Golf in San Marcos

The family-owned Sun Valley Golf Course cultivates a welcoming atmosphere that sets nerves at ease so that youngsters and beginners can make a stress-free foray into the lifelong game. The par 27 excursion politely omits any tee shot longer than 145 yards, eliminating the trepidation felt on long tee shots over water or asteroid craters at larger venues. Nevertheless, small greens and quick changes in elevation keep even more experienced players on their toes and help them to hone short-game technique. The course's short layout ensures that players average less than 90 minutes for a nine-hole round, leaving plenty of time in the day to polish lucky golf balls.

Its simple course layout makes Sun Valley Golf Course a natural place for young club cadets to take up the game. Junior golf programs led by instructor Mike Cortes help kids to develop proper form at an early age through camps, clinics, and classes.

Course at a Glance:

• 9-hole, par 27 course
• Total length of 1,057 yards from the back tees
• Two sets of tees per hole

The percussive clacking of club and ball welcomes club-toting compatriots to City Golf of America's indoor training facility, a golfer’s haven with more than 23,000 square feet of swing-honing amenities. Inside the vast facility, students of golf can gain valuable reps at 1 of the 18 hitting bays of the indoor driving range, plant spiked shoes into the soft grains of a real sand bunker, and inoculate themselves against outbreaks of the yips on two nine-hole putting greens. The immense screens of high-tech golf simulators channel the lush landscapes of 60 of the world’s most renowned courses, whisking golfers to the famed greens of Amen Corner of Augusta National, the windswept heathers of St. Andrews, or near the loudmouth porpoises of Pebble Beach. The facilities are rounded out by a fitness area and members' lounge, where golfers can sink into divot-free leather furniture while noshing on snacks from the café, surfing free WiFi, or watching flat-screen TVs. A staff of teaching professionals and PGA pros leads students through private lessons. The staff makes use of JC video-analysis technology to deftly diagnose swings and proffer both onsite corrective tips and longer-term practice strategies to streamline swing mechanics.