Night Golf Anyone?

Mission Bay Golf Course is the only golf course in San Diego with night lighting.  A Ted Robinson design, this 18 hole executive course was opened in 1955 and sits on 46 acres adjacent to Mission Bay.  The course measures 2,719 yards and is a perfect distance and challenge for beginner golfers or golfers who want to work on the "short" game.  There are four par 4s and everything else is a par 3, anywhere from 50 to 150 yards.  The course is narrow which accounts for the many "FORE"s yelled out while we were playing.  For those non-golfers, "FORE" yelled out means to duck because a ball is headed in your direction.  My parents took my brothers and I out to play this course when we were teenagers and this is where we learned to play golf. 

My daughter decided that this summer would be the summer of improving her golf game.  She has a great swing, but just can't seem to connect with the ball.   So yesterday I took her to the Mission Bay Golf Course to meet with her new instructor.  It was the first time I have seen the golf course in over 30 years and it was exactly the same.  "Exactly the same" is sometimes a good thing and in this case not such a good thing.  The building and surrounding facilities, although the same structures as I remember, now look like they should be condemned.  The gardens surrounding the pond and clubhouse were full of foot high weeds.  The course and driving range were "scruffy" and looked neglected. 

San Diego has a financial crisis like most of the municipalities in the United States and I understand that there are not enough funds to cover city properties, but we are also the home of Torrey Pines Golf Course and Balboa Park Golf Course, both city owned/managed golf courses.  Torrey Pines is a money maker for the city, but it is also not as golfer friendly to new golfers as Mission Bay Golf Course.   In June 2006, the San Diego City Council approved Mayor Jerry Sanders' "Five-Year Business Plan for Golf".  A plan designed to govern the operation of the city-owned golf facilities, but was controversial due to the significant increase in green fees paid by the locals.  The plan from 2006 was to include a new irrigation system, upgrade the driving range, make building improvements, electrical upgrades and practice area upgrade.  According to the plan there is actually a Golf Operations Manager for the City of San Diego, currently Mark Marney.  In a recent interview with the Union Tribune, Marney stated "Some of those projects have not moved as fast as originally anticipated."  

Based on my observations, there appeared to be some pretty easy ways to "spruce up" the surroundings.  Weeding andtrimming the rose bushes and surrounding gardens, sweeping the grounds, organizing and removing old flyers in the announcement box, removing debris, washing the windows of the clubhouse are just a few of the things that I saw that would show a "pride of ownership" or a sense that the people who work there care about where they work and how it looks.

Maybe the city would allow a "community event for golfers" that would bring the many talented locals (gardeners, painters, carpenters etc..) out to help get the property back into good condition, thus improving revenues for the city.  If you are interested, contact Mark Marney, San Diego's Golf Operations Manager with your ideas!  His number is (858) 552-1634. 

Mission Bay Golf Course is located at 2702 N Mission Bay Drive (between De Anza Rd & North Mission Bay Dr), San Diego, CA 92109  Phone:  (858) 581-7880

Tee times are from 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and lights are on until 10:00 p.m.  Practice range hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.  Green fees vary for City of San Diego Residents and Non-Residents.  Click HERE for current fees.

Night of golf?   Could be fun but bring your weed whacker in your golf bag and let's spruce up this city treasure!