making it a prime course for all skill levels.

Omni La Costa Resort & Spa

The Omni La Costa Resort & Spa is home to two championship level courses. With 36 holes, each course offers golfers a different path of challenges and rewards. Booking a tee time here allows guests the ability to follow in the footsteps of some of golf’s most well-known PGA stars. The resort offers things like a PGA Junior Camps for kids, golf vacations, access to tournaments, and GolfBoard rentals for fun ways to traverse the greens.

Carlsbad Golf Center

For those looking to improve their game or share the love of the sport with other golf lovers, the Carlsbad Golf Center is just the spot. The center has a whole section devoted to custom club fitting. Customers can configure a club specifically to their preferences or refit one of their favorites while getting swing tips from golf pros. The driving range offers a great place to practice while trying out new gear. The entire staff is fueled by the passion of helping others which makes it the ideal place to get tips, find equipment, and practice your skills.

Rancho Carlsbad Golf Club

Lastly, the Rancho Carlsbad Golf Club is Carlsbad’s own executive course. The par three course allows golfers to finish a full round of golf in under three hours. Guests can work on their short game or perfect their swing at the driving range. The 19th Hole Deli rounds out the experience with a full menu with beer and wine.

Grab your clubs and score a hole-in-one by embracing the end of the summer and visiting one of Carlsbad’s the top-rated golf courses.

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